"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
This proverb demonstrates two elements required to deal appropriately with one's own sin. In other words, it tells us what we must do when we do wrong. First, there is a need for confession. Confession is a humble acknowledgment of our fault and an admission of having done wrong in particulars, as well as by habit. This is usually the greatest obstacle to mercy. Often a confession fails to make amends because the confessor, instead of acknowledging the particular sinful act or attitude, makes a generic statement about "those who felt offended" or even "those who were hurt." That really makes others responsible for the offense--for having taken any--rather than the offender. When wrong is done, the offender should admit what he has done that was wrong, calling it by a particular sin, e.g. laziness, lying, selfishness, disrespect. In so doing the sinner takes responsibility for his sin and humbles himself before the one offended.
Second, there is a need to renounce sin. We must reject a preference for sin, having our minds changed by the truth of God, and turning away from sinful behaviors and thoughts. Many will argue that this is an impossible condition for forgiveness, because nobody is perfect. While that must be granted, there is a relative sense in which this need applies, and that is in turning from sin to the best of one's ability and by the power of Christ in us. In this matter, mercy follows intention. If a spouse commits adultery, what is necessary for reconciliation, at a minimum, is their commitment to avoid the same at any and every cost. Should the offender reply, "I just can't say there'll never be a time when I don't find it the preferable course," only a desperate spouse would find that an acceptable commitment. No one can guarantee perfection in life, but a desire for it is essential.
Both are necessary for one to find mercy.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Proverbs 27:3
"Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but provocation by a fool is heavier than both."
This is an extremely helpful reminder to those of us who give counsel to people in difficult situations--bad marriage partner, bad workplace, bad neighbor, etc. It is helpful because it reminds us of the burden it is to endure in these circumstances. Knowing that helps us to be a bit more empathetic.
If there is any weakness I experience in counseling, it's in failing to take into account the emotional and personal difficulty that a struggle entails. I may have a ready answer, project, or assessment, but these usually fall upon deaf ears if the struggler doesn't detect that your answer has taken into account the burden they have to bear. Always consider just how difficult it is living with a fool
This is an extremely helpful reminder to those of us who give counsel to people in difficult situations--bad marriage partner, bad workplace, bad neighbor, etc. It is helpful because it reminds us of the burden it is to endure in these circumstances. Knowing that helps us to be a bit more empathetic.
If there is any weakness I experience in counseling, it's in failing to take into account the emotional and personal difficulty that a struggle entails. I may have a ready answer, project, or assessment, but these usually fall upon deaf ears if the struggler doesn't detect that your answer has taken into account the burden they have to bear. Always consider just how difficult it is living with a fool
Proverbs 26:4-5
"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself."
"Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes."
These two proverbs force the reader to stop and reread. Why, it's a blatant contradiction in the bible! I guess the skeptics are right--you can't rely on the bible...
Well, unless the compilers of these two proverbs were extremely brain damaged, or sleeping, it is obvious that no contradiction was even remotely considered, otherwise they would have excluded one or separated them by great distance within the book. The fact, however, that one follows the other is startling and intentional. So the real question is, "what is this intended to teach us?"
The first answer seems, at face value, the easiest, that is, "Context is everything." In other words, it takes a strong sense of discernment and familiarity with the situation/persons involved to know when to respond one way and when to respond another way. The difficulty with this answer is that Proverbs tends to be pessimistic about the success of communicating with a fool, usually reserving for that function an instrument of punishment--the rod. That is the only language a fool understands.
So I prefer this second answer, "You can't reason with a fool." These two proverbs together show that one type of answer is necessary to avoid making you the fool, and the very opposite is necessary to prevent him from continuing as a fool. In either case--you lose. So the wise individual avoids any interaction with fools that he can. There is no benefit, and you should not expect that any way you answer will be productive.
"Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes."
These two proverbs force the reader to stop and reread. Why, it's a blatant contradiction in the bible! I guess the skeptics are right--you can't rely on the bible...
Well, unless the compilers of these two proverbs were extremely brain damaged, or sleeping, it is obvious that no contradiction was even remotely considered, otherwise they would have excluded one or separated them by great distance within the book. The fact, however, that one follows the other is startling and intentional. So the real question is, "what is this intended to teach us?"
The first answer seems, at face value, the easiest, that is, "Context is everything." In other words, it takes a strong sense of discernment and familiarity with the situation/persons involved to know when to respond one way and when to respond another way. The difficulty with this answer is that Proverbs tends to be pessimistic about the success of communicating with a fool, usually reserving for that function an instrument of punishment--the rod. That is the only language a fool understands.
So I prefer this second answer, "You can't reason with a fool." These two proverbs together show that one type of answer is necessary to avoid making you the fool, and the very opposite is necessary to prevent him from continuing as a fool. In either case--you lose. So the wise individual avoids any interaction with fools that he can. There is no benefit, and you should not expect that any way you answer will be productive.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Proverbs 25: 2
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."
What does it mean to be truly human? There's a lot to answering that question, but one thing this proverb reveals is that humans are intended to be learners. If you consider the numbers of things that God has hidden from us, things that have been learned over time--like how the body functions, how to communicate over radio waves, and how to get a man to the moon--as each of these is learned, God's majesty and awesomeness is revealed. We're always confronted with new and marvelous information that was known only to the Lord himself when we discover something new, and we're confronted with how intricately and intimately God is involved with his universe despite us.
As we discover these new things, another side of that coin is revealed, the side that shows us part of man's purpose upon the earth--to be a student, learner, interpreter of the universe God has put in front of us. Why does a man climb a mountain or fly to the moon. Not just because its there, but because its there and he's a human being. He was designed with curiosity and the need to know. This is what distinguishes us from lower life forms. Dolphins, eagles, polar bears, white Bengal tigers--none of these is searching for answers, learning, reaching farther than their stomachs. Human beings are in their glory when they are discovering things formerly unknown to them, often for no other reason than just to know.
This is what also separates cultures. Base cultures are subsistence oriented. They are not seeking greater understanding about their world, or whether tools can be made and used to improve their circumstances. Advanced cultures are growth oriented. They want to improve their circumstances. They want to know new things. They want to reach past their stomachs and develop their minds.
It's what God made for us, and made us for. It is glory!
What does it mean to be truly human? There's a lot to answering that question, but one thing this proverb reveals is that humans are intended to be learners. If you consider the numbers of things that God has hidden from us, things that have been learned over time--like how the body functions, how to communicate over radio waves, and how to get a man to the moon--as each of these is learned, God's majesty and awesomeness is revealed. We're always confronted with new and marvelous information that was known only to the Lord himself when we discover something new, and we're confronted with how intricately and intimately God is involved with his universe despite us.
As we discover these new things, another side of that coin is revealed, the side that shows us part of man's purpose upon the earth--to be a student, learner, interpreter of the universe God has put in front of us. Why does a man climb a mountain or fly to the moon. Not just because its there, but because its there and he's a human being. He was designed with curiosity and the need to know. This is what distinguishes us from lower life forms. Dolphins, eagles, polar bears, white Bengal tigers--none of these is searching for answers, learning, reaching farther than their stomachs. Human beings are in their glory when they are discovering things formerly unknown to them, often for no other reason than just to know.
This is what also separates cultures. Base cultures are subsistence oriented. They are not seeking greater understanding about their world, or whether tools can be made and used to improve their circumstances. Advanced cultures are growth oriented. They want to improve their circumstances. They want to know new things. They want to reach past their stomachs and develop their minds.
It's what God made for us, and made us for. It is glory!
Proverbs 24:10
"If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!"
This proverb has affected my life and attitude perhaps more than any other. It is an exhortation to courage, confidence, and perseverance. It is a bit of reverse-psychology that has rebuked me in my pity-party many times! It is saying, in essence, "Buck up! Don't let the tough times get you down." Who wants to think they're lacking in the strength to press on? Nobody. So, remember in the tough times to apply the strength you do have, get some backbone, and give up the self-doubt. Just do it.
This proverb has affected my life and attitude perhaps more than any other. It is an exhortation to courage, confidence, and perseverance. It is a bit of reverse-psychology that has rebuked me in my pity-party many times! It is saying, in essence, "Buck up! Don't let the tough times get you down." Who wants to think they're lacking in the strength to press on? Nobody. So, remember in the tough times to apply the strength you do have, get some backbone, and give up the self-doubt. Just do it.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Proverbs 23:1-3, 6-8
"When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive."
"Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments."
The basic warning is that gifts and courtesies may be deceptive, so limit your exposure. The first proverb warns against allowing oneself to be manipulated through perceived benefits--a typical political scenario. Do not let yourself be influenced through gifts and special treatment, Solomon warns. Set yourself a personal policy against accepting more than an appropriate amount of benefit from rulers and politico's, knowing your weakness for such things. The giver has a selfish agenda, and is trying to influence you in his direction. If you want to maintain independence and virtue, resist such attempts.
The second proverb warns against allowing oneself to be manipulated through felt obligation. Like the first man's food, it comes with an agenda. In this case, you are expected to repay any courtesy you receive out of personal obligation (family, friendship, etc.). You will be sorry you ever accepted his "generosity" (you will vomit up what you've eaten) in the first place. This person says, "I did _____ for you, and you can't do _____ for me!?"
Be aware of the potential for personal agenda's in people's kindnesses and don't let yourself be roped in.
"Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments."
The basic warning is that gifts and courtesies may be deceptive, so limit your exposure. The first proverb warns against allowing oneself to be manipulated through perceived benefits--a typical political scenario. Do not let yourself be influenced through gifts and special treatment, Solomon warns. Set yourself a personal policy against accepting more than an appropriate amount of benefit from rulers and politico's, knowing your weakness for such things. The giver has a selfish agenda, and is trying to influence you in his direction. If you want to maintain independence and virtue, resist such attempts.
The second proverb warns against allowing oneself to be manipulated through felt obligation. Like the first man's food, it comes with an agenda. In this case, you are expected to repay any courtesy you receive out of personal obligation (family, friendship, etc.). You will be sorry you ever accepted his "generosity" (you will vomit up what you've eaten) in the first place. This person says, "I did _____ for you, and you can't do _____ for me!?"
Be aware of the potential for personal agenda's in people's kindnesses and don't let yourself be roped in.
Proverbs 22:24-25
"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared."
Road rage! It seems that every day there is another news article about the stupidity, suddenness, and costliness of this outburst of temper. It seems that an increase in the density of traffic and a corresponding decrease of training in self-control/self-restraint in contemporary society has created an epidemic.
Solomon warns of the danger of associating with those who express an ill-temper. Other people's bad qualities may well rub-off on you, especially when you choose these people as your companions, and this is a particularly bad quality. The potential for danger, rashness, and consequence is exceedingly high for those with bad tempers. Choice of friendships is an important matter. Proverbs 13:20 warns against associating with fools, while encouraging the pursuit of wise companions. You become like those you befriend.
This could be no more important than in the courting/dating process. If the person in whom you have taken an interest is known to have or exhibits a bad temper, flee! The last thing you want in life is to find yourself with a man or woman who brings his/her road rage home.
How do you help a person with whom you must associate (spouse, sibling, parent, etc.) learn to control their bad temper? Proverbs 19:19 addresses this issue. "A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again." If someone with a hot-temper gets himself in trouble, don't rescue him. Don't defend him in the fight or find some way to get him off the hook. If you do, he will not learn from his foolishness and will get himself into the same situation later on. However, if you let him suffer the consequences of his reactions--be it jail, a good thrashing, a job loss, etc.--he may learn from experience and take control of himself and his temper. Anyone can learn to do it if he must.
Road rage! It seems that every day there is another news article about the stupidity, suddenness, and costliness of this outburst of temper. It seems that an increase in the density of traffic and a corresponding decrease of training in self-control/self-restraint in contemporary society has created an epidemic.
Solomon warns of the danger of associating with those who express an ill-temper. Other people's bad qualities may well rub-off on you, especially when you choose these people as your companions, and this is a particularly bad quality. The potential for danger, rashness, and consequence is exceedingly high for those with bad tempers. Choice of friendships is an important matter. Proverbs 13:20 warns against associating with fools, while encouraging the pursuit of wise companions. You become like those you befriend.
This could be no more important than in the courting/dating process. If the person in whom you have taken an interest is known to have or exhibits a bad temper, flee! The last thing you want in life is to find yourself with a man or woman who brings his/her road rage home.
How do you help a person with whom you must associate (spouse, sibling, parent, etc.) learn to control their bad temper? Proverbs 19:19 addresses this issue. "A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again." If someone with a hot-temper gets himself in trouble, don't rescue him. Don't defend him in the fight or find some way to get him off the hook. If you do, he will not learn from his foolishness and will get himself into the same situation later on. However, if you let him suffer the consequences of his reactions--be it jail, a good thrashing, a job loss, etc.--he may learn from experience and take control of himself and his temper. Anyone can learn to do it if he must.
Proverbs 21:17, 20
"He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich."
"In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."
These two proverbs are posted together because they both address the same problem, which is, the inability to exercise self-denial or self-discipline. In the first we find the person who expends all his income on the satiating of his desires, especially for luxuries. These are not inherently evil. The problem is that this person LOVES them. He practices no moderation, so the constant gratifying of his addiction brings him to ultimate financial ruin. He never denies himself any pleasure, so he never creates a savings to provide for necessities later on in life.
In the second we find the same problem, except that we are shown the upside of moderation. Each person has a limited amount of resources, and those who are successful managers know how to budget those resources so as to provide for later needs. The foolish man has no foresight and so he exercises no self-restraint. A dollar in his pocket must be spent. He lives only for the moment and fails to provide for the future with his present surplus. What's interesting is that, because of the financial savings attained by the wise man's allocating of surplus, later money provides for certain luxuries and quality of product. He has stores of choice food and oil (an ancient luxury). God has no intention of limiting our enjoyment, rather, he wants us to learn the faithfulness and self-discipline that provide for enjoyment.
"In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."
These two proverbs are posted together because they both address the same problem, which is, the inability to exercise self-denial or self-discipline. In the first we find the person who expends all his income on the satiating of his desires, especially for luxuries. These are not inherently evil. The problem is that this person LOVES them. He practices no moderation, so the constant gratifying of his addiction brings him to ultimate financial ruin. He never denies himself any pleasure, so he never creates a savings to provide for necessities later on in life.
In the second we find the same problem, except that we are shown the upside of moderation. Each person has a limited amount of resources, and those who are successful managers know how to budget those resources so as to provide for later needs. The foolish man has no foresight and so he exercises no self-restraint. A dollar in his pocket must be spent. He lives only for the moment and fails to provide for the future with his present surplus. What's interesting is that, because of the financial savings attained by the wise man's allocating of surplus, later money provides for certain luxuries and quality of product. He has stores of choice food and oil (an ancient luxury). God has no intention of limiting our enjoyment, rather, he wants us to learn the faithfulness and self-discipline that provide for enjoyment.
Proverbs 19:3
"A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD."
It is funny how many people who will not acknowledge God at any other time in their lives are willing to bring Him up on charges for the problems they've created for themselves. One teenage girl, in trouble with the law and imploding morally, claimed that she was not sure whether she believed in God. That statement, however foolish I may consider it, was a fair enough explanation for her problems, for belief in God implies more than just acknowledgment of His existence, it also conveys a trust in His wisdom and a submission to His rule over one's life. She certainly did not believe in God. But, when it came to discussing her problems she was unreserved in her blame and hatred toward God for her heartache. Her inconsistency and how she could hate a non-existent being (in her own mind) was not considered, but the intensity of her anger at Him was evident. Her heart was conflicted. There was an innate, divinely-infused sense of God's reality, with a corresponding self-conceit that would not acknowledge the sin that had brought her to her present state of turmoil. Since pride kept her in her conceit she had only two options: blame God or deny God, and she would do either as it suited the circumstance.
It is funny how many people who will not acknowledge God at any other time in their lives are willing to bring Him up on charges for the problems they've created for themselves. One teenage girl, in trouble with the law and imploding morally, claimed that she was not sure whether she believed in God. That statement, however foolish I may consider it, was a fair enough explanation for her problems, for belief in God implies more than just acknowledgment of His existence, it also conveys a trust in His wisdom and a submission to His rule over one's life. She certainly did not believe in God. But, when it came to discussing her problems she was unreserved in her blame and hatred toward God for her heartache. Her inconsistency and how she could hate a non-existent being (in her own mind) was not considered, but the intensity of her anger at Him was evident. Her heart was conflicted. There was an innate, divinely-infused sense of God's reality, with a corresponding self-conceit that would not acknowledge the sin that had brought her to her present state of turmoil. Since pride kept her in her conceit she had only two options: blame God or deny God, and she would do either as it suited the circumstance.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Proverbs 18:13
"He who answers before listening-- that is his folly and his shame."
Proverbs 18 is chock full of wisdom about debates, disputes, and responses. This verse is just one of the many so often ignored. It is usually missed by the speaker, but recognized by everyone else. That is why it is shame--it diminishes the speaker's stature in the minds of all listeners.
We should always listen and gather facts before jumping to conclusions, making decisions, or commenting. Uninformed responses are often wrong. That is why they are folly.
Parents are especially prone to this failure. We hear the yelling and make immediate assumptions. We may ask what happened, but before a full answer comes out, we give a verdict, with its stipulated penalty. Often upon further information, we must rescind our comments or decisions. I have had to apologize numerous times to my children for charging them with offenses that they did not commit because I answered hastily and without full testimony.
This can also happen when someone asks advice. We love to give our opinion, but sometimes our opinion doesn't fit their particular context or circumstances. Rather than lose credibility with the advice-seeker by rescinding your counselk, it is far better to hear a full recounting of circumstances first.
Proverbs 18 is chock full of wisdom about debates, disputes, and responses. This verse is just one of the many so often ignored. It is usually missed by the speaker, but recognized by everyone else. That is why it is shame--it diminishes the speaker's stature in the minds of all listeners.
We should always listen and gather facts before jumping to conclusions, making decisions, or commenting. Uninformed responses are often wrong. That is why they are folly.
Parents are especially prone to this failure. We hear the yelling and make immediate assumptions. We may ask what happened, but before a full answer comes out, we give a verdict, with its stipulated penalty. Often upon further information, we must rescind our comments or decisions. I have had to apologize numerous times to my children for charging them with offenses that they did not commit because I answered hastily and without full testimony.
This can also happen when someone asks advice. We love to give our opinion, but sometimes our opinion doesn't fit their particular context or circumstances. Rather than lose credibility with the advice-seeker by rescinding your counselk, it is far better to hear a full recounting of circumstances first.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Proverbs 17:16
"Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?"
Several conclusions can be drawn about the pursuit of wisdom in this passage. One is that sometimes money must be expended in the pursuit of wisdom. This is more clearly expressed by other translations, such as:
NASB--Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?
NKJ--Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, since he has no heart for it?
NLT--It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool who has no heart for wisdom.
College, technical schools, conferences, and other contexts of purchased instruction are not foreign to the ancient mind and are not separated from the reality of the world. We must learn and we must be prepared for life. We must remember that what underlies every proverb is the conviction that all wisdom depends upon a genuine fear of the Lord. God can be met and known in the classroom, during a lecture, and in the student lounge. As with seminary education, those who reject the idea of academic instruction as hostile to spiritual progress do not understand our nature or God's immanence.
A second conclusion that can be drawn from this proverb is that learning and wisdom are not synonymous. Course work and lectures will not impart wisdom. The attainment of wisdom requires a "heart for it," i.e. the desire. Academic instruction may offer an opportunity for obtaining wisdom, but they do not grant it.
A third conclusion that can be drawn is that education without a desire for wisdom is a waste. In this proverb we find a man with no desire for wisdom having received the money to pay for his instruction. This, says Solomon, is a waste of hard-earned resources since it will not obtain for the student the ultimate purpose of education, which is wisdom. It is a sign of the decline of our culture that the purpose of education has become to obtain the technical knowledge and requirements to enter a certain vocation. Anyone who has been in a particular field of employment for a sufficient amount of time knows that experience trumps education at almost every opportunity. This is not to suggest that technical knowledge is unimportant. Rather, technical information, while necessary, is not primary. The best student in a class will not necessarily have the highest grade. Rather, he will be the one who can process the information, integrate it into his life, and be capable of moral and ethical judgments, actions with prudence, and an ability to learn. When education fails to focus upon one's ability to learn, listen, grow, interact, and understand, it is a foolish endeavor and a waste of money.
According to the translation offered by the NIV (at top), another conclusion may be drawn, and that is that money in the hand of a fool serves no good purpose. The Lord has a purpose for our use of money and it is more than just to gratify the interests and material desires of the possessor. The fool has money, but doesn't know what to do with it. He has a great gift, and no sense. Many even imagine themselves wise because of the money they have, without realizing that the use of the money, not the possession of it, is the true test of their worth.
Several conclusions can be drawn about the pursuit of wisdom in this passage. One is that sometimes money must be expended in the pursuit of wisdom. This is more clearly expressed by other translations, such as:
NASB--Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?
NKJ--Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, since he has no heart for it?
NLT--It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool who has no heart for wisdom.
College, technical schools, conferences, and other contexts of purchased instruction are not foreign to the ancient mind and are not separated from the reality of the world. We must learn and we must be prepared for life. We must remember that what underlies every proverb is the conviction that all wisdom depends upon a genuine fear of the Lord. God can be met and known in the classroom, during a lecture, and in the student lounge. As with seminary education, those who reject the idea of academic instruction as hostile to spiritual progress do not understand our nature or God's immanence.
A second conclusion that can be drawn from this proverb is that learning and wisdom are not synonymous. Course work and lectures will not impart wisdom. The attainment of wisdom requires a "heart for it," i.e. the desire. Academic instruction may offer an opportunity for obtaining wisdom, but they do not grant it.
A third conclusion that can be drawn is that education without a desire for wisdom is a waste. In this proverb we find a man with no desire for wisdom having received the money to pay for his instruction. This, says Solomon, is a waste of hard-earned resources since it will not obtain for the student the ultimate purpose of education, which is wisdom. It is a sign of the decline of our culture that the purpose of education has become to obtain the technical knowledge and requirements to enter a certain vocation. Anyone who has been in a particular field of employment for a sufficient amount of time knows that experience trumps education at almost every opportunity. This is not to suggest that technical knowledge is unimportant. Rather, technical information, while necessary, is not primary. The best student in a class will not necessarily have the highest grade. Rather, he will be the one who can process the information, integrate it into his life, and be capable of moral and ethical judgments, actions with prudence, and an ability to learn. When education fails to focus upon one's ability to learn, listen, grow, interact, and understand, it is a foolish endeavor and a waste of money.
According to the translation offered by the NIV (at top), another conclusion may be drawn, and that is that money in the hand of a fool serves no good purpose. The Lord has a purpose for our use of money and it is more than just to gratify the interests and material desires of the possessor. The fool has money, but doesn't know what to do with it. He has a great gift, and no sense. Many even imagine themselves wise because of the money they have, without realizing that the use of the money, not the possession of it, is the true test of their worth.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Proverbs 14:4
"Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest."
I find two different applications in this Proverb. The first has to do with inconvenience and benefit. Oxen are messy. The stable must be cleaned, manure disposed of, and the animal cared for. Some people only look at the downsides of possessing an item, and if, for instance, owning a second car just means more money for insurance, repairs, etc., then you're not likely to purchase one. On the other hand, if owning a second car means having the benefit and security of a second means of transportation, if it's a work vehicle, etc., then the purchase makes sense. So we must avoid looking only on the downside and realize that some things that demand of us, like the oxen and his upkeep, bring far greater returns that are better not avoided.
The second application is similar, but is directed less at inconvenience but more at long range planning. In this sense, someone chooses not to own an ox, not realizing that some possessions are necessary to achieve the benefit. An empty manger means no harvest was gathered. An ox may be expensive, but it is a necessity if you are to prosper in your farming business, so it's a purchase that is well made with an eye to the future.
What if a kid decided to make money mowing lawns? He may want to purchase a good lawn mower. It demands upkeep, it's expensive, but looking on the upside, long-range perspective, he can see that the purchase will pay for itself many times over.
I find two different applications in this Proverb. The first has to do with inconvenience and benefit. Oxen are messy. The stable must be cleaned, manure disposed of, and the animal cared for. Some people only look at the downsides of possessing an item, and if, for instance, owning a second car just means more money for insurance, repairs, etc., then you're not likely to purchase one. On the other hand, if owning a second car means having the benefit and security of a second means of transportation, if it's a work vehicle, etc., then the purchase makes sense. So we must avoid looking only on the downside and realize that some things that demand of us, like the oxen and his upkeep, bring far greater returns that are better not avoided.
The second application is similar, but is directed less at inconvenience but more at long range planning. In this sense, someone chooses not to own an ox, not realizing that some possessions are necessary to achieve the benefit. An empty manger means no harvest was gathered. An ox may be expensive, but it is a necessity if you are to prosper in your farming business, so it's a purchase that is well made with an eye to the future.
What if a kid decided to make money mowing lawns? He may want to purchase a good lawn mower. It demands upkeep, it's expensive, but looking on the upside, long-range perspective, he can see that the purchase will pay for itself many times over.
Proverbs 13:10
"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice."
When a person is proud, meaning that he thinks more highly of himself and his opinions than is appropriate or justified, he won't accept advice or correction from people who want to help him. They apostle Paul warns those who think they're just fine to take care lest they fall. We are all human, sinful creatures, imperfect, and often blind to our faults. If we're wise, we'll accept advise because we know that we don't know all that we need to know.
Occasionally I hear people call in to a certain radio talk show that I enjoy, ostensibly seeking counsel about their finances. It doesn't take very long to realize that the caller thinks he or she knows more about the subject than the host. That may not be the precise diagnosis of their malady, but to listen to them you'd think they'd already tried everything that the host advises, or they have reasons why his advice doesn't work in their particular situation. The whole conversation sounds very much like an argument.
A proud person feels he must defend himself against advice, so he ends up quarreling with the adviser in order to discount his or her words. A quarrel was not the intention of the adviser, but the receiver's ego will not permit anything that may diminish his stature in his own or other people's eyes.
When a person is proud, meaning that he thinks more highly of himself and his opinions than is appropriate or justified, he won't accept advice or correction from people who want to help him. They apostle Paul warns those who think they're just fine to take care lest they fall. We are all human, sinful creatures, imperfect, and often blind to our faults. If we're wise, we'll accept advise because we know that we don't know all that we need to know.
Occasionally I hear people call in to a certain radio talk show that I enjoy, ostensibly seeking counsel about their finances. It doesn't take very long to realize that the caller thinks he or she knows more about the subject than the host. That may not be the precise diagnosis of their malady, but to listen to them you'd think they'd already tried everything that the host advises, or they have reasons why his advice doesn't work in their particular situation. The whole conversation sounds very much like an argument.
A proud person feels he must defend himself against advice, so he ends up quarreling with the adviser in order to discount his or her words. A quarrel was not the intention of the adviser, but the receiver's ego will not permit anything that may diminish his stature in his own or other people's eyes.
Proverbs 12:27
"The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions."
The picture here is very dramatic. Two men go hunting and both bag game, perhaps a deer or a gazelle. One of the men is diligent. He recognizes his need for food and, though it takes extra time and more effort, he puts is catch on a spit and roast the entire animal. In do so, he preserves it as useful for later consumption (provided he finds a relatively cool place to store it). The other man is lazy. Having drummed up the effort needed to hunt and catch--likely because of the pangs of hunger that he felt--this man consumes, immediately and until he is sated, and leaves the rest to rot. He does not value the game he bagged and takes no effort to preserve the extra for later consumption.
The foolishness in this is that the lazy man must work twice as hard. He will be forced to head out hunting the next day, and the day after that, ad infinitum, until he learns to care for what he has. So it is for us. As I study the Scriptures, do I apply any of it to memory? If not, I'll be hunting for it again when I need it. I keep a file system of quotes and illustrations for the very same reason. Work done at the front end, recognizing the value of the item at hand, saves a considerable amount of time and work later on.
The picture here is very dramatic. Two men go hunting and both bag game, perhaps a deer or a gazelle. One of the men is diligent. He recognizes his need for food and, though it takes extra time and more effort, he puts is catch on a spit and roast the entire animal. In do so, he preserves it as useful for later consumption (provided he finds a relatively cool place to store it). The other man is lazy. Having drummed up the effort needed to hunt and catch--likely because of the pangs of hunger that he felt--this man consumes, immediately and until he is sated, and leaves the rest to rot. He does not value the game he bagged and takes no effort to preserve the extra for later consumption.
The foolishness in this is that the lazy man must work twice as hard. He will be forced to head out hunting the next day, and the day after that, ad infinitum, until he learns to care for what he has. So it is for us. As I study the Scriptures, do I apply any of it to memory? If not, I'll be hunting for it again when I need it. I keep a file system of quotes and illustrations for the very same reason. Work done at the front end, recognizing the value of the item at hand, saves a considerable amount of time and work later on.
Proverbs 11:7
"When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing."
This is a sad commentary on the legacy of a man who lives, as Solomon called it in Ecclesiastes, "under the sun." People whose lives are driven by and bound to this world and the things that they do or acquire in it, find that there is an end. For those whose lives transcend that boundary, and who live for the Lord, hope doesn't perish. It is fulfilled. Hope becomes reality and the little that they brought to the table becomes immeasurable riches in Christ. Don't put your hope in your power, money, acquisitions, or human relationships. Put your hope in Christ that your legacy may be never-ending.
This is a sad commentary on the legacy of a man who lives, as Solomon called it in Ecclesiastes, "under the sun." People whose lives are driven by and bound to this world and the things that they do or acquire in it, find that there is an end. For those whose lives transcend that boundary, and who live for the Lord, hope doesn't perish. It is fulfilled. Hope becomes reality and the little that they brought to the table becomes immeasurable riches in Christ. Don't put your hope in your power, money, acquisitions, or human relationships. Put your hope in Christ that your legacy may be never-ending.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Proverbs 10:29
"The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil."
The Lord has never given up His Sovereignty. Many who want to reject the bible, Christianity, and their ethical absolutes think that in so doing they have freed themselves from the shackles of an undesirable master. In reality, they are still duty bound. It is their response to their Master that makes Him undesirable.
The way of the Lord is the way of life that applies to all the living. There is only one right way--His way. There may be differences in application among various cultures and individuals, but the ultimate realities do not change. Those who oppose those realities will find that they still govern, only to their own injury.
For instance, the way of the Lord is the way of a merciful righteousness applied to undeserving sinners. One may prefer the way of religious effort earning merit and favor, but this is not the way of the Lord. Those who stand before Him on the day of judgment with a bundle of presumptive merit in their hands to offer an infinitely holy God will find Him hostile to their offering and face the eternal judgment of hell. Those who stand before Him claiming nothing but the mercy He has given them to make them acceptable will find Him to be a Father receiving them with open arms and bestowing upon them a home and a kingdom.
This can be seen clearly in the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector:
"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men-- robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."
"'But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
"'I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'"
So the Proverb is true--to one, the way of the Lord was a refuge, to the other it was ruin.
This is true not only of ultimate issues, i.e. those related to salvation. It is also true concerning moral issues. Sexual morality such as fidelity in marriage, abstinence outside of marriage, the divine intent of heterosexuality, etc., when embraced reward those who embrace them with confidence and trust in their union, avoidance of illnesses borne through immorality, and households that deflect the ravages of divorce. Those who will not embrace the way of the Lord find their rejection to be the source of ruin. Innumerable other examples can be given from the realms of diligence, honesty, charity, respect, etc. In all these things, the Lord has never abdicated His right to rule. One may oppose His standards, His authority, and His expectations, but they will not escape the obligation they have to these. The way of the Lord is supreme and all-constraining. The question is whether it will be a refuge or a ruin for you.
The Lord has never given up His Sovereignty. Many who want to reject the bible, Christianity, and their ethical absolutes think that in so doing they have freed themselves from the shackles of an undesirable master. In reality, they are still duty bound. It is their response to their Master that makes Him undesirable.
The way of the Lord is the way of life that applies to all the living. There is only one right way--His way. There may be differences in application among various cultures and individuals, but the ultimate realities do not change. Those who oppose those realities will find that they still govern, only to their own injury.
For instance, the way of the Lord is the way of a merciful righteousness applied to undeserving sinners. One may prefer the way of religious effort earning merit and favor, but this is not the way of the Lord. Those who stand before Him on the day of judgment with a bundle of presumptive merit in their hands to offer an infinitely holy God will find Him hostile to their offering and face the eternal judgment of hell. Those who stand before Him claiming nothing but the mercy He has given them to make them acceptable will find Him to be a Father receiving them with open arms and bestowing upon them a home and a kingdom.
This can be seen clearly in the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector:
"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men-- robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."
"'But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
"'I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'"
So the Proverb is true--to one, the way of the Lord was a refuge, to the other it was ruin.
This is true not only of ultimate issues, i.e. those related to salvation. It is also true concerning moral issues. Sexual morality such as fidelity in marriage, abstinence outside of marriage, the divine intent of heterosexuality, etc., when embraced reward those who embrace them with confidence and trust in their union, avoidance of illnesses borne through immorality, and households that deflect the ravages of divorce. Those who will not embrace the way of the Lord find their rejection to be the source of ruin. Innumerable other examples can be given from the realms of diligence, honesty, charity, respect, etc. In all these things, the Lord has never abdicated His right to rule. One may oppose His standards, His authority, and His expectations, but they will not escape the obligation they have to these. The way of the Lord is supreme and all-constraining. The question is whether it will be a refuge or a ruin for you.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Proverbs 8:17
"I [wisdom] love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."
As an inanimate noun, wisdom "loves" nobody. But the idea is surely clear, which is that wisdom is an extraordinary benefit to those who possess it and use it. Possession of wisdom is acquired only by a humble and diligent pursuit of it, and use of it demands a thoughtful consideration of the circumstances and acting upon what one has learned.
The second half of this verse is reassuring to those who desire such a benefit. If you really want wisdom and put in the effort necessary for a successful pursuit, you will acquire it. That is what it means to love wisdom.
As an inanimate noun, wisdom "loves" nobody. But the idea is surely clear, which is that wisdom is an extraordinary benefit to those who possess it and use it. Possession of wisdom is acquired only by a humble and diligent pursuit of it, and use of it demands a thoughtful consideration of the circumstances and acting upon what one has learned.
The second half of this verse is reassuring to those who desire such a benefit. If you really want wisdom and put in the effort necessary for a successful pursuit, you will acquire it. That is what it means to love wisdom.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Proverbs 5-7
There is almost nothing so foolish as adultery, and perhaps nothing so deceiving. All of chapter 5, half of chapter 6, and all of chapter 7 are devoted to this one subject, and each section represents individual and significant lessons. Thus it behooves us, as teachers and as learners, to give great attention to the subject of sexual fidelity and the dangers of adultery.
First, notice that Solomon's warnings are to his son about the advances of an immoral woman. In each case she is pictured as a married woman, though this need not be so. Her gender is contrary to expectation, where people typically pin blame for immorality upon the male, who is seen as pursuing an unwitting woman to "get what he wants." Scripture is unusual in its warning that an adulterous heart is as prevelant among women as among men and that she may as likely be the initiator of immorality as he. Neither sex has a corner on the market of sexual sin. They may have different agendas, but it is imperative that young men learn that certain women may attempt to lead them astray.
Second, adultery sounds appealing. "For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil" (5:3), and wisdom will keep you from, "the smooth tongue of the wayward wife." The immoral woman, and the relationship she promises, will sound convincing, even sweet. In chapter 7 her words make her sound admirable, holy, and respectable: "I have fellowship offerings at home; today I have fulfilled my vows." But Solomon, looking in on this scenario sees the seduction as it begins. "With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk." Wisdom must take to heart the potential source and sound of adultery.
Third, adultery harms those who engage in it. There is, of course, the danger of "getting caught." The end of chapter 6 warns of the consequences--"Blows and disgrace are his lot...for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge." Your partner's offended spouse will hurt you, and nothing will appease his anger short of that. Then there are the natural consequences--the ways that adultery dehumanizes us. "The prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life." The prostitute in this verse refers to the same adulterous wife. She is called a prostitute because she retains the spirit of a prostitute, selling herself to another man, if not for cash then for romance, affection, gifts, pleasure, etc. Prostitution is a corruption of humanity. So also is the role of the "client." He is reduced "to a loaf of bread"--unthinking, personless, and a source of provision for the one in pursuit. 5:8-10 give a typical picture when it says, "Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man's house." This is often the experience of an adulterous relationship: a man attempts to maintain his secret source of sexual gratification by providing gifts to the woman who pursued him. She is getting the "princess treatment" and romantic excitement that she longed for, and the man's own family feels the lack--both financially and emotionally. Stress and guilt keep him from engaging in his own home, while time and resources are expended--sometimes even at the risk and loss of employment--upon a woman who has not made the personal investment in the man's life. There is also the promise of divine discipline: "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths." Because of this fact, the adulterer is assured that he will not go unpunished. Even if he is never caught in this life, he will render an account to the Lord on the day of judgment. However, it is more typical that the Lord allows the man's folly to be revealed, often destroying his home and bringing an irreparable level of shame and distrust upon him.
Finally, (though certainly not all that could be said), the protection against adultery is to love and cherish and enjoy your spouse. One thing the bible is not is prudish about the sexual relationship within the home; discreet, yes; but prudish, not on your life! It knows what gratifies a man: "may her breasts satisfy you always." But more significantly, chapter 5 calls us to enjoy our sexual relationship through the love and affection that grows within marriage. Great sex is not the by-product of great technique but of great relationship. So Solomon writes, "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer-- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love." Part of the attraction to an adulterous relationship is the breakdown of enjoyment in the marital relationship. So we must learn to "REJOICE" in our wife. Stop complaining and criticizing; remember what attracted you at the beginning and focus upon that; get involved in one another's interests and new discoveries; compliment her and praise her constantly for her great qualities.
The potential for joy at home is immense. The potential for danger elsewhere is certain. We must apply this lesson of wisdom, and teach it to our children, because the call of the adulterous relationship is constant, and it is strong. Solomon's conclusion is strongest of all:
"Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
Do not let your heart turn to her [the adulterous woman's] ways or stray into her paths.
Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death." (6:24-27)
First, notice that Solomon's warnings are to his son about the advances of an immoral woman. In each case she is pictured as a married woman, though this need not be so. Her gender is contrary to expectation, where people typically pin blame for immorality upon the male, who is seen as pursuing an unwitting woman to "get what he wants." Scripture is unusual in its warning that an adulterous heart is as prevelant among women as among men and that she may as likely be the initiator of immorality as he. Neither sex has a corner on the market of sexual sin. They may have different agendas, but it is imperative that young men learn that certain women may attempt to lead them astray.
Second, adultery sounds appealing. "For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil" (5:3), and wisdom will keep you from, "the smooth tongue of the wayward wife." The immoral woman, and the relationship she promises, will sound convincing, even sweet. In chapter 7 her words make her sound admirable, holy, and respectable: "I have fellowship offerings at home; today I have fulfilled my vows." But Solomon, looking in on this scenario sees the seduction as it begins. "With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk." Wisdom must take to heart the potential source and sound of adultery.
Third, adultery harms those who engage in it. There is, of course, the danger of "getting caught." The end of chapter 6 warns of the consequences--"Blows and disgrace are his lot...for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge." Your partner's offended spouse will hurt you, and nothing will appease his anger short of that. Then there are the natural consequences--the ways that adultery dehumanizes us. "The prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life." The prostitute in this verse refers to the same adulterous wife. She is called a prostitute because she retains the spirit of a prostitute, selling herself to another man, if not for cash then for romance, affection, gifts, pleasure, etc. Prostitution is a corruption of humanity. So also is the role of the "client." He is reduced "to a loaf of bread"--unthinking, personless, and a source of provision for the one in pursuit. 5:8-10 give a typical picture when it says, "Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man's house." This is often the experience of an adulterous relationship: a man attempts to maintain his secret source of sexual gratification by providing gifts to the woman who pursued him. She is getting the "princess treatment" and romantic excitement that she longed for, and the man's own family feels the lack--both financially and emotionally. Stress and guilt keep him from engaging in his own home, while time and resources are expended--sometimes even at the risk and loss of employment--upon a woman who has not made the personal investment in the man's life. There is also the promise of divine discipline: "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths." Because of this fact, the adulterer is assured that he will not go unpunished. Even if he is never caught in this life, he will render an account to the Lord on the day of judgment. However, it is more typical that the Lord allows the man's folly to be revealed, often destroying his home and bringing an irreparable level of shame and distrust upon him.
Finally, (though certainly not all that could be said), the protection against adultery is to love and cherish and enjoy your spouse. One thing the bible is not is prudish about the sexual relationship within the home; discreet, yes; but prudish, not on your life! It knows what gratifies a man: "may her breasts satisfy you always." But more significantly, chapter 5 calls us to enjoy our sexual relationship through the love and affection that grows within marriage. Great sex is not the by-product of great technique but of great relationship. So Solomon writes, "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer-- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love." Part of the attraction to an adulterous relationship is the breakdown of enjoyment in the marital relationship. So we must learn to "REJOICE" in our wife. Stop complaining and criticizing; remember what attracted you at the beginning and focus upon that; get involved in one another's interests and new discoveries; compliment her and praise her constantly for her great qualities.
The potential for joy at home is immense. The potential for danger elsewhere is certain. We must apply this lesson of wisdom, and teach it to our children, because the call of the adulterous relationship is constant, and it is strong. Solomon's conclusion is strongest of all:
"Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
Do not let your heart turn to her [the adulterous woman's] ways or stray into her paths.
Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death." (6:24-27)
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Proverbs 4:3-4a
"When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me..."
This is not an instruction, but a memory. Yet, it speaks volumes about the significance, focus, and responsibility of fatherly instruction. Taken with the first two verses of this chapter, we find an apparently fruitful, multi-generational commitment by fathers to teaching their children in the way of wisdom. The Psalmist heard these things from his own father and now, having applied the same to his own life, instructs his son--3 generations of instructed people.
Scripture consistently lays the responsibility for child-training upon the shoulders of fathers (see Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:4-8). This is not to the exclusion of mothers (the Proverbs direct us often to our mothers' teaching) but as head of the home, the burden and responsibility for this task before God belongs to the father. Many men excel in teaching their child to throw a ball or fix a car, but instruction in the fear of the Lord and His way of wisdom must be primary. Wisdom is said to make for long life, to protect from injury, to bring honor, and to be life itself. Oh, the things a child misses when a father drops the ball on this.
This is not an instruction, but a memory. Yet, it speaks volumes about the significance, focus, and responsibility of fatherly instruction. Taken with the first two verses of this chapter, we find an apparently fruitful, multi-generational commitment by fathers to teaching their children in the way of wisdom. The Psalmist heard these things from his own father and now, having applied the same to his own life, instructs his son--3 generations of instructed people.
Scripture consistently lays the responsibility for child-training upon the shoulders of fathers (see Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:4-8). This is not to the exclusion of mothers (the Proverbs direct us often to our mothers' teaching) but as head of the home, the burden and responsibility for this task before God belongs to the father. Many men excel in teaching their child to throw a ball or fix a car, but instruction in the fear of the Lord and His way of wisdom must be primary. Wisdom is said to make for long life, to protect from injury, to bring honor, and to be life itself. Oh, the things a child misses when a father drops the ball on this.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Proverbs 3:27-28
"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"-- when you now have it with you."
I find in this proverb two little-recognized guidelines for the application of help. First, help is to be directed toward "those who deserve it." This is by-and-large the failure of a welfare state mentality. No distinction is made between those who try and fail and those who do not try at all. Some people, due to disabilities (physical or otherwise), are hindered at meeting their needs in full. Others, due to laziness, would rather be provided for. The former are deserving of our care and generosity. The latter are deserving of an empty belly, so as to give them the motivation they need to work hard.
The second guideline is that help is to be extended "when it is in your power to act." There's a double edged sword to this matter. On the one hand, there is no moral imperative to help when doing so brings hardship to the helper. There will always be more needs that we have the ability to fulfill, and this is good, or else all helping would be done by just a few. The fact that we all have limits forces (or at least obligates) others to step up. When it is in your power to help, be helpful. When it's not, be prayerful. On the other hand, there is no time like the present to show compassion. A heart of compassion can be restricted by too much concern over the future. You may not have the ability to help later, but you have the ability now, so help now. You may not even be alive tomorrow. So Solomon adds verse 28, that we who tend toward excess caution realize that if you delay, you will always have reason to delay further.
All this has been applied to charitable giving, but other forms of "good" may also be within your power. You may need to see that someone gets justice. You may know a mother or family who needs your assistance with child care or home/auto repair. Maybe a friend needs tutoring, or encouragement, or a loving but firm rebuke. We all have opportunities to do good toward deserving people. The challenge is to do so in a timely manner.
I find in this proverb two little-recognized guidelines for the application of help. First, help is to be directed toward "those who deserve it." This is by-and-large the failure of a welfare state mentality. No distinction is made between those who try and fail and those who do not try at all. Some people, due to disabilities (physical or otherwise), are hindered at meeting their needs in full. Others, due to laziness, would rather be provided for. The former are deserving of our care and generosity. The latter are deserving of an empty belly, so as to give them the motivation they need to work hard.
The second guideline is that help is to be extended "when it is in your power to act." There's a double edged sword to this matter. On the one hand, there is no moral imperative to help when doing so brings hardship to the helper. There will always be more needs that we have the ability to fulfill, and this is good, or else all helping would be done by just a few. The fact that we all have limits forces (or at least obligates) others to step up. When it is in your power to help, be helpful. When it's not, be prayerful. On the other hand, there is no time like the present to show compassion. A heart of compassion can be restricted by too much concern over the future. You may not have the ability to help later, but you have the ability now, so help now. You may not even be alive tomorrow. So Solomon adds verse 28, that we who tend toward excess caution realize that if you delay, you will always have reason to delay further.
All this has been applied to charitable giving, but other forms of "good" may also be within your power. You may need to see that someone gets justice. You may know a mother or family who needs your assistance with child care or home/auto repair. Maybe a friend needs tutoring, or encouragement, or a loving but firm rebuke. We all have opportunities to do good toward deserving people. The challenge is to do so in a timely manner.
Proverbs 2:1-5
"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."
Think of what is required of us to attain wisdom. Though, according to 1:20, wisdom is available to everyone, we find here that its acquisition demands labor. We must:
Accept counsel (many are to proud or wise in their own eyes),
Apply it to memory (i.e. memorize it),
Listen for it (this is an intentional process and calls for learning where and to whom to listen),
Meditate upon the truth and application of what you heard,
Pray for it,
Ask others for advice,
Long for it,
and work hard to obtain it.
How will you know if you've attained wisdom? The evidence is that you will grow in your love for and faith in God. That is the real pursuit of wisdom
Think of what is required of us to attain wisdom. Though, according to 1:20, wisdom is available to everyone, we find here that its acquisition demands labor. We must:
Accept counsel (many are to proud or wise in their own eyes),
Apply it to memory (i.e. memorize it),
Listen for it (this is an intentional process and calls for learning where and to whom to listen),
Meditate upon the truth and application of what you heard,
Pray for it,
Ask others for advice,
Long for it,
and work hard to obtain it.
How will you know if you've attained wisdom? The evidence is that you will grow in your love for and faith in God. That is the real pursuit of wisdom
Monday, July 2, 2007
Proverbs 1:20-21
"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:"
Notice that wisdom is not hidden in some secret place, attainable only to the enlightened gnostic. Wisdom is available to all. She even cries out to us. So it is that those who fail to obtain wisdom have chosen to ignore her.
Upon sharing this thought with some middle school students, one of them astutely commented, "Maybe the reason they don't listen to wisdom is that there's too much noise going on around them." Now that really is profound! Wisdom is not hiding, but the world and its ideas constantly threaten to drown out the message. So if you would obtain wisdom, you must apply yourself to listen and to follow her voice.
Notice that wisdom is not hidden in some secret place, attainable only to the enlightened gnostic. Wisdom is available to all. She even cries out to us. So it is that those who fail to obtain wisdom have chosen to ignore her.
Upon sharing this thought with some middle school students, one of them astutely commented, "Maybe the reason they don't listen to wisdom is that there's too much noise going on around them." Now that really is profound! Wisdom is not hiding, but the world and its ideas constantly threaten to drown out the message. So if you would obtain wisdom, you must apply yourself to listen and to follow her voice.
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