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.
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!
James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). When we try to present our faith to God in ways that do not include good works, we are like the farmer who has a clean manger, but no crops to show for it. 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.
We don't need to spend more time cleaning our mangers… We need to go get oxen!