You're Only As Strong As Your OX!

Proverbs 14:4

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.

Babe the Blue Ox was a great help around Paul Bunyan’s logging camp. He could pull anything that had two ends.—Babe the Blue Ox, Minnesota Tall Tales.

Having a strong Ox in order to get some work done is no tall tale. Oxen have been important to both eastern and western worlds for a long time especially in agricultural areas. All throughout the Old Testament you read about oxen used for ploughing fields. Oxen were the only animals strong enough to break up the hard earth so that the seeds could be planted to yield a bountiful harvest. Even in the New Testament, Paul uses the analogy of Pastors/Elders of the church being Oxen to help church members experience a spiritual harvest through teaching and preaching. Your Pastor has to go before you to break up hard spiritual ground to plant God’s word to produce a harvest in your heart. In I Timothy 5:18 he says, “Do not muzzle an Ox(Pastor) while it is treading grain(teaching/preaching), the worker deserves his wages(tithes/offerings). Every person needs a Pastor so you can have a Spiritual Ox to help you experience a Spirutal harvest.

Not just in the spirutal world but also in the business world you need to make sure you have an ox to produce a harvest in your life and you need to take care of them, because you are only as strong as your ox. If there is no ox on your team your barns will always be empty but if you have at least one ox, you will experience a harvest.

Whenever you hire anybody to be on your team or you try to build a team through relationship you need to find somebody who has gifts as strong as or stronger than yours. That’s why the bible says; do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. You don’t want to be connected with someone who is not pulling in the same direction as you. Deuteronomy 22:10 states, “Do not plow with an ox and an ass yoked together. KJV You need someone as strong as an ox not as stubborn as a donkey.

What does it mean to be as strong as an ox?

They are physically powerful and healthy. When you add people to your life or your team make sure they can carry their own weight because you don’t need any dead weight.

They are producers and they produce with a lot of power and force. They need to be impact players.

They are not easily broken or damaged. If they are going to be on your staff or team they must have strong self esteem. At the pace you are pulling you don’t have time to stop and baby somebody with low self esteem.

They must be good at doing something. What skills are they bringing to the table?
They are firm in their faith. Their faith has to agree with your faith. How can two walk together unless they agree?

As you are looking for an Ox to be on your team you must first be an ox yourself. You draw who you are. If you want a harvest you will only be as successful as your strongest Ox. No OX, No Harvest.

Dear God,

Help me to have the strength of an ox, the heart of a lion, the wisdom of an owl. Surround me with good people who will help me to produce the harvest you have purposed for my life. Strengthen the work of my hands so that I may be as strong as an ox.

In Jesus Name,
Amen