Proverbs 14:4 "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."
"Where no oxen are, the crib is clean." Why would Solomon
include this in the book of Proverbs? What could he possibly have been thinking
when he wrote these words? I am not discounting the fact that this is the
inspired Word of God, but I wonder what was going through his mind. May I share
with you what I am thinking about as I read this verse? I confess I am not, nor
ever have been, a farmer. But I can think of the fact that there is work to be
done concerning cleaning out the stalls where the oxen would be kept. There is
much shoveling to be done, if you know what I mean. That could be considered a
trivial thing; yet, it is hard manual labor that must be done day after day. It
could get tiresome very quickly and the idea could come into the mind,
"Why should I have to do this so often?" But the truth of the matter
is that, "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean." The crib might
be clean, but there would be no food, "... but much increase is by the
strength of the ox."
Do I want to continue doing the small things that make a difference and have a
full "crib" of food, or do I want to avoid doing those things which
ultimately contribute to success? Most successful people had to begin somewhere
at the bottom. The menial and trivial jobs are important for the ultimate
success of any venture. Small things really do make a difference. Jesus
said, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in
much." (Luke 16:10) Lord, I want to be faithful in all things
concerning you.