All along the way in Proverbs the challenge has been from the author to a son, instruction on living wisely. There has been instruction on wisdom vs foolishness, warning against distraction and temptation from attractive, yet empty sources of pleasure. We have read about laziness and selfishness, and the list goes on. And so we get to Proverbs 31, the “Godly woman” passage. Or is it?
Opening this Proverb is a simple, yet direct challenge to governmental leadership, written to a King (Lemuel) as taught by his mother. We could pause to wonder why his father did not do this teaching, or we could applaud a mother who took to heart teaching her son. Regardless, here are those traits, but we’ll spend time elsewhere. Effective governing should consist of 1) using one’s authority for the people, not himself; 2) maintaining sobriety and clarity of mind; 3) speaking up for those who cannot do so for themselves; 4) righteousness.
OK, now on to the next main theme, those Godly women. Interesting to me that the intended audience of this Proverbs is NOT the young women, but rather the young MEN. We’ve spent so much time learning what to avoid, making the right choices, and now it is time for young men to choose a wife, and choose well they must.
Without getting too detailed, this part of the chapter is a structured poem, called a chiasmus. That means that there are verses and themes repeated on both sides of a central point, and each of the supporting verses directs its focus to that point. The center of this chiasmus is verse 23, “Her husband is known in the gates...” Essentially, there is public respect for this man.
Proverbs has been steering men away from the prostitute, and toward the Godly woman. The implied reader is a man. Wisdom is portrayed as a woman, thus the reader would further be implied to be a man.
The virtues here do indeed apply to the Godly woman, and they can certainly be used as instruction for women. That point is very clear. Further, these virtues allow for men to be successful leaders in their families, churches, and communities. The men lead these women, and also heavily depend on them. Creation is in clear view here, with men created to be leaders, and women to be helpers to that leading. There is no subservient tone here, this is a good marriage, a Godly partnership, orchestrated by the Creator Himself.
In summary then, men must choose one woman or the other, wisdom or foolishness. Choose well, and flourish as a leader. Choose poorly, and life will be a struggle. Men depend on three key relationships: fear God; receive parental instruction; and find the good wife. Ephesians 2 and Proverbs 19 tell us that he fear of God and the good wife are both gifts of God.
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul, and for providing a good wife.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Clock in
Nearing the end of Proverbs now, and hopefully the argument has been made sufficiently to prompt us to want to live with better understanding of God and His Word. We should be wanting to live more wisely than we did yesterday, and tomorrow more wisely than today, and so on. All the practical advice in the world, even when it comes directly from God, makes no difference if we take no action. So I turn today to verses 24-28 in Proverbs 30.
Without re-typing all the verses here, to save some space, hear are the animals used to demonstrate some character that we as believer should possess. These animals are very weak and frail compared to humans, they have no authority, and they are easily captured or eliminated. Yet, God wants us to learn from them.
The ant prepares for bad times when times are good.
The shephanim (NASB, perhaps a badger) demonstrates providing personal security.
The locusts demonstrate cooperation.
The defenseless lizard has worth.
What I see here is God expecting people to take responsibility. Yes, God is faithful to provide all we need, yet He still demands we work, that we demonstrate diligence. Just as these animals are frail and insignificant compared to humans, so are we to our Creator. Yet He loved us enough to provide a Savior, and by doing so, He has made our apparently-meaningless lives actually worth something. Indeed, He has made us heirs to the throne, to live eternally with Christ.
Meanwhile, we are here, and our spirits reside in this flesh for now. Choices will confront us today, and tomorrow, and well, every day we live here. The challenge through Proverbs has been to understand and recognize the difference between foolishness and wisdom, and then to make the right and wise choice when confronted with options. Overall, our call is to live a life that counts for God, and the animals He uses here provide a good summary.
Work hard, be a producer/provider, help others and allow them to help, and realize the investment God has made in the life of each believer. I, for one, am thankful that God’s wealth is limitless, and that He has plenty more to invest. He has given each of us the responsibility to point people to Him. He has given us the church, family, and countless blessings such as jobs, friends, material goods, and all are to be used to live a wise life here, looking forward to a perfect life later, forever.
Without re-typing all the verses here, to save some space, hear are the animals used to demonstrate some character that we as believer should possess. These animals are very weak and frail compared to humans, they have no authority, and they are easily captured or eliminated. Yet, God wants us to learn from them.
The ant prepares for bad times when times are good.
The shephanim (NASB, perhaps a badger) demonstrates providing personal security.
The locusts demonstrate cooperation.
The defenseless lizard has worth.
What I see here is God expecting people to take responsibility. Yes, God is faithful to provide all we need, yet He still demands we work, that we demonstrate diligence. Just as these animals are frail and insignificant compared to humans, so are we to our Creator. Yet He loved us enough to provide a Savior, and by doing so, He has made our apparently-meaningless lives actually worth something. Indeed, He has made us heirs to the throne, to live eternally with Christ.
Meanwhile, we are here, and our spirits reside in this flesh for now. Choices will confront us today, and tomorrow, and well, every day we live here. The challenge through Proverbs has been to understand and recognize the difference between foolishness and wisdom, and then to make the right and wise choice when confronted with options. Overall, our call is to live a life that counts for God, and the animals He uses here provide a good summary.
Work hard, be a producer/provider, help others and allow them to help, and realize the investment God has made in the life of each believer. I, for one, am thankful that God’s wealth is limitless, and that He has plenty more to invest. He has given each of us the responsibility to point people to Him. He has given us the church, family, and countless blessings such as jobs, friends, material goods, and all are to be used to live a wise life here, looking forward to a perfect life later, forever.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sharp
“Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
The most dangerous tool in the kitchen is a dull knife. When the blade is dull, you have to use more strength to cut, and if there is a slip, the cut is more like a gash. With a very sharp knife, cutting is easier, and accidents actually tend to be less severe. Sharp tools make for easier and more efficient work, and you know what, they make the job more enjoyable, too.
A point to clarify, sharpening a knife requires that the blade come into contact with something harder than itself, such as a stone, or steel-based object. However, a blade can be KEPT sharp by regular contact with something of similar material and sharpness.
So then the application quickly moves to believers. We, too, require sharpening. So let’s move through the analogy. We begin as dull blades, and progressive sharpness occur by our contact with God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says this Word is sharper than any two-edged sword. In the language of that day the meaning is clear, nothing is sharper! So if we as believers are serious about becoming useful, tools to be used by God for His glory, then we need to sharpen, we need to be regular students of His Word.
Remember, though, James 1:22 exhorts us to be do-ers, as well as hearers of that Word, so we are to be striving to be those useful tools. As we do so, struggles of the world, life here and now, and so on, can take its toll, “dull the blade” so to speak. We cannot allow that to happen! This is where I believe our relationship with other believers comes into play. If we associate ourselves with others who are striving to stay active and sharp, we will be in regular contact with other “objects” of similar material and sharpness, and in doing so, we “keep our edge”, pardon the pun.
A new believer needs to dive into God’s Word and become useful, and he/she also needs regular interaction with others sharper than him/herself. The strong, mature believer must be careful to not get complacent (1 Cor. 10:12), staying sharp.
Finally, consistent sharpening involves cutting away metal and honing a new edge, exposing new material to be used in cutting. The believer must be teachable enough to accept correction and reproof, to honestly admit failings, and then be willing to be sharpened, to put on that new self, over and over again. And that correction only comes from the Word and by Biblical challenge and encouragement from fellow believers.
So the expectation is clear. Get sharp and stay sharp!
Praying today for someone to be sharpened by God’s Word and my activity, and for sharpening for myself from that same Word and those around me.
The most dangerous tool in the kitchen is a dull knife. When the blade is dull, you have to use more strength to cut, and if there is a slip, the cut is more like a gash. With a very sharp knife, cutting is easier, and accidents actually tend to be less severe. Sharp tools make for easier and more efficient work, and you know what, they make the job more enjoyable, too.
A point to clarify, sharpening a knife requires that the blade come into contact with something harder than itself, such as a stone, or steel-based object. However, a blade can be KEPT sharp by regular contact with something of similar material and sharpness.
So then the application quickly moves to believers. We, too, require sharpening. So let’s move through the analogy. We begin as dull blades, and progressive sharpness occur by our contact with God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says this Word is sharper than any two-edged sword. In the language of that day the meaning is clear, nothing is sharper! So if we as believers are serious about becoming useful, tools to be used by God for His glory, then we need to sharpen, we need to be regular students of His Word.
Remember, though, James 1:22 exhorts us to be do-ers, as well as hearers of that Word, so we are to be striving to be those useful tools. As we do so, struggles of the world, life here and now, and so on, can take its toll, “dull the blade” so to speak. We cannot allow that to happen! This is where I believe our relationship with other believers comes into play. If we associate ourselves with others who are striving to stay active and sharp, we will be in regular contact with other “objects” of similar material and sharpness, and in doing so, we “keep our edge”, pardon the pun.
A new believer needs to dive into God’s Word and become useful, and he/she also needs regular interaction with others sharper than him/herself. The strong, mature believer must be careful to not get complacent (1 Cor. 10:12), staying sharp.
Finally, consistent sharpening involves cutting away metal and honing a new edge, exposing new material to be used in cutting. The believer must be teachable enough to accept correction and reproof, to honestly admit failings, and then be willing to be sharpened, to put on that new self, over and over again. And that correction only comes from the Word and by Biblical challenge and encouragement from fellow believers.
So the expectation is clear. Get sharp and stay sharp!
Praying today for someone to be sharpened by God’s Word and my activity, and for sharpening for myself from that same Word and those around me.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
De-sensitized
There are just too many specifically interesting verses in Proverbs 26 to deal with them all in this space. So read through it, pick out a couple and do some basic study on those that really pique your curiosity. You’ll be blessed by even a brief study.
Take a look at verses 4 and 5, for instance, here I have it in the KJV, similar in the NIV:
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”
So, do you answer a fool according to his folly, or not?
Anyway, one that I delved further into was verse 9, “Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.” (NASB)
This chapter deals quite a bit with the term fool, with an obvious contrast to the wise. Very basically, the fool here is one who hears and knows the teachings, the right things to do, and chooses foolishness instead of wisdom. I realize that might still be a bit general, but read this chapter with that big picture in mind.
Thorns in the hand of a drunkard? My initial question was “Why would it be a waste to have thorns there? After all, what good are thorns in the hand of ANYONE?” Then it hit me. A drunkard’s senses are going to be diminished. He would be holding something which should feel painful, but yet he has no idea. That’s the idea here.
A proverb is to be a wise saying, something taken to heart and then used in application to live wisely according to God’s instruction. When we ignore His teaching, and behave as the fool does, we become like the drunkard. We make choices that can and will hurt us, and yet we have no idea, because we are not completely tuned into the Lord and His ways. Such is wise living, recognizing the thorns, those elements of this world which are so dangerous and harmful to our spiritual walks.
I pray today that we “sober up” about the choices we make.
Take a look at verses 4 and 5, for instance, here I have it in the KJV, similar in the NIV:
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”
So, do you answer a fool according to his folly, or not?
Anyway, one that I delved further into was verse 9, “Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.” (NASB)
This chapter deals quite a bit with the term fool, with an obvious contrast to the wise. Very basically, the fool here is one who hears and knows the teachings, the right things to do, and chooses foolishness instead of wisdom. I realize that might still be a bit general, but read this chapter with that big picture in mind.
Thorns in the hand of a drunkard? My initial question was “Why would it be a waste to have thorns there? After all, what good are thorns in the hand of ANYONE?” Then it hit me. A drunkard’s senses are going to be diminished. He would be holding something which should feel painful, but yet he has no idea. That’s the idea here.
A proverb is to be a wise saying, something taken to heart and then used in application to live wisely according to God’s instruction. When we ignore His teaching, and behave as the fool does, we become like the drunkard. We make choices that can and will hurt us, and yet we have no idea, because we are not completely tuned into the Lord and His ways. Such is wise living, recognizing the thorns, those elements of this world which are so dangerous and harmful to our spiritual walks.
I pray today that we “sober up” about the choices we make.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Seek and Do
Proverbs 25 is heavy on practical living, and honey shows up twice as a metaphor of choice here. First, though, the chapter begins by comparing God concealing the matter (mysteries known only to Him) with kings (men) seeking out that matter. This is not to mean that it is bad for us to seek out God’s secrets. Consider that this chapter was written at a time when kings and rulers very naturally combined their political and theological lives, and so a highly educated ruler would rule wisely and study God’s Word, continually seeking answers, while still focusing on living righteously. That is, he would know it AND live it.
Back to the honey. Honey is great, but too much will make you sick. That is the gist of verse 16. This verse is actually coupled with verse 17, telling us that you can make good company for others, but don’t overstay your welcome. Then in verse 27, we are again reminded that it is not good to eat too much honey, much like seeking one’s own glory.
In between is where I spent the majority of my reading time this morning. Verses 18-20, specifically. The reality of life in this world is such that each and every day we will be presented with opportunities to communicate with people, and each day brings its own challenges, both in our mood and circumstances and those of others around us. With that in mind, watch out, either for these types of people, or to not BE these like these types of people. A goal for a believer should be to make a positive difference, pointing others to God and the Savior.
The first mentioned is the perjurer, the false witness. Simply put, the tale-teller is dangerous.
Second is what we might call an unreliable person. The NASB uses the term “faithless”. So we could either see this as someone without faith or someone who is a believer but not relying heavily on that faith. Either way, it is not a good situation to surround oneself with these kinds of people (or to be one, either!).
Last here is the one who sings songs to a troubled heart. On the surface, this actually seems like a good person, singing and whistling all the time, “happy”, we would call him. However, the context points to someone who is insensitive to others and their troubles. If we can’t cry with someone who is hurting, thinking that outward emotional glee should suffice, someone who is hurting is not helped by our actions.
Wisdom learned along the way is displayed very practically, with rather simple rules to follow. Sure, there will always be challenges, and God’s Word has the sufficiency to help us deal with them.
The wise will keep “searching”, keep learning. The balance between learning and doing will always be necessary, and both should always be a work in progress. I believe one can never know too much about God, and likewise, one can never do too much for Him.
Back to the honey. Honey is great, but too much will make you sick. That is the gist of verse 16. This verse is actually coupled with verse 17, telling us that you can make good company for others, but don’t overstay your welcome. Then in verse 27, we are again reminded that it is not good to eat too much honey, much like seeking one’s own glory.
In between is where I spent the majority of my reading time this morning. Verses 18-20, specifically. The reality of life in this world is such that each and every day we will be presented with opportunities to communicate with people, and each day brings its own challenges, both in our mood and circumstances and those of others around us. With that in mind, watch out, either for these types of people, or to not BE these like these types of people. A goal for a believer should be to make a positive difference, pointing others to God and the Savior.
The first mentioned is the perjurer, the false witness. Simply put, the tale-teller is dangerous.
Second is what we might call an unreliable person. The NASB uses the term “faithless”. So we could either see this as someone without faith or someone who is a believer but not relying heavily on that faith. Either way, it is not a good situation to surround oneself with these kinds of people (or to be one, either!).
Last here is the one who sings songs to a troubled heart. On the surface, this actually seems like a good person, singing and whistling all the time, “happy”, we would call him. However, the context points to someone who is insensitive to others and their troubles. If we can’t cry with someone who is hurting, thinking that outward emotional glee should suffice, someone who is hurting is not helped by our actions.
Wisdom learned along the way is displayed very practically, with rather simple rules to follow. Sure, there will always be challenges, and God’s Word has the sufficiency to help us deal with them.
The wise will keep “searching”, keep learning. The balance between learning and doing will always be necessary, and both should always be a work in progress. I believe one can never know too much about God, and likewise, one can never do too much for Him.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Nuggets of Learning
One enjoyable aspect of daily Bible reading is stopping when I come to passages that seem unclear or pique my curiosity, and studying a bit to get a clearer picture of what the author had in mind (albeit, guided to write by the Spirit). So, in Proverbs 24, I took a bit of time this morning to slow down on account of a few words, phrases, and points.
First, the term ‘scoffer’ appears often in Proverbs, but just what, or who, is a scoffer? The word used is closely tied to ‘mocker’, and think about someone who has mocked you. Why are they doing it? Chances are, you have presented a viewpoint or your side of an issue, and the other party not only disagrees, but decides to belittle you along with disagreeing. Likewise, in Proverbs then, a scoffer is one who does not take very well to correction or suggestion for improvement. Good to keep in mind the next time the word comes up.
Second, I wondered about this phrase in verse 26, “He kisses the lips who gives a right answer.” I read that and thought, OK, someone who answers correctly gets a kiss. Not even close. Sweet, but no. All the translations use ‘kiss’ or ‘kisses’. This is a great place to look at the context of verses 23-26, which concludes with this verse. You’ve got partiality in judgment discussed, falsely claiming the wicked to be righteous, rebuking the wicked, and then verse 26, a kiss when someone tells the truth.
The best way to explain this is that when someone tells the unbiased truth, naysayers and those trying to get around justice are silenced. A proper verdict, given by an upright man of character, who gives a clear and straight analysis of a situation is likened to what happens when a man and woman kiss. There is no more talking. The issue is settled, is what the writer is saying.
Finally, verses 28 are not difficult to understand, but perhaps the principle is difficult to consistently practice. There is to be no public display of settling scores or disputes. Humility is once again brought to mind, as we are to think much less of ourselves, and much more of others.
I, for one, am thoroughly enjoying the challenges presented to living a life of wisdom for the Lord. If I said I had them all mastered, then I’d be speaking from Glory. Since I am not, then I’m in the fight alongside you. Praying today that wisdom will indeed prevail in our choices today.
First, the term ‘scoffer’ appears often in Proverbs, but just what, or who, is a scoffer? The word used is closely tied to ‘mocker’, and think about someone who has mocked you. Why are they doing it? Chances are, you have presented a viewpoint or your side of an issue, and the other party not only disagrees, but decides to belittle you along with disagreeing. Likewise, in Proverbs then, a scoffer is one who does not take very well to correction or suggestion for improvement. Good to keep in mind the next time the word comes up.
Second, I wondered about this phrase in verse 26, “He kisses the lips who gives a right answer.” I read that and thought, OK, someone who answers correctly gets a kiss. Not even close. Sweet, but no. All the translations use ‘kiss’ or ‘kisses’. This is a great place to look at the context of verses 23-26, which concludes with this verse. You’ve got partiality in judgment discussed, falsely claiming the wicked to be righteous, rebuking the wicked, and then verse 26, a kiss when someone tells the truth.
The best way to explain this is that when someone tells the unbiased truth, naysayers and those trying to get around justice are silenced. A proper verdict, given by an upright man of character, who gives a clear and straight analysis of a situation is likened to what happens when a man and woman kiss. There is no more talking. The issue is settled, is what the writer is saying.
Finally, verses 28 are not difficult to understand, but perhaps the principle is difficult to consistently practice. There is to be no public display of settling scores or disputes. Humility is once again brought to mind, as we are to think much less of ourselves, and much more of others.
I, for one, am thoroughly enjoying the challenges presented to living a life of wisdom for the Lord. If I said I had them all mastered, then I’d be speaking from Glory. Since I am not, then I’m in the fight alongside you. Praying today that wisdom will indeed prevail in our choices today.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Why So Hopeful?
“Bonus” posting today…
“Hope”- it cropped up again in a message at church last night. The context was evangelism, and the topic was centered around answering those who see you as “different”, and hopefully, the world sees Christians as “different”.
The verse is familiar, 1 Peter 3:15:
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Note that the verse starts with “but”, so while reading this as the message began, I wanted to see what caused the “but”. The answer lies in verse 14, “AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED”, which is in CAPS (in the NASB, because it is a quoted Old Testament Reference (check the front of your Bible to see how OT references are indicated in your version). So, the “but” was to point out the contrast of what was written before and after the word. Well, I had to see what the referenced verse was, and what the context was when it was written, to better understand why it was quoted by Peter here (and Peter knew his Scriptures well!).
The reference comes from Isaiah 8:12-13, written to a group of people who had seen Damascus and Samaria fall to Assyria. Now those people had worries and concerns, they were afraid of what was going on around them. They were acting like everyone else was, to put it bluntly. And God told them then not to be afraid of what others were afraid of, but rather, fear the Lord.
Peter uses the same verse to tell persecuted and scattered believers the same thing. Basically, stop letting the worries and concerns of this world dampen your joy, casting a shadow over your hope. Instead, always be ready to give a defense of the hope in you. This clearly implies that those around us CAN see that hope.
Believers, we have the hope, the certainty of life eternal with our Savior. Pray that God would lead someone to you this very day who needs to hear that, who might understand that, and who might prayerfully accept that same salvation in his or her own life.
“Hope”- it cropped up again in a message at church last night. The context was evangelism, and the topic was centered around answering those who see you as “different”, and hopefully, the world sees Christians as “different”.
The verse is familiar, 1 Peter 3:15:
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Note that the verse starts with “but”, so while reading this as the message began, I wanted to see what caused the “but”. The answer lies in verse 14, “AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED”, which is in CAPS (in the NASB, because it is a quoted Old Testament Reference (check the front of your Bible to see how OT references are indicated in your version). So, the “but” was to point out the contrast of what was written before and after the word. Well, I had to see what the referenced verse was, and what the context was when it was written, to better understand why it was quoted by Peter here (and Peter knew his Scriptures well!).
The reference comes from Isaiah 8:12-13, written to a group of people who had seen Damascus and Samaria fall to Assyria. Now those people had worries and concerns, they were afraid of what was going on around them. They were acting like everyone else was, to put it bluntly. And God told them then not to be afraid of what others were afraid of, but rather, fear the Lord.
Peter uses the same verse to tell persecuted and scattered believers the same thing. Basically, stop letting the worries and concerns of this world dampen your joy, casting a shadow over your hope. Instead, always be ready to give a defense of the hope in you. This clearly implies that those around us CAN see that hope.
Believers, we have the hope, the certainty of life eternal with our Savior. Pray that God would lead someone to you this very day who needs to hear that, who might understand that, and who might prayerfully accept that same salvation in his or her own life.
How Distracted are We?
I kind of sum up Proverbs like this: Read them, hear the principled instructions, accept the teachings, and apply what you’ve learned.
“Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.
For a harlot is a deep pit
And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.” (Prov. 23:26-27)
Some have translated the Hebrew here to read more like “let your eyes approve of my ways”, to be taken more like “keep to the teacher’s paths”. And then the harlot, or the prostitute, is used as a metaphor of the distractions that compete with that path of the teacher.
While I did not list verse 28 here, the summary of the results of living the distracted life, as opposed to the wise “proper path” life, is seen as a moral decline in society. When people take their eyes off God and His ways, they (we) do what we do best when left to our own devices – we’ll do whatever looks and feels good, taking the sinfully attractive paths. As in the above example, the harlot seeks to look attractive, just as a lure or bait is attractive to aimless fish. The Christian, then, needs to be ever-careful in chasing after the lures we encounter regularly.
A major distraction that is very real to us and our society is addressed in verses 29-35 of this chapter. Go and read that as you can today. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=prov%2023:29-35&version=NASB.
Verse 30 mentions “those who linger long over wine”. In essence, in our terms today, this speaks of someone who desires to use alcohol, drugs, etc. as a means of security and comfort, believing that some relief from the world’s struggles and stress is close at hand. Rather than turn to the Creator and God of all comfort (1 Peter 5:7), we tend to turn to vices to calm our anxiety.
So then, when I couple the verses that speak about competing paths with those that describe our tendency to drown our sorrows with earthly pleasures, such as alcohol and drugs, it is not hard to see how we can quickly spiral out of control when we respond improperly to what life throws at us.
Praying today for contentment, resistance of temptation (1 Cor. 10:13), and a genuine turning to and dependence on God in times of uncertainty and trial.
“Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.
For a harlot is a deep pit
And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.” (Prov. 23:26-27)
Some have translated the Hebrew here to read more like “let your eyes approve of my ways”, to be taken more like “keep to the teacher’s paths”. And then the harlot, or the prostitute, is used as a metaphor of the distractions that compete with that path of the teacher.
While I did not list verse 28 here, the summary of the results of living the distracted life, as opposed to the wise “proper path” life, is seen as a moral decline in society. When people take their eyes off God and His ways, they (we) do what we do best when left to our own devices – we’ll do whatever looks and feels good, taking the sinfully attractive paths. As in the above example, the harlot seeks to look attractive, just as a lure or bait is attractive to aimless fish. The Christian, then, needs to be ever-careful in chasing after the lures we encounter regularly.
A major distraction that is very real to us and our society is addressed in verses 29-35 of this chapter. Go and read that as you can today. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=prov%2023:29-35&version=NASB.
Verse 30 mentions “those who linger long over wine”. In essence, in our terms today, this speaks of someone who desires to use alcohol, drugs, etc. as a means of security and comfort, believing that some relief from the world’s struggles and stress is close at hand. Rather than turn to the Creator and God of all comfort (1 Peter 5:7), we tend to turn to vices to calm our anxiety.
So then, when I couple the verses that speak about competing paths with those that describe our tendency to drown our sorrows with earthly pleasures, such as alcohol and drugs, it is not hard to see how we can quickly spiral out of control when we respond improperly to what life throws at us.
Praying today for contentment, resistance of temptation (1 Cor. 10:13), and a genuine turning to and dependence on God in times of uncertainty and trial.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Trustworthy
Do you trust the calibration of the gasoline pumps? When you receive 15.64 gallons of fuel, are you sure? Or do you measure out your gallon container of milk to make sure the store sold you the correct amount? How about the scale you step on to check your diet? OK, on that last one, we’ll assume the scale is wrong, on the high side, of course!
We tend to be a trusting kind of people. And really, if you made a big deal at the grocery store demanding to see the milk weighed and measured, you’d likely make the news, and not in a good way.
Archeologists have discovered standard weights and measures in the ruins of ancient cities, and found that merchants often carried two sets, one for buying, one for selling.
“Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD...
“Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good.” (Prov. 20: 10, 23)
Apparently, dishonest business practices and relationships were potential problems. Prior to currency being coined, goods and services were traded using precious metals, or other valuables, and their weights were what determined the amount. Imagine buying milk, and instead of spending $3.00, you actually spent 12 ounces of copper. That’s the idea. If we did that, we would expect the scale that weighed the copper to be accurate. In fact, we might think to bring along our own scale to check against that of the merchant.
You see, cheating is just not right. Such dishonesty was and is despised by the Lord.
The real issue, obviously, is in the hearts of people. To willfully take advantage of someone’s trust breaks down the very foundation of human relationships. But people take advantage of each other all too very often. God calls that kind of behavior, the motivation behind cheating someone, “abominable”, “not good”. If God can simply call something “not good”, I take His word for it.
So, how does that apply now? I mean, we don’t use counterfeit money to try to buy merchandise (I hope). We don’t keep extra money when a cashier gives us the wrong change (I hope). Those who say they love and fear God are expected to live honest lives, which just might be a key way to show the world how we are actually different.
As much as God wants us to be honest with others, He wants us to be honest with Him. He started it. He gave us His Word, He gave us the Savior, if we would accept Him. He told us what He expects in our homes, our families, our church, our communities, and first and foremost, in our relationship with Him. God can be trusted at every turn of life.
Along with honesty in character, God then expects us to practice wisdom, understanding, and faith in Him. Yes, He can be trusted, indeed. And the more we trust Him, the more our lives will reflect His holiness.
We tend to be a trusting kind of people. And really, if you made a big deal at the grocery store demanding to see the milk weighed and measured, you’d likely make the news, and not in a good way.
Archeologists have discovered standard weights and measures in the ruins of ancient cities, and found that merchants often carried two sets, one for buying, one for selling.
“Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD...
“Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good.” (Prov. 20: 10, 23)
Apparently, dishonest business practices and relationships were potential problems. Prior to currency being coined, goods and services were traded using precious metals, or other valuables, and their weights were what determined the amount. Imagine buying milk, and instead of spending $3.00, you actually spent 12 ounces of copper. That’s the idea. If we did that, we would expect the scale that weighed the copper to be accurate. In fact, we might think to bring along our own scale to check against that of the merchant.
You see, cheating is just not right. Such dishonesty was and is despised by the Lord.
The real issue, obviously, is in the hearts of people. To willfully take advantage of someone’s trust breaks down the very foundation of human relationships. But people take advantage of each other all too very often. God calls that kind of behavior, the motivation behind cheating someone, “abominable”, “not good”. If God can simply call something “not good”, I take His word for it.
So, how does that apply now? I mean, we don’t use counterfeit money to try to buy merchandise (I hope). We don’t keep extra money when a cashier gives us the wrong change (I hope). Those who say they love and fear God are expected to live honest lives, which just might be a key way to show the world how we are actually different.
As much as God wants us to be honest with others, He wants us to be honest with Him. He started it. He gave us His Word, He gave us the Savior, if we would accept Him. He told us what He expects in our homes, our families, our church, our communities, and first and foremost, in our relationship with Him. God can be trusted at every turn of life.
Along with honesty in character, God then expects us to practice wisdom, understanding, and faith in Him. Yes, He can be trusted, indeed. And the more we trust Him, the more our lives will reflect His holiness.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
But Why?
Two verses today, kind of related, and they wrap around several teachings that find themselves in between them. Bible scholars call that an ‘inclusio’. Me? I call that God telling me “pay attention, because the same themes keep coming up to get your attention!”
Proverbs 19:16, 23.
“He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die…
The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.”
We as parents can get frustrated when children want to know why. At times it seems they are not listening to what is being told them, and that all they do is ask “Why?”. Along the way, we teach them to obey in simple matters, so that later on in life bigger matters will seem important to obey as well. At some point, we hope that they take on that obedience because of a healthy aspect of their own relationship with the Lord, that is, they do what is right in order to please Him, resting in the knowledge that their outward actions are a reflection of their inward attitudes.
I see God teaching us the same way. “Life” is important to him. So many times life and death are compared and contrasted to demonstrate the positive and negative. I realize there are very Godly people who die young, just as there are wicked people who live long lives here. God has the bigger, longer-lasting picture of peace with Him in mind as He teaches us. So, using these two verses to cover what falls in between, gives us an excellent framework of examples of living for Him.
Be gracious to the poor, God will repay you.
Discipline your son (children).
Keep your temper under control.
Listen to instruction. Accept discipline.
Be kind.
Have and maintain integrity (better to be poor than a liar).
(Insert 3-year-old child’s voice here) WHY? WHY?
All of these reflect a healthy fear of the Lord, that reverence and respect that is due Him, and only Him. WHY? He loved us first, remember?
Because then we can sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. In simple terms, we can be at peace with God, if we live according to His terms, with the proper respect for Him. How we live this life reflects just what we think of Him. The choices we make each and every day speak loud and clear to those around us. Do they know that we know the Savior, personally?
This world can’t come close to God’s peace. Here’s praying that we will strive for the peace only He holds. “Take the world but give me Jesus” - Fanny Crosby had her priorities in order, responding to a neighbor complaining about being poor.
Proverbs 19:16, 23.
“He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die…
The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.”
We as parents can get frustrated when children want to know why. At times it seems they are not listening to what is being told them, and that all they do is ask “Why?”. Along the way, we teach them to obey in simple matters, so that later on in life bigger matters will seem important to obey as well. At some point, we hope that they take on that obedience because of a healthy aspect of their own relationship with the Lord, that is, they do what is right in order to please Him, resting in the knowledge that their outward actions are a reflection of their inward attitudes.
I see God teaching us the same way. “Life” is important to him. So many times life and death are compared and contrasted to demonstrate the positive and negative. I realize there are very Godly people who die young, just as there are wicked people who live long lives here. God has the bigger, longer-lasting picture of peace with Him in mind as He teaches us. So, using these two verses to cover what falls in between, gives us an excellent framework of examples of living for Him.
Be gracious to the poor, God will repay you.
Discipline your son (children).
Keep your temper under control.
Listen to instruction. Accept discipline.
Be kind.
Have and maintain integrity (better to be poor than a liar).
(Insert 3-year-old child’s voice here) WHY? WHY?
All of these reflect a healthy fear of the Lord, that reverence and respect that is due Him, and only Him. WHY? He loved us first, remember?
Because then we can sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. In simple terms, we can be at peace with God, if we live according to His terms, with the proper respect for Him. How we live this life reflects just what we think of Him. The choices we make each and every day speak loud and clear to those around us. Do they know that we know the Savior, personally?
This world can’t come close to God’s peace. Here’s praying that we will strive for the peace only He holds. “Take the world but give me Jesus” - Fanny Crosby had her priorities in order, responding to a neighbor complaining about being poor.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Blah, blah, blah
Great speakers stand out in one’s memory. The words they choose, the way thoughts are combined, and the way concepts or beliefs are communicated to others can certainly be masterful. I have my favorites, as I’m sure you do as well. History has a way of immortalizing moments that were met by a timely, motivating speech, or a spontaneous verbal reaction to a crisis or triumph. Yes, history is full of great speakers.
We like to talk, and why not? Human communication is distinctly unique and designed by God, unmatched in the rest of creation. It’s one major aspect that makes us unique. And sometimes, we like to listen…to ourselves…to much. We love to hear ourselves talk, and Proverbs 18 discusses this briefly, in a two-verse couplet:
“20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Prov. 18:20-21)
A satisfied stomach is a common metaphor for something being pleasing, yet focused on self-satisfaction. We tend to get very satisfied with what we say. We say things to others, to ourselves, and then we do it more and more.
But let’s build on some of what Proverbs has taught us thus far. Wisdom, coming from understanding and knowledge, is the product of hearing and heeding instruction. Proverbs 10:19 even told us that with too many words, sin is unavoidable (my paraphrase). Basically stated, a primary source of wisdom is talking less, listening more. And then it stands to reason that this “product of our lips” should actually be satisfying and edifying to others, and not designed to simply please ourselves.
But we are so smart! And if I like what I say, other people should, too! Right??
Verse 21 tells us how destructive this way of thinking can be. Sharing our own opinions can become addicting (those who love the power of the tongue will eat its fruit), and the results can be dangerous. The tongue, our words, can be horribly misused, and yet we can fall in love with those very words. James talks about this in great detail, too.
The wise God-fearer must learn to recognize the power of words, and use them with great restraint. We battle with our flesh. Our flesh is prideful, and we like to be right. We like to let others know that we are right. If we are not very careful, we tear others down with what we say and how we say it. We tend to speak out of a love for ourselves, as opposed to a love for others.
There indeed is a time for us to talk, and to voice our opinions, and we get the chance to practice speaking wisely each day. I pray we ask the Lord for wisdom in how we speak today.
I know we are jumping ahead, but Proverbs 25:11 certainly rings true.
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.”
We like to talk, and why not? Human communication is distinctly unique and designed by God, unmatched in the rest of creation. It’s one major aspect that makes us unique. And sometimes, we like to listen…to ourselves…to much. We love to hear ourselves talk, and Proverbs 18 discusses this briefly, in a two-verse couplet:
“20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Prov. 18:20-21)
A satisfied stomach is a common metaphor for something being pleasing, yet focused on self-satisfaction. We tend to get very satisfied with what we say. We say things to others, to ourselves, and then we do it more and more.
But let’s build on some of what Proverbs has taught us thus far. Wisdom, coming from understanding and knowledge, is the product of hearing and heeding instruction. Proverbs 10:19 even told us that with too many words, sin is unavoidable (my paraphrase). Basically stated, a primary source of wisdom is talking less, listening more. And then it stands to reason that this “product of our lips” should actually be satisfying and edifying to others, and not designed to simply please ourselves.
But we are so smart! And if I like what I say, other people should, too! Right??
Verse 21 tells us how destructive this way of thinking can be. Sharing our own opinions can become addicting (those who love the power of the tongue will eat its fruit), and the results can be dangerous. The tongue, our words, can be horribly misused, and yet we can fall in love with those very words. James talks about this in great detail, too.
The wise God-fearer must learn to recognize the power of words, and use them with great restraint. We battle with our flesh. Our flesh is prideful, and we like to be right. We like to let others know that we are right. If we are not very careful, we tear others down with what we say and how we say it. We tend to speak out of a love for ourselves, as opposed to a love for others.
There indeed is a time for us to talk, and to voice our opinions, and we get the chance to practice speaking wisely each day. I pray we ask the Lord for wisdom in how we speak today.
I know we are jumping ahead, but Proverbs 25:11 certainly rings true.
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.”
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Let's Make God's Choices Ours
Proverbs 17:15 seemed clear enough to me when I read it this morning.
“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”
When I first read this, I thought of our country, our leaders, our judicial system. Isaiah 5:20 came to mind, where he discusses those who call evil good and good evil. But these Proverbs were not written to a nation. Sure, they were for Israel to read, and application can be made on a large scale, but look back to chapter 1. “Hear, my son…”
The Proverbs are personal, and I have to believe each of the Israelites who read them was to apply them to his/her life, personally. To do so would strengthen a home, a family, a nation, a group of God-fearers united in a cause to fear God and heed His instruction. The Proverbs were not meant to be difficult to understand, nor were they to be difficult to apply. Being consistent in obeying is another story, that is always the struggle.
But look back to verse 15, with which I opened. “Justifies” is the idea of “acquitting”, or pronouncing “not guilty”. When you read “abomination”, think detestable to God. So then, God detests declaring that which is wicked as being justified, or acceptable. Equally, God detests (HATES) condemning the righteous, punishing the innocent.
Back to my premise here. I can see our country doing things backwards, but these are the Proverbs we are reading. These were read by individuals, to apply to individuals. So let’s get over the country’s issues just for a moment, and look inward, if we dare.
What in my life that is wicked have I simply called OK, acceptable, justifiable? More specifically, what is it that is clearly wicked in society that I have made mainstream in my life, and the life of my family? If I have accepted that which is wicked, God hates it!
What in my life have I condemned that is actually good and righteous in God’s eyes, by His way of thinking? Have I willingly put off doing something that is right, simply to make life here a little easier, or to better fit in? God hates that, too!
Am I distinguishable (the Bible calls it 'peculiar') as a Christian based on my choices?
I could sum up our earthly life’s possibilities with verses 20-22. Read them, I won’t print them here for lack of space, but you can go to this link, pick whatever version you prefer :)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov%2017:%2020-22&version=NASB
The wicked, twisted-thinking man will find a life of trouble.
A foolish, or bad, son is an affliction, or trouble, to his parents.
The joy-filled life, one which comes from a healthy fear of God, and a life of following Him, brings joy that can be found nowhere else.
So today, I pray for all of us, that we would embrace what is good, as God calls good, and that we would hate what God hates. I pray that our responses to each of these is pleasing to Him, and is designed to reflect His glory, not our own. I’m making a list of the things that need to get done better, starting in my home, in my church, for my Savior. In the immediate places where I can get something done, one person, one family, one church at a time.
“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”
When I first read this, I thought of our country, our leaders, our judicial system. Isaiah 5:20 came to mind, where he discusses those who call evil good and good evil. But these Proverbs were not written to a nation. Sure, they were for Israel to read, and application can be made on a large scale, but look back to chapter 1. “Hear, my son…”
The Proverbs are personal, and I have to believe each of the Israelites who read them was to apply them to his/her life, personally. To do so would strengthen a home, a family, a nation, a group of God-fearers united in a cause to fear God and heed His instruction. The Proverbs were not meant to be difficult to understand, nor were they to be difficult to apply. Being consistent in obeying is another story, that is always the struggle.
But look back to verse 15, with which I opened. “Justifies” is the idea of “acquitting”, or pronouncing “not guilty”. When you read “abomination”, think detestable to God. So then, God detests declaring that which is wicked as being justified, or acceptable. Equally, God detests (HATES) condemning the righteous, punishing the innocent.
Back to my premise here. I can see our country doing things backwards, but these are the Proverbs we are reading. These were read by individuals, to apply to individuals. So let’s get over the country’s issues just for a moment, and look inward, if we dare.
What in my life that is wicked have I simply called OK, acceptable, justifiable? More specifically, what is it that is clearly wicked in society that I have made mainstream in my life, and the life of my family? If I have accepted that which is wicked, God hates it!
What in my life have I condemned that is actually good and righteous in God’s eyes, by His way of thinking? Have I willingly put off doing something that is right, simply to make life here a little easier, or to better fit in? God hates that, too!
Am I distinguishable (the Bible calls it 'peculiar') as a Christian based on my choices?
I could sum up our earthly life’s possibilities with verses 20-22. Read them, I won’t print them here for lack of space, but you can go to this link, pick whatever version you prefer :)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov%2017:%2020-22&version=NASB
The wicked, twisted-thinking man will find a life of trouble.
A foolish, or bad, son is an affliction, or trouble, to his parents.
The joy-filled life, one which comes from a healthy fear of God, and a life of following Him, brings joy that can be found nowhere else.
So today, I pray for all of us, that we would embrace what is good, as God calls good, and that we would hate what God hates. I pray that our responses to each of these is pleasing to Him, and is designed to reflect His glory, not our own. I’m making a list of the things that need to get done better, starting in my home, in my church, for my Savior. In the immediate places where I can get something done, one person, one family, one church at a time.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Lamp or Light? (from 1/13/12)
I enjoy reading, and most of what I read is printed in smaller than normal print, because the books might otherwise be bigger than they already are. My eyes are getting older and more tired, making reading glasses necessary, but even more important than that is having good light by which to read. I have a great reading light, very bright, but it’s still a reading light, and it’s hard to use for long periods of time. The best place in the house to read is in a chair by the front window, where lots of natural sunlight comes in. The natural light allows one’s eyes to focus better, and this in turn makes the text crisper, and I can read for longer periods of time when I am sitting there.
OK, long analogy, what’s the point? Two verses in Prov. 13 prompted me to compare sources of light, with a subsequent life lesson summary. The first is Proverbs 13:9, which says “The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.” When I first read this, the comparison seemed to focus on what this whole chapter does, contrasting the righteous and the wicked. But when I noticed that Solomon used different words for illumination, I stopped to dig a little deeper. Turns out the “light of the righteous” uses a word that would be used for sunlight, the brightest natural light source we have. In contrast to that, “lamp of the wicked” uses a word for a common source of light in a home or tabernacle, something temporary, and much less bright.
This is not coincidence, and it fits my analogy well. My reading light could be better termed a ‘lamp’, and the sunlight through my front window would be ‘light’. So then the righteous (the God-follower, the one relationally right with God) is paired with ‘light’, and that light rejoices. That light is associated with joy, which can only come from a relationship with the Lord On the contrary, the mere lamp that is associated with the wicked (no relationship or wrong relationship with God) simply goes out. This lamp is ineffective. I realize there are other places in Scripture where a lamp is a good thing, but here in this context it is not, it is merely a dim comparison.
This is a good comparison of righteousness and wickedness. But, so what?
We as believers have gained access to the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. There is absolutely no other source of power and life. But too often we tend to use our own “lamps” to get through the day, to live this life, forgetting about the eternal one to come. Because if we are truly believers, we are already part of that eternal life, we are part of that Light, used so often in Scripture in comparison to the darkness of the evil world. It’s up to us to lead others to that Light, and then encourage them to live according to the clarity it brings us. Just as the sunlight makes my book texts clearer, so does a relationship to God through Christ illuminate His Word, by which I am commanded to live.
In very practical terms, verse 25 speaks clearly. “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the stomach of the wicked is in need.” If I have Christ, I can be content in living my life for Him. If I do not, I will forever be hungry, never satisfied.
Let’s use our lamps less, and the Light more!
OK, long analogy, what’s the point? Two verses in Prov. 13 prompted me to compare sources of light, with a subsequent life lesson summary. The first is Proverbs 13:9, which says “The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.” When I first read this, the comparison seemed to focus on what this whole chapter does, contrasting the righteous and the wicked. But when I noticed that Solomon used different words for illumination, I stopped to dig a little deeper. Turns out the “light of the righteous” uses a word that would be used for sunlight, the brightest natural light source we have. In contrast to that, “lamp of the wicked” uses a word for a common source of light in a home or tabernacle, something temporary, and much less bright.
This is not coincidence, and it fits my analogy well. My reading light could be better termed a ‘lamp’, and the sunlight through my front window would be ‘light’. So then the righteous (the God-follower, the one relationally right with God) is paired with ‘light’, and that light rejoices. That light is associated with joy, which can only come from a relationship with the Lord On the contrary, the mere lamp that is associated with the wicked (no relationship or wrong relationship with God) simply goes out. This lamp is ineffective. I realize there are other places in Scripture where a lamp is a good thing, but here in this context it is not, it is merely a dim comparison.
This is a good comparison of righteousness and wickedness. But, so what?
We as believers have gained access to the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. There is absolutely no other source of power and life. But too often we tend to use our own “lamps” to get through the day, to live this life, forgetting about the eternal one to come. Because if we are truly believers, we are already part of that eternal life, we are part of that Light, used so often in Scripture in comparison to the darkness of the evil world. It’s up to us to lead others to that Light, and then encourage them to live according to the clarity it brings us. Just as the sunlight makes my book texts clearer, so does a relationship to God through Christ illuminate His Word, by which I am commanded to live.
In very practical terms, verse 25 speaks clearly. “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the stomach of the wicked is in need.” If I have Christ, I can be content in living my life for Him. If I do not, I will forever be hungry, never satisfied.
Let’s use our lamps less, and the Light more!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Can I Be Taught?
I read once where a basketball coach once told one of his players that he liked coaching that player, because when he was corrected on specific points, he usually did not make the same mistake again. That is, he only had to be told once. He wasn’t the best player in the state, or even the most athletic on the team, but the coach, knowing that players are not perfect, sought to teach, and enjoyed coaching those who liked to learn, or who at least willingly accepted correction.
Proverbs 12:1 recalled that story to mind:
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.”
I think most of us tend to enjoy discipline from the standpoint that we like to dictate what it is, or put another way, we’d rather be on the giving end of discipline; we’d rather teach than be taught. For parents, teachers, pastors, etc. teaching and a disciplined life are essential.
But keep in mind in this verse, the discipline and then the reproof are both being received, that is, the reader understands that these two words are very similar and referring to his/her attitude toward being taught.
Proverbs, by the time we get to this chapter, has already established the importance of wisdom, of understanding, of knowledge, and we have been challenged to embrace wisdom, and to put off folly, or foolishness.
A rather simple challenge then. If we love to be taught and corrected, it indicates that we love knowledge, leading us to wisdom, which is skillful living. But that further implies that we have to be willing to listen, learn, and I hope you’re sitting down…CHANGE!
The NASB, ESV, NKJV, and others all use the same word for the one who hates reproof. Stupid. The KJV says “Brutish”. Not exactly mincing words here. In fact, the Hebrew word used would involve the shunning of the person who is this way, who hates reproof or being corrected. I’m not necessarily advocating shunning someone based on a verse in Proverbs, yet the idea is clear. A wise person is teachable. A stupid (by this standard) person is difficult to be around.
So am I willing to learn, be corrected, and change where necessary? Or will I simply hate reading or being told something Biblical meant to correct my ways? I pray I will not be stupid when that occurs. I pray I am not difficult to be around. I sincerely pray that I willfully allow God to continually change me to be more like His Son.
Proverbs 12:1 recalled that story to mind:
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.”
I think most of us tend to enjoy discipline from the standpoint that we like to dictate what it is, or put another way, we’d rather be on the giving end of discipline; we’d rather teach than be taught. For parents, teachers, pastors, etc. teaching and a disciplined life are essential.
But keep in mind in this verse, the discipline and then the reproof are both being received, that is, the reader understands that these two words are very similar and referring to his/her attitude toward being taught.
Proverbs, by the time we get to this chapter, has already established the importance of wisdom, of understanding, of knowledge, and we have been challenged to embrace wisdom, and to put off folly, or foolishness.
A rather simple challenge then. If we love to be taught and corrected, it indicates that we love knowledge, leading us to wisdom, which is skillful living. But that further implies that we have to be willing to listen, learn, and I hope you’re sitting down…CHANGE!
The NASB, ESV, NKJV, and others all use the same word for the one who hates reproof. Stupid. The KJV says “Brutish”. Not exactly mincing words here. In fact, the Hebrew word used would involve the shunning of the person who is this way, who hates reproof or being corrected. I’m not necessarily advocating shunning someone based on a verse in Proverbs, yet the idea is clear. A wise person is teachable. A stupid (by this standard) person is difficult to be around.
So am I willing to learn, be corrected, and change where necessary? Or will I simply hate reading or being told something Biblical meant to correct my ways? I pray I will not be stupid when that occurs. I pray I am not difficult to be around. I sincerely pray that I willfully allow God to continually change me to be more like His Son.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Righteous Fruit
I hope you are reading along in the Proverbs, and I am sure, if you are, that there are many, many verses that give you pause, maybe you wonder what some of them mean, maybe some just seem geared toward a specific issue or topic you struggle with, or have been affected by, or maybe the positive sides of these Proverbs are a great source of encouragement. My point is, if I highlight a verse here and there, it may be a different one than you would; there are just so many one-liners, I find it hard to read the Proverbs very fast.
One today that I stopped a while and read, and then re-read is Prov. 11:30.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life...” Dealing with the fruit first, it depicts what the righteous (the God-fearer) produce as a result of their being righteous, or properly related to the Lord. The tree of life implies a healthy, long life. Thus, righteousness brings life, and though we are not promised a certain number of years here, being righteous positionally with God will result in an endless life with Him. I’d say that qualifies as “long” and “healthy”!
The second half of this verse is not exactly what it seems like at first read. “…and he who is wise wins souls.” Instead of thinking specifically of soul-winning, that is, evangelism, this word “wins” is more like “takes” or “captures”. And what is implied in the text is “influencing people based on ideas”. The assumption is that the ideas are Godly and wise.
Is it wise to share Christ with people? Well, yes, of course, so warning people of their eternal predicament is definitely a wise practice, and a proper application of the Proverb. Just as making wise decisions, which is at the root of this book, is an equally valid application. Those decisions show up in our verbal and physical testimonies, and represent the very foundation upon which we live, and thus serve as ideas by which others will be influenced.
So, putting it all together, being properly related to the Creator (being righteous) will result in positive demonstrations of that relationship. Those, in turn, will allow us to influence those around us, prayerfully convincing others to seek the same relationship and results.
So I have to be an example to others. So do you. Let’s make that a matter of prayer today.
One today that I stopped a while and read, and then re-read is Prov. 11:30.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life...” Dealing with the fruit first, it depicts what the righteous (the God-fearer) produce as a result of their being righteous, or properly related to the Lord. The tree of life implies a healthy, long life. Thus, righteousness brings life, and though we are not promised a certain number of years here, being righteous positionally with God will result in an endless life with Him. I’d say that qualifies as “long” and “healthy”!
The second half of this verse is not exactly what it seems like at first read. “…and he who is wise wins souls.” Instead of thinking specifically of soul-winning, that is, evangelism, this word “wins” is more like “takes” or “captures”. And what is implied in the text is “influencing people based on ideas”. The assumption is that the ideas are Godly and wise.
Is it wise to share Christ with people? Well, yes, of course, so warning people of their eternal predicament is definitely a wise practice, and a proper application of the Proverb. Just as making wise decisions, which is at the root of this book, is an equally valid application. Those decisions show up in our verbal and physical testimonies, and represent the very foundation upon which we live, and thus serve as ideas by which others will be influenced.
So, putting it all together, being properly related to the Creator (being righteous) will result in positive demonstrations of that relationship. Those, in turn, will allow us to influence those around us, prayerfully convincing others to seek the same relationship and results.
So I have to be an example to others. So do you. Let’s make that a matter of prayer today.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Sport
I think of sport as something fun to do. There are obviously “sports” that we can play or watch. People fish and hunt for sport, a cat playing with a mouse before devouring it can be seen as sport (to the cat!), you get the idea. Sport is something that, once learned, gets to be easier and more and more fun as we practice more. Even the learning process is fun, even though it may be frustrating at first, simply because we may or may not be very good at something when beginning.
Then, new challenges are encountered and overcome, and on and on the process goes. Something that is sport becomes almost habitual, you bait the hook the same way each time, you step into the batters box in the same manner over and over, you enjoy the same activities with your family, and so on, the routine becomes familiar and very enjoyable.
Proverbs 10:23, speaks of sport. Using the above comparisons, think on this verse today:
“Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding."
The foolish treat wickedness, sin, as sport.
The man of understanding does the same with wisdom.
So the wise will examine himself, and take honest note of what it is he treats as sport. Is my walk with God one of (good) habitual behavior, consisting of wise practices such as prayer, praise, and thanksgiving? Or is it just too easy to sin, because I have gotten very good at it?
Tough questions, and a tough challenge, and this is from just ONE verse in this Proverb. My prayer is that it will become easier and easier in my heart to live for the Creator, that I will make sport of wise living according to His Word.
And if we are trying and not seeming to be very good at that yet, let’s keep trying to be "men of understanding". Keep practicing, it’s worth the effort!
Then, new challenges are encountered and overcome, and on and on the process goes. Something that is sport becomes almost habitual, you bait the hook the same way each time, you step into the batters box in the same manner over and over, you enjoy the same activities with your family, and so on, the routine becomes familiar and very enjoyable.
Proverbs 10:23, speaks of sport. Using the above comparisons, think on this verse today:
“Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding."
The foolish treat wickedness, sin, as sport.
The man of understanding does the same with wisdom.
So the wise will examine himself, and take honest note of what it is he treats as sport. Is my walk with God one of (good) habitual behavior, consisting of wise practices such as prayer, praise, and thanksgiving? Or is it just too easy to sin, because I have gotten very good at it?
Tough questions, and a tough challenge, and this is from just ONE verse in this Proverb. My prayer is that it will become easier and easier in my heart to live for the Creator, that I will make sport of wise living according to His Word.
And if we are trying and not seeming to be very good at that yet, let’s keep trying to be "men of understanding". Keep practicing, it’s worth the effort!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Choose a House
If you had to choose another house in which to live, how would you describe it? Lots of houses these days are for sale, and the various lawn signs and even billboard invite us to buy this one or that one. There is an active process for sellers inviting us to come and live in the house that they have available.
The first nine chapters of Proverbs culminate in that sort of choice: The house built by Wisdom, or Folly’s house.
Wisdom tells un in verse 6 to forsake folly, and live. Wisdom seeks those who are trying to properly apply understanding, and Folly entices those who are making straight paths, in hope of turning them aside. It is an ongoing battle, warfare, actually, between what we want to do and what we know we should do. The sign of maturity then is to combine those, making that which we know we should do actually be what we also want to do.
Allow me to look back and make some conclusions.
In Proverbs 8:13 we read that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Then, in 9:10 we read that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So, in the clearest sense, the beginning of wisdom, that is, to begin living wisely is to hate evil. So, am I living wisely, do I really hate that which is evil?
Step back to Proverbs 7:4, where wisdom is called a sister, and understanding is referred to as an intimate friend. They are called that, in order to persuade the reader to keep clear from the adulteress, clearly portrayed as an evil. Recognizing temptation is not the evil, but allowing oneself to convert it to sin certainly is.
There are too many applications for this small writing space. Simply put, am I, as a Christian, allowing temptation to entice me, thinking I can, by my own strength, resist? Or am I relying fully on the strength granted by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to provide that resistance. When I rely on the Spirit, I am exercising wisdom, which is my intimate friend who tries to keep me out of trouble. That same wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and when I allow Him to help me make good decisions, I most certainly demonstrate the reverence and awe I should have for my Savior.
Christians, the war is being waged right here and right now.
“Forsake your folly and live.”
The doors of two houses are wide open, inviting us in. Let’s prayerfully choose wisely.
The first nine chapters of Proverbs culminate in that sort of choice: The house built by Wisdom, or Folly’s house.
Wisdom tells un in verse 6 to forsake folly, and live. Wisdom seeks those who are trying to properly apply understanding, and Folly entices those who are making straight paths, in hope of turning them aside. It is an ongoing battle, warfare, actually, between what we want to do and what we know we should do. The sign of maturity then is to combine those, making that which we know we should do actually be what we also want to do.
Allow me to look back and make some conclusions.
In Proverbs 8:13 we read that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Then, in 9:10 we read that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So, in the clearest sense, the beginning of wisdom, that is, to begin living wisely is to hate evil. So, am I living wisely, do I really hate that which is evil?
Step back to Proverbs 7:4, where wisdom is called a sister, and understanding is referred to as an intimate friend. They are called that, in order to persuade the reader to keep clear from the adulteress, clearly portrayed as an evil. Recognizing temptation is not the evil, but allowing oneself to convert it to sin certainly is.
There are too many applications for this small writing space. Simply put, am I, as a Christian, allowing temptation to entice me, thinking I can, by my own strength, resist? Or am I relying fully on the strength granted by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to provide that resistance. When I rely on the Spirit, I am exercising wisdom, which is my intimate friend who tries to keep me out of trouble. That same wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and when I allow Him to help me make good decisions, I most certainly demonstrate the reverence and awe I should have for my Savior.
Christians, the war is being waged right here and right now.
“Forsake your folly and live.”
The doors of two houses are wide open, inviting us in. Let’s prayerfully choose wisely.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Some Clear Rules - Proverbs 6
So often in Scripture we get a good idea of the do’s and don’t for the follower of God. It is very easy to put off making changes to those areas that are not always so clear cut. But I think that if we could get really good at covering the bases on those things that are very clear, it would go a long way to shaping most other areas of life.
For instance, in Proverbs 6 today, I read about six, no seven things that God hates. The NASB lists them as these: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers. Galations 5 and other passages cover similar lists, comparing wickedness to righteousness.
Simply put, we have all the power of the Holy Spirit we need to accomplish “not doing” those things which God says He hates.
Haughty eyes depict pride, thinking way too highly of ourselves, arrogance, when we ought to be pointing our lives to Him
A lying tongue is self-explanatory. God’s Word is truth, we ought live truth as well.
Hands shedding innocent blood; we need to remember that all people are created in the image of God, and He takes bloodshed very seriously.
When the heart plots evil, it usually controls the will.
When our feet run rapidly to evil, it means we are eager to do what we want, not considering what God desires, and our natural tendency is to sin.
A false witness returns to the theme of lying and deception.
And one who spreads strife is descriptive of someone with a short fuse, or contentious and quarreling.
So if God hates these, we must strive to please Him with the opposites: Humility, truthful speech, preservation of life, pure thoughts, being eager to do good things, being honest, and striving for peaceful harmony.
Earlier in the Proverb He warns of being lazy. And then later He tells us to bind His words on our hearts, tie them around our necks. We must never forget His Word, and we must never stop pursuing a life lived for Him. The Godly life is to be purposeful, not accidental, with His Word and its authority central to us all.
For instance, in Proverbs 6 today, I read about six, no seven things that God hates. The NASB lists them as these: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers. Galations 5 and other passages cover similar lists, comparing wickedness to righteousness.
Simply put, we have all the power of the Holy Spirit we need to accomplish “not doing” those things which God says He hates.
Haughty eyes depict pride, thinking way too highly of ourselves, arrogance, when we ought to be pointing our lives to Him
A lying tongue is self-explanatory. God’s Word is truth, we ought live truth as well.
Hands shedding innocent blood; we need to remember that all people are created in the image of God, and He takes bloodshed very seriously.
When the heart plots evil, it usually controls the will.
When our feet run rapidly to evil, it means we are eager to do what we want, not considering what God desires, and our natural tendency is to sin.
A false witness returns to the theme of lying and deception.
And one who spreads strife is descriptive of someone with a short fuse, or contentious and quarreling.
So if God hates these, we must strive to please Him with the opposites: Humility, truthful speech, preservation of life, pure thoughts, being eager to do good things, being honest, and striving for peaceful harmony.
Earlier in the Proverb He warns of being lazy. And then later He tells us to bind His words on our hearts, tie them around our necks. We must never forget His Word, and we must never stop pursuing a life lived for Him. The Godly life is to be purposeful, not accidental, with His Word and its authority central to us all.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Listen, Correct, and Hang in There - Proverbs 3
OK, I realize the Proverbs were written long before today’s church age, and yet they are so full of seemingly timeless wisdom, and speak so clearly to issues we face today. It would be too time-consuming to comment on each verse of each Proverb, so as I am reading through these one-per-day in January, allow me to share snippits of what I find to be so refreshingly relevant. I was in Proverbs 3 this morning. Here are some verses that fit nicely together.
“My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments; (v.1)
For whom the LORD loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. (v. 12)
Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
For the LORD will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.” (vv. 25-26)
When we do not follow God and His teaching, we have forgotten it. If we do not learn it well enough, and practice our obedience to Him, we will indeed forget it. Following God and His plan, His ways, takes purposeful and repeated effort.
When God’s Word (assuming we read it regularly) reproves us (scolds, expresses disapproval of), this is God’s love for us showing through. The believer should have a continual feeling of being corrected by God, His love for us does not end, and, as in 2 Peter 3:18, we should be growing constantly until that day of complete sanctification. Likewise, our children should know we love them by the way we try to correct them. That’s a whole separate topic for another time.
Lastly, note the text regarding the onslaught of the wicked…when it comes. Not IF it comes, but WHEN. The onslaught of the wicked is very easily seen around us each and every day. Christianity is under full attack, at its very foundation, the authority of God’s Word. God tells us He will be our confidence, but that implies what came before in this chapter…not forgetting His teaching, and responding to His correction.
Praying that we continue to lean on Him, His wisdom and understanding, and keep our feet from being caught as we strive for righteousness in the midst of wickedness. If we take His side, He’s got our back!
“My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments; (v.1)
For whom the LORD loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. (v. 12)
Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
For the LORD will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.” (vv. 25-26)
When we do not follow God and His teaching, we have forgotten it. If we do not learn it well enough, and practice our obedience to Him, we will indeed forget it. Following God and His plan, His ways, takes purposeful and repeated effort.
When God’s Word (assuming we read it regularly) reproves us (scolds, expresses disapproval of), this is God’s love for us showing through. The believer should have a continual feeling of being corrected by God, His love for us does not end, and, as in 2 Peter 3:18, we should be growing constantly until that day of complete sanctification. Likewise, our children should know we love them by the way we try to correct them. That’s a whole separate topic for another time.
Lastly, note the text regarding the onslaught of the wicked…when it comes. Not IF it comes, but WHEN. The onslaught of the wicked is very easily seen around us each and every day. Christianity is under full attack, at its very foundation, the authority of God’s Word. God tells us He will be our confidence, but that implies what came before in this chapter…not forgetting His teaching, and responding to His correction.
Praying that we continue to lean on Him, His wisdom and understanding, and keep our feet from being caught as we strive for righteousness in the midst of wickedness. If we take His side, He’s got our back!
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