"Without oxen a stable stays clean,
but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. (Proverbs 14:4)"
This is one of those verses that would be easy for me to skip over in my reading. As far as I know, I have no need for an ox.
But the words followed me around all day yesterday, challenging me about my desire to have a clean stable. Translation: a simple life.
We strive to keep our lives balanced, safe, and happy. No room for a mess or an interruption. But if I want my life orderly, this verse tells me, I might miss out on the harvest. Not just any harvest, but a large one.
I want that.
This verse tells me that if I want to make a difference in the world, I'm going to need to worry less about living tidy, and be willing to get a little messy. It means saying "yes" when it isn't convenient. It means going to places out of my comfort zone. And it means working harder than I always feel like.
If your goal is to get through this life with as little discomfort and inconvenience as possible, keep the ox out of your living room. But if you want to see a large harvest in the Kingdom of God, you better stock up on the hay. And grab a pitchfork....it's gonna get messy.
But the words followed me around all day yesterday, challenging me about my desire to have a clean stable. Translation: a simple life.
We strive to keep our lives balanced, safe, and happy. No room for a mess or an interruption. But if I want my life orderly, this verse tells me, I might miss out on the harvest. Not just any harvest, but a large one.
I want that.
This verse tells me that if I want to make a difference in the world, I'm going to need to worry less about living tidy, and be willing to get a little messy. It means saying "yes" when it isn't convenient. It means going to places out of my comfort zone. And it means working harder than I always feel like.
If your goal is to get through this life with as little discomfort and inconvenience as possible, keep the ox out of your living room. But if you want to see a large harvest in the Kingdom of God, you better stock up on the hay. And grab a pitchfork....it's gonna get messy.
This is really good. You captured the heart of that Proverb and perfectly applied it to our everyday lives. I often miss the true meanings because I am so taken by the poetry of the words. My eyes are open and my spirit is convicted by what you said. Thank you.
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