Proverbs 14:4 – “Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox.”  NKJV

Proverbs 14:4 – “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.”  NIV

I remember the first time I came in contact with this passage it was used by an elder minister regarding allowing young preachers to stand in his pulpit.  He had received some complaints by a few members of the congregation not appreciating the mistakes and messes that some of the young fledgling preachers were making and wanted it stopped.  He addressed his congregation using this passage.

His explanation was Life leaves a residue that has to be cleaned up from time to time and the church was not a museum for viewing but a workshop where real labor was exerted and as in a workshop someone had to clean up the residue from time to time.  He reminded the congregation that they too were once young in the faith and made mistakes.  They learned from their mistakes and as they grew and matured they were able to help others following them avoid some of those mistakes or see the error in their thinking or actions.  This was the case with young ministers and, in his view, one of the duties of the church was to help them become capable ministers able to rightly divide the Word of Truth and lead congregations into righteousness.  Thus, he saw one of his responsibilities to clean up the stall after the oxen had left its deposit on the floor.

I was one of those young preachers who had undoubtedly created more messes to be cleaned up that I care to remember.  It was humbling to be identified as an ox leaving a mess in the stall to be cleaned up by the stable hand.  It was even more humbling to hear this man of God identify his function as that of being a stable hand getting his hands dirty cleaning up our messes.  However, it so resonated with me that through the years I have had a passion for seeing young ministers afforded the opportunity to spread their gospel wings and attempt to fly.

I have on more than one occasion apologized to churches that I had the privilege of preaching for some of the things I preached.  I meant well but, was I ever wrong in both my words and attitude and as I grew, saw the error of my ways I wanted to let them know that their patience, love, understanding and guidance was not without result.

If you do not want any messes in life to clean up then I guess you had better stop living.  Just living life guarantees there will be residue left behind that has to be cleaned up by someone and most of the time that someone is us.  We cleaned up after our children and were cleaned up after by our parents.  We and they learned by living what living was all about!  If you never have any messes to clean up I would suggest there is no ox (life being lived).  If your stall is clean and neat as a pin all the time then there is no ox for where there is LIFE there is RESIDUE and instead of complaining about it we should rejoice for it signifies there is life.

I am reminded of the prayer a friend prayed when he realized what a mess he was in.  He prayed, “Lord, bless this mess.”  He was not being cute but sincere for he knew it was a mess, a mess of his own doing and would be disaster unless God blessed it.  He was not avoiding responsibility or accountability but acknowledging his situation and his prayer was answered as God truly took the mess and worked all things together for good.

            May the Lord be with you as you go through your day!