Proverbs
14 Hard work pays off
Pr 14 v
4 makes interesting reading ‘Where there
are no oxen the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes abundant
harvest’
The
writer of Proverbs is using a farming illustration to teach us a lesson. There
are pros and cons of keeping oxen. Oxen are expensive and time consuming to
look after, and they make a mess in the stable. But if there are no oxen there
can be no ploughing, and without ploughing there can be no harvest. The farmer
needs to weigh up the cost and inconvenience of keeping oxen with the reward of
being able to reap an abundant harvest.
In every
area of life there is a cost to progress. We may look at people we think are
naturally gifted and might be tempted to think that it all comes so easily to
them. In the world of sport David Beckham didn’t learn his amazing free kicks
in the England v Greece qualifying match, but with Alex Fergusson over hours
and hours of hard work and training, Jonny Wilkinson’s penalty to win the Rugby
World Cup was achieved not in the moment of glory but in practice kick after
practice kick in the training ground.
Eric Morecombe known for his quick humour rehearsed and recorded his
best stories and jokes until they were word perfect. We can apply this lesson
to our spiritual progress as well. No oxen no effort involved, but no oxen no
ploughing, and no ploughing no corn. It’s a simple message. If we want to see a
harvest it may mean rolling our sleeves up and getting our hands a little dirty
on the way.
(husband and wife)