Proverbs 14:4, No Land Without Stones!

July 30, Proverbs 14:4

1 Cor. 3:9; 9:9-10 “He that tills his land shall be satisfied with bread” (Pr. 12:11).

No Land Without Stones!

God works by means not by miracles, so said Charles Bridges. The illustration of this proverb comes from farming. Those living in Palestine would readily understand it. What farmer, in order to have clean cribs, would do without the help of oxen? If he did, he would have no messy cribs, no strenuous work to do. He would have neat, tidy, clean-smelling barns, but at what a loss? If no work is done, you have gained neatness and order, of a kind, but at the cost of having no oxen in the crib, no sheep in the fold. Then is not your gain loss, for all your neatness? Who would plough your fields, carry home the sheaves, tread out the corn? Thus, the freedom from the labour of cleaning the cribs comes at the loss of everything. You have the clean crib but you have also an empty barn, and a fruitless farm. Sloth saves strain, but the price is both physical and spiritual ruin.

1. Groomed but without Growth: Where no oxen are the crib is clean. Such a “farmer” may well be nifty, but what a nullity! Labour withheld withholds the gains by which men live. Left to chance “the sea mostly washes up empty shells!” (a) In Business this test holds. He who does not cultivate his fields, will reap no crops. He frees himself from a thousand chores but eats no chops. (b) In Mental growth, the clean crib means no cluttered desk, no essays to write, no exams to face, and the result, stagnation. (c) In Spiritual matters, this also holds true. The one who will not undertake disciplined study of God’s Word will avoid all its teachings and rebukings, all its challenges and strivings, but miss the incalculable blessings and riches. No oxen means a clean crib and no labour, but no food for body, soul, or spirit. Thomas Brooks said: “A lazy spirit is always a losing spirit.” There’s no neutrality. Spiritually, one is either going forward or backward.

2. Grubby but without Griefs: But much increase is by the strength of the ox. Little more needs adding to this point. Our proverb simply affirms that some measure of discomfort attends all gains, whether earthly or heavenly. We can apply it to each of the above areas. In all true labour there is profit. How vitally important this is in the spiritual realm. Paul exults with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The plea of this proverb is: “Accept the mess, the work, the clean-up, because it is the price of all growth.”

No gold is found beneath the ground
By idleness or shirking;
The noblest brains have labour pains,
And live by honest working.
No gain on earth without its loss;
No back of man without its cross;
No pleasure here without its pain;
This earth and earthly things are vain.

Thought: “Life is a path trodden by all men, and but once” (Gill).

Prayer: Lord, help me to use the means and leave the miracles to Thee.