Clean the Crib But Keep The Ox

Today’s Passage – Proverbs 13 – 15 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 9 – 10Psalms 86 – 90Proverbs 19)

Scripture Memory for July – Hebrews 1

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 47:1

Read – “What Vacation Time Means To A Pastor” – by Pastor Chappell

“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” – (Proverbs 14:4)

Every Sunday afternoon, immediately following the morning service, we clean the auditorium and bathrooms of our church to make it ready for the evening service. I am often amazed at how dirty our building can get, especially considering that it was only in use for a few hours. There are lying bulletins everywhere, and the hymnbooks are everywhere except where they should be. We find candy wrappers and water bottles in various places. Sometimes, I even find chewed gum stuck to a chair or on the floor. Yuk! The place is a mess. But I thank God for the mess, because the mess indicates that people were using the building. There are times when I get a little tired of cleaning it, but if I didn’t have to clean it, it could only be because nobody was coming to our services.

I have determined that I will never get the mindset that the building that God has given us is to be some sort of museum for the Saints of God to observe and admire. I want our building to be functional, and practical; and I want it to be used by our people as much as possible, and as often as possible. And if it is being used, it is going to get dirty, and at times things are going to need to be repaired. I have been spending a great deal of time this summer painting and upgrading parts of our building. The rooms that were finished last month already have some marks on the walls. Praise God! That means that people: men, women, children, souls are coming to the House of God, and are getting the help that they need. I will keep cleaning the crib, but I think I am also going to keep the oxen as well.

Brother Hyles tells a story about a man that was complaining about the oily messes made in the parking lot by all the busses that were used to bring boys and girls to church. He reminded the man that D.L. Moody brought in a lot of children too, and the horses used to pull the wagons in those days were a whole lot messier.


Posted in Thoughts from Proverbs by with 1 comment.
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sal
sal
11 years ago

Ijust want to say a buliding being used is a family coming in daily to the house of the lord and that scould be the important thing to remember so keep up your work for GOD it is worth it.

love,
sal valencia

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