Comes With It!

This time of year, children often make requests for a family pet. Perhaps there is nothing cuter than a kitten or puppy with a Christmas ribbon around its neck. However, sometimes such a request is met by a mother's, "And who is going to feed, water, and clean up after this pet?" Usually this question is responded to with an eager willingness to commit to those tasks, but then as the weeks go on the job falls back on mama.

When one has a cat, there must be willingness to deal with the litter box. When one has a dog, there is scooping in the yard to do. When one enjoys owning a horse, there is the need to do some mucking in the stable. And the list could go on. There are two sides to such ownership. Along with the pleasure these creatures bring, there is a little "dirty work" that must be accepted.

Solomon noted . . .
"Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox." ( Proverbs 14:4 ESV)
Perhaps to paraphrase this statement we might note that if one wanted to have a clean manger, there wouldn't be any harvest to be enjoyed. To have strong oxen for working the fields and provide a good harvest meant there would be of necessity a manger to take care of and a stable to clean. Such INVESTMENT is to be expected.

So it is with any worthwhile endeavor. The INVESTMENT of energy, money, and time are necessary for meaningful results. Like the farmer who would face poverty without dealing with some dirt and INVESTING himself, it is true with many aspects of life. Without proper INVESTMENT of ourselves with others (even though interaction can create challenges) we would have poverty of relationships. Without proper INVESTMENT of ourselves in the study of God's Word (even though sin in our life would have to be faced up to and dealt with) we would face spiritual poverty. However, when the value of what is possessed (strong friendships and good spiritual health) is recognized, it is worth dealing with whatever challenges may be associated with it. Perhaps the reality is that a life without challenges to deal with may be no life at all. May we be willing to INVEST ourselves in dealing with whatever might be necessary in gaining and possessing the greatest and truest enrichment of our life.

Have a great day GETTING DOWN TO DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE!
Carl

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