Oxen Over Mangers

In the middle of Proverbs 14, we find this odd word of wisdom about oxen and mangers.

“Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4

This one sentence paints a mental picture of a clean manger, spotless due to its lack of use. I can't help but imagine a farmer who looks on proudly at his shining manger, happy to be starting a journey on his new plot of land. He is getting everything setup that he will need for his thriving farm including a manger to feed the oxen. It's good that he has a clean manger and an orderly barn, but something is missing. He does not yet have any oxen to plow the land. So while he looks on fondly at his accomplishment in setting up the animals' facility, he is missing the very thing that will make him a successful farmer.

This is how we often act as Christians. We spend our time doing good things - reading our Bible, attending church, and listening to worship songs on the radio, but we miss out on the ultimate goal that God has set before us. At the end of your life, if God were to ask you about the “crops” you produced, is it good enough to tell him about all the times you went to church or read your Bible? If you were to ask a farmer how his crops were doing and he proceeded to show you his beautiful barn with a spotless manger, what would you think? You'd probably think he has a lovely barn, but what good does it do if he is not using it to grow crops!

Our Abundant Crops

What are the crops that God is calling us to cultivate? What are the things that will put our mangers to work? We know that God has created us to cultivate. Even before sin entered this world, God had Adam cultivate the land.

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15

Jesus made it clear that we are not only called to cultivate land, but people:

“And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'” Matthew 4:19

I believe the crops we are created to cultivate are good deeds in service of others. This is the life that Jesus lived, a life of dying to self and sacrificing for others. And this is the life that we should be trying to live every minute of every day.

The Bible often uses this analogy of cultivating crops and serving others. It is often used in the context of sharing your faith. After all, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone is the best possible way to do good to them.

“And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'” Luke 10:2

We also see this in Matthew 13, with the parable of the sower. In this parable the sower represents someone who is sharing the gospel and the different types of ground that the seed falls on represents the different ways people will receive the message.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Not only do we know that we are called to cultivate goodness, but we also know that we were created for these good works, and that God has prepared them for us in advance.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

This Proverb is a call to reevaluate our priorities. It is a reminder that we cannot afford to miss the good deeds we were created for. When was the last time you served an orphan or a widow? When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? You don't have to be an expert theologian, you simply have to tell others how your life is different now that you've met Christ. Let's not delay!

“Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” John 4:35

We don't need to spend more time cleaning our mangers… We need to go get oxen!