Proverbs 14:4-5
⁴Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. ⁵An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.

Washing

         Someone published a picture of a young person washing dishes, utensils and dirty pots used during his birthday party. A caption written: “You wash them. It’s your birthday anyway.” It is not very frequently observed that celebrants will gladly wash dishes, pots, utensils and other things used during birthday parties.

         They may choose other costly options during parties or other celebrations if they prefer not to prepare and not wanting hustle and bustle preparation. If to eat and chat with friends are the only part of celebration you want to enjoy, you can order food and pay for workers who may clean and arrange things for you.

         Is it still very appealing to eat so much food in North America? Aren’t you very conscious of your body figure and health? Who prefers simple celebration with simple preparation where everything had been personally prepared? Which one do you prefer? Do you prefer to order food where you do not know how they prepared it? Won’t you prefer food that you meticulously cooked? Choose either way if all you want is to satisfy your hunger. Maybe, you prefer to prepare food with tender loving care, instead of ordering food from strangers.

         While it could be more efficient for wealthy people to order food than to cook food themselves, it is not the same case for a financially deprived person.

         Seriously reflect on what it declares in James 3:16, ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

         Are you envious of people who just order food instead of preparing their own food?

A very rich businessman said that it is very smart to pack lunch. There are ordinary employees who buy food and drink regularly. What happen to them? They complain that their salary is not enough. No satisfaction of their income.

Reflect on what it declares in Ecclesiastes 5:10, ¹⁰Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.

         If you want to improve, you simply aspire for more. How can we desire for betterment and still satisfied with what we have? You can be satisfied driving an older vehicle, but when winter comes, you’ll surely desire to buy a more efficient vehicle. You don’t want to get stuck in the snow on extreme cold winter, right? You may have heard it said: “In extreme weather, better car becomes necessity.”

Do you enjoy it when it snows heavily? Most farmers, if not all Canadian farmers will rejoice when it snows heavily. In spring, abundant snow waters the farmland subsequently, and farmers may anticipate better harvest season.

1.  Harvest

⁴Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.

         If there are no oxen, you do not need to put grass in the manger. If there are no oxen, you could use the manger for other purposes like: planter’s box or collector’s item, if you wish. In the biblical times, oxen were used in farming. Farmers who had strong oxen would mean better harvest for them.

         Grass for oxen could be purchased. So, it is very smart economically to feed oxen using mangers. Farmers can estimate and not waste grass when they feed oxen. To plow the field and to transport their harvest, healthy and strong oxen are very preferable. Stronger oxen could mean more efficient work.

If farmers do not have oxen, they may hire oxen from owners who want their oxen to be hired. Oxen for hire, is also profitable business. So, the lesson of having strong and healthy oxen, how can we practically apply in our situation?

In Canada, wealthy farmers use heavy farming equipment in their field, instead of oxen. Farming equipment is expensive. Meaning farmers who can afford those expensive farm equipment are probably wealthy, right?

         Oxen were crucial to livelihood in biblical times, and farmers make sure that their oxen were healthy and strong. Similarly, equipment and talents are crucial for livelihood. Do your best to get the best equipment or to improve your talent in the best way possible. The better your equipment could be and the more you could improve your talent, the better compensation you could expect.

Master

         A young man applied for job as construction worker. The foreman asked, “What job can you do?” The young man replied, “Well, I know carpentry, masonry and painting.” The foreman assigned him in assisting other construction workers, and the young man was puzzled that he received a minimum wage salary.

         He asked one carpenter, “I prefer to work as carpenter! Why am I assigned to assist carpenters?” The carpenter asked him, “Do you know how to read a blueprint? Do you have all necessary carpentry tools?” The young man admitted, “No, I don’t!” “Well then, your experiences and knowledge in construction are not enough to qualify you for professional carpentry.” The explanation came.

         Spiritually speaking, we should not be satisfied with our spirituality. We need also to be equipped better. Reflect on what Christ said in Matthew 9:37-38,

³⁷The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

         Do you interpret that Christ wants us to be involved and not just pray for harvesters? As we pray for spiritual harvesters, how can we participate in other areas of services in the Lord’s vineyard? We can share the gospel of Christ; we support missionaries; we encourage evangelists; we take care of new believers.

To be more efficient and effective, we should continue to improve better. Always seek to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, and be prepared when the Lord assigns you where he deems for you to efficiently excel in your mission purpose.

With inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we can also be honest witness for Christ.

2.  Honesty

⁵An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.

Participants in the “MeTooMovement” are encouraged to expose their perpetrators for public shame or to be charged in the court of law. Not one, not two, not three, but more and more popular Christian figures fall into malicious immoral activities, and they’re widely vilified, maligned and smeared online.

In court of law, witnesses have to prove their credibility and honesty. They will take an oath that whatever they say in the court of law is true. And, if the witness lies under oath before a judge, there will be appropriate consequences. What can we do when false witnesses lie under oath and connive with judges?

What happened to Stephen in Acts 6:11-15? ¹¹They secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” ¹²So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. ¹³They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. ¹⁴For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Oppositions were determined to kill Stephen, they persuaded witnesses who falsely testified against him before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the legislative and judicial body of ancient Israel. And, they unfairly ordered Stephen to be stone to death in Acts 7:59-60, ⁵⁹While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Do not be easily deceived of what you may hear or read from the internet. Be transformed. Be prayerful and know what is biblically right in the eye of God.

Our testimony on how Christ transformed our life is not always appreciated by anyone who cannot believe in God. No matter what may happen to us, we do not need to impress potential believers. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict and regenerate believers of Christ. Our part is to honestly testify of our personal experiences. So pray for wisdom and knowledge to honestly witness for Christ.

         Some Christians have the gift of sharing the gospel of Christ articulately. But all Christians are given spiritual gifts that we can use effectively to honestly testify about Christ when surrounded with people. Pray that you will sense and realize when divine opportunity to testify about Christ presents itself.

         May the Lord fill us with his Holy Spirit and have peaceful gladness always!

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