Love the Manure
By Grant Gaines
Yep, you read that correctly—“Love the Manure”.
With a title like that I don’t think it would be very wise to go into a lengthy introduction with a cool story to really drive home the point. In fact, I’m not even sure that a title like “Love the Manure” leaves very much room for me to tell a story that would be remotely appropriate, fitting, or moving. No, sometimes you just got to jump right into the middle of the story and work your way back. Sometimes you just got to sit back and let the Scripture do all the talking. And for your mind’s sake and sanity, that’s what I’m going to attempt to do.
Proverbs 14:4 (NIV) says, “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.”
Does the title make sense yet? No? Ok, I’ll give you the “Grant Version” of Proverbs 14:4—when you don’t have any oxen, you don’t have to pick up any manure. You’re floors will be clean, your nostrils won’t be harassed with stomach-curling smells, and your To-Do List will have more duties and less doody. But of course there are benefits of having oxen in your stable because as the verse continues we learn that with a powerful ox pulling your plow, your agricultural productivity will sky rocket like a shooting star across a summer sky.
Proverbs 14:4 is simply describing a tradeoff—if you want clean floors, you will lose productivity in the fields and if you want productivity in the fields, get ready to scoop some poop.
Now obviously this proverb is not restricted to the confines of oxen and farming, its truth reaches into every facet of our lives. Do you mind if I give you some examples that may be a little more applicable than manure?
You have kids. They’re messy, snotty, and needy. They’re heavy on the wallet and light on the help. They’ll wake you up early and keep you up late. They’ll give you dirty dippers as babies and dirty looks as teenagers. The boys eat more food than full grown elephants and the girls go through more clothes than a department store.
Kids are a lot like ox manure—my parents tell me that all the time…just kiddingJ. If you had no kids, you would have no messy bedrooms, no practices to chauffer them to, and more money in your pocket. You could leave on vacations whenever you wanted, you would never have to watch another episode of Barney, and you would never have to make the pilgrimage to Disney World again. Would it be such a stretch to say that your life would be easier without your kids?
But despite all of the “cons” one could list when it comes to raising children, could any price, mess, or frustration override the love and joy you receive from your kids? Doesn’t the good still outweigh the bad? Think about how many millions of couples throughout the world would give anything just to have the chance to clean up the carpet after their kids tracked mud in the house but they can’t get pregnant. Think about how many empty-nesters long for just one more day of coming home to toys littered all across the house by their little toddlers. Kids may be like manure, but the benefits they bring cannot be counted.
Or consider marriage for a moment. You have to live with another person, sleep in the same bed, and share the same bathroom. You have to eat what they want to eat and even if you don’t like the food, you have to put on a smile. You have to check with them before you hang out with a friend after work. You have to respect and listen to their opinions even when you completely disagree. And when you argue, you can’t storm off to your own room because that’s their room too!
Marriage can be a lot like ox manure with all of the extra responsibility that it thrusts upon your life but doesn’t the reward far outweigh the price? Doesn’t the companionship outweigh the conflict and the love outweighs the letdowns?
I could go on, you know. Your job has its drawbacks, but putting food on the table for your family makes it worth it. Gas prices are soaring, but at least you have a car to drive. Taxes are never fun, but we sure do appreciate the police and fire departments that they fund. Your body aches as you roll out of bed, but at least you’re alive. Doing another load of laundry isn’t your idea of a relaxing afternoon, but at least you have clothes. Following Christ isn’t easy—the work is hard and the hours are long—but the, “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV) make the journey worth the ride.
“Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests” (Proverbs 14:4, NIV).
My prayer is that we will never view “manure” the same—that we would learn to love, appreciate, and even be thankful for the “manure” in our lives. Because where there is manure, you can be sure to find an incomparable blessing.
Bring on the manure!
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
©Grant Gaines 2013
