“Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4 NASB
My goodness, we have witnessed this in a modern-day example. Quite literally, we see empty restaurants and other businesses, and, being empty, they are certainly clean. In another example, perhaps a little closer to the original, we see livestock production and processing operations emptying in order to get a deep cleaning. With that in mind, I would venture to guess that whenever those places return to full operation, there will be messes and cluttered conditions, perhaps not to the degree as before, but none will function successfully until they are bustling with people again. It is safer and somewhat less work to live a life alone, maybe not physically, but certainly emotionally. However, God built us as social beings. We need one another. Assembling together as spoken of in Hebrews in the Greek means gathering, and it literally means “side by side” – more like a small group or one on one. Don’t quit being involved with each other. The churches have adapted creatively to the current circumstances, but I deal with many pastors, and to a person they are hearing from their people that they want to be together. Until that happens, we need to find ways (FaceTime, zoom, visits 6 feet apart) to maintain connection. Today, reach out, safely, to someone who needs connection with you or maybe with whom you need to connect. #BeTheEdge
“not forsaking our own assembling together…but encouraging one another…” Hebrews 10:25a NASB