Life is messy. We might wish it wasn’t, we might want everything clean and tidy and orderly, but the reality is, it won’t be long until it is messy again. There is wisdom in accepting that. I find this proverb from today’s reading helpful:
“Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.” (Proverbs 14:4)
What does this mean? If you want a clean farm, don’t have any cattle! But what good is that?! Even if you’re growing crops, you needed oxen to help plough, today you have a tractor, but that still makes a mess, breaks down, needs servicing and fuel. But at the end of the day are you better with a tractor or without? Well then, give thanks for your tractor rather than grumbling about it! Give thanks for your oxen, you need them.
This Proverb applies to all of life, not just farming. I remember reading this verse not long after our first child was born. Anyone with young children will know, life is messy and hard to stay on top of. This is a helpful Proverb! Rather than complaining about the mess, give thanks for your children. Give thanks that you have them.
The proverb applies also at church, if we want everything to be neat and organised, then we won’t bother reaching out to people who may make a mess. But Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations, and He spent his time with people whose lives were messy. He instructs us to do the same ((Luke 12:13). As we head into the summer time, many churches will be involved in holiday Bible clubs and camps for young people, these are messy, hard work and tiring, but what could be better than young people learning about Jesus?
As we consider the messiness of life, perhaps we think of mess and pain in our own lives. Here is another opportunity to give thanks for our Lord Jesus Christ. He chose to leave the glory of heaven to enter our mess so that He could lift us out of the mess. Our Lord Jesus did not only hang around with messy people, he died for all the sinful mess we have caused so that all who turn to him can have our mess totally cleared up forever! So as you see mess and deal with pain today, give thanks for all the Lord has given you, even if it means mess for now. Give thanks for our Lord Jesus who has taken our worst mess for us so that we can share His glory forever. Our present troubles are light and momentary compared to the glory that awaits.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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