I am very intrigued with Proverbs 14:4. It says “Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox. I’ve been to areas where these animals live, eat and drink. Let me tell you, those areas have pretty pungent smells, odors, and various types of debris. However, without these animals, much of the farming that blesses the community would not take place. The oxen are hard working animals that bring much production, so even though their trough and barns might smell a bit, I still welcome and appreciate these precious animals. In the same way, if there is no hard work, no risks, no attempts at doing something great for your community, there would be no failures, no problems and no issues. Everything would be quiet and “safe.” But there would also be no production, no increase, no prosperity. Give me the chance to work hard, to make mistakes, to fail and try again, even if I make a mistake and mess up. I’ll take the mess, in the hopes that I could do something significant that will bring great glory to God and benefit to humanity. Choose increase over the “safety” of doing nothing. In actuality, there is nothing safe or prosperous in a “clean trough.”
Proverbs 14:4. It says “Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
