WHEN LIFE IS MESSY by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC

Introduction:  Today’s message may seem like we are taking a break from our usual series from Romans, but that is not the case. Sometimes, people think that doctrine is wonderful, but it doesn’t really apply to the nitty-gritty of life. That is not true. In fact, in today’s message, we are still in Romans 8, but we will go to Proverbs 14 to make a deeper application of the principles that we have been learning. You’ll also appreciate this message, because it will help you see your summer to do list in a fresh, new, and biblical light.

Proverbs 14:4 (page #999) “Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.”

Context: When it comes to the Book of Proverbs, people typically have a low view of it compared to other books like Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Jeremiah, or any of the New Testament books. This is a huge mistake. In Jeremiah 18:18, we find an ancient saying that reveals to us the various ways that God spoke to His people. It goes like this—“… for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet…” The context of this passage is negative, but the implication is still valid. It is this: God considers the counsel from the wise (proverbs) to be on the same level as the law from the priest and the word from the prophet. In other words, Law, Prophecy, and Wisdom are the 3 different ways that God spoke to his people. Proverbs are not secondary or optional. They are just as important for our spiritual growth. In fact, Billy Graham used to read a chapter from the book of Proverbs every day. He said that there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, one for every day of the month. I encourage you to do the same and get your children to read a chapter of Proverbs every day.

Back to our proverb: “Where no oxen are, the trough is clean…” The Hebrew word for “clean” is actually “bar,” which can mean “empty,” “clean,” or “grain.” The best translation within the context is “the manger is clean.”

We often talk about Spring cleaning, but we are too busy to do much during spring. Summer is usually the time to clean and even simplify. The world around us also tells us cliches like “Cleanliness is next to godliness” or “A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered life.” From today’s proverb, I want to suggest to you that “Messiness is next to godliness” or “A cluttered desk may be a sign of a fruitful life.” I know some of the parents in here are panicking right now because they’re thinking – “Please don’t tell that to my kids! I am having a tough time as it is trying to get them to clean their rooms. It is a pigsty. It should be declared a National Hazard!” When I am talking about messiness, I don’t mean any kind of messiness. Here, I’m referring more specifically to a sanctified messiness. I will clarify in a minute.

Those who have grown up on a farm know about oxen. When we were in Scotland, we were able to see some Highland Cows. The locals call them “hairy coos.” The bulls weigh about 1800 pounds. I checked to make sure that I was outside the fence and that the gate was locked. They are a very intimidating creature. Since ancient times, oxen have been very useful to the farmer. Of course, they could have been used for breeding purposes but by being sterilized by 3 years of age, they go from being bulls to oxen. They were expensive to own, but they brought a lot of benefits. When broken to a yoke, they were used to plough the fields, thresh the grain, and pull a cart. It was the tractor of ancient times. Something else about the ox – they have a huge appetite. Their rumen, which is the largest part of the compound stomach, can hold as much as 75 gallons. They like it to be full all the time! Think about the farmers in those days – they need the oxen to work, but, man, they don’t stop eating! It must’ve been tempting for the farmers to either sell or slaughter the ox. Sell and slaughter may be good temporary solutions, but that’s not a good option permanently. Well, muzzle it! This became a problem. That’s why God said in Deuteronomy 25:4 “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.”

So far, we’re just talking about what it takes to keep that ox full. We’re only talking about what goes in to the ox. How about what comes out! Unless you think that shoveling manure is a lot of fun, having the ox gets old real quick! Let’s just sell or slaughter this thing. It’s not worth it…Here’s where the second part of the proverb comes in – “But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.” In Hebrew it is “abundance of produce.” Something else, in the previous line of the proverb, it is plural cattle (oxen), but the second line is singular ox. In other words, imagine how much more abundance of produce you could have if you had several oxen!

Here’s the principle: Short term cleanliness leads to long-term sterility and barrenness. To the contrary, the abundant life that God has for us usually comes at the end of a messy, complicated, and demanding life.

Let’s look at some applications:

1. Work/business: Sometimes people think that to be a successful businessperson, you need to have money, vision, passion, hard work, and many other things. All that may be true. The major ingredient is learning how to deal with the mess of business. Daily, you have to deal with the messiness of people, machinery, customers, government, current events, environment, etc.

Sometimes, you have a new manager who decides to simplify things business cut cost, tighten the belt remove every purchase that doesn’t make immediate sense. Yes, you can do that. And you should do that time to time. Make sure that you’re not signed in for services that you’re not getting. Make sure that you’re not paying for services that are being duplicated by someone else. But then, if you are in the delivery business. You cannot get rid of all your vehicles. You need them to deliver.

2. Church: Sometimes people see what’s happening at Clearview, and they have a very misguided understanding of why we are growing. Bottom line: were growing is because God‘s got his hand on us. If that wasn’t the case, nothing would matter. People think that it’s because we have money, or programs, or technology,. I think they’ve got it backwards. That’s not just the cause. It is the cause, effect, and cause. One major reason is that we don’t have a preservationist mentality when it comes to church. We are ok with the mess of ministry. Having children here is messy. Having youth here is messy. Having multiple things happening here is messy. People try to protect the carpet, the walls, the chairs, the parking lot. To some extent, yes, we should protect and treat this place carefully. On the other hand, we’re glad that the walls have to be painted. We’re glad that the carpet has to be taken up and recarpeted. We’re glad that we’ve been in a building program since 2010. This is 15th year of nonstop building! Because of our messiness, your children and your grandchildren are not going down the road of atheism and not going down the role of sexual confusion and not going down the role of liberalism.

3. Home/family: Through the years, our home has been a place where kids and youth have gathered. In fact, a living room has the most beautiful fluffy white carpet. It is kind of expensive. We bought it that way from an elderly couple. But, we’ve had so many youth and Converge events that have taken place at our home where drinks have been spilled, pizza has fallen, and people have walked with shoes that were muddy. Trust me when I say I’m very particular about it. At the same time, both Nicole and I have come to accept the fact that this is ministry. We’ll clean it up. Yes, there may be some marks on the carpet that may not come off. But that’s OK. With our children, yes, we have tried to get them to clean their rooms. At the same time, we know that we have them for a short time. There will come a day when those rooms will be very clean and empty.

Paul brings up the Deuteronomy passage twice:

• 1 Corinthians 9        9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?
  1 Timothy 5      17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Although Paul is using that reference in the context of church staff living off the church, it also applies to other relationships.

4. Marriage: People look at marriage as complicated. Life is simple if I am single. I can do what I want and when I want. This does not mean that people don’t want relationships or even romantic relationships. They do, but they are afraid to enter into messiness. Now, I have to deal with another person on a committed basis. It’s too much hassle. If you’re thinking that I would say that marriage does not complicate lives, not true. It will complicate lives. Nicole and I just celebrated our 30 year anniversary in January. Has our life been complicated? Yes! Our life has been far from perfect. In fact, we are two sinners who are quite stubborn in our ways, she more than me. That creates messiness. We’ve had some disasters. If we view disasters as incidents, then incidents don’t become disasters.

5. Children: If you think oxen are messy, how about children! They bring out the worst in us, but they can also bring out the best in us. Some of you have some very messy mangers, you will have some very fruitful harvests. If you don’t have physical children, you may have spiritual ones. It can get messy with Gods’ children in church. If physical children will break your heart, spiritual children are much worse. 2 Corinthians 11:28 “besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” It can get messy, but it’s his means of bringing lost souls into the kingdom. People get angry. Things will not always go the way you want. But, if love is there from start to finish, it’ll be okay.

Does that mean that we are just walking around all stressed out, anxious, and discombobulated? Of course, there is simplicity here. There is a principle. It is love.

• 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
• 1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’”

Does that mean that all stress is gone? Of course not. This life is simple but not easy. There is a singleness to your life:

• Since you’re not doing bad things, life is simple. There’s nothing to hide, nothing to justify. Don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not.
• Only one voice – the voice of the shepherd.
• Martha and Mary story – Luke 10      41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” It was not that hospitality is less than Bible Study. The real question is who was she doing those things for? It’s about faithfulness.
• Nothing wrong with unplugging and getting away, but, we do that so we can come back and love even more.

Matthew 11     28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Unfortunately, we get rid of the things we should keep and keep the things that we should have gotten rid of. How about you? Are you yoked with Christ? Are you saved?