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  THE SHOP, THE FARM, AND THE OXEN
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: Thomas Brooks warns against the dangers of worldly business,
which can consume our time and extinguish our heavenly affections, and
encourages us to prioritize our relationship with God.

Topics: "Spiritual Priorities", "Worldly Distractions"
Scripture References: Luke 14:16

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks warns against the dangers of being overly engaged in
worldly affairs, emphasizing that excessive focus on earthly business
can extinguish our spiritual fervor and hinder our relationship with
God. He illustrates this by referencing the distractions of daily life,
such as the shop, the farm, and the oxen, which can consume our time and
attention, leaving little room for communion with God. Brooks urges
believers to prioritize their spiritual lives and not allow worldly
concerns to overshadow their heavenly affections.

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CONTENT
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Take heed of engaging yourselves in a crowd of worldly businesses. Many
have so much to do on earth that they have no time to look up to heaven.
As much earth puts out the fire, so much worldly business puts out the
fire of heavenly affections. Look! as the earth swallowed up Korah,
Dathan, and Abiram, Numbers 22:32; so much worldly business swallows up
so much precious time, that many men have no leisure to be with God in
their closets. There is nothing that has kept men more from Christ--than
the shop, the farm, and the oxen, etc., Luke 14:16-22.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/the-shop-the-farm-and-the-oxen/
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