Today as I was studying, I came across a great verse that REALLY challenged me. This verse is profound, and one I have never heard emphasized. This verse speaks DIRECTLY TO THE HEART OF MINISTRY……
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. Proverbs 14:4 ESV
WOW!!! What this verse is saying is quite simple. If we want a clean, well kept sanctuary, ministry, church or life; we need to keep the people out. In order to keep a manger clean, the ox must be kept out. But, in order to accomplish anything great, we need people. The reality is, people are messy. Just like oxen are gonna be messy in a barn!
A farmer who wants a clean barn (or manger as stated in Proverbs) must do so by eliminating the animals who make it messy. But, if that same farmer wants a great crop, or wants to generate great results on the farm, he needs those very animals to plow, plant and harvest the crops. So he must either sacrifice successful crops for cleanliness, or sacrifice cleanliness for successful crops!
Ministry, especially in the church, relies heavily on people. The problem is most of us want a clean, well-kept, comfortable and pain free churches that produces great results, change lives and generates large resources. But, when people are involved, and they MUST be involved, that is impossible! The more people that become part of our church, the more we maximize the impact and life change that our churches produce. But, it comes at the cost of being messy. Our lives are messy, and when we put them all together it creates HUGE messes. But, in the end it means greater success in what God has called us to do! Contentment with a clean, “happy” and comfortable church, means being okay with mediocrity. But a willingness to get dirty, means a willingness to achieve God’s call in your life and ministry.
I am a husband, father and pastor in that order. My heart is to give what I have, all of what I have, to see people fall in love with Jesus. My heart is for God's church, missions and adoption. I wanna see followers of Jesus leave a lasting mark on the culture we live in. 
Tweets that mention Ministry is MESSY! « Michael Robison -- Topsy.com on June 30, 2010
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