Messy Blessings: Why a Clean House Isn't the Goal

Happy Sunday. Today we come to one of my favorite verses in all of Proverbs. In chapter verse 14:4, we find this jewel of truth. Without oxen, a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

One modern translation puts it this way. An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable. I believe that these words apply to almost every aspect of our lives. First, let's take them at face value.

I lived in farm country for many years. Most of my neighbors had barns. This b verse is saying if your barn is clean and empty, it's probably not gaining you an income. In farm country, at planting and at harvest, barns are usually a little cluttered.

And when Proverbs 14:4 was written, the oxen was the best piece of farm equipment that you could own. It was your tractor and your bobcat and your pickup truck and your four-wheeler all rolled into one. The verse is pretty clear. The more oxen you have, the better your income, but also the bigger mess you have to clean up.

For a second, let's apply this verse to the way we view messes around us. Parents, please forgive me for what I'm about to say. Some of these examples I have used before, and I know the type of reactions I can get. Here it is.

If your child's room is messy, if you still have children at home, it means they are home. If your child's room is messy, it means they have stuff to play with. It means that they can move. It's not that big a deal.

I conducted a funeral last week of a stillborn baby, and those are the hardest. And those parents would love a messy child's room. I have a friend whose house looks like a magazine. Well, it did for years.

His wife's a very talented decorator. And when the grandchildren came along, everything changed. Toys were everywhere. They would There was even a little electric scooter that the kids could ride through the house in.

It wasn't part of the decor and it was out of place, but it was perfect because it was for their grandchildren. Messes aren't always bad. A dirty kitchen means you had a good meal. An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable.

When Jeie and I were first married, there was a noticeable difference in our upbringings. I squeeze the toothpaste at the end like a civilized individual should and she would grab it in the middle like a Philistine. Our solution? Well, we each got our own tube.

Now that I think about it, if a wife squeezes a toothpaste in the middle, it means she's home. It means she has teeth. It means she has a good breath. It means she can smile.

It's not a big deal. I know that people can spend a lot of time arguing about things that just don't really matter. These there are blessings from messes. We just have to look.

Today I want to look at these words as a message to the kingdom of God, to our churches, to our believers. Do you know the ideal size of a congregation? Zero. Yeah.

Zero. Do you know how much easier it would be to clean your place of worship if nobody came? How much money would churches save by not having to add on? how much they would save on utilities if they didn't have to keep the AC or the heat on.

I know that's a ridiculous statement, but it's the way that some seem to operate. I know a church uh in southern Indiana years ago had a sign out front. I don't know if it's still there or not, and it said this, "No skateboards, no skates, no bicycles, no four-wheelers, no playing around on this property." That was the church sign.

Very welcoming, don't you think? It's a clean parking lot. An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable. I read of a church in Cincinnati that had a situation.

They were on the corner of a busy intersection and cars were cutting through their parking lot to avoid the stop sign, the red light, and one staff member wanted it stopped. Maybe they could put up a gate or a sign or a fence or something. And after much discussion, you know what they did? They put a hot dog cart in the parking lot and they gave away free meals.

They added more traffic. An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable. One of the most frequent excuses I've heard over the years from people who don't attend church is there just too many hypocrites there. What these people have decided is that the sick shouldn't go to the doctor.

Over the years, I have loved watching the worst of sinners enter a church. It is their presence that justifies our mission. Churches get messy and it can make us uncomfortable when we see people who have messed up come in the front door. In high school, I recall sitting in a a Sunday school room and the assembly room and a boy came in that I'd known for a long time and we went to school together and it was his first Sunday in church probably in his lifetime.

Had a quite the reputation. And I remember walking over to him with all the tact I could muster and these words came out of my mouth. What are you doing here? Ain't that horrible?

We should welcome the messes. I know of a pastor that stood outside of a church to stop a couple from attending because of their reputation. An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable. Bless you as you welcome the messes and make a big difference for the kingdom of God.

Pray with me. Lord, help us to see things the way you would want us to see things. Help us to love people, period. And help us to go the extra mile in ministering to whoever we can.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen. God bless. Have a great great week.