Conflict Series – Part IV

One of the strangest verses in the entire Bible must be Proverbs 14:4: “Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox.”

This verse means that if you don’t have any oxen, you will obviously have a clean manger or feeding trough.  You may be happy to have a clean trough, which doesn’t require any work, but on the other hand, you are likely to be much happier if you have oxen in your stable.  Strong oxen enable much work to get done—many acres plowed, cultivated, and harvested.  Strong oxen lead to a great increase in the field.  You will probably desire to have a “dirty” trough and its related work because the presence of oxen means more prosperity down the line.

The same principle holds true for a marriage.  If you aren’t married, you may very well have less conflict in your life.  But if you want the deep joys of having a spouse and children, you will gladly endure conflict as part of the price for having a family.

My Question For You:

Is your relationship a clean or dirty trough?

My Challenge For You:

Be willing to put the effort into your relationship so that it will be strengthened through the resolving of conflict.

Please share your thoughts with us below.