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Daily Devotion: Proverbs 14:4

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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.

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