Messy Children's Ministry
I read through the book of Proverbs a few times a year, one chapter per day for a month. I’m doing that this month as we study the life of Solomon and the virtue of wisdom, finding out what you should do and doing it.
So today, I read Proverbs 14. It amazes me that each time I read through this book I keep finding new nuggets of truth that were virtually invisible to me during previous reads. Take this verse for example:
“Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.” – Proverbs 14:4 (NLT)
I’ve never noticed this verse before. I’m no farmer, nor am I a rancher. I have no real knowledge of livestock, stables, or crops; although I have helped my wife’s family pick corn. What I do know and believe is that every verse has an implication for everybody.
So what does this verse mean for a children’s minister? Well, I may not have any oxen, but the place I spend most of my time doesn’t always stay clean. Now, I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses here, but children’s ministry can be a really big job, even in the smallest church. In my experience, the ones who get it done sometimes leave a mess in their wake. Sometimes my office is messy; sometimes my relationships get messy. I’d like to believe that most of the time that means I’m getting the job done. Yeah me.
But here’s where the wisdom side of things kicks in. While it might take a big ox to bring in a big harvest, somebody still has to clean up the mess. In my world, that somebody is me. And in your world, that somebody is probably you too. What do I mean? Well, sometimes it’s as simple as keeping my office clean and putting things back where they go. Unfortunately, sometimes it means apologizing when I mess up. Now, I don’t think I’ve messed up royally this week, but there’s always next week. Here’s a great little verse to follow this one up:
“Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.” – Proverbs 14:9
So the next time I, or you, act like an ox in a nice clean stable, let’s remember that we’re never too big to offer an apology. That’s a pearl of wisdom worth finding out and putting into practice.
