Look out for the oxen baby!

Proverbs 14:4(NKJV)

4    Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;      But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

This verse really spoke to me today.  What the heck does it mean?  Let's look at the second part of the verse first.  Much increase comes by the strength of an ox.  When you draw on the strength of others (Christ) stronger than you, much more can be accomplished than what you can accomplish on your own. Unfortunately oxen are messy.  So if you want a nice clean easy life with no mess you're going to really limit the blessing that can flow from God (your oxen).  We need to learn to value and focus on the things that are important to growth.  Learn not to major in the minors.  (Is that enough clichés for one paragraph?)

Following Christ can lead to an extremely exciting life.  But it sure ain't going to be nice and neat and clean.  (Ya I know ain't isn't proper English but it gets the point across)  Why not?  Because that isn't the way growth happens.

Accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior is just the beginning; if you will allow Christ to work in your life that is.  There are so many ways that Christ can help you grow and change your life, if you will let Him, but because of that free will thing, the choice is yours.

Philippians 4:13(NKJV)

13I can do all things through £Christ who strengthens me.

There are many verses that talk about the strength that Christ supplies us with.  This is probably the most common.  In the Proverbs example above, Christ is our oxen.  He is the strength that can bring us much increase.  But that strength comes at a cost.  If you are going to have oxen around things are going to get messy.  The important question becomes, what is the cost and is it worth paying?

The cost is that life isn't going to be all nice, neat, and clean when you rely on the strength of your oxen (Christ).  There will still be challenges in life.  Christ may ask you to do things that at first may be scary and uncomfortable.   Christ may ask you to give up things you don't want to give up. 

Why is it that way?  Couple of reasons that I can think of.  First, that is how growth happens.  As I've said elsewhere, when God calls, answer the call.  The more uncomfortable the call makes you, the more important it is that you answer that call because it is an area of your life that God has identified that He would like to help you grow in.  We don't learn and grow by doing the same comfortable things over and over again.  However when we surrender to God's call and learn new things and skills, it generally improves not only our relationship with God but it improves all areas of our lives. 

The other reason is that the more you surrender to God and do His will, the more of a threat you become to Satan.  Satan is a smart adversary.  He's not going to waste his resources on someone who isn't much of a threat. 

If we just go to church occasionally, maybe read the Bible once in a while but never witness, in fact people would be surprised to know we are even a Christian, then why would Satan waste much time messing with us, we aren't a threat to him.

On the other hand, if we start submitting to God, become active in our witnessing or teaching and are having a positive effect on Christ's behalf, then get ready for Satan to come after you!  (Word of comfort-put on the armor of God and you will be fine.  Satan can't prevail)  So the cost is that things will get a little messy from time to time.  But is it worth it?

That is the real question, isn't it?  is it worth it?  If living a full and exciting life that God has designed is important to you then I can say without reservation the answer is yes!  If you will learn to embrace the opportunities that Christ gives you to experience His strength and increase then again the answer is yes!

So it's up to you,  which is more important: no oxen and a clean trough or the strength and increase that Christ can supply?