Fill The Manger

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
FILL THE MANGER
Prov 14:4
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.
NIV
Although I would think the majority of scholars might approach this as for the need to either the benefit of oxen over horses for the work of a farm, or the benefit of hard work at some industrious worldly task for the sake of filling the barns with an abundance of material gain, I will take exception with them. It would seem God has a richer, deeper truth within his purpose for telling us this saying. Of what use is a believer to God? Do people really think that God simply goes around saving people for the benefit of the people? Sure he loves us and desires us to have fellowship with him and to accept his Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Sure he did all that so we would not have to be subject to his justice, but would be rendered as innocent and thus we have eternal life in his presence. But this is not all about us, it is all about him. If we do not labor for the Kingdom of God, of what worth is our salvation? God has called each believer to a task. Each believer has a calling within the Kingdom of God for the purpose of the kingdom and not for the benefit of the believer. As the oxen are a strong steady tool of the farmer, the oxen’s labor is for the gain of the farmer. The farmers’ field will produce no crop without the labor of the oxen. Should we not see the parallel? Our task is to labor for God. Our task is to increase the harvest in the field. Jesus has said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Is this not plain enough? We live not for our own gain, but for the purpose of gain within the Kingdom of God. What greater labor can there be? What greater reward within our own hearts and minds could be achieved? Surely believers cannot think God is our oxen. Surely believers cannot think God labors for our material abundance here on earth. True, he does provide us with much and cares for our well-being, much as a farmer would for his oxen, so it is healthy and well able to serve him. Should we not be able to pull our fair share of the load? Do we just sit around and expect someone else to do our task? Do we think we have aged to a point the labor is for the younger? I believe when I have finished running the race, when I have fully completed his calling for my life, I will then step into eternity. As long as I have the breath of life within me, I am to labor diligently for the Lord of the harvest. My calling, my purpose has no end until he calls me home. I must fill the manager.