Crayons For Jesus


Sunday, January 25, 2009 Print E-mail
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.  Proverbs 14:4

Oxen are used as draught animals. Draught animals are animals used for their strength. They are usually used to pull heavy loads and to plow fields. They are very large animals and can outlast horses in their work. This verse is very metaphorical of the circumstances and situations God can allow in our lives.  The purpose is so that we might experience an abundant harvest.

Oxen are also very messy animals to keep. The manger that does not have them is going to be much cleaner, but the storehouse is not going to be as full of crops. The farmer may not have to deal with the mess oxen cause but he also is not going to benefit from the multitude of crops that oxen can help produce. It is better to have larger “oxen-sized” issues that seem to plow over our spirits for a time than to not have such hardship. Our hardship will produce a crop, we can trust in that.

What are some of the “oxen-sized” hardships God has allowed in your life? Take these heavy loads to God. He might not take the “oxen-sized” burden completely out of your life, but he will become the team driver. It is the team driver’s job to control the bit and bridle of the oxen. He has authority over the oxen. He places them under a yoke and remains in control. The oxen do not move unless he commands. They can do nothing without his permission or direction.

God is that team driver. He is in control of those oxen. They are under His authority. Even if it is the enemy who has placed such difficulty in your life, the enemy still has to answer to God.  God makes sure the oxen don’t run amuck in the field of your soul. Instead, he uses those oxen-sized problems to begin to plow your soil. Endure it and begin to see how it is helping to prepare your field for harvest.

As the plow digs in, supply a seed of faith in God’s plan for your life. He is your team driver. He will not fail you. Those oxen will not be able to run amuck so long as you trust your team master and bring those burdens before him.

Once you place that seed of faith in the soil that God is plowing in preparation, faithfully wait for His refreshing rain. Allow his word and his character to supply the rain. As the rain comes, rejoice! Stand firm and be patient. Soon you will see how God has used those oxen-sized problems to bring an abundant harvest of crops to your farm.

Don’t fear the ox! Trust the team driver!

Father God,
When you come into our lives, you begin to strip away all the weeds of sin. Though it is not easy, it is necessary. God as you allow difficult situations in our lives, remind us that it is for our good. Help us to see the positive side of hardship. God help us to view the oxen-sized problems as something you will use to plow our fields and something you will use to begin a new crop. Bring your rain as relief and help us to see the hope of a new harvest. Give us wisdom to recognize when the new crops begin to sprout forward. Help us to rejoice at that. Always help us to see you as our team driver. Help us to bring the heavy load to you, so that you can master it and so that you can use it for good. Teach us how to supply a seed of faith. And then help us to rejoice with you as we see the abundant crop you force to sprout out of what was once a barren land. Only you can turn dry soil into something so wonderful, only you! We pray this in your name, Amen!