The ox analogy:
This is a story of a man who wants to get into agriculture. He starts cultivating the soil and realizes that this is a lot of work. So to take some ease off of his shoulders he buys an ox. He then has to build a barn for his ox. He puts his ox in the barn. Everything is great until the man realizes that the ox’s poop is piling up in the barn. So he grabs his shovel and starts to scoop out all the crap. He then realizes that this is a lot of work too and that it won’t end any time soon.
What is the man to do?
He could avoid the situation and leave the ox to his shit. This is what a lot of men do today with the shit in their life. They take long “business trips,” go to the bars and the clubs while their wives and children are at home. Or maybe he is consumed with his fantasy football league, video games or some other hobby. Does this take care of the shit?
He could abuse the situation and beat the ox with the shovel. Many men will try this out. The shit will pile up at work or in the home and they will verbally or physically abuse their family or destroy their body. Is this going to take care of the big heaping pile of feces?
What has God called us to do?
God encourages us to keep shoveling. He said that we would toil in this life. And when you are about to complain about all the hard work, just remember the crap, i.e. sin we have piled on God and His creation. Thankfully he doesn’t avoid us. Thankfully he doesn’t hit us over the head with a shovel. No. He sent His Son to die for our sins instead. Thank You Jesus!
What is the man to do?
He could avoid the situation and leave the ox to his shit. This is what a lot of men do today with the shit in their life. They take long “business trips,” go to the bars and the clubs while their wives and children are at home. Or maybe he is consumed with his fantasy football league, video games or some other hobby. Does this take care of the shit?
He could abuse the situation and beat the ox with the shovel. Many men will try this out. The shit will pile up at work or in the home and they will verbally or physically abuse their family or destroy their body. Is this going to take care of the big heaping pile of feces?
What has God called us to do?
God encourages us to keep shoveling. He said that we would toil in this life. And when you are about to complain about all the hard work, just remember the crap, i.e. sin we have piled on God and His creation. Thankfully he doesn’t avoid us. Thankfully he doesn’t hit us over the head with a shovel. No. He sent His Son to die for our sins instead. Thank You Jesus!
Definitely thought this was worth passing on to all of you. The "shit" of daily life seems sometimes to be unbearable, but remember Jesus' words, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt 11:30). Jesus wore the hardest yoke and heaviest burden of all, EVERY SIN OF EVERY SINNER, and He wore it proudly knowing that we could never handle it, and thanks be to Him we never have to. All Praise be to Him!
LSB Collect 172
Gracious Lord, we give thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted to give and receive. The day is now past, and we commit to You. We entrust to You the night and rest in Your peace, for You are our help, and You neither slumber nor sleep. Hear us for the sake of Your name. Amen
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