“Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.”
I have worked in a number of different organizational settings. I’ve been on a staff of hundreds, dozens, 8 to 10 and as a recent friend called it, solopreneurship. The smaller teams tended to be easier to lead. The larger the team the more challenges we faced from business to personality issues. I remember at one point thinking how nice it would be to work with a couple best buddies and that’s all. Ultimately I realized that the most productive, read successful, organizations have multiple staff teams pursuing the organizations goals. There are certainly a lot more elements to creating a successful business or organization but for purposes of what Solomon is teaching us in this verse obviously an independent business person can keep their office orderly with very little effort (don’t look at mine). A busy, bustling, active office of many workers has constant challenges but will reap a much more productive ‘harvest’. As successful business leaders we are always challenged by the idea of smart growth. Yes, I said smart growth. Throwing people at an opportunity is not any wiser than filling those Oxen pens with cats or monkeys. That may be entertaining for a while but it will not be productive. Today look around you and consider who you have and how to bless them as you lead and they are empowered. #BeTheEdge
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV
