Wednesday, April 30, 2008

May 1

May 1 - Today from Proverbs 1 we look at verse 19
"Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it."

In the end, ill-gotten gain is no gain at all. In fact, it is loss. Jesus says it this way, "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:25, 26).

We have said it many times before in our study of Proverbs; "Wisdom looks to the end." I believe the older we get, the more profound this truth becomes. I once read some cute "You know you are getting older when . . ." quips. One of them was "-You have more regrets than you do dreams." The trick to living a full and rewarding life is to minimize regrets. The trouble with that is; one does not realize regrets when they are in the seed stage. In the seed stage they look and feel exactly like self-gratifying pleasures. It is only after the fruit of such pleasure is spent that one realizes it was not 'fruit that lasts'. The closer one gets to the end of life, the more one realizes that life is not all about self-gratifying pleasures after all.
When one thinks about it, all of the things this world strives after are self-gratifying. 1 John 2:16 & 17 states it like this; "For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." There is nothing inherently wrong with high achievement. Quite the contrary, God desires us to reach high. But those who seek high achievement as the goal of life often go about achieving in the wrong manner for the wrong purpose. The wrong purpose is to believe that the essence of life lies in the best of this world. The wrong manner is fueled by 'the end justifies the means' attitude:

-Partner with whomever you must to advance.
-Cut loose and step on whoever you must to advance.
-Take whatever short cuts you can to get higher faster.
-Negotiate any moral boundaries that may impede your goals.
-Reward yourself - you earned it.
-Don't waste time with people or things that lie outside of the paths to your goals.

I suppose there are many more thoughts one could add to this list, but I think you get the idea. All of these means are self-serving attitudes toward a goal or goals which will, in the end, be void of anything of eternal value. Imagine standing before the Redeemer, looking back at what is now the incredibly short span of earthly life, and then looking forward to eternity. The Lord of all is about to give rewards as to how well He was served in that life. Once the reward is given, it will last forever. "How did you do?" He asks.
We are not speaking of salvation, or of earning salvation. That comes only and solely through the atoning work of Jesus' shed blood. We are talking about service to the Lord; loving our fellow man by acting justly and showing mercy; living a rewarding life according to God's definition. Everything is going to be different on that day. Those who believed they had lived a full life will find that it was all an apparition, and they had no life at all. By doggedly pursuing after ill-gotten gain, they lost every opportunity for a real life. Then there are those who appeared to never have gotten a life because they chose not to compromise their morals and because they spent so much time adding to the lives of others. On that day it will be discovered that they were the ones who really had a life after all. They already knew it, but the world didn't. In discovering what a truly fulfilling life is, and being rewarded for that life, comes the Kingdom principle "the first will be last, and the last will be first." It is but one more paradox of the Kingdom of God.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

April 30

Apr 30 - Today from Proverbs 30 we look at verses 24-28
"Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings palaces."

Verses 15-31 of this chapter is a series of keen observations of nature by the writer. Each series represents an observation about life. I would entitle the section we have chosen today: PARADOX.
A paradox is something that displays seemingly contradictory aspects. They defy the paradigms of the normal. Take any one of the four examples in today's text, and it seems to contradict our normal thought patterns. The coney is a rabbit-like creature that lives in the wilderness. To see it, one would rationalize that such a soft, furry little creature without defenses wouldn't last two days in such a harsh environment. If the birds of prey didn't pick it off, the ground predators would. Yet, the little creature exists because it has the instinct to live on or near the rocky crags where it can disappear in seconds when threatened. Its body was designed to flex and squeeze into spaces that are impossible for its predators to follow. The small, furry defenseless animal survives amidst hungry predators in the most rugged of terrain because the terrain is rugged. A paradox.
There is a spiritual lesson here for us. When we observe the vast diversity of God's creation, and how so many of His small and helpless creatures have been created to adapt to circumstances which are generally disagreeable and undesirable to the common majority of the rest, we begin to understand that God has a place and a purpose for everyone. Life is full of paradoxes, yet we too often view them as abnormal rather than the normal way God intended. Rabbits living in the rocky terrain of a wilderness is not abnormal just because the majority of rabbits live in woods and meadows. Majority does not equal normal. The paradoxes of life are also normal because they fit in with God's purposes.
God has created such diversity in mankind as well. We like to think of ourselves as normal, and those who choose to serve in disagreeable or undesirable circumstances as abnormal. I am speaking of natural and spiritual gifts, not of dereliction of life's values and purposes. God did not 'gift' men to be homeless addicts living under overpasses. However, He did gift men to earn a living and serve his fellow man by collecting other people's garbage. It may be disgusting to most, but I had a friend who worked a refuse route and he wouldn't want to do anything else. As far as he was concerned, he had the perfect job. Many viewed him as abnormal, not just for doing such a disagreeable job, but for actually enjoying it! I enjoyed our friendship. Wayne was a happy-go-lucky guy who would always stop with his big smile and take a few minutes to chat. He was different than me, but he wasn't abnormal. He was content with his place in life because it fit with how God ‘hard-wired’ him.
It is the same with spiritual gifts. Some have gifts of teaching, some gifts of giving, some gifts of hospitality -- what wonderful people they are. Teachers are publicly visible and often sought after for understanding. Givers have a gift for making money and they are obedient to use it to support kingdom work. It is obvious why they are sought after. People with hospitality know how to make people feel welcome and comfortable. A wonderful gift. But what about people who have, say, the gift of helps. They are the one who clean up the dishes after a meal event. They are the ones who grab the shovel and push snow off the walk - even when it isn't their responsibility. They are the ones who empty diaper pail in the nursery because it is creating a bad odor and there is still time left before dismissal. They often go unnoticed and unheralded. Surely what they do isn't spiritual! They just don't fit in anywhere else. . .
They are my heroes. Having been a director of a mission organization, and a staff person at a church, I have come to appreciate those silent servants who have and utilize the gift of helps. And that is only one of the under-rated spiritual gifts. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:22, "Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable." Amen.
Wisdom observes the characteristics of God's creation and learns from them. God did not create abnormal creatures, He simply created diversity that we might behold His wonder

Monday, April 28, 2008

April 29

Apr 29 - Today from Proverbs 29 we look at verse 13
"The poor man and the oppressor have this in common; The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both."

The poor man. The term here means destitute. It's a man utterly lacking any means of subsistence. He is to be most pitied -- yet seldom does he find it. People turn their heads and pretend he isn't there. You may have seen him digging though a dumpster looking for something to eat. You may have seen him sleeping in a doorway as busy commuters and shoppers walk by him -- only the children slow to stare as mothers quickly hurry them by. If you have ever traveled to a third-world country and walked through one of their crowded cities, you probably experienced a sickening, even irritating bombardment of pleading and begging poor. They are like so many flies lighting on a piece of sweetcake. You brush them away only to see them joined by more. These social cast-offs have no dignity. They have nothing to loose. The poor man in this text is nothing more than an unwanted blemish of society with absolutely nothing to contribute.
The oppressor. The KJV calls him the deceitful man. The contrast here is social position. This is the man who planned and schemed and connived, taking every advantage to gain power and influence in society. He is willing to crush any who would stand in the way of his ambitions. However, he is accepted and esteemed in society because he is a deceitful man. His oppressive and scheming ways are well hidden under a veneer of proper social conduct. He has learned to be very political. He has charm, and when appropriate, a winning smile. He has learned how to put together 'win-win' situations heavily weighted in his favor. He is admired by his fellow socialcrats and is envied by the lower classes. The paths of his society never cross with those of the poor man. They live in two different worlds.
What can they possibly have in common?
They are both created in God's image, and they are both beneficiaries of God's common grace.
Standing on the horizon of social class, man measures the great distance from the bottom to the top. This is a great determining factor in setting his values. Looking from above, God sees no distance between them. He does not withhold His grace accordingly. Jesus never just turned His head and walked by the leper, the beggar or the prostitute, pretending they didn't exist. Jesus was never impressed with the extreme social status of the Scribes, the Pharisees or the Sadducees. He saw from the Father's perspective. He taught from the Father's perspective, both in word and in deed.
The trait we inherited from our federal head, Adam, was that which he inherited from Satan when he gave into temptation; the original sin of PRIDE. Our old nature, that which is dominated by pride, is what distorts our values system and causes us to measure ourselves against others. It is our pride that causes us to think that perhaps God was made in our image, and that He measures by the same standards. In realizing that when these two men meet and stand side by side, and that God sees no difference in their value, our pride quickly vanishes. God does not give grace to one and withhold it from the other.
Proverbs 6:16, 17 says that there are seven things detestable to God. The very first on the list is haughty eyes. Haughty eyes are eyes that see through the lens of pride. They measure the worthiness of men according to social status, education, material possessions, and yes, even physical attributes. Strangely enough, they are often convinced that God also has haughty eyes, and they appoint themselves as God's personal spokespersons in pointing out just where these people fit in God's values system. No wonder God hates haughty eyes -- they totally misrepresent Him, and they bring a negative witness to a world that is already inclined to embrace such a corrupted system.
Wisdom seeks to see through the eyes of God, and to be agents of God's grace to all men.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Apr 28 - Today from Proverbs 28 we look at verse 1
"The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion."

I would like to share a passage from Leviticus 26:17 as an accompaniment to this verse; "I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you." This is a warning from God to His people Israel, should they ever decide to choose wickedness over obedience. It holds a sober principle for Christians.
The Leviticus passage contains a word picture that we in the West often have problems connecting with, yet in the Eastern culture it is extremely impacting. The picture is, "I will set my face against you." We are often confronted with the reality of the picture, it's just that we do not use expressions that include the use of the word face. Let me give you a for-instance:
You have offended a close friend and you realize how much your action has hurt him (or her). You go to him and begin to explain the situation and that you didn't mean for him to get hurt. As the feeble excuses come forth, your friend turns his face from you as though you weren't even speaking to him . . . you have been judged. You have just been cut off from all of the benefits of your relationship. You may as well go talk to the wall.
Circumstances may vary, but I am quite confident that there is not a reader out there who has not encountered such a situation with someone close at some time or other. It shakes you.
The face, particularly the area around the eyes, reflects the countenance of a person. In this countenance one often seeks support or approval. When things are going right for you in life, the countenance of others may not be that critical. You can feel quite self-sufficient, and have little concern whether others approve or not. It's when things begin to go wrong that you start to look for approval and support. That's what God was warning Israel about. He gave them the revelation of His Law to protect and to provide for them. Rebelling against His Law jeopardized that protection. In the deceitfulness of sin they would get self-sufficient and feeling prosperous and wouldn't really be looking for His approval. Things don’t always go wrong right away, but sin has consequences and things would eventually go wrong. When they came to God with whining explanations and feeble excuses in such times, His face would be turned against them. They may not have cared if they had His approval when everything seemed to be going well, but now that their lives began to unravel, they would discover that they didn't have His support. Their enemies would have their way. Having no assurance of His protection or provision, they would flee even from rumors of invasions -- even when no one was pursuing them. It would be a life of constant uncertainty and fear. When you have no assurance, you are ruled by unstable emotions. Such is the prospect for the wicked.
When a person is in a right relationship with God, and God's countenance shines upon him, it doesn't matter what the circumstances; that child of God stands as bold as a lion. There is nothing more valuable or more assuring to him than knowing that he stands approved of God. He can confidently say, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." (Psalm 23:4). Sure, emotions can temporarily overwhelm even the most grounded believer -- but they will not rule. The Holy Spirit reveals God's countenance to the heart, and in the end, the heart will rule.
Israel appeared to enjoy some of their most prosperous times while living in wickedness. But, it never lasted. Sooner or later the consequences of their wickedness overtook them. It was in those horrible times that they discovered that they had their values terribly out of order. The glory of all the gold and self-indulgence in the world was nothing compared to the glory of God's countenance. When He turned His face, all that they thought would bring happiness and fulfillment had failed them.
Oh that we Christians might learn the lesson! When we live with and live out right values, we can stand as bold as lions -- in any circumstance. We can embrace the blessing God gave for His people. . . "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace." -Numbers 6:24-26
Wisdom consistently seeks the face of the Lord above all else.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

April 27

Apr 27 - Today from Proverbs 27 we look at verse 1
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."

Because the original Hebrew word for 'boast' in this passage is so peculiar, I thought it might do well to share the KJV version of the first portion of the verse, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow." With this more accurate interpretation, we will then look at the Hebrew term for boast; it is 'halal'. It literally means 'to be clear', usually referring to sound or color. A sound so clear that it is not confused with another. It is very distinct. A color so clear that it shines. We see this Hebrew word incorporated into a Hebrew term in the books of Psalms and Revelation. "HALLELUJAH!" The literal interpretation is "Praise ye Jah". 'JAH' is the sacred Name of the Lord. Halal in this instance is to make a very clear sound of praise. Not polluted with praise for any other thing. Not indistinct because of the lack of understanding or enthusiasm. It is clear because it issues from the heart of one who truly stands in awe of and worships the living Lord. Hallelujah is a clear statement of worship of the Holy God - and it has a very intimate nature.
When the term halal is used apart from Jah it bespeaks of the same type of exalted boasting. It is a holy thing to boast in the Lord. It is pride and foolishness to boast in anything else -- especially one's self. Isaiah uses the same word in Isaiah 10:15 where he writes, "Does the ax 'halal' itself above him who swings it?" The picture is worth a thousand words. Even though the ax may be very effective in accomplishing what it does, if personified it would be foolish for the ax to make plans for which tree it would cut down tomorrow.
Oh foolish ax. Oh foolish me. I may accomplish great things today, which set me to planning for more great things tomorrow. Am I not aware that I am but an instrument in the hand of my Creator? Perhaps He has other plans for me. I call Him my Lord. I sing 'Hallelujah to the Lord' in some form or another in worship each Sunday. When Monday morning comes, it is back to the real word. "Halal to myself. I will plan my day, my week, my future -- and don't worry Lord, I will include you in my plans." But, I don't even know what tomorrow may bring. "Forgive me Lord. Here is what I am planning for the future. Is this in harmony with your plan for my life? What corrections should I make? Do you have something totally different? Lord you have the power to open and close doors. Correct me in your mercy. I seek to do your will."
Christianity is not planning and living our lives by a set of rules. Christianity is not something we do on Sunday and perhaps a few times during the week at family devotion time. Christianity is a living relationship with almighty God through Jesus Christ our Lord. If the reader is married; imagine yourself planning your days, your purchases, your social calendar, your future -- without ever talking things over with your mate. What kind of relationship would that be? That is minor compared to planning your days, your purchases, your social calendar and your future without talking things over with God. Today's verse doesn't tell us not to plan for the future, it tells us to spend time with God as we look to the future. He knows what's ahead. If we place our confidence in Him, and trust that He is always looking out for our best - even when times seem to be worst - we can move forward knowing that even though He is along side of us, He is already ahead of us. And when times are good, and things seem to be going ever so smoothly; remember the picture of the ax in Isaiah 10; it is sharp, it is swift, it fells mighty trees - as long as it is secure in the hands of the woodsman. It is the woodsman's choice as to where the best use of the ax will next be served, not the ax's.
Wisdom does not boast itself of tomorrow, it boasts of the One who holds tomorrow. HALLELUJAH!

Friday, April 25, 2008

April 26

Apr 26 - Today from Proverbs 26 we look at verse 8
"Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool."

Keeping in mind that chapters 25-31 of the book of Proverbs was selected and assembled for the specific purpose of instructing leaders and those who were training for leadership, we see in this chapter what kind of people not to enlist as personal staff, counselors and servants. In today's terms we think of them as executives, administrators, management, team leaders, foremen, etc. Leadership needs trusted personnel that they can depend on to get the job done without having to micro-manage them. This chapter warns leaders to be careful not to promote fools, sluggards, gossips or malicious people, and why.
The verse we are looking at today gives one of the reasons why it's not wise to promote a fool to a place of honor. By now, if one is a student of the proverbs, the fool has been pretty much defined. A fool has not developed a proper values system; what they value most is their own opinion and the fulfillment of their own desires. A fool has not developed the ability to see the bigger picture; they choose to exist in a world where they are pretty much the center of it. A fool seldom learns from his mistakes; he almost always looks for other people or circumstances to which he can lay the blame. A fool does not care to understand life as God intended; he lives life as he intends. I think you get the picture.
A wise person learns to identify the mocker, the fool, the simple and the sluggard. Not for the purpose of judging them, that is not the primary task of a leader. His primary task is to appoint capable people to positions of influence, authority and responsibility. How well he does that will determine the success of his leadership.
Today's little analogy is quite a graphic picture. There is a very specific purpose for the stone in a sling, and that is to find its target as quickly as possible. You can imagine the result of tying the stone to the sling. Not only does the stone never leave the sling, but the inertia of the unreleased whirling stone becomes a danger to the one handling the sling. When a leader gives a position of honor to one of his personnel, it is usually for the purpose of accomplishing something of significant importance within the purposes of the organization. A position of honor is usually given to one who has shown excellence in their handling of more mundane tasks. Promote a fool, and you can almost count on the fact that the target for which he was promoted will never be reached. The more likely result will be that the fool will attempt to use the promotion to benefit himself and will actually threaten to do damage to the reputation of the leader. Thus the analogy is complete.
Practical application: If you are a leader, or are training for leadership, learn to identify integrity within a person's character. Promote those who show both the understanding of the 'target' and the ability to reach it. Leaders need to take the time to study those who will be entrusted with positions of honor within the organization.
If you are a subordinate, dedicate yourself to learn the vision, purpose and program of your organization. No matter what your present position, learn to see the bigger picture. Serve in excellence with the constant goal of contributing to the bigger picture. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those with servant attitudes. This is reflected in the organizational structures of this world. Good leaders are wise to promote the humble in spirit.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

April 25

Apr 25 - Today from Proverbs 25 we look at verse 19
"Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble."

We are in the section of Proverbs (chapters 25-31), assembled by King Hezekiah's aids specifically for the king and those who serve with him. The principles have general application but are particularly helpful to those who serve, or who are being trained, in areas of leadership.
One thing leaders have in common is the need for those upon whom they depend for assistance to be faithful - especially in times of trouble. This is the time for their supporters to step up to the plate and do the very best they can in the area of responsibility for which they were chosen.
Let's take a quick look at the analogy Solomon sets forth. We depend upon our teeth to cut, tear and grind our food in order to properly digest it. Things go well until one day, when we are depending on a sound molar to grind a bite, we experience an incredible pain in our jaw. We depend upon our feet to support our weight and keep us properly balanced as we self-propel from place to place. Things go well until one day we make a miss-step and wrench an ankle. Fortunately, even though it's an inconvenience in life, we can go to the dentist or the doctor and get these things remedied.
An unfaithful person is different in this respect, it is not that they can not get the job done, it is that they will not get the job done. They have the capability, but they do not have the commitment. They will function in their position, until something they deem as a higher priority interferes with that function. They are undependable. A person who has the passion but who lacks ability can possibly be trained. But what does a leader do with a person who has the ability but no passion? He has no choice but to dismiss that servant from their area of responsibility.
As with many proverbs from this section, there are two areas of practical application. The first is from the perspective of a position of leadership. Leaders are to carefully choose those whom they are to entrust with areas of responsibility. If the person fails because of lack of ability, the leader needs to determine if the servant can be trained to handle it. If the servant fails because of a lack of commitment and faithfulness, the leader needs to dismiss that servant. Ability means little without commitment. These can be very difficult decisions to make - but leaders must make them.
The second application is for the servant (staff member, employee, committee leader, etc.). One of the attributes of integrity is faithfulness. If a servant commits to support the whole through faithful application of their skills and abilities in their area of responsibility, the leader depends on that commitment. Even when it doesn't make sense. Even when it looks like the whole thing is going south. Even when it looks like their contribution will not help the situation. The leader is responsible for the big picture and depends on those serving with him to faithfully carry out their responsibilities even in the tough times.
Because we are servants of the Lord Jesus, serving the greater purposes of His kingdom, He often taught on this principle. The parable of the sower (Mark 4), speaks not of the seed, but of the soil. Read the parable carefully and you will quickly discover the principle of faithfulness and perseverance. The parable of the Great Feast (Luke 14) speaks of values. The journey to the feast was interrupted for certain invited guests when other priorities (values), caused them to apply their interests elsewhere. At the end of chapter nine of the same gospel, the parable of the Great Feast was a reality. Jesus called men to follow Him, but they always had something else they needed to do first. Jesus ends the chapter with this ringing statement, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (verse 62).
Leaders are looking for people who are committed to excellence in ministry. Servants can commit to excellence in ministry knowing that the Lord is watching, and will reward those who persevere. Jesus says in Luke 16:10, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." Some people think that they are too talented, or too qualified to be assigned the very little. Tell me this; How can a leader know that individuals can be trusted with much if they are unwilling to prove their faithfulness in the very little? Why would a leader risk chewing on an infected molar or stepping on a sprained ankle? There is no wisdom in that.
Today I want to salute all of those who have been faithfully serving in their assignments, even when they receive no recognition. Those who stay the course even when it looks futile. Those who show up even when everyone else has something better to do. Those who serve in excellence because they serve the Lord and not men. Know this; God is watching. We do not receive all of our rewards in this life, but Jesus promises in Revelation 22:7, "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." Do not be discouraged, for you can be sure of this - GOD IS FAITHFUL!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

April 24

Apr 24 - Today from Proverbs 24 we consider verses 5 & 6
"A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisors."

None can argue, knowledge is very helpful when executing a solo task. Knowledge strengthens one's skill. We have all been given natural talents, but they are developed and strengthened by knowledge (learning more about the different aspects of the skill) and practice (applying that knowledge). If one has a natural talent for mathematics, one gets an education in accounting, or perhaps engineering, and strengthens that ability through knowledge and application. If one has a natural talent for design and art, one gets an education in their field of art and strengthens that ability through knowledge and education. The stronger your ability, the better the opportunity for you to find employment in your field of talent. This kind of knowledge has wonderful advantages, but it also has limitations. It is helpful for solo tasks. By that we mean that the subject is the only one involved. An accountant sits with the documents, figures and spreadsheets needed to engage the task and works through the process to his or her own satisfaction. An artist gets out the pallet and mixes the colors and makes the strokes to his or her own satisfaction. Your knowledge and skill will pretty much determine the end result. But, waging war - well, that is very different!
War employs numbers of individuals and numbers of possibilities of actions. The enemy isn't interested in making obvious moves. War succeeds through surprise and stealth. One person's knowledge isn't enough, and one solid plan will not see one through to the end. It isn't necessarily the man with knowledge who wields power. He may have great strength in his area of expertise, but it is the wise man that has power in a strategic situation that involves numbers of people. A wise person is a person who seeks guidance and counsel from numbers of people who are gifted in various areas of expertise. He then places all of the accumulated information into a big picture to see what the current best course of action would be. When the enemy's plans and actions appear to be changing, the wise leader adjusts accordingly. His decisions must be based on many factors. Most of the counselors and advisors are incapable of knowing what the next move should be because they work only in their area of strength and do not see the big picture as clearly as the wise leader.
The practical lesson here? We are all involved in areas of life where our activity and decisions include and affect numbers of people. The family. Our church. Some aspects of our jobs. Service projects. Some times our position is to bring our particular area of knowledge and expertise to the group, and the leader or leaders are to use that information to make the decisions for whatever task the group is involved with. This is important to know, because sometimes our view is incomplete or skewed and we tend to become offended that our input did not guide the process as strongly as we had hoped. Take the family. Biblically speaking, a typical family consists of a husband, a wife, and one or more children. God has placed the husband as the head of the family and the wife as the helpmate. The children are to honor the parents. The children are definitely to give input into family decisions. But, children being as they are, usually feel that their input should heavily weigh the issue. They seldom see the big picture. When the decision doesn't go their way, they act childish. You can fill in the blank here, because we all have some idea of what this childish behavior is. In a typical spiritually healthy home, the father will listen to the concerns and desires of his children, will counsel with his wife, and will ultimately make the final decision. (I know there are exceptions - especially with single-parent homes. This is simply an illustration to make a point.) The father is to seek wisdom in order to see the big picture and make his decisions in the best interests of the family.
Now you can extrapolate that illustration to fit pretty much any organized group activity. Unless one has been chosen or designated as a leader in the group, one's main purpose is to gain strength in their area of talent or expertise and contribute their input to the best of their ability. The leader or leaders then utilize all areas of input to see the goals of the group met. Victory! The group succeeds. But when undesignated leaders feel that their contribution didn't carry the weight it should have and react accordingly - we witness childish behavior. Instead of victory, we see war in our own ranks. Instead of contributing their skill and strength to the greater purpose of the group, it is turned against the group by causing inner conflict. This group will achieve very little in regards to their original goals. The focus turns from anticipated victory to survival; in the family, in the church, in the work place, in the service project. Any group focused on survival is in its death-throws. It's time to back off and refocus. Repair the mistakes made. Re-educate concerning roles and responsibilities. Refresh in definition and goals. Revive the group members. Reunite and go for the victory! Make the strong stronger through education and practice. Make the wise leaders wiser by cooperating, contributing, and supporting. Make the goals into victory celebrations. And make the Lord Jesus head of all. His guidance is sure for He sees the ultimate big picture.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

April 23

Apr 23 - Today from Proverbs 23 we look at verses 17 & 18
"Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."

Envy - discontent and resentment aroused by the desire for possessions or qualities of another. The state of the object of envy is always in the present.
Hope - A desire accompanied by confident expectation. The state of the object of hope is always in the future.
It would be nice to believe that as Christians, the world would envy us. But Jesus said in John 15:18&19, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. As it is, you do not belong to the world but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." Wait! Doesn't envy arouse hatred? Yes it does. But I don't think the world desired Jesus' possessions or qualities. They hated Him because . . . why did they hate Him?
Well, the leaders may have been jealous of His influence. But that's not why the world hated Him. The world Jesus lived in was Jewish. The people who ended up hating Him were His own people. The people that He taught, fed and healed. They were enamored for a time, but they ended up shouting, "Crucify Him!" They hated Him because their hope was misplaced. Their confident expectation was for a Messianic rule now! They were hoping for a hero who would release them from the oppressive rule of Rome. For a leader who would restore Israel once again its former glory. They hated Him because in spite of His miracles, He did not meet their confident expectations.
Envy did play into the hatred of Jesus. The people envied Rome. They wanted to be free. They wanted to be respected and feared by the world. They wanted to live privileged lives. They wanted to keep their own wages and be subsidized by the taxes of other nations. They were God's people, why should they have to be servants of any Gentile nation!?! "Ah-h-h-h-h. Here is the promised Messiah! His miracles and teaching with authority support His claims. Even the demons are subject to Him. He will rise up and set us free from Gentile rule and make us the head! Rome will cower at our feet."
It wasn't until the resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that the eyes of even His closest followers were finally opened. "My kingdom is not of this world," He said to Pilate. Our hope is not to be in this world. Those who prosper and wield power are like the grass of the field. When you see them today, they may arouse emotion. But tomorrow they will fade and wither and the wind will blow them away. Don't you know that the Father loves you more than these? What may appear to be glory in today's world will quickly fade. Our hope is in the eternal God and His glory. When all of the flowers have bloomed and faded and passed away, we will still be in the land. He is our portion and our delight. We are joint heirs with Christ in the eternal blessings and grace of God. Are we going to spend our emotions on discontentment and resentment over the temporary blooms of today? Or are we going to set our hearts on the One who promised life abundant - on and on and on, through all eternity. There is no power in heaven or on earth or beneath the earth that can stop it. It has been ordained by the eternal and sovereign God who is the Creator of all things. Regardless of what things may appear to be in the present, our hope will never be cut off.
Envy is very dangerous. It diverts our focus and our zeal. We must train ourselves to apply our zeal to our hope, thus starving out the power of our envy.

Monday, April 21, 2008

April 22

Apr 22 - Today from Proverbs 22 we look at verse 28
"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers."

If we are to walk and grow in wisdom, we must understand and respect boundaries. When God brought Israel into the Promised Land, He allocated certain portions of the land to certain tribes. Within these various tribal regions the land was divided amongst the families of the tribes. In order for future generations to keep peace concerning property ownership, the boundaries of this division were clearly marked by huge stones at key geographical points. To move a boundary stone was an intentional act to cheat another out of their rightful inheritance. This is the literal warning behind this proverb.
Just as in the physical realm, the purpose of a moral boundary is to define and to protect. In order to know where the boundaries are, they must be clearly marked by reference points. Those who seek wisdom seek to identify these reference points and learn how they relate to other reference points in order to define the boundary line that two or more points represent. When one boundary stone (moral principle) is moved, it redefines the entire moral climate and creates an atmosphere of conflict.
I live in the generation that moved major moral boundary stones in our culture. Abortion (murder) was legalized. Homosexuality became an accepted alternate lifestyle. The Ten Commandments were no longer to be the excepted cultural moral boundary stones. Many morals became relevant and a matter of individual interpretation. Since these stones have been moved, there has been much conflict amongst the peoples of this nation. Life without clear boundaries introduces chaos.
In the moral realm we must strive to keep the boundaries intact. There is only one way we can achieve this; we need to study and use the 'ancient boundary stones' of God's Word and not become distracted by the faux stones that ‘progressive’ civil authorities have set before us. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:35). Man can attempt to move the moral boundaries, but the ancient moral boundary stones will be the only ones left standing for eternity. These are the boundaries from which man will be judged - even believers.
We hardly recognize some of the moral boundaries that we cross every day. They can become somewhat fuzzy in ‘legal details’. That's why Jesus gave us an unmistakable indicator of the ancient boundary stones - apart from our own legal misinterpretations. He said that all boundaries are clarified by agape love (defined in 1 Cor. 13) – that is to ask, "How can I respond to the needs of others to best benefit them?" As you read the gospels, you will see that Jesus' ministry brought this truth into sharp focus. The teachers of the law were constantly attempting to use the letter of the law to define their boundaries – that is to ask, "How can I use this law to best serve my interests?" Jesus re-defined their interpretations with the spirit of the law to show how far over the boundary of grace they had stepped. The Sermon on the Mount is a classic example of this principle.
If you are in a situation where there seems to be constant undercurrents of bitterness, conflict, suspicion, etc., you can bet that some boundary stones have been moved. The solution is to study to find the ancient boundary stones of grace, properly relate them one to another in love, and then repent of every area where you find yourself over the line.
When boundaries are properly identified and respected, it makes for peace. When boundaries are moved and disregarded, it makes for war. Do we want to live peaceable lives? Then we need to live within the moral boundaries of God's grace.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

April 21

Apr 21 - Today from Proverbs 21 we look at verse 16
"A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead."

Yesterday we contemplated that fact that a man of understanding draws from the deep waters of his heart to discover purpose and fulfillment in life (20:5). In 1 Corinthians 2 the apostle Paul teaches that it is the mature believer who perseveres in this path of understanding. He refers to it as "God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began". (verse 7). Then he goes on to say, "but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit." (verse 10). The path of understanding can then be defined as being led of the Holy Spirit. "Words taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to spiritual men." (verse 13). The question is, does every believer follow this path simply because they confess Christ? Does being a blood-bought saint automatically keep you steadfastly on this path of understanding? The answer is no, and this proverb gives some insight into why.
In 1 Corinthians 3:1 Paul writes, "Brothers," this is evidence that Paul is writing to blood-bought saints in Christ, "I could not address you as spiritually but as worldly -". Other translations use the word carnal in place of worldly. A church full of carnal Christians. What happened? By reading the rest of Paul's letter to this particular congregation, it becomes quite obvious; they strayed from the path of understanding. But were they dead? For all practical purposes, yes they were. The primary definition for death is separation.
They did not lose their salvation, but they were separated from the vital relationship with God from which He gives direction and purpose. They were separated from the higher purposes God had planned for them. It's not that they lacked any spiritual gifts (1:7), it's just that they failed to develop and utilize them for the greater purposes of God. They were no longer drawing from the deep waters. They strayed from the path of understanding. If they continued to go in the direction they were going, they would become a "dead church".
Read 1 Corinthians and you will discover that there were divisions in the church. They factioned off into small groups that became power bases from which they would fight over who was the better teacher and whose influence they should be following. There was moral failure amongst the members of the church and the leaders of the church wouldn't apply proper discipline. People in the church were involved in lawsuits with one another. The women of the church were violating cultural boundaries set by the apostles of the church, bringing a poor witness to the name of Christ. People were offending their fellow saints by not honoring the other’s personal convictions in non-essential matters. Members challenged the authority of the leaders and even questioned their right to be adequately paid for their services and duties. Members abused the sacraments of the church, causing them to become instruments of division rather than unity. People viewed some functions of the body as more important than others and tended to ignore and even disdain what they considered the ‘lesser’ functions. The members considered shows of 'spirituality' as badges of pride while ignoring humility and demonstrations of God's grace and unconditional love. The members made a verbal commitment to support God's work through their giving of an offering, but their lack of action was about to embarrass the cause of Christ.
Corinth was a totally inward-focused church.
The path of understanding is upward and outward-focused. The church that seeks to draw from the deep waters of God's purpose and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit is a church on the path of understanding, and has a reputation of being alive. It is no different for the individual believer. When walking a path, it is one's focus that will determine whether one strays or not.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

April 20

Apr 20 - Today from Proverbs 20 we look at verse 5
"The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out." (NIV)
"Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out." (KJV)

"Live life with a purpose." It came to my mind one morning as I was doing my devotions. I scribbled it on a 3 by 5 card I had laying on my desk and stuck it in my Bible. I now use it as one of my markers. Every once in awhile my eye falls anew on the simple little statement, and once more it strikes my heart. It's a great little reminder that my life has a purpose, but there are times I might loose sight of that purpose. We all are susceptible to being distracted, discouraged and lulled from our real purpose in life.
"Deep waters." What a startling analogy. One can tell very little about a body of water just by viewing the surface. But deep water - it remains a mystery until some effort is made to get below the surface, down to the bottom. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "(God) has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Little children often ponder the deep and profound questions of life: "How did I get here?" "Where do people go when they die?" "Who made God?" As children grow older, their attentions are drawn to the more temporal things in life. The unanswered mysteries, which God had placed in their hearts, are pushed deeper and deeper. The surface then becomes their reality. Then one day God's Spirit will use something to stir that water. The untimely death of a loved one. A near-death experience. Perhaps just hitting a big wall in life - one that stuns and causes one to fall flat on their face. Afterwards, one just kind of sits there, dazed, and tends to ask oneself, "What am I doing here? Why am I here at all? What is life about, anyway?" At such a point in life one can make the effort to go deeper in their search, or one can quench the Spirit and go back to 'surface living'. We always have a choice.
Have you ever encountered such a moment in your life? Certainly there was such an encounter when you came to realize your own faith. I honestly do not believe there are Christians without a testimony. I can't buy the story "I don't know. I just kind of grew up believing in God. I never had a salvation experience." At some point in life every believer came to a faith of their own. They came to know for themselves that their life has purpose, and that purpose is found in Christ Jesus. Every person may not know the moment it happened, but they should know it happened. Anyone who claims to know Christ and continues to live life without purpose can not really know Him at all. "In Him we live and move and have our being."
Discovery is just the beginning! Once we discover purpose in life, we enter into a process called discipleship. We seek to draw out the details of our own specific purpose from the deep waters of our hearts and we order our lives to fulfill that purpose. God placed it there when He knit us in our mother's womb. Our task is to draw it out. Our interests are to be in pursuit of our purpose. Our education is to be in pursuit of our purpose. Our occupation is to be used either to pursue or to support our purpose. This brings us back to the topic of passion. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 42, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." That is the passion of a disciple who finds no lasting satisfaction with the surface realities of life. The more one understands the truths of God's word, the deeper one seeks to draw from the mysteries of the heart. It takes effort to draw from the deep waters - but it is there that we find the true purpose of our lives. We will never truly experience fulfillment until we first discover true purpose. "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." -1 Corinthians 2:12
Live life with a purpose.

Friday, April 18, 2008

April 19

Apr 19 - Today from Proverbs 19 we look at verse 3
"A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord."

Immature people seldom take responsibility for their actions. Instead, they look to anything and everything they can to blame for the bad situation in which they find themselves. As this proverb relates, they even tend to blame God because ultimately "He is responsible for everything (sic)."
Now, I may sound just a little idealistic here, but I believe that people of integrity seldom, if ever, end up with a ruined life. They may come to some very rough spots in life. They may take some awful hard tumbles in life. They may even get dragged through some mud in life. But they just don't stay down until there is nothing left but ruin. Even if they did loose everything else, if their integrity is still intact when they go down for that last time - they didn't go down to ruin. But that is seldom the case. People of integrity seem to be survivors. The reason they survive is because when they make a mistake that puts them face down in life's mud pile, they are humble enough to admit their mistake, repent of courting whatever folly drew them into the mistake, get back up where they fell from, and get back into living life the way God meant it to be. The life of integrity is not a perfect life, it is an honest life.
People who do not take ultimate responsibility for their actions simply are not honest people. Mostly they are not honest with themselves. It is a peculiar thing, but it seems that everyone except for the person or the people who caused the hurtful situation, knows that the situation exists because they used poor judgment, or because they were acting for selfish reasons (which is poor judgment). These irresponsible people then end up doing one of three things: They either go into denial, or they go into a rage against others who are ‘really’ to be blamed, or they do both. Usually it's the latter. They seem to operate on the principle that if you confidently demonstrate your anger toward another for the situation, perhaps others will fall for the same delusion in which they live. Children almost naturally attempt to shift or slip blame to avoid getting in trouble. Taking responsibility is a learned response. It's pathetic when adults try the same tactics when guilty of making a mess by using poor judgment.
God gives us clear guidelines as to how to live a wise and moral life. He is very honest with us about the rewards and consequences regarding the moral choices we make. He offers grace, and reveals how to appropriate grace when needed in difficult circumstances. Even after all of this, man still tries to shave some points in life in order to beat the odds. The odds are unbeatable. "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to the flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction.; the one who sows to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7,8.
"Lord, open our eyes that we might not be self-deceived. And when we do find ourselves self-deceived, give us the humility to do the right thing in order to restore integrity. Amen."

Thursday, April 17, 2008

April 18

Apr 18 - Today from Proverbs 18 we look at verse 13 and 17
"He who answers before listening - that is his folly and his shame. The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him."

"Is that your final answer?" Even though we are not sitting in front of a popular TV personality trying to win a small fortune, we are in the presence of family members and friends each day who are silently asking that question of us. As we have pointed out numerous times in our study in Proverbs, this book was not written as a study in doctrine and theology. It was written for the purpose of growing in wisdom, which in turn strengthens integrity of character.
Proverbs often causes me to stop and contemplate a common word that we seldom think about. In this case, the word is answer. Our answers to things reveal a lot about our integrity. The dictionary has several definitions for the word answer. The first is the one we generally sense to be the definition: "A spoken or written reply to a question." But let's take a look at some other definitions:
"A solution to a problem."
"An act in response."
"To be liable or accountable."
The truth is, when people look to us for answers, there is a lot of our integrity on the line. When we give answers based on limited information, or on purely subjective thought processes, we are in serious danger of giving others wrong information. These two verses admonish us to be careful before answering to others.
The first thing we can understand from these thoughts is to carefully listen to the questioner. What is really being asked here? Listening is a developed skill. We need to try to see things from the seeker’s perspective in order to give a response that could help them from where they are. Jesus was an excellent listener, and He had perfect discernment. When we see Him in dialogue with individuals and they ask a question, we are initially puzzled by His 'answer'. But like an accomplished chess player, He is always several moves ahead of the person with whom He is speaking. By being a good listener, He answers the real question behind their inquiry. We need to learn to follow His example and take the time needed to read the situation.
The second thing we understand from these thoughts is that when we are asking the questions, we must be just as cautious. We may get answers that are incorrect or incomplete because the person responding has a limited perception. They may be sincere in their reply, but they may also be sincerely wrong. It is a good idea to get information from as many sources as possible before making any critical decisions about a matter which affects you, or those for whom you are responsible. When it comes to the reputation or life of another, God says there must be two or three reliable witnesses before a charge can even be considered. The more serious the matter or decision, the more detailed the investigation into the matter should be. And for what it's worth; don't just look for witnesses who will fortify your suspected position. That's what the civil leaders at Jesus' trial did. Look for people of integrity who may support an opposing view. It may not be opposing at all. It may be a view that complements and adds to the reality of a bigger picture. Wisdom searches for truth in order to benefit all that it serves.
Finally, we should attempt to be honest in our answers. If we are unsure, or do not have an objective source of truth on which we can base our answer, we should be sensitive enough to say so. It isn't a crime to say, "I am not absolutely sure, but my best opinion in the matter is. . ." or, "I can only tell you what I saw and/or heard. There may be more to it than this and it would be a good idea for you to speak to others involved or connected to the situation." In this manner, your integrity remains intact. You have given an answer that may be helpful to the inquirer in arriving at a proper solution, but you have also encouraged them to seek further information.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

April 17

Apr 17 - Today from Proverbs 17 we look at verse 14
"Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."

Our church has embraced a philosophy that I believe is fundamentally critical to living a peaceable life. It is composed of three simple sentences that, when combined, reveal a profound attitude. It goes like this:
In essentials, unity.
In non-essentials, liberty.
In all things, love.
There are actually few things in this life that are really worth quarreling over. Most of the stuff we quarrel about is non-essential, but our pride refuses to admit it. I guess it comes down to values. Some people value being right over being kind. First Corinthians 13:4 says "love is kind". Some people value their own way over all other ways. First Corinthians 13:5 says that love "does not insist on its own way" (RSV). As you can see, love readjusts values in a person's life. Love is the key to the little philosophy shared above. Without love in the composition, it is difficult to determine what the non-essentials are.
Our proverb for today is basically telling us to choose our battles carefully - there is a cost to war. Even 'minor quarrels' exact a cost. And as the proverb indicates, it often ends up to be far more costly than anticipated. When a dam is breached, it starts as a mere trickle that appears to be quite easily controlled. But, behind that trickle is a force that is almost impossible to control. Once that little stream is allowed to start, the force behind it quickly breaks down the restraining force of the dam. That's the picture the proverb conveys. Behind the seemingly small disagreement over a non-essential issue is a force called pride. It is a force that is almost impossible to control, and when breached, it quickly breaks down the restraints that kept it in check. The greatest restraint is love. If we can stay focused on love, and allow it to dominate our values, we will have little damage control to deal with in our lives.
This is not to say that we are to avoid quarrels all together. We still have the issue of essentials. There are in our values system things that are not to be compromised. Some things need to be stood for. When the other is not in agreement, and insists on challenging an essential value, it is a place to take a stand. In such cases it is good to practice yesterday's lesson from Proverbs 16:21, "Pleasant words promote instruction."

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

April 16

Apr 16 - Today from Proverbs 16 we look at verse 21
"The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction."

I chose a companion verse from the book of James, often considered the 'Proverbs of the New Testament'. It is found in chapter 3 verse 17; "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." Truth must be served with wisdom.
If you attempt to give a child medicine needful for recovery and health, and the medicine is bitter and disagreeable to the taste, you are likely to have a fight on your hands. The child will be prone to spit out the very thing that will comfort and heal. Manufacturers and parents do all they can to make the medication palatable so that the child will accept and ingest the medicine.
When it comes to moral instruction, we can all be a bit childish. What might be palatable for one might be bitter medicine for another. It takes discernment to know what moral instruction a child, a friend, a co-worker or even a spouse might be prone to gag on and spit out. The truth must be served with wisdom. One must be considerate when offering counsel. How will they feel about your taking the initiative to point out a perceived flaw in their character? People don't always appreciate the astute observations of other’s regarding their character and behavior. I know I don't. One must be submissive when offering instruction. We all believe in basic human rights. That gives every individual an area of authority, and that authority has to do with personal space. Submission is respect for authority. One must be full of mercy and good fruit when promoting instruction. There should be no condemnation in the attitude or content of the counsel given, and the one giving the counsel should evidence the fruit of the counsel in their own life. Don't try to point out a speck in their eye when you have a huge splinter in your own. One should be impartial and sincere in their instruction to others. Don't allow for double standards or partial exceptions when dealing with moral instruction. And please, don't be condescending or pretentious when handling the responsibility of sharing truth with others. There is nothing pleasant about that.
The bottom line here is that we should do all we can to make instruction, counsel and the presentation of truth to others palatable. If they have a negative and adverse reaction to the flavor of the instruction, the entire effort becomes an effort in futility. (It took me a long time to learn this - and I am still learning it.) On the other hand, if the medicine has been offered once and has been rejected or spit out because of your approach, don't give up. Learn the attributes of wisdom from above, and then ask the Lord to make them genuine attributes of your own character. Go back to the one who needs the ‘medicine’ and apply it with pleasant words utilizing the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. He is the One who gives you wisdom.

Monday, April 14, 2008

April 15

Apr 15 - Today from Proverbs 15 we look at verse 33
"The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor."

"The fear of the Lord." A difficult concept for the average person to grasp and hold on to. I remember when my sons were still very young and roved with some of the other boys in the neighborhood. There was a family living on the block at that time of which the husband drove a church van. It was parked in front of his house throughout the week. On the back of the van, painted in contrasting block letters were these words, "CH_ _CH", and beneath in the same lettering was "U R MISSING". He appeared to be quite proud of his faith and displayed it in other ways as well.
One day as the 'gang' of boys who lived on our street were walking past this man’s house, he came out and stopped them. Apparently one of the boys pulled some kind of prank on him and he didn't know which one, so he confronted the entire group. He was very angry. He yelled at them, threatened them and even cursed at them. They were frightened out of their wits. My sons came home and were visibly shaken. I asked what had happened, and my oldest son (probably around ten or twelve at the time), told me. My youngest son confirmed his story. I went out the door and walked down to this neighbor's house, praying under my breath.
I confronted the man with the boys' story, half expecting a toned-down version of the scene. I was surprised when the man admitted that it had happened exactly as I had been told. "These are just young boys, and it is very likely that only one or two were involved in the prank" I said. "What exactly are you thinking here?"
"I just wanted to put the fear of God in these kids so they understand the need to respect others' property!" He replied.
I attempted to reason with him a little further on the subject, but he was quite adamant in defending his action. I departed by sharing this final statement with him, "In the future, if you ever suspect my sons of doing anything wrong, please feel free to come and speak with me. I promise you that I will do all I can to get to the bottom of things. But NEVER curse or threaten my sons again! If you threaten them, I will take it as a personal threat to me."
From that one incident 'the fear of the Lord' became a very negative thought in the lives of the boys in that group. It is now some twenty years later and either of my sons can still tell you the details and impressions of that encounter. What that man displayed was neither 'the fear of the Lord', nor did he impart to those boys any wisdom. It is a somewhat extreme example of a picture too many of us carry around concerning 'the fear of the Lord'.
The better definition, translated from the Hebrew, would be reverence for, or in awe of. To fear God means to hold Him in the highest place, to revere Him. It enfolds highest respect and devotion. It means to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
The fear of the Lord is not quaking before someone who could strike you down at any given moment and is just waiting for you to step out of line. That's what those scared little boys saw when confronted by this large angry man. God is not the One who chews us out and curses us. He is the loving Father who confronts those who threaten and curse His children and says, "When you threaten my children, you threaten me." That's what fathers do.
When one properly understands the fear of the Lord and responds appropriately, one will hunger for the Father’s training and equipping in order to find fulfillment in life. That's what wisdom does.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

April 14

Apr 14 - Today from Proverbs 14 we look at verse 9
"Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright." (NIV)

"Making amends for sin." This thought come from the picture of the sin offering. The Bible says that "without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." I suppose that in Solomon's day there were those who thought that slaughtering a perfectly good animal to have one's guilt removed seemed utterly ridiculous. So, in order to fulfill their religious duty, they would offer the weak and sickly of their flock. After all, they had blood too! Was God pleased with their sin offerings? Here what God has to say in Malachi 1. We will extract statements from the chapter. "It is you , O priests, who show contempt for my name - when you bring blind animals for sacrifice - when you sacrifice cripples or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? - When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them for sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands? Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king and my name is to be feared among the nations." God is not pleased when His people show contempt for the sin sacrifice. If His people passionately love Him, they will offer their very best. It is not the state of the sacrifice that means anything, it is the state of the heart of the one bringing the sacrifice. What they offer up to God directly reflects what is in their hearts.
Our sin offering was sacrificed on the cross - the very Son of God. God offered His very best for us. . . for me! How do I respond to such a sacrifice? Do I bring Him my very best? When I am serving in some area, am I committed to excellence? When I am standing to offer praise, do I offer Him my best? When I bring my tithes and offerings, is it the first fruits, setting aside the first portion before I even consider what must be done with the rest? Or do I profane His sin offering by going through the motions, performing my religious duties in a perfunctory manner. Do I only enter into praise when the transitions are right and the style fits my preference? Do I bring an offering of the left-overs of the week or month? Have I lost sight of the wonder of His love for me, and the great things He has done? Have I relegated the Great King to just another area of duty?
I notice something about the righteous. The righteous have something which I strive to have - PASSION. They respond to His love by bringing the best from their flock because they have a passion for God. Their action is not out of duty, rather it is out of deep gratitude. I long for it. It's smoldering in my heart, but I cry out to God that it may be fanned into a flame. It is not something I can generate. It needs to come by the Holy Spirit within. I pray that the awareness of the need is the first step, for He places the desires of our hearts. And, it is He that gives us the desires of our hearts. We can pray with faith believing.
I pray for the passion of David, who danced and shouted before His Lord with unabashed enthusiasm.
I pray for the passion of Zaccheus who met the Savior and was overjoyed to make amends for his evil days by not only repaying those he cheated, but by blessing them as well. He did that because of his overwhelming passion for Jesus. I pray for the passion of the former prostitute in Luke 7 who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and anointed His feet with one of her most valuable possessions, an alabaster jar of perfume. She was unaware of those around her who would judge her. She only had eyes for the One who forgave her.
The hallmark of the righteous is passion. In all they do for the Lord, they do with passion. I see very little passion in the church today. Maybe that is why there is so little of God's favour on the church. I see too little in my own life. I am praying for the Holy Spirit to rekindle the dying embers, to restore us to our first love. Will you join me?

Saturday, April 12, 2008

April 13

Apr 13 - Today we look at Proverbs 13 verse 6
"Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner."

Integrity is a major theme throughout Proverbs because integrity is such a foundational character of wisdom. The root word for integrity is the Latin word integer. We learned about integers in primary arithmetic - it's a whole number. Integrity is moral wholeness. It is a personal commitment to be moral in every area of life rather than a fraction of one's life. If a person seeks to live according to nine of the ten commandments, they have no integrity. Why is integrity so closely associated with wisdom? Because the ten commandments reveal living the way God meant life to be. Wisdom seeks to live life the way God meant life to be. Jesus summed it up like this (paraphrase); "A person of integrity loves God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and their neighbor as themselves."
"Righteousness guards the man of integrity." A person of integrity is a righteous person. Not perfect, but committed to the concept of being perfected. He does not live in willful disobedience in some area of his life. He may occasionally slip and fall into temptation, but his integrity guards him from being overthrown by the weakness of a moment. His integrity causes him to be quick to confess and repent, make necessary reparations if called for, and be quickly restored to his relationship with God - which is the way life was meant to be.
"Wickedness overthrows the sinner." Here we have the contrasting statement. In this case, a sinner is one who lives in some area of willful disobedience. One area is enough. The apostle Paul made this self-discovery when he was converted (Romans 7:7-11). He thought he was righteous, but the Holy Spirit revealed that he lived in violation of the tenth commandment. He was a covetous person. Apparently it was through this revelation that he realized he was a sinner. He was dead to God because he had no integrity. This, of course, leads to the glorious good news of the gospel in Romans chapter 8, that when we are dead in our sin, we are made alive through Christ. His precious blood restores integrity. Hallelujah!
But what about the unrepentant sinner? I am intrigued by the word overthrow in this passage. Do you see the picture? Two companions working side by side. One thinks he is in control when suddenly he tries to go in a different direction and he discovers he is no longer in control. The companion overthrew him and now has control. This is the unwavering reality of sin! It lets one think they're in control until they attempt to go in another direction. Then one discovers he does not possess the strength to be free. They may find relief for a season, but sin is embedded in the flesh, and it drags the victim back onto the path of destruction. Upon discovering his own sin, Paul writes in Romans 7:8, "But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire." Discovering the strength of sin is not enough to help the victim break free. There is only one avenue of escape, and it is free to all that desire it. It is by confession and repentance, and calling on the Name of the Lord. Our strength is never enough. His strength is always more than sufficient. Every sinner can join the great apostle Paul and come to the place of declaration of victory;
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24)
Our righteousness is continually dependent on our ongoing relationship with Christ, and will serve to guard our integrity. To think we can court but one area of sin in our lives is a fatal error, for in every instance sin will become the master.

Friday, April 11, 2008

April 12

Apr 12 - Today from Proverbs 12 we look at verse 11
"He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment."

This is a proverb of contrasting thoughts. It stands to reason that if a person owns a plot of tillable land, and that person properly works that land, the land will provide food for his table, and probably extra for selling at a profit. The second thought would stand as a contrast to that picture. Thus, we see a person who owns a plot of tillable land, but instead of working with the land he has, he chases after uncertain schemes that promise more profit with less effort. He lacks judgment.
The blessing of living in a land of prosperity can also become a curse. When there is an abundance of discretionary money flowing through the economy, there is also an abundance of schemes to direct the flow of that money into personal coffers. The only ones who gain from such schemes are the schemers. Schemers are experts at building and presenting fantasies. Wisdom knows enough not to chase after them.
I am of the conviction that God has given every man 'a plot of tillable land'. Every man possesses some gift, talent or ability which when developed and utilized will provide for his basic needs. That's really all we NEED in life to find contentment. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 says, "Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." Hebrews 13:5 says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have." Too many have deluded themselves into thinking that contentment lies just beyond what we have now. The truth is that every believer has been called to full-time ministry in life. Our primary ministry is to worship God. Discovering, developing and utilizing the unique gifts He has given each of us is a part of worship. We find fulfillment in what He has provided. There is contentment in gratitude. Another part of our ministry in life is to be His witnesses. We do that by living our lives for Him. Our occupation supports our ministry. We work to provide for our basic needs so that we can live for Christ. At least that's the way God meant it to be.
If we are truly maturing in our Christian walk, we should end up in the place where Paul did regarding achieving contentment. He tells us in Philippians 4:12, 13 - "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." I must confess I have not yet fully arrived. (Lord, give me grace.) But, the closer I get, the less likely I am to chase after fantasies. The grass on my side of the fence is plenty green. If it's not, I will trust the Shepherd to either lead me to other pastures or to send some showers of blessing to green it back up. Either way, my contentment lies in Him. There are plenty of others out there who are willing to take me to their greener pastures - just on the other side of the fence - for a small price. Wisdom knows better. Wisdom finds contentment in using that which God has provided. His grace is sufficient.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

April 11

Apr 11 - Today from Proverbs 11 we look at verse 2
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."

Proverbs is a book of instruction on Godly wisdom. We constantly need instruction in this area because our natural tendencies are to follow the wisdom of this world. One can find clear definition, and clear contrast of the two kinds of wisdom in James 3:13-17. Verse 13 says, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." It is a foreign concept to the natural mind that humility and wisdom abide together. Our culture has relegated humility to a negative standard. Without proper instruction from God's Word, I am afraid that we would be content to leave this attribute on the bottom of the heap of undesirable characteristics. A humble person is "first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17) We may like to have people like this around to make our environment a nicer place, but when you come right down to it, I don't think that it is the kind of a person we aspire to be to 'get ahead' in life. We would rather be among the self-confident and ambitious 'movers and shakers' in this world. People like Barabbas.
Luke 23:19 tells us that Barabbas was thrown into prison for insurrection and murder. Insurrection is revolt against civil authority - in this case, Rome. A presumptuous person is one that acts over-confidently. Their confidence somehow lies within themselves. This is the meaning of the word 'pride' in our Proverbs verse. Barabbas displayed this kind of pride. He had to in order to lead a band of 'Zionist rebels' against the great Roman Empire. He got caught - but he was still a hero in the eyes of the Jews. Jesus on the other hand was meek and humble. The people loved having Him around. He made their environment a much nicer place to live. They were ready to follow Him because He claimed to be the Messiah. He would overthrow Rome and lead them back to being a world power. But then He was arrested. He didn't even speak up on His own behalf to defend Himself. He stood mute as the Roman soldiers mocked and beat Him. Barabbas would never do that! At least Barabbas fought valiantly for the people! Given a choice now, who would the people rather follow? "Give us Barabbas!" they shouted. What good are the humble when the chips are down?
We never hear of Barabbas again. As far as history reveals, he never did anything significant to change the world since then. He was released to obscurity. But Jesus. . .
Jesus changed the world. What He accomplished, He accomplished through humility. He was perfect in wisdom because He was perfect in humility. All of His confidence was in the Father, and as He continually submitted Himself to the Father's will He grew in wisdom. By the age of twelve He astounded the great theologians of His day. By the age of thirty he began a ministry that would set the example for millions of followers spanning centuries of time. By the age of thirty-three and a half He demonstrated perfect submission and perfect love by giving Himself to the cross. Three days later He proved for all time and eternity that humility is infinitely greater than pride; He rose from the dead and the Father exalted Him to the eternal throne at His right hand.
Humility is a great attribute, and the church must restore it to its rightful place. We must renew our minds through the instruction of scripture, placing all of our confidence in God. The ultimate humility for us is also found at the cross. There we are to die in Christ that we might live with Him. This is not a mystical concept - it is very practical. It is a simple two-step process called 'confession and repentance'. When we see that we are in sin in some area of our life, we are to agree with God that it is sin. This is the literal definition for confession - to agree with God. It immediately does away with all pride. Then we are to turn away from that area of sin in our life. This is the literal definition of repentance - to turn away. See how practical it is? It is all accomplished through humility. When we humble ourselves before God, He gives grace. Grace is His power to overcome.
"With humility comes wisdom." Wisdom is almost a by-product of humility. If we place our effort on being humble, wisdom will be the fruit of that effort.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

April 10

Apr 10 - Today from Proverbs 10 we look at verse 17
"He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray."

A disciple is a learner. In the New Testament Greek, which is a very precise language, the word disciple indicates a learner who not only adds to their knowledge (in thought), but the knowledge is accompanied by action. Although the words disciple and discipline are unrelated in the Greek language, they are closely related in the English language. It takes discipline for a learner to apply knowledge -- particularly when that knowledge goes contrary to current views of life.
A disciple is more than a pupil. A disciple is a devoted follower. Disciples commit themselves to follow the teachings, principles and exhortations of the teacher. Our Teacher is Christ. To follow any other is foolish. There are disciples of scores of cult leaders, many who we may never have heard of. There is also more subtle discipleship, but just as foolish. There are disciples of the Republican and Democratic parties. There are disciples of rock stars. (Our teens are terribly pressured to be popular and readily emulate the super-popular amongst their peers). There are disciples of Hollywood (following the trends of the stars). As you can see, sometimes discipleship is a passing fancy and sometimes it is an extreme commitment. Those who make the extreme commitment have been given the 20th century, politically correct title of extremists.
As believers, our extreme commitment is to be to a Person and not an ideology. To the God who spoke on the fiery mountain and said, "You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3). To the God who came in the form of His Son, Jesus and said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24). In John 10 He says "His sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger." (verses 4 and 5). Yes, Christians are to be extremists; wholly devoted to learning from and following after the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He also gave us a new commandment – to love one another. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35). Christian extremism is to be an example of extreme love, following after the teaching and example of Jesus.
Those who ignore correction lead others astray. There are also those who refuse to be corrected by God’s Word. In their self-formed opinions they seek to influence others of their viewpoint. Those who may be weak in conviction then blindly follow the viewpoint presented and are led astray. The 'leaders' in this case choose to be blind. (There is none so blind as he who will not see.) The 'followers' choose not to seek out the proof as found in God's Word, or even in natural law, and end up following the faulty reasoning of the leader. Jesus says in Matthew 15:14, "If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into the pit." Even though the leader is the one in true rebellion, the follower will not be saved the consequences. The follower refused to seek the proof of the matter and will end up in the same place. We are not necessarily speaking of hell here. There are a lot of heaven-bound believers who are experiencing pitfalls in life because they are following the reasoning of men rather than the evidences presented in God's Word.
Wisdom chooses to heed the disciplines of God's Word, and to be quick to repent when the proof presented by God's Word contradicts the viewpoint currently held. It is the way of discipleship.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

April 9

Apr 9 - Today from Proverbs 9 we look at verse 13
"The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge."

Once again we see the writer personifying an impersonal object to reveal the attribute of that object. In this section the object is folly. We immediately think of folly as a lack of good sense. The woman Folly then represents that in life which would cause us to live foolishly.
Folly is 'undisciplined'. Discipline has become controversial in our modern culture and seems to be something that people want to avoid. Because Folly is without knowledge, discipline has been mostly relegated to the 'evil' category. If you will remember from yesterday, evil is that which is harmful or injurious. Because discipline can seem painful or injurious, much of society wants to see it removed from our culture. Parents who spank their children are seen as abusers. For fear of lawsuits or dismissal, educators are no longer allowed to touch a rowdy trouble-maker who disrupts their classroom every day. Delinquent youth who get in trouble and are arrested 'know their rights', and are more often turned over to the custody of their parents (who never spanked them to begin with), rather than the courts. Church discipline is unheard of these days, "We are called to love one another, how can we inflict any pain on one of our own?" The fact of the matter is that discipline is not evil at all. Discipline is to be applied with knowledge -- the knowledge of verse 10 of this chapter, which reads "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
When done with sensitivity to the Lord and the boundaries He has established regarding discipline, discipline is an act of love. Not the emotional feel-good love of the world, but the tough love of God, applied to correct a damaging course of the object of His love. Foolish behavior inflicts harm, and must be corrected. A corrective word can be discipline, but if the subject does not listen it is not effective discipline. Losing a privilege can be discipline, but if the subject does not change the direction in which he or she is headed it is not effective discipline. Painful discipline is to be applied to strong-willed people. It is done for the purpose of establishing and instilling proper boundaries in the life of the subject. If left unattended, the subject will go through life disrupting the lives of others and causing real evil. Hebrews 12 tells us that it is because of God's love for us that He disciplines us. Verses 10 and 11 say, "God disciplines us for our good that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." This is the proper motive for and understanding of discipline. If discipline is never applied, the subject cannot be trained by it and they never develop proper boundaries in life.
As believers, we have an advantage. We have the indwelling Spirit of knowledge who gives us understanding if we will but learn to listen to His voice. We can appropriate God's grace in judging ourselves and applying self-discipline. We are, after all, to be disciples of Christ. Self-discipline is one of the purposes of the sacrament of Holy Communion. In regards to Communion, Paul instructs in 1 Corinthians 11:31, 32, "But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world." When we come to the table of Communion we are to have spent time prayerfully examining ourselves, asking the Holy Spirit to examine our own hearts, that we might apply self-discipline and repent of any area He reveals where we are out of bounds with God. This puts us back into proper communion with God, and with our fellow man.

Monday, April 7, 2008

April 8

Apr 8 - Today from Proverbs 8 we look at verse 13
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."

Chapter 8 utilizes the literary form of personifying an impersonal object. In this chapter that object is wisdom, and it is wisdom speaking in this verse.
As a child, and even for a rather significant portion of my adult life, I was a little apprehensive whenever I heard the term "Fear the Lord." Mixed up somewhere in that term I thought that God was someone I needed to be afraid of. It was only after I entered into a personal relationship with Him through accepting His offer of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus, that all of my apprehension was dispelled. No longer being afraid of God, I was now curious what His Word meant when it exhorts us to 'fear the Lord'. Well, this verse sheds lots of light on the subject.
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil." This is a fundamental attribute of wisdom. What exactly is evil? In the original Hebrew, the primary root of the word means to spoil, and is expanded to mean by breaking to pieces. That gives us a pretty good picture of what evil is (and does)? In our language evil means morally wrong. Unfortunately, in our modern culture we seem to have great difficulty in defining what is moral. Our modern dictionary defines evil as harmful or injurious. Evil, then, is not loving our neighbor. Evil is not a category on the scale of things that cause harm. Evil is the scale. Evil is anything that causes harm, misfortune, suffering or destruction in the life of a fellow human, on any level, whether intentional or unintentional. To fear the Lord is to hate evil -- particularly the evil that resides in our own hearts.
Wisdom goes on to say, "I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." That hits close to home. To fear the Lord means we are to get serious about being honest with ourselves and start agreeing with God about the evil that resides in our heart. The literal translation of the Greek word for confess in the New Testament means to agree with God. God wants you to live in His presence. He wants to walk with you each day. But evil cannot abide in His presence. If we deceive ourselves and try to explain away the evil that abides in our heart, we severely limit our relationship and our walk with Him. We read in 1 John 1:8, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." Jesus chose the cross so that there is a place where we can take the evil in our hearts, confess it before Him, and be rid of it. Because we often have a hard time forgiving others and/or ourselves, we can tend to think that God has a hard time forgiving as well. To assure us, he gives us this promise in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (If you have not yet memorized this verse, I encourage you to do so today.)
The evidence of our sincerity in confessing is our repentance. The Greek term to repent literally means to turn away -- turning away from evil behavior and turning back to God. In any area where we are operating in pride, arrogance, evil behavior or perverse speech, we are moving away from our relationship with God. Confession is the first step in restoring that relationship. Repentance is the second. Paul preaches in Acts 17:30, "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent." Jesus Christ has come, and so has the revelation of God's saving grace. There is no longer any excuse. God provided the pardon through the shed blood of His own Son. He sent the Spirit of grace to give us the understanding and the strength to turn. He commands us to repent because He loves us and wants us to enjoy a vital relationship with Himself. Now instead of being afraid of God and walking away from Him, we can fear God and run to Him. He waits with open and loving arms when we simply trust Him and yield to His way of taking care of things.
Wisdom fears God and hates evil.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

April 7

Apr 7 - Today from Proverbs 7 we look at verse 11
"She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks."

In chapter six Solomon warns his son regarding the inescapable consequences of yielding to the seducer. In chapter seven he gives a detailed analogy of the ways of a seducer. He begins by revealing that the victim is 'simple' - not disciplined in the ways of wisdom. Then beginning in verse 11 he focuses on the ways and attributes of the seducer.
I believe the translator rightly made this verse a parenthetical statement within the story. The rest of the story can be quite literally taken, but this statement is a bit surreal. The adulteress in the story is not able to be at every corner of the city shouting defiantly in search of this simple young man. I believe the author is saying that the seducer is an overwhelming attraction and may be discovered in any area of our lives. The statement is an analogy within an analogy.
"She is loud and defiant." I believe the term loud means overwhelming the senses. And I love the definitions of defiant in The American Heritage Dictionary; "1. Bold resistance to authority. 2. Deliberately provocative." There are times in our lives when our convictions must be stronger than the provocation to break moral boundaries. The mermaids of Greek mythology were seducers. The rocky shoals claimed the lives of scores of Greek sailors who were attracted to the alluring seduction of a mermaid singing from the midst of the treacherous waters. It seemed impossible for any ship to pass by without turning toward her deadly melody. In one story a Greek hero came up with a solution. He placed an orchestra on his ship and at the first haunting of the mermaid's voice he struck up the band. He told them to play as loud as they could. Their music drowned out the voice of the mermaid and the ship sailed on past the rocky shoal without incident. What a great picture for believers. The voice of wisdom should be so strong in our hearts that it drowns out the provocative enticements of the tempter. Wisdom maintains a loud voice through an abiding relationship with Christ.
"Her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks." Here is the second general lesson about the seducer. The most dangerous seducer is found where you don't expect it. The married woman of the story is expected to be found at home, tending the business of her household. If seducing her was on the mind of the simple young man, he would have intentionally made his way to her home. But such was not the case. She was the predator, and he wasn't at all expecting to run into her. He was on an average aimless path through the city streets and there she was! And what she was promoting drowned out what little, if any, moral wisdom that might have turned his feet in another direction. She wasn't looking for him in particular, but he would do just fine.
So it is with the common seducers in life. The seduction is spiritually loud, trying to drown out the voice of the conscience. It is encountered in an area where it wasn't expected. It is often encountered when we are in a purposeless activity. And it acts as though you were specially chosen for something delightful. If you read the chapter today, you discovered the inevitable outcome of giving in to the seducer. Beware.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

April 6

Apr 6 - Today from Proverbs 6 we look at verse 26
"For the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life."

Because Solomon is writing this to his son, the focus is somewhat narrow. We can tend to brush right over such verses when we do not identify with the circumstances. We do well to stop and search for the spiritual principle applicable to all believers.
"The prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread." I have been in places in this world where the impact of this statement breaks my heart. I have served in the impoverished slums of Addis Ababa where my friend witnessed (and photographed) a man butchering a skinny dog in the street to feed his family. That was not the worst. A small boy came upon the entrails, pulled out the intestines, washed them in a filthy sewer and left with a meal for his family. We have no idea what hunger is. Many living in the slums were single mothers with hungry little mouths to feed. There were no jobs. There was no local economy. The mothers would slip out into the evening to sell their bodies to try to earn enough to feed the family tomorrow. Were they morally wrong? Yes. But they were also desperate. Verse 30 of this chapter says, "Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving." But the thief must still satisfy justice when caught. I could not despise these desperate mothers. Their motivation was to preserve life, not to take it.
But, "the adulteress preys upon your very life." We can substitute the word seducer for adulteress and the verse becomes applicable for all. There are people and spirits out there who are not desperately hungry or looking to provide for the needs of their children, but who are looking to have you compromise your morals for pleasure, ultimately their pleasure. They prey upon your life. They are not looking to physically take your life. They are looking to possess your life. Throughout the chapters of Proverbs we see that the ways of the seducer are to appeal to the passions of a person's fallen nature. Through this appeal the seducers are looking for something that will satisfy their own passion. Something from the seducted is lost, something for the seducer is gained. The craft of the seducer is to make it initially appear that the seducted will gain from the transaction. It is the very essence of deceit. This proverb is a clear warning to be aware of seducers. They will exact a hidden cost - every time. And you can be sure that the pay-back is always greater than the pleasure. (Need an example? Think of the seduction of credit card companies.)
Let's reverse the role a bit here and look at a young man who is caught up in the paganism of his culture. He is driven by the lust of life, including his activities with the opposite sex. He is courting (preying upon the life of) a young lady who is seeking to live a moral life. But she is also young and her emotions haven't matured as quickly as her body. He begins his craft by enamoring her with his cleverness. Soon she is emotionally attached to him, but her conscience still keeps the moral boundary in tact. He steps it up a few notches and begins to tell her how attractive she is, how desirous she is, finally how much he loves her. The young woman doesn't have a clue that when he says "I love you", he is really saying "I love me." If he loved her, he would respect her life, and a part of that life is her moral boundaries. But he is asking her to give him a part of that life and remove the boundary of sexual purity. She thinks that by giving him that part of her life that it will be an exchange - and their love will be stronger than ever. There is no exchange because he is offering nothing but a seductive lie. There was only a loss on the part of the seduced and a gain on the part of the seducer. That's the way it always ends.
This is but an example. There are seducers all around us preying upon our lives. There are times in our lives where we are tempted to be the seducer. It is a trait of Satan, and mankind inherited that trait when Adam opted to bow to him. It is through Christ that we are transformed back into the likeness of our heavenly Father, and it is through an ongoing relationship with Him that we overcome the old nature. Men have lost their wives, their families, their jobs, their friends and their self-respect by falling for the wiles of the adulteress. They never imagined it when she was making him think that he was getting something special in the beginning. We all lose something every time we give in to the seductions of the seducer - whatever the case may be. Wisdom learns to discern these things through a commitment to moral living - the way God meant life to be.