“Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.”
(Proverbs 14:4)
When I was in High School a friend of mine told me his summer break story. He was a city boy through and through. He wanted to know more about farm life. So, he offered to spend a couple of weeks working for a farmer. The result? The farmer had him cleaning out the barn every day. He said he became an expert at shoveling dung. As you can imagine, it wasn’t exactly the great experience (and education) he had envisioned.
I suspect my friend would have considered a clean barn a good thing. Perhaps he would have been fine if the farmer had reduced the number of animals so that the barn didn’t become so messy.
In this unique proverb, Solomon notes that the “manger is clean” because the farmer has “no oxen.” On the surface, the clean manger might be a positive. It might be a reflection of diligent work of the farmer. He likes to keep things clean! Yet the truth is revealed: no animals, no mess. When you’re trying to be productive, that is not a good thing. The farmer would easily trade the clean manger for the “strength of the ox.” With these animals at work, the farmer will enjoy “much revenue.”
I compare this with a clean desk. I know, it’s a stretch, but I’m going with it anyway. If my desk was clean it would indicate that not much work is being done. When one sees my desk, with books, pens and paper scattered everywhere, they frequently say “Wow! You must have a lot going on!” Yes indeed.
In God’s kingdom we have work to do. When we’re busy with the Father’s business (cf. Luke 2:49) there are certain things that will take second place. If a church has lots of people, things are going to get dirty and broken. So, would it be better to not have the people so the building stays clean? Of course not! We are called to be diligent students of God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15). Serious Bible study involves your Bible, maybe even several translations, pen and paper, perhaps some language tools. There goes your clean desk!
Here is the point, and it is a lesson about priorities. What is most important to us? When we are “seeking first the kingdom,” (Matthew 6:33) other, less important things will slip down our priority scale. It is a trade-off, but it’s worth it.
Denny Petrillo