Proverbial Post 9; Prov. 24-27

May the mumbling commence!

How are we to treat our enemies?  How are we to treat those who attempt to make our lives miserable?  These questions are relevant at the personal, communal, and national levels.  What does the book of Proverbs speak about this subject?  Read some verses below:

            Do not gloat when your enemy falls;

                        when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

            or the Lord will see and disapprove

                        and turn his wrath away from him. (Prov. 24:17-18)

                                                                                                                                         

Note: We are not supposed to gloat over the failure of our enemies.  It is not that we wish that they would be excused from the punishment that their sins deserve.  We are human.  Jesus was both human and God in nature.  Jesus wanted his enemies to be free of their punishment.  It is a good thing to strive for, but it is not the message of Proverbs.  Read another quote:

            Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me;

                        I’ll pay him back for what he did.” (Prov. 24:29)

So much for the thought, “Don’t get mad get even.”  Much in our society pushes this thought on us.  This thought is foreign to Proverbs.  Do not return evil for evil.  Read another quote:

            If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

                        if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

            In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,

                        and the Lord will reward you.  (Prov. 25:21-22)

Confound and confuse the enemy.  Do not speak in the only language that he can understand.  Serve him.  Give him food to eat when he is hungry.  Give him water to eat when he is thirsty.  Sustain your enemy – but not for a nicety.  Sustain him so that burning coals will be on his head.  The Lord’s reward will be in this tact for you (and possibly your enemy).  There is no way of defeating an enemy than making him a friend and ally.  But before we get to far into this train of thought, let’s look at another quote from Proverbs:

            Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

                        but an enemy multiplies his kisses. (27:6)

The wisdom of Proverbs asks us to serve our enemies, but it doesn’t ask us to trust them – even when it seems we have transformed  them into friends.  The wisdom of Proverbs tells us not to gloat over our enemies fall – but not at the expense of justice.  The wisdom of Proverbs tells us not to return evil for evil.  The wisdom of Proverbs tells us to feed and give drink to our enemies – not for a nicety but for heaping burning coals on his head.

Let’s keep these concepts and attitudes in our hearts and minds as we relate to those who make our lives miserable.  If we do, there will be a reward from the Lord.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out 

Proverbial Post 8; Proverbs 22-23

May the mumbling commence!

Now that we’ve been reading from Proverbs for a little over a week, we can start asking the question – What is the purpose that drives these seemingly random bits of wisdom?  The answer lies in Proverbs 22:5 “So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.”

So, where else do we put our trust?  As I read from Proverbs 22-23, I began to think about the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor in the US.  I began to think about the near extinction of the middle class.  These thoughts made some of the wisdom of these chapters stand out.  Read from the beginning and the end of chapter 23:

            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 wear yourself out to get rich;

                        have the wisdom to show restraint.

             Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,

                        for they will surely sprout wings

                        and fly off like an eagle. (Verses 1-5)

            Who had woe?  Who has sorrow?

                        Who has strife?  Who has complaints?

                        Who has needless bruises?  Who has bloodshot eyes?

            Those who linger over wine,

                        who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

            Do not gaze at wine when it is red,

                        when it sparkles in the cup,

                        when it goes down smoothly.

            In the end it bites like a snake

                        and poisons like a viper.

            Your eyes will see strange sights

                        and your mind imagine confusing things.

            You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,

                        lying on top of the rigging.

            “They hit me,” you will say, “but I am not hurt!

                        They beat me, but I didn’t feel it!

            When will I wake up

                        so I can find another drink?” (Verses 29-35)

In the first passage, we see that the rich trust in their wealth to provide for them – not a good thing because eventually it will sprout wings a leave them high and dry.  In the second passage, the poor often drown their worries in alcohol.  Or they drown it in another cheap drug or spirit.  

Neither is a great place to put trust.  So, who is at fault for the widening gap between the rich and the poor in this country?  Fault can easily be found anywhere.  But who has more power for change?  Sometimes I wonder.  Read from Proverbs chapter 22:

            Rich and poor have this in common:

                        the Lord is the Maker of them all. (Verse 2)  

Only the Lord has the power for change!

            The rich rule over the poor,

                        and the borrower is servant to the lender. (Verse 7)

            He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth

                        and he who gives gifts to the rich – both come to poverty. (Verse 16)

            Do not exploit the poor because they are poor     

                        and do not crush the needy in court,        

            for the Lord will take up their case                       

                        and will plunder those who plunder them. (Verses 22-23)

But, in a human sense, the rich have power to exercise over the poor; and the rich must pay someone to keep their status. These things end in a poverty – poverty of the Lord!

Remember: Trust in the Lord.  This trust is the bottom line in Proverbs.

Enough mumbling for today…  

Peace Out

Proverbial Post 7; Proverbs 19-21

May the mumbling commence!

Hear some proverbs of today:  “He who dies with the most toys wins.”  “He who wins the lottery has many friends.”  “Money talks, and bull*$@! Walks.”  Indeed the way that we use our money speaks volumes about us.  What does our use of money say about us to the Lord?  How should we use our wealth wisely?  Let’s take a look at Proverbs 19-21 to find the answers.  Read a couple of proverbs from chapter 19:

            Wealth brings many friends,

                        But a poor man’s friend deserts him. (Verse 4)

            Many curry favor with a ruler,

                        And everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts. (Verse 6)

As the Beatles songs says, “Can’t buy me love.”  But money can buy companionship – the caliber of which will desert you when the gifts stop coming.  So, how can we live and use our money that will grow love?  Wisdom is not shown in how much money one has but in how one uses the money that one has.  Let’s look at another verse, this time from chapter 20:

            An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning

                        Will not be blessed at the end. (Verse 21)

This proverb makes me think of an eighties movie called Brewster’s Millions.  The main character was played by Richard Pryor.  Pryor’s character learns early in the movie that a rich multi-millionaire relative had died and left him money, but there was a catch (isn’t there always).  Pryor’s character had a choice: Walk away free and clear with a million dollars or take a million dollars and spend it in a month but have nothing to show for it but the clothes on his back.  If he was successful with the latter, Pryor’s character would inherit the entire amount.  Failure to complete the task would result in no further money.

Pryor’s character took the challenge.  Talk about the American Dream!  He had an engraved invitation for conspicuous consumption and dreadful waste.  With much trial, he succeeded.  By the time he was through with the trial, he had grown sick of wasting money on frivolous things.  That was the point of the departed wealthy relative.  It is a point that Proverbs tries to make.  Read some quotes from Proverbs 20 and 21:

            Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;

                        Whoever is led astray by them is not wise. (20:1)

            He who loves pleasure will become poor;

                        Whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich. (21:17)

            In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,

                        But a foolish man devours all he has. (21:20)

            The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him,

                        Because his hands refuse to work.

            All day long he craves for more,

                        But the righteous give without sparing. (21:-25-26)

Rich foods and the drugs of our choice decay our sense of righteousness and lead us astray.  We will become drunk with the wrong spirits.  We will be slaves to our appetites.  This way leads to the poor house.  Even worse than that – it leads to death.

Let’s set aside out conspicuous consumptions and be content with our needs being met.  Then, we will open the way to give without sparing.  And we will work diligently to maintain a righteous relationship with everyone – even those poor in our sight.

Enough mumbling for today…

Peace Out   

Proverbial Post 6; Proverbs 16-18

May the mumbling commence!

As summer begins and the school year ends, the questions for recent graduates are almost always the same.  What are your plans for the future?  Anytime when we close one chapter in our book of life, we need to plan for the next chapter.  What does the wise Teacher of Proverbs have to say about planning?  I was thinking of this very subject as I read Proverbs 16-18.

Let’s begin our search in chapter sixteen.  Read several verses from it:

            There is a way that seems right to a man,

But in the end it leads to death. (Verse 25)

            The lot is cast into the lap,

                        But its every decision is from the Lord. (Verse 33)

To man belong the plans of the heart,

                        But from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. (Verse 1)

            In his heart a man plans his course,

                        But the Lord determines his steps. (Verse 9)

            When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,

                        He makes even his enemies live at peace with him. (Verse 7)

Though it may seem like a great plan to us, we should look carefully at it through the discerning eyes of the Lord.  Otherwise failure and death may be around the corner.  Instead, let’s cast our lot with the Lord.  In what ways do we cast our lots today?  When we decide to live our life of faith in a particular community, we cast our lot with God.  We trust that every decision of the church community that falls into our laps will have come from the Lord.  That is the reason it is so vital to be an active member.  Casting our lot with a congregation (and at times a denomination) helps to guide our plans for the future.

In our hearts, we still plan our course, but the Lord controls our tongues and our steps.  Tongues hold great power over the trajectory of our lives.  I have been calling it the power of DABAR – Hebrew for the spoken word.  It is a part of the way we are created in the image of the Lord.  And our steps reveal the attitudes and intentions of our hearts.  So, the Lord’s control over our tongues and steps amounts to much more than being a GPS or a co-pilot.  When we welcome the Lord into our lives, God is the pilot, the driver, for our lives.

And when we welcome the Lord in this way, we please Him.  Our enemies will live at peace with us.  Perhaps we all can learn from this piece of wisdom next time someone comes into conflict with us.  Let the Lord guide your attitudes, words, and actions.  You will not be disappointed with the outcome.

But do not be fooled.  Welcoming the Lord in this way is not easy.  Read some verses of wisdom from Proverbs 16:

            A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,

                        But a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. (Verse 24)

            A rebuke impresses a man of discernment

                        More than a hundred lashes a fool. (Verse 10)

            The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

                        But the Lord tests the heart. (Verse 3)

We cannot be lax in seeking the wisdom of God.  We must listen to rebukes from the Lord – whether them come through Scripture reading or prayer or our Christian brothers and sisters.  The Lord’s wisdom has more power to refine us than the heat of the crucible or furnace.  Talk about a high standard for purity!  The Lord’s standard far exceeds the gold standard!  So, what do we do when we fail?  (Because we will fail at times.)  Read the answer from Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and they are safe.”

Enough mumbling for today…  

Peace Out

Proverbial Post 6; Proverbs 16-18

May the mumbling commence!

As summer begins and the school year ends, the questions for recent graduates are almost always the same.  What are your plans for the future?  Anytime when we close one chapter in our book of life, we need to plan for the next chapter.  What does the wise Teacher of Proverbs have to say about planning?  I was thinking of this very subject as I read Proverbs 16-18.

Let’s begin our search in chapter sixteen.  Read several verses from it:

            There is a way that seems right to a man,

But in the end it leads to death. (Verse 25)

            The lot is cast into the lap,

                        But its every decision is from the Lord. (Verse 33)

To man belong the plans of the heart,

                        But from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. (Verse 1)

            In his heart a man plans his course,

                        But the Lord determines his steps. (Verse 9)

            When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,

                        He makes even his enemies live at peace with him. (Verse 7)

Though it may seem like a great plan to us, we should look carefully at it through the discerning eyes of the Lord.  Otherwise failure and death may be around the corner.  Instead, let’s cast our lot with the Lord.  In what ways do we cast our lots today?  When we decide to live our life of faith in a particular community, we cast our lot with God.  We trust that every decision of the church community that falls into our laps will have come from the Lord.  That is the reason it is so vital to be an active member.  Casting our lot with a congregation (and at times a denomination) helps to guide our plans for the future.

In our hearts, we still plan our course, but the Lord controls our tongues and our steps.  Tongues hold great power over the trajectory of our lives.  I have been calling it the power of DABAR – Hebrew for the spoken word.  It is a part of the way we are created in the image of the Lord.  And our steps reveal the attitudes and intentions of our hearts.  So, the Lord’s control over our tongues and steps amounts to much more than being a GPS or a co-pilot.  When we welcome the Lord into our lives, God is the pilot, the driver, for our lives.

And when we welcome the Lord in this way, we please Him.  Our enemies will live at peace with us.  Perhaps we all can learn from this piece of wisdom next time someone comes into conflict with us.  Let the Lord guide your attitudes, words, and actions.  You will not be disappointed with the outcome.

But do not be fooled.  Welcoming the Lord in this way is not easy.  Read some verses of wisdom from Proverbs 16:

            A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,

                        But a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. (Verse 24)

            A rebuke impresses a man of discernment

                        More than a hundred lashes a fool. (Verse 10)

            The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

                        But the Lord tests the heart. (Verse 3)

We cannot be lax in seeking the wisdom of God.  We must listen to rebukes from the Lord – whether them come through Scripture reading or prayer or our Christian brothers and sisters.  The Lord’s wisdom has more power to refine us than the heat of the crucible or furnace.  Talk about a high standard for purity!  The Lord’s standard far exceeds the gold standard!  So, what do we do when we fail?  (Because we will fail at times.)  Read the answer from Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and they are safe.”

Enough mumbling for today…  

Peace Out

Proverbial Post 5; Proverbs 14-15

May the mumbling commence!

Wealth and money are blessings, but it is essential to use it in a godly way.  Proverbs 14-15 speak some to this issue.  Read some words of wisdom on this matter from chapter 14:

            The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

                        But the tent of the upright will flourish. (Verse 11)

Do not seek to build grand mansions – they will eventually be robbed and destroyed.  Instead, live knowing that we are aliens in this land.  Live in tents.  I don’t think this means live in literal tents, but it does mean living within our means with respect to all creation.  Read another verse:

           

            He who despises his neighbor sins,

                        But blessed is he who is kind to the needy. (Verse 21)

Living in tents means saving some money back to be kind to the needy.  Otherwise, we will hoard and fall into sin.  Think this is an anomaly?  Read another verse:

            He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,

                        But whoever is kind to the needy honors God. (Verse 31)

It basically comes down to what we most treasure.  Read a verse from Proverbs 15:

            The house of the righteous contains great treasure,

                        But the income of the wicked brings them trouble.  (Verse 6)

Know that the righteous person’s treasure does not equate with a rich retirement with lots of toys and travel and luxuries.  Because the righteous realize the wisdom found in another verse of Proverbs 15:

            Better a little with the fear of the Lord

                        Than great wealth with turmoil. (Verse 16)

The love of money rather than God can only lead to trouble and bribes to look the other way.  Read another wise saying below:

            A greedy man brings trouble on his family,

                        But he who hates bribes will live. (Verse 27)

Either we store up treasures in heaven by living in harmony with everyone and all creation (following the Lord’s command, by the way) or we hoard provisions and knowledge and rain destruction and trouble on our heads and the heads of those closest to us.  The choice is easy; the execution is difficult.

Lord, help us to use our wealth – our money, our possessions, our ideas, and knowledge – in a way that lifts others up and glorifies the Name of our Great Creator.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Proverbial Post 4; Proverbs 11-13

May the mumbling commence!

We are nearly half way through our year of reading the Bible as it happened chronologically!  What a spiritual discipline!  Discipline?!?  That word has such a negative connotations.  It’s no wonder people struggle to maintain a spiritual discipline like Scripture reading or prayer or fasting.

We may look at Proverbs 13:24 and either shiver in fear or race to get our rods – “He who spare the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”  But I wonder…  What rod was Solomon talking about?  Let’s look at today’s reading from Proverbs 11-13 with discipline in mind.  How do these chapters of Proverbs define the wisdom of discipline?  Read some wise sayings from chapter 12:

        Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

                        But he who hates correction is stupid.  (Verse 1)

The rod of discipline is knowledge and correction not a literal wooden rod or tree branch.

        The way of a fool seems right to him,

                        But a wise man listens to advice.  (Verse 15)

Ask yourself this question:  “Are you right?”  I know of few if any people who would answer this question “no.”  But, do NOT be a know-it-all.  Listen to advice.  The rod of discipline is also about being open to advice and changing errant ways.  Let’s move on to Proverbs chapter 13.

        Pride only breeds quarrels,

                        But wisdom is found in those who take advice.  (Verse 10)

Those who do not accept the rod of discipline are on the road to pride and quarrels.  This verse underscores our need to be malleable to the wisdom of Christ.  Take advice!

        He who scorns instruction will pay for it,

                        But he who respects a command is rewarded.  (Verse 13)

The rod of discipline is, once again, related to instruction.  Respect instruction and commands and be rewarded.

        He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame,

                        But whoever heeds correction is honored.  (Verse 18)

Is there any more doubt in our minds what the rod of discipline is?  It is about knowledge through godly correction, instruction, and advice.  And the attitude of heart we need to adopt is respect and openness to change our ways.  As we read Scripture, meditate, and pray, we open ourselves in a respectful way to change through the knowledge, correction, instructions, commands, and advice of God through the Holy Spirit.  And this correction is most efficient in community.  I thank God this day for my Bible reading community!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out