Year 2, Day 315: Proverbs 24

The Danger Of Desire

I love the contrast of the first four verses of Proverbs 24.  The first thing we hear is that we should not desire to be in the presence of evil nor desire the things that evil people acquire.  That on its own is great advice.  Isn’t it easy to covet the things that evil people often have?  Evil people have power.  Evil people can display incredible control over the people around them.  Evil people often control a fair amount of resources.  Evil people don’t often display much genuine want or need for the things of this world.  It is so easy to fall into the trap of being envious of the things that evil people have.

The Contrast Of Community

However, look then at the wisdom of verses 3-4.  It is upon wisdom that a true house is built.  By understanding a house is kept firm.  Through knowledge the house is filled with truly good things.  You see, being evil is about building an empire.  Being godly is about building community.  That’s the wisdom of this set of proverbs.  We are to be about wisdom and building family among community.  We don’t need to be envious of the resources of evil people when the true resources of God come through wisdom and following Him.

Rescue Those Who Approach Death

As we move along in the chapter, I’m going to take a look at Proverbs 24:11.  I’m going to take it in a direction that the author certainly did not intend.  But the analogy is pretty cool so I am going to do it anyway.  We are to rescue those who are being taken away to death.  We are to hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.  Think about this on a spiritual level.  Is not every human being destined for death?  Is not every human being destined for death because we are guilty in our sin?  Is not the only way that we can be rescued from death through Jesus Christ?

I think we can take this passage in a completely spiritual way – even if it is not the way that the author intended.  How do we rescue people from death?  We tell them about Jesus Christ.  We share our relationship with Jesus Christ with them.  We proclaim the Gospel to a world that needs to hear it.  Spiritually speaking, this is the best means for rescuing people who are headed for death!

So then we move into verse 12.  Listen to the promise that comes at the end of the verse.  Will not the one who watches over the soul know it and repay us for our work?  Now, this doesn’t necessarily imply works based salvation.  The author isn’t saying that we will earn our salvation through our work.  Rather, the author says we will be rewarded for our work.  There is a difference between earning something and being rewarded.  Jesus tells us several times in the New Testament to store up our treasures where moth and rust cannot destroy.  That doesn’t mean we earn our salvation.  Rather, what it means is that we can receive the gift of salvation that we could never earn and then be rewarded by God for what we do with Him in response to His grace.  We can never earn our salvation.  But we can certainly store up treasures in heaven once we have embraced the salvation that God grants to us.

Prepare the Field, Then Build the House

I’m going to end with a reflection on Proverbs 24:27.  Prepare your work in the field; once you have made preparations then build your house.  The applications of this proverb have many levels.

First, consider it an analogy to a task.  When we have something to do, are we not usually more successful when we take a little time and make sure we’re ready?  Is it not easier to work on a project or task once we’re sure that we have all that we need?  A little forethought makes the work easier.

However, this could also be a proverb that has applications for life.  Think about it for a second.  If we want to be successful contributing adults, do we not need to prepare as we are young?  If we want to be a leader, do we not need to learn skills from a mentor or a teacher?  Life is all about this principle.  Once we have been schooled, gathered our support network, and allowed ourselves to be molded then we can begin to do the work for which we have been put on this earth.

I’m going to take this in a third direction: spirituality.  If we want to be spiritual, do we not need to study God’s Word?  If we want to live out God’s ways, do we not need to first humble ourselves and prepare for life?  If we want to be obedient to God and actually make disciples, do we not need to be spiritually discipled first?  Only when we are prepared by God can we truly take His hand and join Him in the work to which He has called us.

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