Clean or Messy

Have you ever seen an abandoned stable? How about an abandoned field or property? Looks pretty sad, right? Compare that to when you drive through an active, thriving farm area – BIG difference, right?!

Proverbs 14:4 (NLT) Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

An interesting MEF (mind’s eye flash) happened as I read this twice. First, of a beautiful, clean, fresh barn – empty! Ready for people and such, but no animals. Then a flash out to the field. It was dry, dirt mostly, nothing “living” there either. As I looked back in the barn, it then had animals in it. Along with the smell and dirtiness that is there in the stalls. The floors were still clean and ready for people, but there was animal “things” everywhere. Food, bedding, harness, manure, and so on. Then as I turned and looked out at the field – it was almost as far as the eye could see. Beautiful colors of the different foods being frown. Alive, vibrant, FULL. J

Then as I read it again, a different MEF hit. A home. No children in it. Sure, it was spotless, and everything had a place. It even had a lot of “white” around. It seem still. As I blinked I then saw the same home with children, family, people. There was a little bit of chaos, and definitely more “color” as there were toys, food, and people of every size, shape, and age in there. The blessing of generations gathered together in one place.

Now, I know plenty of homes that do not have children, and they are VERY warm and inviting!! They actually seem more like family than some family members. That’s not what I was seeing here. What I saw, was backing up the scripture that talks about a man’s quiver being full of arrows (his children) and how there will be many blessings for them. These two MEF’s seemed to show me that wee can’t really have it both ways. We can’t have all perfect, clean, neat and in order things if we are going to have a big “harvest”. It is that way with work and play. In the home and family as well as in the ministry. Sometimes, there is what looks like a “mess” – but it is in that mess that there is usually a “message” that someone needs to see, hear, feel and believe.

Yes, sometimes our homes and or work fields will seem a bit messy, full of chaos, and even a bit hectic – but it is in those times, that there will be the best fruits produced. Although it doesn’t seem like it at the time (how I know this well!), when we look back at those times, we CAN see the hand of God doing mighty things that bless us and those around us.

Today, pray for your “stable” whether it is your home or work. Don’t be afraid of a little mess in order to produce blessings for you and for others.