Proverbs 29 presents more warnings and instructions, offering a variety of alternating negatives and positives as guides for wise living. James 4 offers similar advice, and I know I cannot write day after day on James, even though he never gets old! This morning I did purpose to focus on the many positive commands in Proverbs 29, knowing that if we can simply make time to manage these aspects of the Christian life, we leave very little if any time for the sinful desires that tend to captivate us.
Go through the chapter, and note those positives. Here are some I jotted down, regarding wisdom and/or righteousness, either direct commands or attributes of the wise/righteous (God-fearing):
The man who loves it makes his father glad
Sings and rejoices
Turns away anger
Is concerned about the rights of the blameless
Holds back one’s temper
Will see the fall of the wicked
Honor used to be important, and we are told here that the humble will obtain honor. Honor these days is talked about nostalgically, something that fits the old, the seasoned, the old-timers, those from the “old school”. Our lives in Christ need to be no less honorable, and there needs to be honor restored to being Christian, to take stands for what is right by Him.
Do we exalt ourselves? Absolutely not. “Trust in the Lord”, that is a command which will result in exaltation by God Himself.
The “upright”, those God-fearers are hated by (“abominable to”) the wicked. Jesus Himself warned of that hatred, since they hated Him first.
James, in chapter 4 reminds us up front that the quarrels and conflicts we find all around us can be attributed to our own pleasure-seeking. His recommendation?
Submit to God
Resist the devil
Draw near to God
Cleanse, purify
Humble yourselves
I and you alike know right from wrong. It is the choosing that gets us. As we walk in the Way of the Truth and the Life, let’s strive to choose wisely, let’s begin anew today.
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