We Gather For Strength

Today there are several passages of scripture we’re going to look at as we discuss the strength we experience when we gather together. 

To begin, please turn with me to the book of Proverbs 14:4.

Proverbs 14:4 

“Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,

but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.”

Some translations such as the NLT, translates this Proverbs passage as: 

“Where there are no oxen the manger is clean...”

I think we all understand what that means. If you don’t want any mess, then you need to have an empty barn because, as you can imagine, having a bunch of cattle together can be messy business. 

If we are honest, we all can agree that being in a community is messy too, isn’t it? In fact, it can get so messy that there are many of us who have experienced wounds and hurts from being part of a group, church, or community. 

The truth is, when you get a bunch of people together, like oxen as mentioned in our scripture, it can be a very messy thing. But the flipside to this however, and the beauty that Proverbs 14:4 captures, is that the same bunch of messy oxen can bring about an incredible harvest!

Oxen are strong, oxen are stubborn, and oxen are messy! And from my personal experience, cattle need a lot of care. I used to own some and when they stay in the barn just over a few days, they leave behind a stable full of mess!

Is this beginning to sound familiar? 

Are you starting to wonder if we’re actually talking about oxen? Or do you think it sounds a lot like people? 

Brothers & sisters, Jesus has chosen to use us to build His church. We are what Peter calls, living stones, being built into a spiritual house. And even though it’s messy, even though it’s hard, there is a harvest that comes when we bring together our strengths and efforts for the sake of the gospel. When we do this, we will see a greater harvest working together than we will working alone.

Speaking of being alone, let me ask you, what benefit is it to the devil if you’re alone? 

What does the devil gain if we remove ourself from fellowship and decide to take the journey of faith all by ourself? What does the bible say about this?

1 Peter 5:8, 

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

1 Petus 5:8

Nej yuav tsum ceevfaj zov zoo tsis txhob nkees, 

rau qhov dab ntxwgnyoog tus uas yog nej tus yeebncuab nws mus mus los los ib yam li tus tsov ntxhuav 

uas quaj nrhiav tom tsiaj noj.

Peter compares the hunting style of the devil to that of a lion. 

Lions lurk around looking for the young, the weak, the injured, etc. They do not attack the herd that stays together, they look for those that are separated off from the group. 

Take note on Peter’s word choice in verse 5:8. He specifically says, someone. Notice that he doesn’t say, the church, or, the group. The devil, like the lion, is looking for an easy target to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). 

Brothers and sisters, the enemy knows that someone who is in fellowship with others, or who are being encouraged and strengthened in groups, is a more difficult target.

You see, this means there is strength in numbers, isn’t there? 

We do not need to travel through the valley of the shadow of death all by ourselves. Go far, go together!

Like a bundle of sticks, or a braided cord that is hard to break, we are bound together by faith, and we should NOT be easy to break. So, stand firm brothers & sisters, stand firm together!

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says:

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. 

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Though there are so many “someones” out there who can be overpowered, but let us not forget that two can work together, and three are not quickly broken. 

As an example of this, thaum Yexus xa nws cov thwjtim tawm mus qhia nws txojlus, Yexus xa lawv ob leeg mus ua-ke. Nws yeej tsis xa in tug mus xwb.

Consider for a moment that Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs to share the good news of the Kingdom. 

Tsis tas li xwb, thaum Vajtswv tsim Adam nyob hauv lub vaj,Nws yeej tsis cia li, Nws hais tias tsis zoo yog Adam nyob nws tib leeg xwb. Yog li ntawv Vajtswv thiaj tsim Eve los nrog thaib pab Adam. 

Think about God looking in on Adam in the garden and realizing that it was no good for him to be alone. So, he created Eve. If we take some time and look into the Bible, there are endless examples to choose from, but the point is this:

Together we see a greater harvest. Together we are better protected. Part of being strong is knowing when it is time to ask for help. Many people fail at this and go through needless pain and much regret.

Let us remember to not go fast by ourselves but go far by going together.

One In Christ - Pastor Vameng Pha

March 2, 2025