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“Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but, abundant crops come by the strength of the oxen.”

I have always had a love for the land. I’ve loved living close to it. To find a deer trail and to follow it to the next deer trail. Sometimes having to drop on all fours to get through the brush. Sometimes having to wriggle on my belly in the mud to follow the trail deeper and deeper into the wood. To dig down and let my hole fill with water, scooping up for a refreshing drink! To make a fire, less for cooking and more for my soul.

As I’ve gotten older, to plant seeds, nurture, harvest, and to eat that which I’ve worked so hard for has become more meaningful. When I was young I would help to keep the garden that was planted. And I would help to eat the garden that was harvested. As I got older, I got to help harvest and later to help plant. There was a time as a young man when I just loved to work. I loved to feel my muscles rolling powerfully. I loved to feel the tortured pain of hard work in the searing hot sun. It was its own reward. I couldn’t have cared less about the harvest or the preservation. I just wanted to work the soil and grow the plants! There were several seasons that I had a huge harvest ready and either let it sit in the field or three most back as compost. I just wasn’t interested, even after all my hard work.

I’ve always loved living close to the land. The earth calls me. The woods call me. The pastureland and meadow call me. The wilderness; the creek; the river; they call me like they own me.

Which is why so often I feel out of place, so awkward as a pastor. It is a calling so far removed from the call of the wild. Sure, I still go back to visit. But, I always thought I would make my home in the wild country. Jesus called fishermen to be fishers of men. And He can call men from the wilderness to tame the wild hearts.

So, what does all this have to do with proverbs 14:4?

I think this verse fits into the proverbial genre of industry. You know the ones. Like, “Go unto the ant thou sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise.” Or how about this one just a few verses down, Proverbs 6:10,11: “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” How about this one, “whatever thy hands find to do, do it with all thy might.”

Maybe, instead of waiting for just the right opportunity, go ahead and jump into the opportunity right in front of you. Lean into it with all your might. As if your very life depended upon your success of this endeavor.

I never thought God would call me out of the wilderness. But, He has steadily lead me out. While I still love the wild lands and the earthy vocations. He has called me to proclaim the great and amazingly good news to those who haven’t yet heard it. He has called me to lead others to accept Christ and our Father as their one and only God. While I may love the wild lands, there isn’t an overwhelming burden on my heart to lead the foxes and beavers and bears and field mice into a saving relationship with Jesus!!

And so, I lean in and pull hard because success in any endeavor requires great industry.

Written by Tom Nicholas