Proverbs
14:4
Where
no oxen are, the crib is clean:
but much increase is by the strength of the
ox.
A crib is another name for a manger or
barn. This verse is telling us that if
there are no oxen in the manger the manger is really clean. There is no hay to be stored, no flies
associated with their presence, no waste on the ground and the dirt doesn’t get
disturbed – a smooth, clean surface to walk in and admire. Having a clean barn is not supposed to be the
goal of someone who owns a barn. If we
were to visit a farmer/cattle rancher and found his facilities sparkling clean
and quiet without traces of livestock, we would wonder what sort of farmer he
was. We would wonder how he plows his fields or gathers his harvest. We would question his success and identity. Although
things would look nice, they would seem strange and the barn would not only be
empty of messes, but the grain itself would be missing or minimal.
Brethren, we have been given
facilities by the Lord – our homes, cars, and material goods. Sometimes in seeking to take care of our
goods and keep our homes in order we can miss His purposes in giving them to
us. Our ‘oxen’ are often people
that fill our homes and lives and often create a bit of a mess and cause us to
have to clean and maintain because of their presence. Our children, husbands/wives, roommates,
friends and family all fill our lives and homes and as a result things aren’t
always as clean as we might like them to be. But……there is MUCH increase
through the strength of the ox.
The people in our lives are placed
there by the Lord to bring about an increase in our lives, to plow and harvest
all that the Lord wants to grow in us.
When we have messes as a result of our children or having others over in
our homes, we must remember God’s truth more than our fleshly
perspectives. We are supposed to work
willingly with our hands, welcome messes as a result of relationships and thank
Him for all He is doing in our lives through those around us.
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