Year 8, Day 311: Proverbs 20

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Proverbs 20 gives us some very interesting words of advice regarding humanity and business.  We already know that God respects righteousness.  He looks for people who handle themselves with maturity as well as with an outlook for the people around them.  Why shouldn’t this same view extend into the business world?

Unequal weights and unequal measures are an abomination to the Lord.  Note that this proverb gets largely repeated in verse 23, too.  God does care how we treat one another in business.  He doesn’t want us cheating each other.  He wants us to live in community where we care for one another, not where we care only for ourselves.

I think there is more to it than this, though.  When we cheat one another, we demonstrate self-interest more than love for the other.  In fact, when we cheat one another we share a lack of compassion at all towards the other.  We stop seeing them as a person and start seeing them as a means to an end.  No longer is business about a fair exchange between equals, when we cheat business becomes a way to deprive other people of what is rightfully theirs while giving them something unequal to what was taken from them.  When we cheat one another, we lose our humanity and become the basest of creatures who care only for their own selfish instinct.

There’s still another side to this.  Unequal weights are meant to do more than cheat.  Unequal weights are meant to deceive.  Unequal weights are only effective when they appear to be what they are not.  They may have hollowed out cores.  They might be made of a different material and then covered in thin plating or with paint of an appropriate color.  The point is that they are deceptive.

God doesn’t care for a heart that enjoys deception.  It’s one thing to make a mistake.  It’s another thing to plan out the downfall of another.  Deception shows intent to injure.  Deception shows a desire to cause another hardship.  It isn’t just the act that is wrong, it is the condition of the heart that has God concerned.

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Year 8, Day 310: Proverbs 19

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This chapter has several intriguing proverbs.  To begin, look at our old friend knowledge.  Verse 27 tells us that if we cease to hear instruction we stray from knowledge.  Verse 35 tells us that when we reprove a man of understand that he gains knowledge.  Verse 20 tells us to listen to advice and accept instruction so that we gain wisdom in the future.  Each of these proverbs has two things in common.  The first one is the thread that we can learn from our mistakes.  In other words, mistakes aren’t the end of the world if we learn from them.  The second one is that wisdom and knowledge are largely dependent upon us.  Neither quality is inherent within us, but we certainly have the power to prevent them from taking root within!  We can choose to remain in our ignorance; even better, we can choose to receive instruction and reproach to grow who we are.

Verse 6, everyone is a friend to those who give gifts, is an interesting perspective on humanity.  Who doesn’t love a handout, right?  Who doesn’t love a person who is willing to share?  I see it all the time at school.  Take a kid who brings cupcakes or some other neat dessert in.  They have instant friends who simply want the benefit of the cupcakes.  When the cupcakes are gone, so are the instant friends.  Or, imagine picking up teams for a review game where the winning team gets bonus on the test the next day.  Suddenly all the kids want to be the friend of the smart guy.  What does this mean?  It means human beings are fickle.  We’re in it for ourselves.  We always make friends with those who can help increase our status or pleasure in the world.

I really like verse 17.  Whoever lends to the poor gives to the Lord.  This is brilliant, in my book.  The world thinks that lending to the poor is a silly concept.  After all, how will they ever repay?  The person who lends to the poor is unlikely to regain what they lend.  On the other hand, does not God see what we do?  Is not God strong enough to make it right?  Sure, the poor may not even be able to repay the debt.  Cannot God, however, repay the debt in full and then some?  This proverb helps us focus considerably on the idea that we should have our focus on the Lord and what He has already done for us rather than worrying about whether or not we’ll ever break even in the first place.  God has blessed us with so much already that from His perspective we’ll never fall back to even - even if we should happen to give all that we have.

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Year 8, Day 309: Proverbs 18

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There are several proverbs in this chapter that make a ton of sense to the introvert.  I am an introvert, so I’ll expound on that today.  Please note that these proverbs apply just as much to the extrovert, they just cut very close to the being of the introvert.

An introvert is not someone who is timid or shy.  Timid and shy people can be extroverts, too.  An introvert is someone who gains energy by being alone or by being in small groups of people they know.  They’ve done studies to show that introverts are far more sensitive to the effects of dopamine than extroverts – meaning that it is easy for an introvert to overdose on dopamine – which is why introverts don’t like surprises (and especially hate surprise parties) or loud places, or crowds, or a ton of stimulation at once.  They’ve also done studies to show that while extroverts perceive the world around them through their senses – which is why they typically respond far more quickly than an introvert – an introvert perceives the world around them through the memory portion of the brain.  This is why most introverts can’t tell you how they feel in the moment; they need to think about it for a day or so to tell you how they really felt.  An introvert needs to make it a memory and then process it; the extrovert simply responds to the stimulus and decides to make a memory of it later.

Wy bring all of this out today?  Proverbs 18:13 speaks into the soul of the introvert.  If one gives answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.  Introverts inherently understand the importance of actually listening, thinking about what was said, and then responding only after a proper analysis has been done.  There is no point in formulating your answer while the other person is still speaking!  When we do that, we diminish our ability to listen and likely miss nuances within what the other person is saying.  Instead, listen.  Then formulate your answer.  Then speak what you believe to be true.

Or, take the last proverb in the chapter.  A many of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  If you are an introvert, you’ll understand when I say that I have about 6 friends in my life.  I have many acquaintances.  I have lots of people whose names I know and whose opinions I’ve heard.  But in this life, I have about 6 people who truly know me, know my struggles, can guess how I’m feeling just by looking at me, and in whom I confide.  Introverts understand that a person’s importance does not equate to their popularity.  The person with many friends is not a better person.  In fact, if we have too many friends we cannot possibly know them all.  We let people into our circles of confidence before we can vet them out and understand if they are good for us or bad for us.  If we have too many friends we can’t determine who is there for us and who is there for themselves and could really care less about us.  Many companions may lead to ruin; but a few close friends can carry you through your life.

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Year 8, Day 308: Proverbs 17

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Proverbs 17 has some incredibly wise one-liners.  We get to hear about wisdom again.  We also get to hear sound practical life-advice.  This is a great chapter of the Bible.

Start first in the middle.  “Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool bent on folly.”  I think that we all understand what happens when we meet a bear robbed of her cubs.  The she-bear is angry and murderous.  She will tear you up.  E anger knows only the limit of her endurance.  Yet, Solomon tells us that it is better to meet someone like that than a fool bent on folly!  There is a pretty simply reason, I believe.  The bear will rip you apart, but you see it coming and the fury will pass quickly.  The fool will utterly destroy your life and you won’t see it coming.  Worse, the destruction that the fool brings to your life will cost you a long period of time as you try your best to recover.  The she-bear brings a ton of pain that is short-lived.  The fool brings a life of unforeseen pain.

I also love the advice that starting a quarrel is like breaching a damn.  I always think of the Hoover damn when I picture this proverb.  I think of this huge, massive concrete damn and this tiny trickle of water coming out the bottom.  Then, I think of the damn cracking so that the tiny trickle of water turns into a massive deluge.  Other people might think of the famous Johnstown Flood of 1889.  The idea is the same.  When a damn breaks, there is no holding back the onslaught that comes forth.  The same thing is true about starting an argument.  Once you start an argument, you let loose a circumstance that is no longer under your control.  The quarrel could fester and unleash all kinds of consequences the are unable to be stopped.  It is best to just not begin a quarrel.

As an aside, I personally think this proverb speaks greatly to the American political climate of today. America has a (largely) two-party system and neither party will work together anymore.  Why?  In the past, the parties quarreled.  They have gotten so accustomed to quarrelling that they can’t do anything except tote the party line anymore.  The quarreling is so great that any attempt to not quarrel is glaring to everyone involved and people are crucified for “colluding with the other side.”  In the past, someone broke the damn of good government and we as a nation are unable to hold back the onslaught that pours out.  For the record, I personally blame the news media for escalating the onslaught by blowing everything up to as big of a deal as it can possibly make it for the sake of getting people to read their news.

While there are many other great proverbs in this chapter, the last one I’ll talk about today is the proverb about fools having money to buy wisdom when they are unable to understand it.  This is akin to saying that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.  Or it is like saying that you can dress up a boy to make him look like a man, but you can’t actually make him be a man.  The point is simple.  We cannot buy wisdom.  Wisdom is not a commodity for sale.  Wisdom is a way of life.  It is a calling.  It is a passion.  Wisdom is something that we pursue and invest in, not something that we purchase or steal from others.

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Year 8, Day 307: Proverbs 16

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Today we start to lose the proverbs that speak in terms of opposites and simply turn to stated wisdom.  The topics, however, continue to bounce around a good bit.  There is a strong bit of focus upon the ways of the Lord in the first few proverbs.

The challenge set forth in the first proverb is wonderful.  To humans belong the plans of the heart, but the proper answers of the tongue come from the Lord.  In other words, we as human beings have all kinds of fantasies, dreams, hopes, aspirations, and plans.  We have thoughts that we would love to have become reality.  Our hearts are full of what might happen in our life.  Reality, though, belongs to the Lord.  Wisdom is something that belongs to the domain of God.  Truth is a concept that God knows.  We are the chieftain of our own dreams and aspirations; God is king over truth and reality.

This leads directly into the second proverb.  A person’s ways seem right to them, but the Lord is the only one qualified to truly weigh them out.  I use this proverb all the time in teaching.  How many people truly ever sit back and say to themselves, “No, that thought I had just now simply doesn’t make any sense at all?”  The only people capable of doing that are people who are trained is wisdom.  Most people, myself included, have a natural disposition to think that their thoughts make sense!  Obviously, if I have a thought, then it must be logical, right?  Absolutely not!  Human beings must be trained in logic.  We must be taught wisdom.  Only the Lord – and the ways of the Lord – are truly capable of comparing what is good and what is truly evil.

How do we respond, then?  Commit our plans to the Lord.  In other words, go ahead and dream.  Have your fantasies.  Aspire to do great things.  Remember, though, to always stop and ask God if the aspiration, dream, or fantasy is something that the Lord thinks is a good idea first.  There is nothing wrong with dreaming or thinking or talking.  Just remember that some dreams and hopes sound cool in the immediate future but we aren’t able to realize the lasting impacts of our decisions.  We can’t possibly consider every angle of every hope.  We need the perspective of the Lord to tell us what is good or bad.

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Year 8, Day 306: Proverbs 15

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There are three proverbs that leapt out today as I read through this chapter.  Two of them are consecutive and deal with the same topic.  The third is near the end with a profound amount of applicable wisdom.

In verses 8 and 9 we hear about what the Lord detests and what He loves.  It is always prudent to think about what the Lord despises and what the Lord loves.  When I study scripture, I find that I am usually surprised at what I find when I follow these verses as deeply as possible.

For example, the Lord detests the way of the wicked.  That’s no surprise.  Then we hear that the Lord despises the sacrifice of the wicked.  This is a bit of a surprise.  After all, how many times do we think about God and we think about obedience.  How many times do we think, “I went to church on Sunday and fulfilled my weekly obligation, so I can check that off the list.”  Or, how many times do we say, “I prayed before I ate my meal, so I’ve done my duty.”  Does the Lord love such actions if our heart is not in them or even if our heart is not right before Him?  Does the Lord love our actions – regardless of what they are – when our heart is wicked?

On the other hand, look at what the Lord loves.  The Lord loves those who pursue righteousness.  He loves the prayer of the upright.  In other words, the Lord loves the actions of those whose heart is right.  When our heart is right, we do the things that are pleasing to Him.  The status of our heart is not made by what we do, what we do is a reflection of the status of our heart. The Lord loves our heart and what comes out of a heart that is pursuing Him.

The third proverb that leapt off the page today is that humility comes before honor.  Humility comes before honor!  So often the world overlooks the humble.  The world seems to adore the proud and at times it seems the prouder the more the world adores them!  However, this is not the case with true honor.  Humility comes before true honor.  Respect is given by others, not taken by the proud.  True honor is bestowed, not demanded.

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Year 8, Day 305: Proverbs 14

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It’s time to take a break from the persistent righteous and folly debate, although it certainly continues to run through this chapter as well.  This chapter has a couple of proverbs that will allow this pause in our focus.

Each heart knows its own bitterness.  There are incredible amounts of truth in this saying.  I’ve always been cautious about saying the words, “I know how you feel.”  Yes, I do say them fairly often.  But the truth is that I can’t really know how someone else feels.  I might know how I would feel in their place.  I might be able to relate what I think they are feeling to a feeling that seems similar to me.  But I cannot possibly know how someone else is feeling.  I can’t know another’s pain, loneliness, or sorrow.

Interestingly enough, I can’t know another’s joy, either.  Again, I can know how I would feel if I were in someone else’s place.  I can know the height of my own pleasure.  Even so, I still can’t truly know how someone else is being pleased or made happy.  I can relate, but I can’t truly know.

As long as the focus is on one’s feelings, I also love the proverb that says that even in laughter the heart may ache or rejoicing may end in grief.  It’s amazing how much pain a smile can truly hide.  It’s amazing how good human beings are at putting on a façade.  Some days I feel like I am a master of my façade, wondering if anyone really knows what lies beneath.

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Year 8, Day 304: Proverbs 13

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The proverbs today feel as sporadic as ever.  In spite of this, there are a few that jumped out to me.  This might have been aided by the fact the proverbs continue to talk about the righteous and the fool.  It isn’t too much of a surprise that a book about wisdom speaks so much about how to not be a fool.

The proverbs that really leapt out to me deal with the righteous and their ability to take advice.  The righteous respect commands.  Those who heed correction are honored.  Wise people walk with the wise.  Those who discipline their children love them.

On the other hand, we have the fools.  Those who scorn instruction pay for it.  Those who disregard discipline come to shame.  Companions of fools suffer harm.  Those who don’t discipline their children hate them.

There is a common theme throughout the proverbs.  Nobody is perfect.  We will all make mistakes.  None of us will have all the answers.  We’ll need help.  The point is that we all need some help.  We all will need advice.  We all can benefit from a change in perspective.  The people who are wise recognize this fact and use it to their advantage.

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Year 8, Day 303: Proverbs 12

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Reading through Proverbs 12 gives us a plethora of insight into wisdom and folly once more.  What caught me specifically is the proverbs that have to deal with the spoken word.  As the saying goes, better to have the world think you a fool than to open your mouth and prove them correct.

The big proverb that hit me today was Proverbs 12:16.  “The fool shows his annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.”  I love this saying because it reminds us to keep our emotions in check.  I can’t tell you the number of times that I have said something that I wish I could take back.  I can’t tell you the number of times that I spoke out in my ignorance and had to eat my words once I understood a little more.  The fool shows his annoyance indeed.  The prudent overlook an insult.

Take verse 18 as well.  “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”  How often can our words cut deeper than we intend?  How often can a few well-placed kind words bring about deep healing?  Sometimes our words are the best weapon we have.  The question is how will our internal character deploy our words?

We need to learn to choose our words wisely.  We also need to use our words effectively.  It’s up to us to determine how our words can best help the people around us become the people that God desires them to become.

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Year 8, Day 302: Proverbs 11

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Proverbs 11 continues the feel of the proverbs that jump around from topic to topic.  Honestly, it feels like a squirrel wrote this chapter (and the many chapters to come).  There still is a truth that comes out of this chapter: It’s worth living a life that’s worth life.

It’s also tough living a life worth living.  After all, God dislikes people who use dishonest scales.  In other words, God disapproves of people who try to cheat others out of their money.  God also dislikes people who overestimate the value of their goods.  It’s tough living a life where we don’t take advantage of the people around us.  However, earning the trust of the people around us is worth the effort.

After all, how many times does this set of proverbs discuss the differences between righteousness and wickedness?  When the righteous prosper, people rejoice; when the wicked perish, people rejoice!  A city is exulted by the blessing of the righteous; but the words of the wicked sow the city’s destruction.  In other words, when we live and act honorably, it benefits the people around us as well.  It is difficult to take the high road, but it is worth it.

The cruel and ruthless only cause grief; the kind gain honor.  People without discretion are like gold in a pig’s snout; but the one who sows righteousness reaps a great reward.  People curse those who horde, but those who are willing to sell their supply are blessed.

Again and again we hear examples of the righteous life.  Living righteously means thinking of others.  It means helping others.  It means listening to their needs and acting when appropriate.  It means putting yourself last at times.  While all of these things can be tough, a life worth living is worth the effort.

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Year 8, Day 301: Proverbs 10

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It is in Proverbs 10 that we shift from the wisdom written down by David to the collection of wisdom written down by Solomon.  Certainly, the Bible tells us that Solomon was wise.  In fact, his wisdom was a gift from God.  However, Solomon’s proverbs are sporadic and always changing in focus.  Whereas David’s proverbs were thematic and feel as though they are written as a thematic whole, Solomon’s proverbs feel like a collection that was assembled in the moment as each piece of wisdom was revealed.  Neither is wrong; but I personally feel that Solomon’s proverbs are harder to read.

All of Solomon’s ideas in this chapter are contrasting thoughts.  Solomon teaches through a saying, but then he also teaches through a counter-example.  As an example, take the first verse of this chapter.  Wisdom is paired up with joy while folly is paired up with grief. We can see this throughout the whole chapter.  Righteousness is contrasted with wicked.  Laziness is contrasted with diligence.  Hatred is contrasted with love.  Discipline is contrasted with ignorance of correction.  Blessing is contrasted with toil.  These are all good pairings to see as contrasts.  One cannot be in both camps of any of these pairs at the same time.

In addition, Solomon also pairs up ideas to show links between camps.  For example, righteousness is paired up with joy while foolishness is paired up with false hope.  Righteousness is also paired up with favor while foolishness is paired up with false hope.  Wisdom (fear of the Lord) is paired up with longevity while folly is paired a short life.  These kinds of connections are also good to realize.  What we find is that when we embody one attribute in our life then it is easier to embody those attributes that are connected to the one that we already have.  For example, if I am trying to be righteous, I can also focus on bringing joy to others and living wisely. 

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Year 8, Day 300: Proverbs 9

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Proverbs 9 continues the theme of wisdom that we’ve felt largely throughout the book.  Again, we hear that wisdom is willing to call out to all people.  Obviously the wise have already partaken of what wisdom has to offer.  The simple, too, are her focus.  Those who have no sense are invited by her to come and learn.

I love this dynamic, and it fits completely within the character of God.  God took those who could not save themselves and made a way for them to be what they could not be on their own.  Wisdom does the same thing.  Those who have no wisdom are not sent away; those who have no wisdom are invited in so that their nature can change!

This brings us generically to one of my favorite qualities about God.  God does what He does because He desires us to be become more like Him.  He wants us to take our broken sinful nature and replace it with His perfect nature.  Not that we become gods, mind you.  Not at all!  What happens is that our flawed beings become more like Him.

Then, of course, there is folly.  Folly does what sin does.  Folly calls out to those who don’t know better and gives them the easy way.  Folly invites people to stay the same.  Folly invites people to do what they have to do – even if they have to do it in secret.  Folly is about being who you are rather than admitting where one needs to grow and then going through the hard work of being something better.

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Year 8, Day 299: Proverbs 8

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Much of this proverb is dedicated to wisdom’s role.  The proverb asserts that wisdom has been around since before the world was created.  It was there when the heavens were put into place.  It was there when the sea and the land were separated.  It was there when the days were created.

What is the point of this?  There are many.  First, this passage makes it clear that wisdom is not something that humanity brought about.  Wisdom was with God well before it was ever with human beings.  Second, wisdom calls to us, not the other way around.  We are found by wisdom; we do not create wisdom.  Third, wisdom was known by God and was a part of His creation.  The creation is not a random event in a grand universal action.  The creation was planned and put into place by a God who knows wisdom personally.

Having said this, I love where this proverb begins.  Note to whom wisdom calls.  Wisdom will call to all mankind.  Wisdom doesn’t play favorites, she’ll call to anyone who will listen.  She has something for the simple. She has something for the foolish.  Wisdom doesn’t speak only to the deserving or the best.  Wisdom will speak to anyone who is listening.

Finally, look at where wisdom can be found.  She stands at the intersection of common roads.  She stands at the highest point.  She stands beside the gates leading into the city.  In other words, she isn’t hard to find.  She isn’t some hidden secret to which only a few lucky people have access.  Wisdom is something we all can find if we want to find it.

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Year 8, Day 298: Proverbs 7

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Proverbs 7 continues the recent theme of avoiding adultery.  I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t truly a reflection on David’s own life.  We tend to try and make sure that those we love don’t fall into the same pitfalls that plague us.  Of course, it could also be that God knows what Solomon’s reign is going to be like and he is trying to give Solomon a push in the other direction.  Either way, these are great words for us to hear.

What I love about the message of this Proverb is that the story that it brings out.  We hear about a woman who see a man seemingly wandering about aimlessly.  Here is our first lesson.  When we don’t really have a purpose, we are in a great place to fall into temptation and sin.  When we don’t have a focus, sin will come along and focus us onto itself.

This woman seduces the man to come with her.  As she speaks, hear the risk in her words.  Her husband isn’t home.  But she has a husband.  Often times we get into trouble because of the rush of doing something in which we might get caught.

The woman also entices the man.  She has food.  She promises lengthy love.  She promises a soft bed.  Her words are persuasive.  This brings us back to the man’s lack of purpose.  Because he has a lack of purpose, he is able to be persuaded.

David wants Solomon to avoid such pitfalls.  He wants him to be able to resist the temptation of others.  He wants him to understand wisdom and be in a place to pass it along when he becomes a father as well.

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Year 8, Day 297: Proverbs 6

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Proverbs 6 is two-fold.  The first half is a warning against folly.  Essentially, David wants to make sure that Solomon understands why wisdom is important.  Without wisdom, we can become entrapped in the schemes of other people.  We can be tempted into doing things that we regret.  The first half of this proverb just makes sense.

It was in the second half of this chapter that I really found an image into which I could dive deeper.  People don’t despise a thief if he steals to feed while he is dealing with his hunger.  Yes, David acknowledges that the thief still has to deal with the consequences should he get caught.  But it is understandable.  If a person is starving or has a family that is starving, it is possible to recognize the thought process that leads up to the stealing.

However, nobody respects a thief who steals just because it is fun.  Nobody respects a thief who takes when they aren’t in need.  Nobody cares about the thief who steals just because they can or because of the challenge.  Stealing is always wrong, but when there is no reason for it there is not even a rationale for it.

The deep part about this passage is when David comes back and relates this to adultery.  After all, when a person is married, don’t they already have a person to whom they can relate and be intimate with?  What, then, is the point of adultery?  There is no logical reason for it.  Committing adultery is just like stealing when a person isn’t in need.  It is an act that is solely based on a person’s thoughts in the moment.  It is a passionate response not based on need but solely on desire.

There are always consequences to adultery, just like there are consequences with stealing.  The difference is that there is never a time when adultery is even understandable.

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Year 8, Day 296: Proverbs 5

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The topic for today is adultery.  David gives sage advice to his aspiring son.  Don’t get me wrong.  David was a man who had a few issues with adultery.  In fact, Solomon was born of an adulterous find in his marriage to another woman.  While David is giving great advice here, it is of the “Do as I say, not as I do” variety.

What I love about David’s advice is that he focuses Solomon upon the idea that he should be content at home.  Marriage is a wonderful opportunity for two people to go through life together.  It is a great time to support one another, to have a confidant, and to have someone who knows you more intimately than anyone else.  It is a deep moment of trust, love, companionship, security, and friendship.

All of this is lost when we are willing to trade the things that really matter for other things.  When we long after our human lusts more than the wonderful aspects of marriage, we lose the truly meaningful things in marriage.  We trade things that truly matter for a few moments of passion that cannot sustain us.  As David says, the moments of passion are like sweet honey.  But the effects of such a moment are a pathway to death.

While this makes sense, it has a spiritual connection.  Remember that God considers us His bride.  Therefore, it should make sense to us why it is so dangerous for us to pursue other things in life besides God.  When we seek after other gods in our life, we break the trust, love, companionship, security, and friendship that we have with God.  Just like we would be wise to avoid adultery in our marriage, we would be equally wise to avoid spiritual adultery as well.

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Year 8, Day 295: Proverbs 4

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Today we get a glimpse at more of the same.  David continues to talk about wisdom to his son.  Don’t hear this as a complaint.  Wisdom is an incredibly important concept in life, we should expect to focus upon it for a while.

Near the end of Proverbs 4, we get a great reason to focus upon wisdom.  David tells Solomon to guard his heart.  Everything that we do flows from the heart.  If our heart is corrupt, our disposition, our actions, and our words will also be corrupt.  If our heart is pure, then our words, actions, and disposition will have a much better chance of being pure.

Where does wisdom fit into this?  It takes wisdom to keep our heart as pure as possible.  To remain pure, we must resist temptation.  That takes wisdom.  To remain pure, we must make sound decisions.  That takes wisdom.  To remain pure, we need to be able to avoid as much entrapment of others as possible.  That takes wisdom.  One of the key factors in remaining pure is having the wisdom to avoid the impurity of the world.

If we want to stay on the straight and narrow, we need wisdom.  If we want to be steadfast, it takes wisdom.  If we truly want to walk in the ways of the Lord, it takes wisdom.  David knows this – probably because he’s made his fair share of mistakes as he’s searched for wisdom – and he desires to have his son learn the lesson as soon as possible.

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Year 8, Day 294: Proverbs 3

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This proverb continues the message from the prior two.  What are the benefits of wisdom?  If wisdom must be pursued, and that pursued costs effort, why is it worth it?

David has plenty of answers for these questions.  He has far more answers than I can put here.  However, I think that they can be summed up nicely.  Wisdom is the way of righteousness.  When we pursue wisdom we live in a way that is pleasing to God, beneficial to the world around us, and keeps us free from trouble that we bring upon ourselves.  {Please note that I didn’t say we would be kept from trouble.  It doesn’t matter how wise I am, if someone else intends to do me harm I’ll have to deal with it one way or another.}

Wisdom brings peace.

Wisdom brings favor from both God and mankind.

Wisdom brings healing.

Wisdom brings refreshment.

Wisdom brings honor.

Wisdom brings riches.

Wisdom brings security.

Wisdom brings surety.

Wisdom brings confidence.

Wisdom brings good relations between neighbors.

Wisdom brings blessing and favor.

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Year 8, Day 293: Proverbs 2

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Proverbs 2 continues to be about wisdom.  In fact, David is instructing his son in how to obtain wisdom.  The main that I get out od David’s words is that wisdom is pursued.  Wisdom is not naturally given to anyone.  I have never heard a person say, “Wow, that 2-year-old is really wise.”  For that matter, I’ve honestly never heard anyone say, “Wow, that eighteen-year-old is really wise,” either.  Wisdom is pursued.  It is learned.  It is passed down from generation to generation.  There is no wisdom gene that some people have and others don’t.

What does David say that Solomon must do in order to obtain wisdom? 

• Solomon has to have an attitude of valuing wisdom in his heart.  The first step of genuine pursuit is to value it.
• Solomon needs to ask.  In other words, he needs to pursue mentors who are wise.  Wisdom is taught from person to person.
• Solomon needs to persevere in his pursuit.  He needs to understand that wisdom is often hidden.  We don’t become wise by trying and giving up; we become wise by trying and trying and trying.

It is after David has given this advice that he turns to Solomon and tells him then wisdom will come upon him.  I love how David describes what wisdom will get him.  The person who is wise will understand the fear of the Lord.  That’s the key right there.  Wisdom comes from a genuine fear of the Lord.

It is the fear of the Lord that pulls us back from the brink of sin.  It is the fear of the Lord that allows us to resist temptation.  It is the fear of the Lord that keeps us from planning evil against our brothers and sisters.  It is the fear of the Lord that wills us to value righteousness and justice.  It’s a pretty easy message in the end.  Those who pursue true wisdom will learn to fear the Lord.  That means that those who pursue wisdom will eventually learn to walk in righteousness.

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Year 8, Day 292: Proverbs 1

Theological Commentary: Click Here

The book of Proverbs is a bit of an enigma.  It is a book that in some moments gives greats swaths of advice as we see in this chapter.  In other chapters we will hear a much more haphazard collection of material.  In those instances, it can make the book a bit difficult to read.  This chapter, however, is easy to decipher.

In this chapter, David is penning words of advice to his son, Solomon.  I love where David begins.  The wise hear and increase in learning.  The one who understands obtains guidance.  This leads us to the premise of the book.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.  If we wat to be wise, we would do wise to seek the counsel of His ways and obtain the guidance within.

Next, David turns to his son and gives very practical advice.  A father’s instruction and a mother’s advice are like garland for the head.  They are more than ornamental, they signify importance.  They lift up the individual as one who is honored.  It is an honor to be instructed by one’s parents.

The point that David is trying to make is that Solomon would do well to listen to his elders.  Children seldom come into life equipped with the wisdom to make decisions that will carry them through life.  That wisdom needs to come from someone, from somewhere.  It is most easily found in the adults around the youth.  It is most easily found in those who desire to mentor and shape the youth.  Wisdom is passed on from generation to generation like a garland and a pendant upon those to whom it is bestowed.

To make his point, David has wisdom speak about the world.  The world is simple.  The world typically rejects wisdom.  The world is interested in the simple things and the fun things.  The world has self-interest at its heart.  The world isn’t naturally interested in wisdom because wisdom demands that the selfish desires of the heart be cast aside.   David wants to make sure that the readers of Proverbs, primarily Solomon, understand that to pursue wisdom implies that one is separating themselves from the ways of the world.

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Year 8, Day 291: 2 Thessalonians 3

Theological Commentary: Click Here

I love the emphasis on work within this passage.  Work is good for the soul.  Work gives us a sense of fulfillment and belonging.  Work allows us to know our place and even feel needed.  Work does marvelous things within us.

In this chapter, the emphasis on work starts with the Lord.  The Lord is faithful.  Part of His work towards us is to protect us from evil.  In fact, He protects us from the Evil One.  In doing so, He directs our hearts.  He works on our behalf.

Then, we see Paul turn to the antithesis of work.  Paul warns us against the idle.  He warns us against people who aren’t willing to work.  He speaks to us against people who seem to demand resources without contributing to the system.  If anyone isn’t willing to work, don’t feed them.  People should earn their keep.  Our work need not be equal, but we should all work.

Finally, Paul turns to encourage us to not become weary in doing good.  Not only should we be wary of idleness, we should be serious about doing good.  We should want the love of God, which is within our hearts, to come out through our works.  As Jesus teaches us, we will know the love within us by the fruit of our labor.

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Year 8, Day 290: 2 Thessalonians 1-2

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Reading through the first 2 chapters of 2 Thessalonians is a study of contrasts.  The first chapter is all about God and His people.  The second chapter is primarily about those who abandon God and their time.  We get to see both perspectives in this chapter.

As we look at these contrasts, there are some important things to note.  The most important is our salvation comes so that the name of the Lord may be glorified.  We are saved, God has come to us, for the sake of His name.  To this end, god works within us.  God perfects us.  He does the work, we reap the benefit.

On the other hand, there is the time of lawlessness.  I love the words that Paul uses here.  In order for the Day of the Lord to come, there has to be a time of rebellion. In order for the glory of God to shine most brightly, humanity must go through its ultimate rebellion.

This makes a ton of sense.  Is not light the most bright in the midst of absolute darkness?  Which is more devastating, looking into a flashlight in broad daylight or looking into a flashlight in the utter darkness of the night?  It simply makes sense.  In order for the glory of the Lord to shine the most brightly, it must come in the midst of the greatest darkness that humanity can muster.  In order for the Day of the Lord to come, the human rebellion must come first.

What is the time of lawlessness?  This is a time when human beings exalt themselves up as though they are gods.  It will be a time of false signs and great deception.  It is a time when truth is rejected.  The weak will be deluded.

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Year 8, Day 289: 1 Thessalonians 5

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Paul has two major points in writing this chapter to the Thessalonians.  First, Paul wants to make sure that they understand about the return of the Lord.  Please note the first words that Paul associates with the return of the Lord: thief in the night.  Paul wants to make sure that the church understands that the world won’t see it coming.  Then, Paul associates the day with another term: destruction.  Paul wants to make sure that we understand that for many people the return of the Lord will signify the end of their way of life.

That being said, Paul then speaks about the church.  We do not live in darkness.  We won’t be caught by surprise.  We won’t think about judgment in terms of destruction.  We can live in love and faith instead of self-interest.  We can live in the hope of salvation.

The second major point that Paul talks about is general life advice.  Pray without ceasing.  Give thanks always.  Don’t repay evil with more evil.  It’s all great advice to live by and help us be the change in the world that we want to see.

The part of his advice that I personally resonate with the most is the advice to test everything and hold fast to what is good.  We live in a world where there is little new under the sun.  Most sin simply finds new ways to be introduced into our life, but it is really just the same old passions.  This is why we need to test everything.  We don’t need to find new ways to partake in old sin.  What we need is to test things and find the old truth that consistently anchors our life.

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Year 8, Day 288: 1 Thessalonians 3-4

Theological Commentary: Click Here

The next two chapters of 1 Thessalonians seem to revolve around this idea of encouragement.  Relationships are hard.  Sometimes we get on each other’s nerves.  Other times we worry about the people we care about, especially when they are apart from us.  Other times we worry about what the future may hold until it comes.  In all of these occasions, we need encouragement.

In 1 Thessalonians 3, Paul explains that after leaving Thessalonica they encountered persecution.  In the midst of their trial, they thought that the Thessalonians might hear about the trial.  Because of this, they sent Timothy to Thessalonica.

Additionally, because of their own persecution, Paul worries about the Thessalonians.  He fears that life may have gotten to them as well. Timothy goes to Thessalonica to reassure Paul.  He wants to make sure that the persecution is worth it.  In the midst of his troubles, he needs to be uplifted by seeing the fruit of the work.  The encouragement helps Paul deal with his current situation.

The next thing that the people need to be encouraged about is regarding love.  Fortunately, Timothy reports to Paul that the Thessalonians are masters of showing love to one another.  Paul gives them a reminder of what the godly life is.  Paul also takes the time to remind them that their example is being spread all throughout Macedonia.  Paul’s encouragement not only serves as a reminder about how to live, but also as a reminder that how we live is observed by others.

Finally, Paul reminds the Thessalonians that we should be encouraged by our future hope.  God gives us eternal life.  He promises us the resurrection from the dead.  We will live with God eternally in his grace, love, and peace.  This should give us great encouragement.  When we are persecuted, we can think of the resurrection to come.  When we are tempted, we can think of the resurrection to come.  When we are worried, we can think of the resurrection to come.  Our future hope in God is all the encouragement that we need.

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Year 8, Day 287: 1 Thessalonians 1-2

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Today we turn once more to the New Testament.  In 1 Thessalonians, we hear words penned by Paul to a former community of faith.  Paul and his associates came to Thessalonica after going to Philippi.  What’s good to remember is that Paul and his associates were arrested and persecuted in Philippi.  They came to Philippi with a hard moment of life to their backs.

This is why Paul reminds them that they didn’t come with a lofty tone or seeking their own glory.  They came humbly, simply desiring to share Christ with them.  They know rejection and they know persecution.  They come hoping to avoid more of the same while realizing that it could – and would – happen again.

While in Thessalonica, Paul does see people come to know Christ.  Their humbleness and gentleness pays off and people begin to know Christ through their works.  They see Christ in Paul and His associates.  They began to realize that if God can work through Paul and his associates, then God can work through them.  This is one of the powers of testimony.  If God can do things through one fallen human, it makes logical sense to conclude that God can do it through any number of fallen humans, too.  Our past doesn’t matter.  What God cares about is our future.

In turn, word of the Thessalonians has spread all throughout Greece and the surrounding areas.  The Thessalonians become what Paul and his associates became.  The work that God does in and through them helps even more people believe that God can work through them, too.  As Paul opens this letter to Thessalonica, he reminds them of the power of a positive testimony.  God uses us to accomplish His will.  God also uses us to reach other people for Him.

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