At last week’s mid-year meeting I reflected briefly on Proverbs 14:4, “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes abundant harvests.”

As is always the case with proverbial wisdom there is much that these two lines can’t say about abundant harvests. Even to an agricultural novice such as myself it is self-evident that there are more variables to success than the presence of oxen. Drought and famine, too much rain at the wrong times, insects, diseases, not enough workers, all spring to mind as additional challenges to bringing in an abundant harvest. This, of course, doesn’t invalidate the proverb. Instead, it invites us to ask what the proverb is getting at.

And it’s pretty simple really. Oxen may not be the only resource necessary but they are perhaps the most significant. All things being equal, the farmer with oxen will be far more likely to bring in an abundant harvest than the farmer without. The proverb points to the importance of having the right resources for the task at hand.

As a community of faith we have discerned where we believe God is inviting us to participate with him in his grand plan to restore and renew all things in Christ through the enabling presence of the Holy Spirit. We have organised this invitation in the form of a set of strategic priorities. As a leadership we have begun to marshal our resources so we can faithfully respond to God.

Without downplaying the importance of the Holy Spirit or ignoring financial resources the most significant resource we have as a community of faith is you – you are, in terms of the proverb, the oxen!

Over the next few weeks, in particular, you will be hearing about some opportunities for you to find your place in God’s mission here and I hope that you take up that opportunity that we might see a great harvest for the kingdom of God!