February 25

Feb 25 - Today from Proverbs 25 we look at verse 14
"Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give."

Wisdom and integrity are inseparable. Each are made up of two critical elements; "Talking the talk," and "Walking the walk." "Talking the talk" is making a correct conclusion. "Walking the walk" is application of that correct conclusion. Integrity is something one maintains - walking in whatever correct knowledge one has. An eight-year-old can have great integrity, but his wisdom is limited to experience and ability. Wisdom is something one grows in. As one grows in wisdom, one is to maintain integrity.
Israel was an ancient agrarian culture. They did not have dams or modern irrigation resources. They were very dependent upon the early and latter rainy seasons (James 5:7), of their civil calendar. The early rains fell in the fall season, which was the beginning of their civil calendar. After the long dry summer, and the final crops were harvested, they needed the early rains (around October on our calendar), to soften the soil for preparation, planting, and germinating the winter wheat crop. Then they depended on the latter rains of the spring (March/April on our calendar), to provide watering for the summer crops. If either of these rains failed, the people of Israel would suffer loss of a harvest. If both failed, there would be no harvest. If both failed in successive years, there would be famine. Because of their disobedience, there were periods of famine. Can you imagine what it would be like being a member of a family living in a period of famine? You are down to your last reserves. You had been existing on small portions of the simplest staples for a couple of years now (consider the story of the widow of Zarepath in 1 Kings 17:8-16), and if it doesn't rain this October, your family will probably starve. Then, one warm, sultry October evening you feel something different. A cool breeze rises from the west. You look and see dark clouds gathering on the horizon over the Mediterranean Sea. The wind picks up and the sky darkens - and hope springs to your soul. As you watch and wait, the clouds roll and boil and - blow over and the red sun reappears as it settles into the western horizon. Nothing. Not one drop. You feel worse now than before. Hope lifted you up, only to drop you into deeper despair.
There was no integrity in the cool winds and dark clouds.
Broken promises. How many lives are lifted up only to be thrown into despair because of a lack of integrity? How many young men and women stood before a Pastor or magistrate and made vows to each other to love unconditionally - only to have the other break those vows because there was a condition or two they held back? How many children are secretly crushed because a parent makes a rash promise - only to forget or to break it because 'more important' matters came up? How many missionaries have set out on a course of obedience with their sails set to the promises of support - only to find themselves stranded in the doldrums of despair because the support never came? How many program leaders have labored in putting together a special event depending on the volunteers who signed up - only to have to make last minute changes, or perhaps even having to cancel, because something else came up on the volunteer's options list?
There was no integrity in the 'busy lives' of these well-intentioned people. It's getting to be a very common malady in our culture today - even in the church. 'Talking the talk' produces nothing. The world desperately needs people who will 'Walk the walk'. Sending 'clouds of hope' in the form of promises means nothing unless you bring the expected 'rains of activity' which brings forth the fruit of nourishing.
It's better that you don't make the promise, than that you make it and then don't follow through.