This statement has often sparked controversy across the social divide. However it is true. Cows do not give milk! In order to get the milk, you have to wake up early in the morning, perhaps at 4 a.m., go to the shed, maneuver through the manure, tie the tail (or the tail will swipe you in the face), secure the legs, sit on a stool, position the bucket, and do the work yourself. This reaffirms the above quote that the cow does not give milk. To get the milk, there’s a lot of sacrifice, effort, and work invested. The squeezing of the cow’s udder should be done gently and professionally, or you will get less or no milk at all. How does this relate to real life?
There’s a generation of young men and women who think that cows give milk. They have been fooled by the system to think that there’s a level in life where success becomes automatic. They focus only on Matthew 7:7 to believe in the ‘knock and the door will be opened, ask and it will be given’ mentality, while at the same time, they close their eyes to the apostolic words of Paul: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV).
The truth is, life is not about wishful thinking. Every great man we see at the apex of success today has tons of stories of grit and gravel; of “I wish I knew why I did it this way;” heaps of trials and failures. There are early mornings and many late nights, and there are learned mistakes that shaped them into the admirable people they are. This could be the wisdom that ‘post-modernity’ is somehow missing. We earn nothing from just wishing and believing; we must engage in hard work. We must ask, seek, and knock, as it relates to Proverbs 14:4: “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”
Older folks in church ought to share with younger ones that neither their headquarters, the local church, their education, or lack of it, or their stance in society will get them anything meaningful in their Christian walk. It is imperative to know that joy in any church setup is a result of effort, and the opposite often breeds frustration. We, as seasoned Christians, must help shape the future of the youth by not condemning them, but by loving them, bringing them closer, and teaching them how to get the richly supplied milk from the cow.
In essence, the analogy of the cow and the milk serves as a powerful reminder that success, in any form, is not handed to us on a silver platter. It requires dedication, hard work, and perseverance, all established on our faith in God. As seasoned Christians, it is our duty to guide the younger generation, not with criticism or harsh words but with compassion and wisdom rooted in God’s love. By teaching them the value of effort, resilience, and reliance on God’s strength, we equip them to thrive both in their faith and in their lives. Let us foster a community where everyone understands that true fulfillment comes from diligent work, continuous faith in God, and a commitment to personal growth, ensuring that the future is bright and fruitful for all under God’s grace.