Life is filled with trade-offs. Solomon presented an agricultural metaphor instructing us that if you seek to increase productivity, there may be a trade-off:

Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox. (Proverbs 14:4)

The farmer could have had a clean manger, but then he would not have had the agricultural return that the ox could provide. The ox enabled him to be more productive; however, there is a trade-off, he must now clean up after the ox. The labor of the ox however, far outweighs the care of the ox. The farmer must realize that his overall purpose is not to have a clean stable, but to maximize agricultural production.

Most of us don’t have oxen, but here’s an example for our day. I like to keep my car clean, but when I take my grandchildren to the beach, we inevitably return with a car full of sand. Although I prefer a clean car, the purpose of the car is not simply to look clean, but to provide transportation and create joyful memories with family and friends. The purpose of our lives is not to have it all together, but to maximize our fruitfulness for His glory – this involves creating a mess at times.

The dilemma we face is that we want life to be clean and easy, but it will be messy at times, especially if we are seeking to make positive changes. We live in a fallen world and chaos and confusion are a fact of life. You can seek to minimize the messiness of life, but then you may not be as productive. God’s purpose is not that we should have neat and tidy lives that are free of pain, but God’s desire for us is that we might be fruitful:

You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. (John 15:16)

Our purpose is not to look like we have our act together, but to be broken bread and poured out wine for His glory:

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24)

Jesus taught us that fruitfulness is a sign of that we are His disciples:

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (John 15:8)

Is your goal to keep your life neat and tidy, or are you willing to let it get messy so you can be fruitful as His disciple?

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. (2 Timothy 4:16)

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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