Sep 1 - Today from Proverbs 1 we look at verse 32
"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."
Verse 22 of this chapter identifies three types of people who ignore wisdom and live outside of God's purposes; the simple, the mockers, and the fools. Verse 32 only makes mention of two types; the simple and the fools. I wondered why the mockers were left out of this verse.
I think it is because we all pretty much know that mockers are not nice people. We don't worry about being God-haters who purposely stir up trouble against God and against our neighbor - after all, we are Christians. Mockers are an 'in-your-face' bunch, and everyone pretty much knows where they stand and where they will end up. Yes, we do well at identifying the mockers.
The simple and the fools? Well, their ways are much more subtle. Their errors are not found in acts of hatred and open rebellion. They look much more like you and I. They are often fun people, people with a zest for the good things in life. Their errors are not so much found in what they do - they are identified more by what they don't do. The simple are identified by their waywardness. They choose the path of least resistance in life. They attempt to live in their comfort zone as much as possible. To develop one's talents and abilities and put them into useful service for God takes effort and discipline. It often calls for one to leave their comfort zone in order to expand their ability. For the simple, it's just easier to go with the flow, to stay on the wide path. They may do little harm to others, but they are easy victims of God's enemies. Their waywardness carries them down the path to destruction.
The fools are identified by their complacency. They are a little more clever than are the simple. They have a little more ambition, but it is selfish ambition. They don't necessarily flow in the path of least resistance, they work to make a path that brings the most self-satisfaction. They also may do little harm to others - it's just that they have little concern for others. When it comes to making a choice between being a good neighbor or doing something that satisfies self, they will most often choose the latter. Fools go through the motions, doing the minimum for image's sake, but they have no compassion for God or for their neighbor. The path they labor for in life is for their own ultimate pleasure, and it takes them to the same destination as the mockers and the simple.
As parents, we all would like to see our children choose the path of wisdom. We want our children to know God in a personal relationship, and to understand God's purposes for their lives. So does our heavenly Father. He tells us in Ephesians 5:15 & 17, "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." I can assure you that if Father wants us to understand what His will is, then He will certainly give us the ability to understand. We just have to work at seeking it out. We will not find the understanding through waywardness and complacency. We need to step out of our comfort zones now and then and see what new things the Father would have us learn and understand. Often the only way we can gain understanding is by doing. "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only." - James 1:22
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
August 31
Aug 31 - Today from Proverbs 31 we look at verse 31
"Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
The wife of noble character. Although the principles set forth in this chapter are worth considering for a man who is choosing a wife, or a woman considering being a wife, I constantly relate the wife in the Proverb to the church. In light of Ephesians 5:31 & 32, the principles set forth in Proverbs 31:10-31 become applicable to all believers. Today's verse is not about her character, but about the result of her staying in character.
We, the church, have been wed to the Lord Jesus. Bound in an eternal covenant vow. He loved us even though we were unlovely. He chose us even though we were defiled. He pursued us even though we were uninterested. He redeemed us even though the cost was His cruel death on a cross. As a result, He gave us a new reputation (pure), a new status (members of the family of His Father), a new inheritance (the riches of living in God's glory), and a new future (eternal life). He is the faithful husband, promising never to leave or forsake His bride. He is the faithful provider. He is perfectly established and his position will never be usurped. Ever! He is worthy of the love and devotion of His bride. Always! The wife of noble character is virtuous and noble because she is ever aware of her husband's unconditional love, His perfect virtue, of His superior authority and position, and His undying devotion to her. He is the Head of His household, but His headship is not dictatorship. His headship is responsibility. He did not promote Himself to headship. He made a decision to be the head - and that decision cost Him more than we will ever be able to fully comprehend. He is worth being under. He is the wife's motivation and her confidence.
The characteristics of the wife of noble character are born out of love and respect for her husband. Her motivation is not self-aggrandizement. Her motivation is to support and enhance her husband's reputation. She understands that the two have become one flesh. He is her glory, and her desire is to reflect his character. Although her reward is earned, it was never her motivation. When her works are praised at the city gate, she is keenly aware that the praise reflects on her husband, and this greatly pleases her. He is greatly pleased to reward her. How Jesus loves His church!
When we gather to worship Him on Sundays, do we gather with anticipation of praising such a wonderful Husband? Do we hunger to learn more of His ways? Do we seek to reflect His love, mercy and grace in our community that He might be glorified? Do we renew our vows on a regular basis and place ourselves in remembrance of what He was willing to do that we might be pure and chaste as He is? Is He our first love? Does He have preeminence in our thoughts, our time and our activities? Are our praises heard in the city gate?
Pity the 'church' which embraces tolerance as a virtue. This is the church that claims to recognize God, but teaches that there are many paths to Him. There is only one church, and she is the devoted bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. She is to be merciful and gracious as is her Husband, but she must remain pure and faithful to Him in the process. To recognize other 'redeemers' as legitimate is betrayal and adulterous. Such a 'church' will never see her reward. She will be turned away from the wedding party and lament with those who rejected the Groom all together. To embrace more than Jesus is not to embrace Him at all. If we are going to accept His invitation to become one with Him, it's an all or nothing proposition. Those who choose 'all' do so because they have understood His worthiness. Now let us keep it before us and allow His passion to be our constant motivation. When He returns for His bride, He will be bringing His reward with Him. (Revelation 22:12).
"Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
The wife of noble character. Although the principles set forth in this chapter are worth considering for a man who is choosing a wife, or a woman considering being a wife, I constantly relate the wife in the Proverb to the church. In light of Ephesians 5:31 & 32, the principles set forth in Proverbs 31:10-31 become applicable to all believers. Today's verse is not about her character, but about the result of her staying in character.
We, the church, have been wed to the Lord Jesus. Bound in an eternal covenant vow. He loved us even though we were unlovely. He chose us even though we were defiled. He pursued us even though we were uninterested. He redeemed us even though the cost was His cruel death on a cross. As a result, He gave us a new reputation (pure), a new status (members of the family of His Father), a new inheritance (the riches of living in God's glory), and a new future (eternal life). He is the faithful husband, promising never to leave or forsake His bride. He is the faithful provider. He is perfectly established and his position will never be usurped. Ever! He is worthy of the love and devotion of His bride. Always! The wife of noble character is virtuous and noble because she is ever aware of her husband's unconditional love, His perfect virtue, of His superior authority and position, and His undying devotion to her. He is the Head of His household, but His headship is not dictatorship. His headship is responsibility. He did not promote Himself to headship. He made a decision to be the head - and that decision cost Him more than we will ever be able to fully comprehend. He is worth being under. He is the wife's motivation and her confidence.
The characteristics of the wife of noble character are born out of love and respect for her husband. Her motivation is not self-aggrandizement. Her motivation is to support and enhance her husband's reputation. She understands that the two have become one flesh. He is her glory, and her desire is to reflect his character. Although her reward is earned, it was never her motivation. When her works are praised at the city gate, she is keenly aware that the praise reflects on her husband, and this greatly pleases her. He is greatly pleased to reward her. How Jesus loves His church!
When we gather to worship Him on Sundays, do we gather with anticipation of praising such a wonderful Husband? Do we hunger to learn more of His ways? Do we seek to reflect His love, mercy and grace in our community that He might be glorified? Do we renew our vows on a regular basis and place ourselves in remembrance of what He was willing to do that we might be pure and chaste as He is? Is He our first love? Does He have preeminence in our thoughts, our time and our activities? Are our praises heard in the city gate?
Pity the 'church' which embraces tolerance as a virtue. This is the church that claims to recognize God, but teaches that there are many paths to Him. There is only one church, and she is the devoted bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. She is to be merciful and gracious as is her Husband, but she must remain pure and faithful to Him in the process. To recognize other 'redeemers' as legitimate is betrayal and adulterous. Such a 'church' will never see her reward. She will be turned away from the wedding party and lament with those who rejected the Groom all together. To embrace more than Jesus is not to embrace Him at all. If we are going to accept His invitation to become one with Him, it's an all or nothing proposition. Those who choose 'all' do so because they have understood His worthiness. Now let us keep it before us and allow His passion to be our constant motivation. When He returns for His bride, He will be bringing His reward with Him. (Revelation 22:12).
August 30
Aug 30 - Today from Proverbs 30 we look at verses 29-31
"There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing; a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king with his army around him."
In verses 15-31 the Teacher is making observations of nature. Without directly admonishing them, he is instructing his students to do likewise. The observations all relate back to the opening verses of the chapter where the Teacher is humbled by all that he does not know or understand. It is a rather interesting approach to life - to be humbled by all that you do not understand as opposed to being proud of the so very little that you do . . . or at least you think you do. The entire chapter is an intricately woven text, written in a style unfamiliar to our Western mind.
The subject of the observation in today's text is confidence. The Teacher gives examples of the effect, but does not explain the cause. He challenges his students to ask the question, "Where does their confidence come from?" Why is the lion so confident? He is known to stand against and even attack beasts greater than himself. And what about the little bantam rooster? Where does he find the confidence to strut before, threaten, and attack people ten times larger than himself? Who does he think he is? The he-goat seems to be looking for a challenge. He is quick to use the mighty battering weapons so majestically crowning his head. Then we come to the king with his army around him. At least here we can begin to give a definitive answer as to where his confidence comes from. But it seems to come from an entirely different source. His confidence apparently comes from the strength of his army. The beasts have nothing similar in their case. What is the Teacher driving at here?
I believe we need to go one layer deeper. What do all four examples have in common in regards to stately confidence? Territory. Something they are willing to fight and even die for. The lion, the bantam rooster and the he-goat are confident and aggressive because they have a territory and they will defend that territory with their all. So too the king and his army. Thus, true confidence does not come from self-worth, but from convictions in life. Our fathers, brothers and sons did not shed their blood on foreign soil because they believed in themselves - or even in our President. They did what they had to do because they were convinced that our liberty and freedoms were worth dying for. That's what our territory stands for. The countless unknown martyrs of the faith did not lay down their lives because they believed in themselves. They laid down their lives because they believed in the resurrection of the dead, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the imperative that all men should hear the gospel. Convictions are things greater than ourselves. Convictions are our territory in life, and they are to be our source of confidence. If confidence is rooted in self, then it is only as strong as the vulnerability of self. Self-confident people are cowards at the core. People of conviction are the dangerous people. When you threaten their territory, you can expect an all-out defensive battle. Pity the man who has placed his convictions in a lie. He will have died in vain. In the end there will be no reward, only regret.
As believers, we have a sure foundation in Jesus Christ. We must establish our convictions in the truths of God's Word. The Teacher warns in verses 5 and 6, "Every word of God is flawless. . . Do not add to His words or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar." Our self-worth is not in ourselves, but in what He was willing to pay for us. We are now His territory, "Christ in me, the hope of glory." He valiantly died for me. I cannot fathom it, but I know it is true. Now He is my territory, and I place all my confidence in Him. Hallelujah!
"There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing; a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king with his army around him."
In verses 15-31 the Teacher is making observations of nature. Without directly admonishing them, he is instructing his students to do likewise. The observations all relate back to the opening verses of the chapter where the Teacher is humbled by all that he does not know or understand. It is a rather interesting approach to life - to be humbled by all that you do not understand as opposed to being proud of the so very little that you do . . . or at least you think you do. The entire chapter is an intricately woven text, written in a style unfamiliar to our Western mind.
The subject of the observation in today's text is confidence. The Teacher gives examples of the effect, but does not explain the cause. He challenges his students to ask the question, "Where does their confidence come from?" Why is the lion so confident? He is known to stand against and even attack beasts greater than himself. And what about the little bantam rooster? Where does he find the confidence to strut before, threaten, and attack people ten times larger than himself? Who does he think he is? The he-goat seems to be looking for a challenge. He is quick to use the mighty battering weapons so majestically crowning his head. Then we come to the king with his army around him. At least here we can begin to give a definitive answer as to where his confidence comes from. But it seems to come from an entirely different source. His confidence apparently comes from the strength of his army. The beasts have nothing similar in their case. What is the Teacher driving at here?
I believe we need to go one layer deeper. What do all four examples have in common in regards to stately confidence? Territory. Something they are willing to fight and even die for. The lion, the bantam rooster and the he-goat are confident and aggressive because they have a territory and they will defend that territory with their all. So too the king and his army. Thus, true confidence does not come from self-worth, but from convictions in life. Our fathers, brothers and sons did not shed their blood on foreign soil because they believed in themselves - or even in our President. They did what they had to do because they were convinced that our liberty and freedoms were worth dying for. That's what our territory stands for. The countless unknown martyrs of the faith did not lay down their lives because they believed in themselves. They laid down their lives because they believed in the resurrection of the dead, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the imperative that all men should hear the gospel. Convictions are things greater than ourselves. Convictions are our territory in life, and they are to be our source of confidence. If confidence is rooted in self, then it is only as strong as the vulnerability of self. Self-confident people are cowards at the core. People of conviction are the dangerous people. When you threaten their territory, you can expect an all-out defensive battle. Pity the man who has placed his convictions in a lie. He will have died in vain. In the end there will be no reward, only regret.
As believers, we have a sure foundation in Jesus Christ. We must establish our convictions in the truths of God's Word. The Teacher warns in verses 5 and 6, "Every word of God is flawless. . . Do not add to His words or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar." Our self-worth is not in ourselves, but in what He was willing to pay for us. We are now His territory, "Christ in me, the hope of glory." He valiantly died for me. I cannot fathom it, but I know it is true. Now He is my territory, and I place all my confidence in Him. Hallelujah!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
August 29
Aug 29 - Today from Proverbs 29 we look at verse 19
"A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond."
When I was sixteen, way back in the 60s, my dad owned a service station and I went to work for him. My dad was very focused on the service aspect of his business, and made it a top requirement for those of us who served with him. In those days we pumped the gas for the customer, always washed the windshield and asked if we could check the oil. And, we did it with a smile. If the customer wanted anything else, we were there to serve. If they asked, we would check the air in their tires and any or all fluid levels of the car. We would add anything that required adding. Except for product, there was never any extra charge. It was our service to the community. My job wasn't to put in my hours and gather my pay on Fridays; it was to serve people and make them glad they traded with us. If they were happy, they would come back. We filled a need in the community, and in return the community provided for our family.
When I was around forty, I took my first trip into the Soviet Union. I was there just after President Reagan made his historical trip in 1988 and glasnost was on the fast-track. During our visit we entered numerous shops and businesses - all owned by the state. Service with a smile? There was no sign of either service or a smile. When I walked into a shop, I was totally ignored. Every one was a slave of the state - there was no private ownership. The people owned everything communally (sic) and everyone had their task to do in this mega-community. In doing so, their every need was to be taken care of by the state, from cradle to grave (sic). Apparently, they didn't have many needs. If I ever had any notions about socialism before that time, they all vanished. The people were slaves with no sense of ownership and no sense of fulfillment. The only people we met who smiled and seemed to have some sense of fulfillment were the Christians we covertly made contact with. They served under the most extreme of circumstances - but they served with a smile.
This brings me to the next level of servanthood; every man is a servant of the most high God. Even the defiant serve God's purposes. Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. Those to whom Christ has been revealed, and who accept His truth, find great satisfaction and fulfillment in their service to Him. Serving is the purpose for which we were created. God has endowed each of us with certain gifts and abilities, and He endowed us that we might serve Him by serving others. Those who defy God's purposes still serve Him, but they never find satisfaction in their service. When we use our endowment to serve ourselves, we are out of sync with God's purposes, and there must be correction. The Teacher tells us that if we are but servants, mere words are not enough to correct us. We understand the words "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," but we don't respond. We understand the words "Love your neighbor as you love yourself," but we don't respond. Mere words are not enough to correct us. So . . . what did God do?
His best was done in Christ. He promoted us from servants to friends. He did this by revealing the Father's purposes to us (John 15:15). He promoted us from servants to sons. He did this by adopting us into the family (Romans 8:15, 16). We are no longer slaves to a system, we are sons of the owner. "Love your neighbor as yourself," is no longer a statement of mere words. It is the mission statement of our family business and our service is our investment into that business. As slaves, there is little to motivate us in our labors, we become lethargic shop-sitters waiting for our shift to end. As sons, we are to joyfully invest in His kingdom. By following our big brother's (Jesus'), example in serving our fellow man, we honor our Father as we see the expansion of His kingdom. God gave us a partnership in His kingdom through Christ. The benefits are eternal. What more motivation do we need?
"A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond."
When I was sixteen, way back in the 60s, my dad owned a service station and I went to work for him. My dad was very focused on the service aspect of his business, and made it a top requirement for those of us who served with him. In those days we pumped the gas for the customer, always washed the windshield and asked if we could check the oil. And, we did it with a smile. If the customer wanted anything else, we were there to serve. If they asked, we would check the air in their tires and any or all fluid levels of the car. We would add anything that required adding. Except for product, there was never any extra charge. It was our service to the community. My job wasn't to put in my hours and gather my pay on Fridays; it was to serve people and make them glad they traded with us. If they were happy, they would come back. We filled a need in the community, and in return the community provided for our family.
When I was around forty, I took my first trip into the Soviet Union. I was there just after President Reagan made his historical trip in 1988 and glasnost was on the fast-track. During our visit we entered numerous shops and businesses - all owned by the state. Service with a smile? There was no sign of either service or a smile. When I walked into a shop, I was totally ignored. Every one was a slave of the state - there was no private ownership. The people owned everything communally (sic) and everyone had their task to do in this mega-community. In doing so, their every need was to be taken care of by the state, from cradle to grave (sic). Apparently, they didn't have many needs. If I ever had any notions about socialism before that time, they all vanished. The people were slaves with no sense of ownership and no sense of fulfillment. The only people we met who smiled and seemed to have some sense of fulfillment were the Christians we covertly made contact with. They served under the most extreme of circumstances - but they served with a smile.
This brings me to the next level of servanthood; every man is a servant of the most high God. Even the defiant serve God's purposes. Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. Those to whom Christ has been revealed, and who accept His truth, find great satisfaction and fulfillment in their service to Him. Serving is the purpose for which we were created. God has endowed each of us with certain gifts and abilities, and He endowed us that we might serve Him by serving others. Those who defy God's purposes still serve Him, but they never find satisfaction in their service. When we use our endowment to serve ourselves, we are out of sync with God's purposes, and there must be correction. The Teacher tells us that if we are but servants, mere words are not enough to correct us. We understand the words "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," but we don't respond. We understand the words "Love your neighbor as you love yourself," but we don't respond. Mere words are not enough to correct us. So . . . what did God do?
His best was done in Christ. He promoted us from servants to friends. He did this by revealing the Father's purposes to us (John 15:15). He promoted us from servants to sons. He did this by adopting us into the family (Romans 8:15, 16). We are no longer slaves to a system, we are sons of the owner. "Love your neighbor as yourself," is no longer a statement of mere words. It is the mission statement of our family business and our service is our investment into that business. As slaves, there is little to motivate us in our labors, we become lethargic shop-sitters waiting for our shift to end. As sons, we are to joyfully invest in His kingdom. By following our big brother's (Jesus'), example in serving our fellow man, we honor our Father as we see the expansion of His kingdom. God gave us a partnership in His kingdom through Christ. The benefits are eternal. What more motivation do we need?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
August 28
Aug 28 - Today from Proverbs 28 we look at verse 3
"A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops."
Did you ever hear of the term 'gully-washer'? It is a colloquialism for a hard driving rain that creates so much run-off that it erodes every little unprotected decline. It creates gullies where there were once even slopes. Perhaps not many of you were ever personally acquainted with agriculture - but a spring gully-washer could mean replanting an entire field. The eroding force of torrents of water could wash the seed right out of the planting furrows and pool them in low-lying areas where they did no good.
The audience of the teacher of this proverb was highly agrarian, and they knew precisely what the word picture meant. Wasted resources. A huge loss of potential. Extra labor if there was to be any crop at all. But how could that be compared to oppressing the poor? And how can we make application to our own lives? We are neither farmers (most), nor rulers?
Let's first discuss the thought of oppressing the poor. It speaks of injustice against those who lack resources or ability. As with most areas of sin, we immediately think of sins of commission. But there are also sins of omission - when we fail to do that which is right. Whether they are of commission or omission, sin has consequences. That's why God instructs us in the ways of righteousness - he does not want to see us suffering the consequences of sin. We can oppress the poor by doing nothing. What is the consequence of oppressing the poor? Wasted resources. A huge loss of potential. Extra work in the future. Before we look further at the consequence, let's look at the ruler.
A ruler is one who has dominion. They dominate a particular institution, or some level of the particular institution. A good ruler is to use his position and authority for the good of the institution over or in that which he rules. The goal is to see the entire institution become a healthy and productive organism. But, rulers can get heady and can tend to get distracted. (Or, perhaps they never had the proper commitment to the institution going in.) The first to suffer in these types of situations are those who lack resources or ability. While others quickly learn how the corrupted system works, and use it to their advantage, the poor suffer. Now, how do we equate this to a gully-washer?
A good leader is always to be in the process of discipling and mentoring other leaders. Organisms reproduce. Discipling is investing one's self into others to see them rise to their potential. Any institution that incorporates this practice from the top down will be a healthy and productive organism. No matter what level someone is at in the institution, there is always the potential for one to rise to their greatest potential if one is willing to learn from their mentors and use their abilities and opportunities to mentor others. According to Proverbs, the only ones who do not benefit even in these ideal situations are the simple, the fools, the mockers, and the sluggards. Everyone else is serving in an organism that is functioning to see each that person rises to his or her potential. For those who lack resources and opportunity, mentors who do have the resources and can provide opportunities do so. When this structure breaks down, and those in areas of authority begin to use the system for their own selfish gain and purposes, those at the bottom are the first to suffer. They have potential and ability, but that all gets 'washed out' through oppression. All of the resources and profits of the institution are now swallowed up by those who wield authority. In a matter of a few generations, the potential of those stuck at the bottom is greatly eroded. The poor become uneducated, untrained, and have learned to simply exist rather than to excel. It will take a lot of extra effort to 're-seed' this field. Great and powerful institutions - even nations and empires - have fallen because they did not learn the lesson of the gully-washer.
The church is in constant peril of becoming one of these institutions. If any institution in this world should be a living example of a healthy and productive organism, it should be the church. The pattern comes from the God of the Bible, and we are to be a people of His Word. The 'rulers' in the church structure are to be the primary mentors, serving as an example in training others how to serve and mentor. "It was he (Jesus), who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:11-13,16)
"Grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." There is nothing passive or automatic about becoming a mature church. Leaders are to be aggressive in equipping - that means leaders on every level. This principle is to be carried into every area of the believer's life. In the home, on the campuses, in the workplace, and certainly in the institution of the church. Being passive with such clear instruction is a sin of omission. There are consequences. Consequences that God would like us to avoid.
"A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops."
Did you ever hear of the term 'gully-washer'? It is a colloquialism for a hard driving rain that creates so much run-off that it erodes every little unprotected decline. It creates gullies where there were once even slopes. Perhaps not many of you were ever personally acquainted with agriculture - but a spring gully-washer could mean replanting an entire field. The eroding force of torrents of water could wash the seed right out of the planting furrows and pool them in low-lying areas where they did no good.
The audience of the teacher of this proverb was highly agrarian, and they knew precisely what the word picture meant. Wasted resources. A huge loss of potential. Extra labor if there was to be any crop at all. But how could that be compared to oppressing the poor? And how can we make application to our own lives? We are neither farmers (most), nor rulers?
Let's first discuss the thought of oppressing the poor. It speaks of injustice against those who lack resources or ability. As with most areas of sin, we immediately think of sins of commission. But there are also sins of omission - when we fail to do that which is right. Whether they are of commission or omission, sin has consequences. That's why God instructs us in the ways of righteousness - he does not want to see us suffering the consequences of sin. We can oppress the poor by doing nothing. What is the consequence of oppressing the poor? Wasted resources. A huge loss of potential. Extra work in the future. Before we look further at the consequence, let's look at the ruler.
A ruler is one who has dominion. They dominate a particular institution, or some level of the particular institution. A good ruler is to use his position and authority for the good of the institution over or in that which he rules. The goal is to see the entire institution become a healthy and productive organism. But, rulers can get heady and can tend to get distracted. (Or, perhaps they never had the proper commitment to the institution going in.) The first to suffer in these types of situations are those who lack resources or ability. While others quickly learn how the corrupted system works, and use it to their advantage, the poor suffer. Now, how do we equate this to a gully-washer?
A good leader is always to be in the process of discipling and mentoring other leaders. Organisms reproduce. Discipling is investing one's self into others to see them rise to their potential. Any institution that incorporates this practice from the top down will be a healthy and productive organism. No matter what level someone is at in the institution, there is always the potential for one to rise to their greatest potential if one is willing to learn from their mentors and use their abilities and opportunities to mentor others. According to Proverbs, the only ones who do not benefit even in these ideal situations are the simple, the fools, the mockers, and the sluggards. Everyone else is serving in an organism that is functioning to see each that person rises to his or her potential. For those who lack resources and opportunity, mentors who do have the resources and can provide opportunities do so. When this structure breaks down, and those in areas of authority begin to use the system for their own selfish gain and purposes, those at the bottom are the first to suffer. They have potential and ability, but that all gets 'washed out' through oppression. All of the resources and profits of the institution are now swallowed up by those who wield authority. In a matter of a few generations, the potential of those stuck at the bottom is greatly eroded. The poor become uneducated, untrained, and have learned to simply exist rather than to excel. It will take a lot of extra effort to 're-seed' this field. Great and powerful institutions - even nations and empires - have fallen because they did not learn the lesson of the gully-washer.
The church is in constant peril of becoming one of these institutions. If any institution in this world should be a living example of a healthy and productive organism, it should be the church. The pattern comes from the God of the Bible, and we are to be a people of His Word. The 'rulers' in the church structure are to be the primary mentors, serving as an example in training others how to serve and mentor. "It was he (Jesus), who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:11-13,16)
"Grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." There is nothing passive or automatic about becoming a mature church. Leaders are to be aggressive in equipping - that means leaders on every level. This principle is to be carried into every area of the believer's life. In the home, on the campuses, in the workplace, and certainly in the institution of the church. Being passive with such clear instruction is a sin of omission. There are consequences. Consequences that God would like us to avoid.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
August 27
Aug 27 - Today from Proverbs 27 we look at verses 5 and 6
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses."
This section of Proverbs (chapters 25-31), was assembled primarily for leaders and those who aspire to be leaders. Good leaders need honest evaluation, and those who befriend and influence leaders need to give it. These verses admonish leaders to carefully consider the sources of those who would bring counsel. They also admonish the trusted friends of leaders to act with integrity - in all circumstances.
In the days this proverb was written, it was very risky to rebuke a king. One could easily end up without a head. As a result, those close to the king and saw that there needed to be a correction in his conduct would often attempt to couch their rebuke in a manner which hopefully would preserve their life a little longer. Often, it would be no rebuke at all. Rebuke needs to be open if it is to be effective. There is a difference between an open rebuke and a public rebuke. The Teacher is not promoting public rebuke - a true friend would not use this except, depending on circumstances, as a last resort. Those who quickly resort to public rebuke are often seeking to form a power base from which they can override the king’s conduct with their own agenda. They quickly identify themselves as enemies of the king.
Open rebuke, however, requires finesse. The approach should always be as a friend with a servant attitude. There needs to be a trust factor deeply embedded in the friendship. This is the importance of developing integrity in relationships. No ulterior motives. No betrayal on even the smallest levels. Placing their interests in the relationship above one’s own. Protecting the relationship even at a cost to one’s self. When these are practiced on a long-term basis, there emerges a strong relationship built on trust. It takes time, but it is worth it. A person may have many acquaintances in life - but a true friend is a rare treasure.
When a true friend approaches you with an open rebuke, you should trust that he or she has carefully thought the issue through and comes with your best interests at heart. Even when it is wounding. Most often the only thing that is wounded is pride - and that is the obstacle the Teacher is attempting to identify and overcome. All too often the recipient of the rebuke no longer sees the trusted friend as a friend. Instead, they relegate the bearer of the open rebuke to the camp of the enemy. This is sad, because they have lost a very valuable asset. Not only have they lost a trusted friend, but they lost a great objective source of critique which would have helped them in conducting their affairs. Pride has imprisoned a friend in the camp of the enemy.
True friends are not the ones who always agree with you, flatter you, and encourage you in your conduct. They may multiply kisses, but they are no asset to your leadership. Anything that is a liability to the productivity of your authority is an enemy. In reality, the person may not be an enemy, but the value of the person's contribution is. I have some shocking news for you: You are not perfect. You have flaws and weaknesses. You make mistakes. You need critique and rebuke just like all of us. Don't allow your pride to imprison or alienate your true friends. Yes, they may be wrong - but not in every instance. Trust that they have your best interests at heart. Work through their point of view. If you cannot own it, work through it with them. Value their friendship more than your wounded pride. You will come out way ahead.
A closing thought. Jesus says to us in John 15:15, "I no longer call you servants . . . Instead, I have called you friends." Jesus is our most trusted Friend. He has perfect integrity. He has no ulterior motives for us. He has never betrayed us on even the smallest level. He places our interests in the relationship above His own. He protected our relationship even at a great cost to Himself - His life! We can trust that when He rebukes us, it is for our very best interests. Let us not alienate Him with our pride.
"What a Friend we have in Jesus." Amen.
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses."
This section of Proverbs (chapters 25-31), was assembled primarily for leaders and those who aspire to be leaders. Good leaders need honest evaluation, and those who befriend and influence leaders need to give it. These verses admonish leaders to carefully consider the sources of those who would bring counsel. They also admonish the trusted friends of leaders to act with integrity - in all circumstances.
In the days this proverb was written, it was very risky to rebuke a king. One could easily end up without a head. As a result, those close to the king and saw that there needed to be a correction in his conduct would often attempt to couch their rebuke in a manner which hopefully would preserve their life a little longer. Often, it would be no rebuke at all. Rebuke needs to be open if it is to be effective. There is a difference between an open rebuke and a public rebuke. The Teacher is not promoting public rebuke - a true friend would not use this except, depending on circumstances, as a last resort. Those who quickly resort to public rebuke are often seeking to form a power base from which they can override the king’s conduct with their own agenda. They quickly identify themselves as enemies of the king.
Open rebuke, however, requires finesse. The approach should always be as a friend with a servant attitude. There needs to be a trust factor deeply embedded in the friendship. This is the importance of developing integrity in relationships. No ulterior motives. No betrayal on even the smallest levels. Placing their interests in the relationship above one’s own. Protecting the relationship even at a cost to one’s self. When these are practiced on a long-term basis, there emerges a strong relationship built on trust. It takes time, but it is worth it. A person may have many acquaintances in life - but a true friend is a rare treasure.
When a true friend approaches you with an open rebuke, you should trust that he or she has carefully thought the issue through and comes with your best interests at heart. Even when it is wounding. Most often the only thing that is wounded is pride - and that is the obstacle the Teacher is attempting to identify and overcome. All too often the recipient of the rebuke no longer sees the trusted friend as a friend. Instead, they relegate the bearer of the open rebuke to the camp of the enemy. This is sad, because they have lost a very valuable asset. Not only have they lost a trusted friend, but they lost a great objective source of critique which would have helped them in conducting their affairs. Pride has imprisoned a friend in the camp of the enemy.
True friends are not the ones who always agree with you, flatter you, and encourage you in your conduct. They may multiply kisses, but they are no asset to your leadership. Anything that is a liability to the productivity of your authority is an enemy. In reality, the person may not be an enemy, but the value of the person's contribution is. I have some shocking news for you: You are not perfect. You have flaws and weaknesses. You make mistakes. You need critique and rebuke just like all of us. Don't allow your pride to imprison or alienate your true friends. Yes, they may be wrong - but not in every instance. Trust that they have your best interests at heart. Work through their point of view. If you cannot own it, work through it with them. Value their friendship more than your wounded pride. You will come out way ahead.
A closing thought. Jesus says to us in John 15:15, "I no longer call you servants . . . Instead, I have called you friends." Jesus is our most trusted Friend. He has perfect integrity. He has no ulterior motives for us. He has never betrayed us on even the smallest level. He places our interests in the relationship above His own. He protected our relationship even at a great cost to Himself - His life! We can trust that when He rebukes us, it is for our very best interests. Let us not alienate Him with our pride.
"What a Friend we have in Jesus." Amen.
Monday, August 25, 2008
August 26
Aug 26 - Today from Proverbs 26 we look at verse 9
"Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool."
Consuming large amounts of alcohol acts as an anesthetic. Strangely enough, that is often the appeal of getting drunk. Rather than confronting and processing through the pains of life, people dull the pain through substance abuse.
Actually, pain is often a gift. It tells us that something is wrong, and that we need to take corrective action before serious damage occurs. When we place our hand on a hot object, pain tells us to pull back before we suffer serious burns. When we have a toothache, pain tells us to see a dentist before we lose the tooth. When we wander into a thornbush, pain tells us to correct our course before we puncture our skin and make ourselves susceptible to infections. When you think about it, without pain we would all probably die young.
Foolishness is the anesthetic of the soul. A Proverb is a short concise statement that conveys a moral truth. Morals are standards of good behavior, measured by the purposes of God. Fools serve themselves, not God. A proverb is meant to prick one's moral conscience in order to correct one's improper direction in life the way God meant it to be. If the subject is spiritually sensitive, he responds to God's correction and avoids the more serious consequences. This is wisdom. If one is anesthetized by self-serving ways, drunk in the pursuit of the pleasures of this world, he will never feel the prick of moral correction. He is unable to determine where the thorn touches his own life and will eventually suffer certain consequences. This is foolishness.
The thorny points of correction in God's Word are for my personal benefit. God loves and cares enough for me to place the thornbushes along the path of Life. My responsibility is to be a student of His Word. When I encounter a prick of conscience, I can make proper corrections and continue on without serious consequence. But, it is also important to note that God did not place the thorny bushes of moral correction for me to take hold of and brandish against my neighbor. In doing this, I would be the first to suffer, and more than likely I would drive my neighbor away. God gave us something different for dealing with our neighbor. Its called grace. Jesus is to be our constant example. Let me ask you; Did Jesus first approach you brandishing a thornbush, or offering grace? Be careful with what you choose to come at your neighbor with.
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." -Jesus- Luke 6:36
"Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool."
Consuming large amounts of alcohol acts as an anesthetic. Strangely enough, that is often the appeal of getting drunk. Rather than confronting and processing through the pains of life, people dull the pain through substance abuse.
Actually, pain is often a gift. It tells us that something is wrong, and that we need to take corrective action before serious damage occurs. When we place our hand on a hot object, pain tells us to pull back before we suffer serious burns. When we have a toothache, pain tells us to see a dentist before we lose the tooth. When we wander into a thornbush, pain tells us to correct our course before we puncture our skin and make ourselves susceptible to infections. When you think about it, without pain we would all probably die young.
Foolishness is the anesthetic of the soul. A Proverb is a short concise statement that conveys a moral truth. Morals are standards of good behavior, measured by the purposes of God. Fools serve themselves, not God. A proverb is meant to prick one's moral conscience in order to correct one's improper direction in life the way God meant it to be. If the subject is spiritually sensitive, he responds to God's correction and avoids the more serious consequences. This is wisdom. If one is anesthetized by self-serving ways, drunk in the pursuit of the pleasures of this world, he will never feel the prick of moral correction. He is unable to determine where the thorn touches his own life and will eventually suffer certain consequences. This is foolishness.
The thorny points of correction in God's Word are for my personal benefit. God loves and cares enough for me to place the thornbushes along the path of Life. My responsibility is to be a student of His Word. When I encounter a prick of conscience, I can make proper corrections and continue on without serious consequence. But, it is also important to note that God did not place the thorny bushes of moral correction for me to take hold of and brandish against my neighbor. In doing this, I would be the first to suffer, and more than likely I would drive my neighbor away. God gave us something different for dealing with our neighbor. Its called grace. Jesus is to be our constant example. Let me ask you; Did Jesus first approach you brandishing a thornbush, or offering grace? Be careful with what you choose to come at your neighbor with.
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." -Jesus- Luke 6:36
Sunday, August 24, 2008
August 25
Aug 25 - Today from Proverbs 25 we look at verses 6 & 7
"Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among great men; it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman."
Jesus practically quotes this proverb in Luke 14:7-11. It is a solid Kingdom Principle. Why? Because it takes us back to God's original purpose for man; To worship God and to serve your fellow man in the presence of His grace. To worship God is to love God with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind. To serve your fellow man is to love him as you love yourself. Jesus says that on these two principles alone hang all of the law and the prophets. You can't get much more basic than that.
Self-exaltation is seated in pride. Selfish ambition is directly opposed to God's purposes. I think we have corrupted our values by promoting 'self-esteem' without framing it in Godly virtue; 'self-assurance' without framing it in humility; and 'self-madeness' without expressing gratitude toward the One who gifts and equips. When this happens on a large scale, we are confronted with a generation that shows little respect or regard for others.
True humility is a virtue, and it stems from the understanding that we are created by a loving God and are the constant objects of His love. He loves me (almost incomprehensible!), and He loves my fellow man. God is no respecter of men. How can I possibly claim anything except for the fact that God loves me unconditionally?
It is unnatural for anyone to promote themselves. When I served in the army, a Corporal could not go to the Brigadier General and say, "I did a pretty heroic thing today, so I just want to inform you that I am promoting myself to Sergeant. Would you please inform the brigade clerk and the paymaster?" Sounds pretty foreign to our common sense, doesn't it? Let's dig a little deeper into our example. Let's say the only reason the Corporal performed the heroic act was so that he could promote himself, and he had little or no regard for his fellow soldier. Do you think he would deserve the promotion he risked his life for? Would you serve under the authority of a Sergeant whose only motives were to continually promote himself? He may have acted like a hero, but when a subordinate placed under his command carefully looks at his values and motives, the subordinate would be one nervous and wary soldier.
Now, as a contrast, let's look at a Corporal who received a field commission to Sergeant for the right values and motives. He was out there to serve and to protect his fellow soldier. He risked his own life to save the lives of his comrades. He had no thought of promotion, only of being the best soldier as he knew how. His platoon leader saw the passion and excellence of this soldier and radioed the report to the Battalion Commander. Soon the Battalion Commander flew in by helicopter, and in a brief ceremony he promoted the Corporal to Sergeant. If you were a subordinate in that company, would you mind serving under the command of this new Sergeant? I would fight to serve under such a man. Those around him objectively evaluated his values and motives, and he was not only promoted in rank by his superior, but he was promoted in the hearts of his fellow soldiers as well.
God weighs the motives of our hearts (Prov. 16:2). One day men will say, "Lord, Lord, didn't we do great and heroic things in your name?" And He will reply, "Depart from me you self-promoting evil-doers. You will get no promotion from me, I never knew you." (Paraphrased from Matthew 7:22, 23). Those who thought they were gaining God's respect by piling up a list of heroic acts never humbled themselves and developed a servant’s heart. God promotes the humble; those who value the lives of their fellow man; those who serve because they realize how greatly and compassionately their Master serves them. They were never even looking for a promotion, they were only seeking to worship God and to serve their fellow man in the presence of His grace.
"Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among great men; it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman."
Jesus practically quotes this proverb in Luke 14:7-11. It is a solid Kingdom Principle. Why? Because it takes us back to God's original purpose for man; To worship God and to serve your fellow man in the presence of His grace. To worship God is to love God with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind. To serve your fellow man is to love him as you love yourself. Jesus says that on these two principles alone hang all of the law and the prophets. You can't get much more basic than that.
Self-exaltation is seated in pride. Selfish ambition is directly opposed to God's purposes. I think we have corrupted our values by promoting 'self-esteem' without framing it in Godly virtue; 'self-assurance' without framing it in humility; and 'self-madeness' without expressing gratitude toward the One who gifts and equips. When this happens on a large scale, we are confronted with a generation that shows little respect or regard for others.
True humility is a virtue, and it stems from the understanding that we are created by a loving God and are the constant objects of His love. He loves me (almost incomprehensible!), and He loves my fellow man. God is no respecter of men. How can I possibly claim anything except for the fact that God loves me unconditionally?
It is unnatural for anyone to promote themselves. When I served in the army, a Corporal could not go to the Brigadier General and say, "I did a pretty heroic thing today, so I just want to inform you that I am promoting myself to Sergeant. Would you please inform the brigade clerk and the paymaster?" Sounds pretty foreign to our common sense, doesn't it? Let's dig a little deeper into our example. Let's say the only reason the Corporal performed the heroic act was so that he could promote himself, and he had little or no regard for his fellow soldier. Do you think he would deserve the promotion he risked his life for? Would you serve under the authority of a Sergeant whose only motives were to continually promote himself? He may have acted like a hero, but when a subordinate placed under his command carefully looks at his values and motives, the subordinate would be one nervous and wary soldier.
Now, as a contrast, let's look at a Corporal who received a field commission to Sergeant for the right values and motives. He was out there to serve and to protect his fellow soldier. He risked his own life to save the lives of his comrades. He had no thought of promotion, only of being the best soldier as he knew how. His platoon leader saw the passion and excellence of this soldier and radioed the report to the Battalion Commander. Soon the Battalion Commander flew in by helicopter, and in a brief ceremony he promoted the Corporal to Sergeant. If you were a subordinate in that company, would you mind serving under the command of this new Sergeant? I would fight to serve under such a man. Those around him objectively evaluated his values and motives, and he was not only promoted in rank by his superior, but he was promoted in the hearts of his fellow soldiers as well.
God weighs the motives of our hearts (Prov. 16:2). One day men will say, "Lord, Lord, didn't we do great and heroic things in your name?" And He will reply, "Depart from me you self-promoting evil-doers. You will get no promotion from me, I never knew you." (Paraphrased from Matthew 7:22, 23). Those who thought they were gaining God's respect by piling up a list of heroic acts never humbled themselves and developed a servant’s heart. God promotes the humble; those who value the lives of their fellow man; those who serve because they realize how greatly and compassionately their Master serves them. They were never even looking for a promotion, they were only seeking to worship God and to serve their fellow man in the presence of His grace.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
August 24
Aug 24 - Today from Proverbs 24 we look at verses 3 & 4
"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."
This thought stands in direct contrast to the first two verses of the chapter which warn not to envy wicked men. Why would anyone envy wicked men? Because it often appears that the wicked men enjoy the pleasures of life with little or no consequence. Asaph was a gifted leader of one of Israel's temple choirs (1 Chron. 25:1). He was almost caught up in this short-sighted dilemma until God pulled Him back for a more panoramic view of life. As a result, Asaph wrote Psalm 73. It is good for us to read this Psalm periodically. It is full of wisdom and understanding.
The 'house' in today's proverb is allegorical. When people visit your literal house, they can tell a lot about you. They can discern your tastes and interests, your skills and abilities, your values, and many other things. It is a very good source of information about your life. Wouldn't it be interesting to visit your house through various stages of life? Think about the house you grew up in. From it you developed many of your own abilities and values. How about the house you moved into when you moved out of that house? Perhaps it was your first apartment - or a college dorm. Typically, it was probably radically different than the house you left. Perhaps you were making statements about your independence, and your peer generation had a lot of influence. If you're married, think about that first house after marrying. Compromises had to be made - now there were two influences in the house. Children bring even more influence. As you matured, your tastes probably became more practical. It now looked nothing like that first apartment or dorm you lived in. When the kids finally moved out you and your mate got things comfortable, just the way you like them. Your house was finally established. It's not going to change much any more as far as tastes and interests go. It's the place where you go to be yourself.
How you build your life is much the same. Lots of things will be brought in, and lots of things moved out. What remains to stay in is very important, and will determine your destiny. As you develop life, you discover interests, skills and abilities. Wisdom teaches you how those interests, skills and abilities are to be used for God's greater purposes for your life. As you develop life, you develop values. Wisdom places values in God's order. Morals and virtue become some of the beautiful treasures that begin to 'fill your rooms' and adorn your life. As you mature in wisdom, you begin to discover that the quality of life does not exist in the pleasures of this world, but in living in harmony with the Giver of Life. Now your house is being established. Establish is a great word. It means to settle in a secure place or condition. The Hebrew word for established in this verse literally mean to stand perpendicular. When something is standing perfectly perpendicular to the surface on which it is built, you can build it as high as you want and it will never topple. One will never become established by building their lives with the things of this world. When you bring something into your life that causes it to lean and sway - that is something that you need to move out. You may find pleasure in it. You may be the envy of your peers. You may think it adds great value to your image. But it will never serve to get your life established.
If you really want to settle in a secure place, build with wisdom. Wisdom is understanding life the way God meant it to be.
"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."
This thought stands in direct contrast to the first two verses of the chapter which warn not to envy wicked men. Why would anyone envy wicked men? Because it often appears that the wicked men enjoy the pleasures of life with little or no consequence. Asaph was a gifted leader of one of Israel's temple choirs (1 Chron. 25:1). He was almost caught up in this short-sighted dilemma until God pulled Him back for a more panoramic view of life. As a result, Asaph wrote Psalm 73. It is good for us to read this Psalm periodically. It is full of wisdom and understanding.
The 'house' in today's proverb is allegorical. When people visit your literal house, they can tell a lot about you. They can discern your tastes and interests, your skills and abilities, your values, and many other things. It is a very good source of information about your life. Wouldn't it be interesting to visit your house through various stages of life? Think about the house you grew up in. From it you developed many of your own abilities and values. How about the house you moved into when you moved out of that house? Perhaps it was your first apartment - or a college dorm. Typically, it was probably radically different than the house you left. Perhaps you were making statements about your independence, and your peer generation had a lot of influence. If you're married, think about that first house after marrying. Compromises had to be made - now there were two influences in the house. Children bring even more influence. As you matured, your tastes probably became more practical. It now looked nothing like that first apartment or dorm you lived in. When the kids finally moved out you and your mate got things comfortable, just the way you like them. Your house was finally established. It's not going to change much any more as far as tastes and interests go. It's the place where you go to be yourself.
How you build your life is much the same. Lots of things will be brought in, and lots of things moved out. What remains to stay in is very important, and will determine your destiny. As you develop life, you discover interests, skills and abilities. Wisdom teaches you how those interests, skills and abilities are to be used for God's greater purposes for your life. As you develop life, you develop values. Wisdom places values in God's order. Morals and virtue become some of the beautiful treasures that begin to 'fill your rooms' and adorn your life. As you mature in wisdom, you begin to discover that the quality of life does not exist in the pleasures of this world, but in living in harmony with the Giver of Life. Now your house is being established. Establish is a great word. It means to settle in a secure place or condition. The Hebrew word for established in this verse literally mean to stand perpendicular. When something is standing perfectly perpendicular to the surface on which it is built, you can build it as high as you want and it will never topple. One will never become established by building their lives with the things of this world. When you bring something into your life that causes it to lean and sway - that is something that you need to move out. You may find pleasure in it. You may be the envy of your peers. You may think it adds great value to your image. But it will never serve to get your life established.
If you really want to settle in a secure place, build with wisdom. Wisdom is understanding life the way God meant it to be.
August 23
Aug 23 - Today from Proverbs 23 we look at verses 29 & 30
"Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine."
The key to all wisdom is to understand God's purposes. He created man to live in a trust relationship with Himself, and with one another. Mankind was to be a harmonious servant-community living in the splendor of the abundant grace of God. Sin entered into the picture and corrupted it. Man became self-serving rather than serving God and serving his fellow man. This is the basis of the world system, and of all false religion.
Today we look at a warning - not to abstain from wine - but against self-indulgence in partaking of wine. To partake in alcoholic beverage as an end to itself is sin. Those who can apply self-control with alcohol have liberty to do so. Those who have problems with self-control in this area should refrain. Christianity is not a list of do's and don'ts - it is living in a right relationship with God and serving one's fellow man. If alcoholic consumption gets in the way of either of these, it becomes self-serving. If you carefully look at the questions posed in verse 29, you will see that each symptom listed is self-inflicted. The irony of the self-serving life is that it is also self-destructive. That is the nature of sin.
Adam and Eve were seduced by the great lie, "You will be like God," (Gen. 3:5), by Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44). It is this lie that continues to pervert God's purposes and perpetuate death in the world today. Man is determined to be his own god. This is off the subject of alcohol a bit, but certainly frames the topic quite well. Recently at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the satanic student organization Obsidian Enlightenment (OE), invited world-renowned Satanist Gavin Baddeley to speak at a rally. Almost 200 students attended. Baddeley's presentation "Heaven for the Climate, Hell for the Company" was intended to answer the question, "What is the attraction of evil and why is it so appealing to us?" Following the engagement there was an interview with the event organizer and OE treasurer, Nathan Wardinski. The following is a direct quote from Wardinski's interview;
"Satanism is inherently misunderstood, I think. One of the major...challenges that this brand of Satanism espouses is that Satan, or the devil, is not a physical or spiritual being. Satan is a metaphor for the belief system in Satanism. The belief is that God or religion is whatever is most important in your life, and if we are honest, the most important thing in our lives is ourselves. Satanism becomes a religion of the self. It focuses on the fulfillment of the person's ego and...desires and not being ashamed of who you are."
The lie lives on. Self-serving ways are self-destructive ways, and in the end they bring only misery and death. Jesus brings life. He says in Luke 11:23, "He who is not with me is against me." There is no neutral territory in the spirit. You cannot serve self and find life. Only those who are with Jesus can understand that life is a pleasure. Without Jesus, people continue to live in the shadow of the lie that pleasure is life. It isn't. Self-serving pleasure is no more than a fleeting vapor, there is no substance to it. Self-indulgence in alcohol or any other substance is a killer. Sooner or later it will take its toll. Life is found only in Jesus Christ.
"Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine."
The key to all wisdom is to understand God's purposes. He created man to live in a trust relationship with Himself, and with one another. Mankind was to be a harmonious servant-community living in the splendor of the abundant grace of God. Sin entered into the picture and corrupted it. Man became self-serving rather than serving God and serving his fellow man. This is the basis of the world system, and of all false religion.
Today we look at a warning - not to abstain from wine - but against self-indulgence in partaking of wine. To partake in alcoholic beverage as an end to itself is sin. Those who can apply self-control with alcohol have liberty to do so. Those who have problems with self-control in this area should refrain. Christianity is not a list of do's and don'ts - it is living in a right relationship with God and serving one's fellow man. If alcoholic consumption gets in the way of either of these, it becomes self-serving. If you carefully look at the questions posed in verse 29, you will see that each symptom listed is self-inflicted. The irony of the self-serving life is that it is also self-destructive. That is the nature of sin.
Adam and Eve were seduced by the great lie, "You will be like God," (Gen. 3:5), by Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44). It is this lie that continues to pervert God's purposes and perpetuate death in the world today. Man is determined to be his own god. This is off the subject of alcohol a bit, but certainly frames the topic quite well. Recently at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the satanic student organization Obsidian Enlightenment (OE), invited world-renowned Satanist Gavin Baddeley to speak at a rally. Almost 200 students attended. Baddeley's presentation "Heaven for the Climate, Hell for the Company" was intended to answer the question, "What is the attraction of evil and why is it so appealing to us?" Following the engagement there was an interview with the event organizer and OE treasurer, Nathan Wardinski. The following is a direct quote from Wardinski's interview;
"Satanism is inherently misunderstood, I think. One of the major...challenges that this brand of Satanism espouses is that Satan, or the devil, is not a physical or spiritual being. Satan is a metaphor for the belief system in Satanism. The belief is that God or religion is whatever is most important in your life, and if we are honest, the most important thing in our lives is ourselves. Satanism becomes a religion of the self. It focuses on the fulfillment of the person's ego and...desires and not being ashamed of who you are."
The lie lives on. Self-serving ways are self-destructive ways, and in the end they bring only misery and death. Jesus brings life. He says in Luke 11:23, "He who is not with me is against me." There is no neutral territory in the spirit. You cannot serve self and find life. Only those who are with Jesus can understand that life is a pleasure. Without Jesus, people continue to live in the shadow of the lie that pleasure is life. It isn't. Self-serving pleasure is no more than a fleeting vapor, there is no substance to it. Self-indulgence in alcohol or any other substance is a killer. Sooner or later it will take its toll. Life is found only in Jesus Christ.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
August 22
Aug 22 - Today from Proverbs 22 we look at verse 28
"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers."
Property is extremely personal. It provides for personal needs and it requires personal responsibility. It often becomes part of a person's identity. I don't know what things are like on the campus today, but when I was in high school in the sixties there was hardly a day went by without hearing a conversation along this line:
"Hey, did you hear what happened to Jerry Berry?"
"I'm not sure I know who he is. What does he drive?"
"He's got that red and white '55 Chevy with the baby moon hub caps."
"Oh yeah . . . so, what happened to him?"
Our car was our first real piece of property in those days. It provided for our personal needs (our biggest being independence!); it required personal responsibility (some one always had their head under a hood, and we would actually look for change in the couch in order to put enough gas in it for the weekend); and it provided a clear source of identity (even if it wasn't a 'cherry', everyone tried to make theirs unique). Yep, property is extremely personal.
When you encroach upon other people's property, you are committing a personal violation. To take Jerry Berry's baby moon hub caps would be ‘to steal a part of his soul’ (sic). But we seldom think of encroachment as stealing. Encroachment is more gradual and requires the art of stealth. The perpetrator takes little pieces that are almost indiscernible. It's moving the boundaries in small increments over a long period. When Israel's promised land was divided amongst the tribes and families, they placed huge stones to mark the boundaries. God forbade any to move the boundary stones (Deut. 19:14). The family's land was vital to their well being and became a source of their identity. To move a stone even a little, even if it were undetected, even if the family weren't to miss it, it was stealing.
Boundaries are the place to stop. The other side of the boundary is out of our area of liberty to satisfy our needs. Not all boundaries are physical. There are moral boundaries. We can become experts at moving the moral boundary stones ever so slightly so as to give ourselves a little more room to serve self. We move them in very small increments over long periods and eventually find ourselves suffering the same consequences as if we had taken a giant leap into a morally corrupted cesspool - and we often wonder why. The answer is, because stealthy encroachment is just as deadly as blatant stealing.
Our forefathers set very clear moral boundary stones, based on the Judeo-Christian ethic, when they founded our nation. Our post-modern culture has been slowly and meticulously moving those stones over a period of decades now. We gradually creep with them until we find ourselves in areas we wouldn't have dreamed of being in only a generation ago. We tend to joke about the rigidity of our parents and grandparents, and how much more enlightened we are today. But are we really? Or is it that we have simply been deceived into following the subtle boundary movements caused by unscrupulous men who have taken the initiative to move the invisible boundary stones?
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3 that in the last days it will be very difficult to be a true follower of Christ. Difficult, but not impossible. In the last days the church will not be the epitome of prosperity and wealth, making the world jealous and longing to know the God who made us that way. Paul says in verses 12 and 13, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." This is not a voice of doom and gloom. It is a warning - a wake up call - not to be lured to cross the now less discernable boundaries set by our forefathers. The 'new' boundaries are a lie, set by evil men and impostors. There is no better place to be living than within the boundaries of the grace of God - and His grace is sufficient for all things. His grace provides for our personal needs. His grace requires our personal responsibility. His grace becomes a crucial part of our identity. His grace is in Christ Jesus.
"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers."
Property is extremely personal. It provides for personal needs and it requires personal responsibility. It often becomes part of a person's identity. I don't know what things are like on the campus today, but when I was in high school in the sixties there was hardly a day went by without hearing a conversation along this line:
"Hey, did you hear what happened to Jerry Berry?"
"I'm not sure I know who he is. What does he drive?"
"He's got that red and white '55 Chevy with the baby moon hub caps."
"Oh yeah . . . so, what happened to him?"
Our car was our first real piece of property in those days. It provided for our personal needs (our biggest being independence!); it required personal responsibility (some one always had their head under a hood, and we would actually look for change in the couch in order to put enough gas in it for the weekend); and it provided a clear source of identity (even if it wasn't a 'cherry', everyone tried to make theirs unique). Yep, property is extremely personal.
When you encroach upon other people's property, you are committing a personal violation. To take Jerry Berry's baby moon hub caps would be ‘to steal a part of his soul’ (sic). But we seldom think of encroachment as stealing. Encroachment is more gradual and requires the art of stealth. The perpetrator takes little pieces that are almost indiscernible. It's moving the boundaries in small increments over a long period. When Israel's promised land was divided amongst the tribes and families, they placed huge stones to mark the boundaries. God forbade any to move the boundary stones (Deut. 19:14). The family's land was vital to their well being and became a source of their identity. To move a stone even a little, even if it were undetected, even if the family weren't to miss it, it was stealing.
Boundaries are the place to stop. The other side of the boundary is out of our area of liberty to satisfy our needs. Not all boundaries are physical. There are moral boundaries. We can become experts at moving the moral boundary stones ever so slightly so as to give ourselves a little more room to serve self. We move them in very small increments over long periods and eventually find ourselves suffering the same consequences as if we had taken a giant leap into a morally corrupted cesspool - and we often wonder why. The answer is, because stealthy encroachment is just as deadly as blatant stealing.
Our forefathers set very clear moral boundary stones, based on the Judeo-Christian ethic, when they founded our nation. Our post-modern culture has been slowly and meticulously moving those stones over a period of decades now. We gradually creep with them until we find ourselves in areas we wouldn't have dreamed of being in only a generation ago. We tend to joke about the rigidity of our parents and grandparents, and how much more enlightened we are today. But are we really? Or is it that we have simply been deceived into following the subtle boundary movements caused by unscrupulous men who have taken the initiative to move the invisible boundary stones?
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3 that in the last days it will be very difficult to be a true follower of Christ. Difficult, but not impossible. In the last days the church will not be the epitome of prosperity and wealth, making the world jealous and longing to know the God who made us that way. Paul says in verses 12 and 13, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." This is not a voice of doom and gloom. It is a warning - a wake up call - not to be lured to cross the now less discernable boundaries set by our forefathers. The 'new' boundaries are a lie, set by evil men and impostors. There is no better place to be living than within the boundaries of the grace of God - and His grace is sufficient for all things. His grace provides for our personal needs. His grace requires our personal responsibility. His grace becomes a crucial part of our identity. His grace is in Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
August 21
Aug 21 - Today from Proverbs 21 we look at verse 30
"There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord."
As I think about this profound and immutable truth, I think it would be safe to say that every true believer would quickly nod their head in agreement with it. It's a peculiar thing about a nod; it's like a courteous affirmation about something so obvious that it doesn't really merit deeper thought or discussion. It's like saying "Yep, I agree. Let's move on to something else now." That is the difference between reading the Bible and meditating on God's Word. Reading is valuable in gathering the historical record of God's dealings with mankind. It is valuable in giving form to our moral thinking. But reading is never enough if we are to seriously mature in our understanding of God's ways. In order to allow God's Word to nurture our very souls and to add depth and dimension to our convictions, we must meditate on it. Such is the case with the profound and obvious truth before us today. It is so worth meditating upon.
We do well to do more than nod in affirmation of this truth. We should cast it in a mould and hang it on the walls of our home and office. We should print it on a card and carry it in our pockets and wallets. We should write it on the tablet of our heart and keep it at the forefront of our thinking, speaking and doing. Why? Because every time we have a propensity to sin, we are somehow believing we can find a loophole in this immutable truth - and we become self-deceived. "Preposterous!" you say? Think about it.
If we are to be serious students of God's Word, it would mean that we desire a deeper understanding of God's ways and we would always approach Him with an open and teachable heart. Right? It would mean that we are ready to cast aside our own understanding of things and be willing to embrace and put into practice the things He reveals to us. Right? I can think of no better clarification for the role of a true disciple. Paul writes in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world (system), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Isn't that a good definition of what we have just agreed to? So, if there is no wisdom, insight or plan that can succeed against the moral and spiritual laws, and the sovereign eternal rule of the Lord, then why do we still tend to behave as though we have discovered some unknown little loophole? I'll tell you why. Because we allow our feelings and emotions to intertwine with what at times appears on the surface to be the "cold, hard truth" of God's Word. Because we refuse to let go of some of the patterns of this world system and we intersperse them with our limited knowledge of the moral and spiritual principles of God's kingdom. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we have developed a hybrid moral stance that will stand in the test of eternity. The problem with such thinking is that it is not a hybrid, it is contaminated truth - which means it is no longer truth at all. It will not stand. It will not succeed against the pure and eternal truths and ways of the Lord. It will burn. It will be responsible for loss. When we stand before our Lord on that day, all of what we fabricated to be hybrid principles of God's kingdom will disappear and the only thing we will have left is the fruit of what we built using the pure principles revealed in His Word. You can read about that day in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. It is so worth meditating on God's Word.
When I came to truly know the Lord Jesus at the tender age of thirty, I knew there was only one place where I could grow to understand His ways - the Bible. I didn't know it then, but His Holy Spirit led me to adopt and commit to the concept of Romans 12:2. There were bumps in the road. There were wrong turns. There were some stalls in the process. But that's exactly what it is - a process. I am still committed to the wonderful truth of psalm 119:105, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." I am still processing life. I am still a disciple. If anyone ever wants to convince me that they have a truth that I need to walk by, they had better have sound Biblical structure to their presentation or argument. I am not a big fan of hybrid doctrine. I want to build my life on solid ground. I want to finish the race. It isn't a matter of coming in at first place; it is a matter of coming in on the right path.
"There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord."
As I think about this profound and immutable truth, I think it would be safe to say that every true believer would quickly nod their head in agreement with it. It's a peculiar thing about a nod; it's like a courteous affirmation about something so obvious that it doesn't really merit deeper thought or discussion. It's like saying "Yep, I agree. Let's move on to something else now." That is the difference between reading the Bible and meditating on God's Word. Reading is valuable in gathering the historical record of God's dealings with mankind. It is valuable in giving form to our moral thinking. But reading is never enough if we are to seriously mature in our understanding of God's ways. In order to allow God's Word to nurture our very souls and to add depth and dimension to our convictions, we must meditate on it. Such is the case with the profound and obvious truth before us today. It is so worth meditating upon.
We do well to do more than nod in affirmation of this truth. We should cast it in a mould and hang it on the walls of our home and office. We should print it on a card and carry it in our pockets and wallets. We should write it on the tablet of our heart and keep it at the forefront of our thinking, speaking and doing. Why? Because every time we have a propensity to sin, we are somehow believing we can find a loophole in this immutable truth - and we become self-deceived. "Preposterous!" you say? Think about it.
If we are to be serious students of God's Word, it would mean that we desire a deeper understanding of God's ways and we would always approach Him with an open and teachable heart. Right? It would mean that we are ready to cast aside our own understanding of things and be willing to embrace and put into practice the things He reveals to us. Right? I can think of no better clarification for the role of a true disciple. Paul writes in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world (system), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Isn't that a good definition of what we have just agreed to? So, if there is no wisdom, insight or plan that can succeed against the moral and spiritual laws, and the sovereign eternal rule of the Lord, then why do we still tend to behave as though we have discovered some unknown little loophole? I'll tell you why. Because we allow our feelings and emotions to intertwine with what at times appears on the surface to be the "cold, hard truth" of God's Word. Because we refuse to let go of some of the patterns of this world system and we intersperse them with our limited knowledge of the moral and spiritual principles of God's kingdom. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we have developed a hybrid moral stance that will stand in the test of eternity. The problem with such thinking is that it is not a hybrid, it is contaminated truth - which means it is no longer truth at all. It will not stand. It will not succeed against the pure and eternal truths and ways of the Lord. It will burn. It will be responsible for loss. When we stand before our Lord on that day, all of what we fabricated to be hybrid principles of God's kingdom will disappear and the only thing we will have left is the fruit of what we built using the pure principles revealed in His Word. You can read about that day in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. It is so worth meditating on God's Word.
When I came to truly know the Lord Jesus at the tender age of thirty, I knew there was only one place where I could grow to understand His ways - the Bible. I didn't know it then, but His Holy Spirit led me to adopt and commit to the concept of Romans 12:2. There were bumps in the road. There were wrong turns. There were some stalls in the process. But that's exactly what it is - a process. I am still committed to the wonderful truth of psalm 119:105, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." I am still processing life. I am still a disciple. If anyone ever wants to convince me that they have a truth that I need to walk by, they had better have sound Biblical structure to their presentation or argument. I am not a big fan of hybrid doctrine. I want to build my life on solid ground. I want to finish the race. It isn't a matter of coming in at first place; it is a matter of coming in on the right path.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
August 20
Aug 20 - Today from Proverbs 20 we look at verse 15
"Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel."
When I traveled with the mission organization with which I served, I was introduced to various and unique characteristics of other cultures. I discovered that in many respects, we in the USA are the 'different' culture. Our status, values and life-styles have altered our cultural norms from much of the rest of the world. One such way is the emphasis on community.
In most of the cities and towns that I visited in West Europe, East Europe, Eurasia, and even in Africa, I encountered a rather wonderful common event. The shops and businesses would all close down in the early evening (save for a few pubs and night clubs). Soon after, the city Centrum would slowly begin to fill with people. They congregated in groups on the side walks, in the parking lots, and in the parks. The groups would gradually get larger. Children and teens formed their own groups. Some people stayed with a group, others wandered from group to group. Street entertainers would come out to sing, to juggle, to perform some sort of slight of hand, or to do whatever specialty they had developed. It's a community get-together, and it happened every night that the weather permitted. It's a part of culture that most of America has lost. It was (and is), a very common cultural trait in the Mid East where the Teacher of this proverb lived.
In a highly social community where there is no TV or radio or newspapers, such social intercourse is a very important aspect of life. People gather to talk about everything, and seek to find out as much as they can about the latest current events. When and where this proverb was written, by far the greatest form of information and communication took place by talking with and listening to dozens of people each day. How many people do you speak with on an average day? How many people do you listen to? If you haven't included all of the people you watch on TV, or listen to on radio, or read their words in newspaper articles, you haven't covered all the people you 'listen' to. Now where are you at? When you include all of those people, you are probably up to the same number as the people to whom this proverb was written. The only difference is that you have lost the social aspect of communication.
When the Teacher of the proverb speaks of knowledge, he is not speaking of 'common knowledge', like what color car Tom Smith drives, how much Mary Jones paid for her new dress, etc. He is referring to the knowledge of God. Not knowledge about God, but the knowledge of God. If you had the knowledge of Albert Einstein, you would understand the laws of energy. If you had the knowledge of God, you would understand the purpose of life and the values of moral law. Lips that speak knowledge are those which frame ideas and communication with the knowledge of God.
Now, think again of all the people you listen to in a day, including TV, radio and reading materials. How many of those people frame their communication with the knowledge of God? I think you will agree, such lips are rare lips indeed. In light of this fact, how much of the 'input' your soul receives each day do you think is beneficial? How much of it do you think is actually harmful? What can you do about it?
There is common knowledge that is important for us in order to function from day to day. There is knowledge that we should never expose ourselves to (pornography, lewd humor, gossip, prejudiced hate-talk, disrespectful discourse, etc.). Then there is the knowledge of God. We need to refresh ourselves in it daily. Personal devotions are critical to the soul. Good Bible studies are extremely beneficial. Weekly worship with other believers where the Word of God is delivered and received in the Holy Spirit is imperative. Communication with God, speaking to Him and listening for Him, is life. The more we pay attention to lips that speak knowledge and the less attention we pay to lips that speak foolishness, lewdness and outright rebellion - the more we will mature in Christ, and the more our own lips will become like rare jewels. When this happens, those around us will begin to benefit from the knowledge of God. There is simply far too little in our culture.
"Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel."
When I traveled with the mission organization with which I served, I was introduced to various and unique characteristics of other cultures. I discovered that in many respects, we in the USA are the 'different' culture. Our status, values and life-styles have altered our cultural norms from much of the rest of the world. One such way is the emphasis on community.
In most of the cities and towns that I visited in West Europe, East Europe, Eurasia, and even in Africa, I encountered a rather wonderful common event. The shops and businesses would all close down in the early evening (save for a few pubs and night clubs). Soon after, the city Centrum would slowly begin to fill with people. They congregated in groups on the side walks, in the parking lots, and in the parks. The groups would gradually get larger. Children and teens formed their own groups. Some people stayed with a group, others wandered from group to group. Street entertainers would come out to sing, to juggle, to perform some sort of slight of hand, or to do whatever specialty they had developed. It's a community get-together, and it happened every night that the weather permitted. It's a part of culture that most of America has lost. It was (and is), a very common cultural trait in the Mid East where the Teacher of this proverb lived.
In a highly social community where there is no TV or radio or newspapers, such social intercourse is a very important aspect of life. People gather to talk about everything, and seek to find out as much as they can about the latest current events. When and where this proverb was written, by far the greatest form of information and communication took place by talking with and listening to dozens of people each day. How many people do you speak with on an average day? How many people do you listen to? If you haven't included all of the people you watch on TV, or listen to on radio, or read their words in newspaper articles, you haven't covered all the people you 'listen' to. Now where are you at? When you include all of those people, you are probably up to the same number as the people to whom this proverb was written. The only difference is that you have lost the social aspect of communication.
When the Teacher of the proverb speaks of knowledge, he is not speaking of 'common knowledge', like what color car Tom Smith drives, how much Mary Jones paid for her new dress, etc. He is referring to the knowledge of God. Not knowledge about God, but the knowledge of God. If you had the knowledge of Albert Einstein, you would understand the laws of energy. If you had the knowledge of God, you would understand the purpose of life and the values of moral law. Lips that speak knowledge are those which frame ideas and communication with the knowledge of God.
Now, think again of all the people you listen to in a day, including TV, radio and reading materials. How many of those people frame their communication with the knowledge of God? I think you will agree, such lips are rare lips indeed. In light of this fact, how much of the 'input' your soul receives each day do you think is beneficial? How much of it do you think is actually harmful? What can you do about it?
There is common knowledge that is important for us in order to function from day to day. There is knowledge that we should never expose ourselves to (pornography, lewd humor, gossip, prejudiced hate-talk, disrespectful discourse, etc.). Then there is the knowledge of God. We need to refresh ourselves in it daily. Personal devotions are critical to the soul. Good Bible studies are extremely beneficial. Weekly worship with other believers where the Word of God is delivered and received in the Holy Spirit is imperative. Communication with God, speaking to Him and listening for Him, is life. The more we pay attention to lips that speak knowledge and the less attention we pay to lips that speak foolishness, lewdness and outright rebellion - the more we will mature in Christ, and the more our own lips will become like rare jewels. When this happens, those around us will begin to benefit from the knowledge of God. There is simply far too little in our culture.
Monday, August 18, 2008
August 19
Aug 19 - Today from Proverbs 19 we look at verse 28
"A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil."
Mockery is laced with contempt. In almost every instance where people mock, they are reacting to things that they do not understand. Such is the case with those who view the world from their own understanding rather than from the viewpoint of the Creator. In this verse the KJV uses the term ungodly in place of corrupt. The literal interpretation means without profit. Jesus asks in Mark 8:36, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his own soul?" Jesus always has a way of cutting through all arguments and getting right down to the heart of the matter. In the eternal scope of things, there is nothing to profit from in this world system. Man can ultimately only profit when man secures eternal life. All else is temporal. The only thing man will take with him when he leaves this world is who he is. If he is righteous, he will inherit eternal life. If he is unrighteous, he will suffer for ages. Righteousness comes only through Christ Jesus.
The ungodly are those who develop values and use standards according to the corrupted world system. Their concept of gain is based on a self-serving basis. They do not understand about God's purposes, sin's consequences and eternal judgment. Thus, they become corrupt witnesses who do not understand justice. They mock morality, they mock holiness, they mock the Name of the Lord, they mock those who are different, they mock those who are victims of misfortune . . . they mock things that they do not understand. They are to be pitied - not hated. There was a day when I was a mocker. Although Jesus redeemed me from that life, there are days when I slip back into mockery. There are days when I mix heavenly values with worldly values and I become a corrupt witness. There are days when I seek to gain some of this world - and people who need to see Christ in me cannot see Him, they see only the mocker that I once was. I offer no excuse. I only plead for mercy, and ask for grace to repent. It is only with such a humble attitude that our witness can be restored. How blessed we are to serve such a merciful God. How unfortunate are the godless. Our witness is meant to offer a change of their misfortune.
"The mouth of the wicked gulps down evil." Evil is a pure destructive force. It is strange how seductive evil is. I guess it's because evil is so self-serving. "Eat this, and you will become like God." (Gen. 3:5). Evil always appeals to aggrandizing self. The godless have a great hunger for it. The wicked intentionally ingest all they can get. They gulp it down. It satisfies - but only for a moment. Their appetite quickly returns for more. Self is an insatiable beast.
We come back again and again to God's intention for man. Worship God - love Him with your all, and serve your neighbor. There is no room for self-worship in that. Jesus taught it, and Jesus modeled it. Then He called us to follow Him. "I will send the Holy Spirit, and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8). He called us to live a life that bears witness to His servant-life. He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to serve. When we fail to serve, we show contempt for our Savior and we become corrupt witnesses. We will never see the Kingdom of God manifest until we bear witness to His Kingdom by serving our fellow man. We may be mocked in the process, but it's only because we are misunderstood. Jesus was.
"A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil."
Mockery is laced with contempt. In almost every instance where people mock, they are reacting to things that they do not understand. Such is the case with those who view the world from their own understanding rather than from the viewpoint of the Creator. In this verse the KJV uses the term ungodly in place of corrupt. The literal interpretation means without profit. Jesus asks in Mark 8:36, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his own soul?" Jesus always has a way of cutting through all arguments and getting right down to the heart of the matter. In the eternal scope of things, there is nothing to profit from in this world system. Man can ultimately only profit when man secures eternal life. All else is temporal. The only thing man will take with him when he leaves this world is who he is. If he is righteous, he will inherit eternal life. If he is unrighteous, he will suffer for ages. Righteousness comes only through Christ Jesus.
The ungodly are those who develop values and use standards according to the corrupted world system. Their concept of gain is based on a self-serving basis. They do not understand about God's purposes, sin's consequences and eternal judgment. Thus, they become corrupt witnesses who do not understand justice. They mock morality, they mock holiness, they mock the Name of the Lord, they mock those who are different, they mock those who are victims of misfortune . . . they mock things that they do not understand. They are to be pitied - not hated. There was a day when I was a mocker. Although Jesus redeemed me from that life, there are days when I slip back into mockery. There are days when I mix heavenly values with worldly values and I become a corrupt witness. There are days when I seek to gain some of this world - and people who need to see Christ in me cannot see Him, they see only the mocker that I once was. I offer no excuse. I only plead for mercy, and ask for grace to repent. It is only with such a humble attitude that our witness can be restored. How blessed we are to serve such a merciful God. How unfortunate are the godless. Our witness is meant to offer a change of their misfortune.
"The mouth of the wicked gulps down evil." Evil is a pure destructive force. It is strange how seductive evil is. I guess it's because evil is so self-serving. "Eat this, and you will become like God." (Gen. 3:5). Evil always appeals to aggrandizing self. The godless have a great hunger for it. The wicked intentionally ingest all they can get. They gulp it down. It satisfies - but only for a moment. Their appetite quickly returns for more. Self is an insatiable beast.
We come back again and again to God's intention for man. Worship God - love Him with your all, and serve your neighbor. There is no room for self-worship in that. Jesus taught it, and Jesus modeled it. Then He called us to follow Him. "I will send the Holy Spirit, and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8). He called us to live a life that bears witness to His servant-life. He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to serve. When we fail to serve, we show contempt for our Savior and we become corrupt witnesses. We will never see the Kingdom of God manifest until we bear witness to His Kingdom by serving our fellow man. We may be mocked in the process, but it's only because we are misunderstood. Jesus was.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
August 18
Aug 18 - Today from Proverbs 18 we look at verse 23
"A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly."
Here we have a case of justice based on reality rather than on truth. The world system honors wealth, and wealth tends to weigh the scales and pervert justice. That's a daily reality we live with. There is a general attitude that comes with wealth. We get a glimpse of it in verse 11a, "The wealth of the rich is their fortified city." That is a reality. Verse 11b states, "They imagine it an unscalable wall." That is the truth. Their reality is based upon imagination.
The truth is, that with God all men are seen without their worldly entrapments and imaginations. We are to be a people of truth. It is sad how much the world tends to influence the church. Way back in the first century James felt compelled to address the issue of favoritism in his epistle. In chapter 2 he gives the illustration of two men coming into a worship meeting; one was richly dressed and bejeweled and the other clothed in shabby rags. He warned the church to address and treat them as equals. By showing favoritism toward the rich man, James charges "Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" (vs. 4). Judges with evil thoughts. Evil perverts justice. Applying world values to the value of a human soul is evil.
In Solomon's day - in James' day - in our day, religious leaders measured blessings by material prosperity. "If a man lives righteously and applies the laws of God, he will achieve material prosperity, live in health, and be honored among men." (sic) It is known today as the 'prosperity gospel'. All you need is enough faith. Do you know what I believe is one of the harshest answers God's prosperous church offers to the suffering today? "You just need more faith." The implication is, "I am rich in faith, therefore I am more blessed." It is evil. It is discriminatory. It is un-Christlike. I have read the gospels dozens of times, and I never heard Jesus tell any who came to Him for comfort, "You just need more faith." Imagine what thoughts would be playing through that person's mind while walking home that evening.
In Matthew 15 there was an instance where Jesus seemed reluctant to give a blessing - but it wasn't because the subject didn't have enough faith. It was based on heirship of the covenant. The plead came from a Canaanite woman on behalf of her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus told her that His ministry was to God's covenant people, Israel. Her response was not a bold proclamation of faith, but it was a plead for mercy. She received the blessing of her plea. Jesus commended her faith, but she did not execute a formula of faith. She simply threw herself on God's mercy and begged for some of the crumbs of His abundant grace. Her faith rested in God’s mercy.
We see in our proverb today a paradox. The perceived poor person is actually the rich person, for he knows his only hope lies in mercy. The perceived rich person is actually the poor person, for he has set his hope on a false values system. James writes it this way, "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised to those who loved Him?" (James 2:5).
Does this mean that materially prosperous (rich) people are poor in faith and will not inherit the kingdom? Only when their riches corrupt their values. Only when they begin to think that the need for God's mercy is for others. Only when they begin to think that their riches are their security. Only when they are confronted with a situation where their servanthood is needed and they answer harshly instead of graciously. Only when they remind the world more of their own kind than they do of Jesus.
"A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly."
Here we have a case of justice based on reality rather than on truth. The world system honors wealth, and wealth tends to weigh the scales and pervert justice. That's a daily reality we live with. There is a general attitude that comes with wealth. We get a glimpse of it in verse 11a, "The wealth of the rich is their fortified city." That is a reality. Verse 11b states, "They imagine it an unscalable wall." That is the truth. Their reality is based upon imagination.
The truth is, that with God all men are seen without their worldly entrapments and imaginations. We are to be a people of truth. It is sad how much the world tends to influence the church. Way back in the first century James felt compelled to address the issue of favoritism in his epistle. In chapter 2 he gives the illustration of two men coming into a worship meeting; one was richly dressed and bejeweled and the other clothed in shabby rags. He warned the church to address and treat them as equals. By showing favoritism toward the rich man, James charges "Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" (vs. 4). Judges with evil thoughts. Evil perverts justice. Applying world values to the value of a human soul is evil.
In Solomon's day - in James' day - in our day, religious leaders measured blessings by material prosperity. "If a man lives righteously and applies the laws of God, he will achieve material prosperity, live in health, and be honored among men." (sic) It is known today as the 'prosperity gospel'. All you need is enough faith. Do you know what I believe is one of the harshest answers God's prosperous church offers to the suffering today? "You just need more faith." The implication is, "I am rich in faith, therefore I am more blessed." It is evil. It is discriminatory. It is un-Christlike. I have read the gospels dozens of times, and I never heard Jesus tell any who came to Him for comfort, "You just need more faith." Imagine what thoughts would be playing through that person's mind while walking home that evening.
In Matthew 15 there was an instance where Jesus seemed reluctant to give a blessing - but it wasn't because the subject didn't have enough faith. It was based on heirship of the covenant. The plead came from a Canaanite woman on behalf of her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus told her that His ministry was to God's covenant people, Israel. Her response was not a bold proclamation of faith, but it was a plead for mercy. She received the blessing of her plea. Jesus commended her faith, but she did not execute a formula of faith. She simply threw herself on God's mercy and begged for some of the crumbs of His abundant grace. Her faith rested in God’s mercy.
We see in our proverb today a paradox. The perceived poor person is actually the rich person, for he knows his only hope lies in mercy. The perceived rich person is actually the poor person, for he has set his hope on a false values system. James writes it this way, "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised to those who loved Him?" (James 2:5).
Does this mean that materially prosperous (rich) people are poor in faith and will not inherit the kingdom? Only when their riches corrupt their values. Only when they begin to think that the need for God's mercy is for others. Only when they begin to think that their riches are their security. Only when they are confronted with a situation where their servanthood is needed and they answer harshly instead of graciously. Only when they remind the world more of their own kind than they do of Jesus.
August 17
Aug 17 - Today from Proverbs 17 we look at verse 15
"Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent - the Lord detests them both."
One of the attributes that God constantly reveals about Himself is that He is just. In Jeremiah 9:24 we find a clear example: "Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." God formed man in His own image, and God delights when man reflects that image.
When God created the heavens and the earth, He brought order out of chaos (Genesis 1). Ever since sin entered the world, it is constantly trying to turn God's order back into chaos. In creating, God brought light, peace, harmony and life. Justice maintains light, peace, harmony and life. Sin diminishes light, peace, harmony and life. To thwart justice is sin. Justice is a very serious issue with God - and should be for man. Judgments are not to be made frivolously, nor out of bias. Evidence is to be based on established truth and not just the reality of a moment. Judges are to be impartial, not allowing their personal feelings to sway their verdict. Without true justice, society quickly deteriorates into chaos.
On what is the society of man to base justice? As Christians, we are to confidently base our justice system on the Word of God. The established Truths of His Word are to take precedence over every other ‘reality’. His Word not only reveals the moral basis of right and wrong, but He also reveals that there are systems and authorized governing officials established for the purpose of dealing with social justice. But what about those who have never heard, or do not have the Word of God? Will they still be held accountable? Romans chapter one reveals that man can build and conduct a proper justice system on what is known as 'Natural Law'. Conscience, history, and careful observance of nature are enough to reveal God's justice (knowledge of God). This system quickly becomes contaminated and distorted when those in positions of authority begin to use their positions for self-serving purposes rather than for preserving justice for the people whom they serve. Order reverts to chaos. When authorities choose to become self-serving, they pervert justice in both directions. They can acquit guilty people who can make them wealthier (bribes), or who can make them more powerful (connections), or who they just happen to like (subjectivity). Or, they can condemn innocent people for any number of reasons, such as revenge, indifference, favors to others, political expediency, etc.
How do we apply the lesson of this proverb to our personal lives? First, we are to be a just people. Justice speaks of equity and integrity, not carrying out sentences on others. Unless we hold a civil position of governing authority, we are not to judge others and then carry out the sentence (vigilantism). I must confess, we do this far too much. Our courtrooms are not mahogany paneled rooms in the county buildings; they are telephone lines, coffee shops, hallways and dinner tables. We hold the condemned in prisons of our own bitterness. Without having all of the evidence, we tend to share our prejudices against others and then execute the sentence of character assassination and belittlement. If we do not have enough strength to fully carry out the execution, we use our resources to build allies until we do have the strength. Then we proceed carry out our own method of justice until finally, we get satisfaction. Self-satisfaction. Chaos. Instead of loving our perceived enemies, we assist our real enemy in promoting chaos.
God walked in the garden with His man until sin came and introduced chaos into paradise. It was no longer good. Sin separated man from God. God persevered with sinful man and came to walk with us again - in the person of Jesus Christ. Once again He determined to bring order out of chaos. He showed us that the real way to achieve this is not to condemn but to serve. He offered us mercy instead of judgment, and He admonishes us to continue to follow His example. Let us not confuse justice and judgment. Romans 13:1-5 reveals that the power of judgment has been given to governing authorities by God. Hebrews 13:17 reveals that those authorities will one day give an accounting to God. Our responsibility is to "act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with (our) God." (Micah 6:8). We have a full-time job just judging ourselves (1 Cor. 11:31). When we honestly judge ourselves in the light of God's Word, we discover that we have no platform on which we can stand to judge others. There is only One who has the credentials to do that - and thank heavens He is merciful. Should not we be merciful as well?
"Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent - the Lord detests them both."
One of the attributes that God constantly reveals about Himself is that He is just. In Jeremiah 9:24 we find a clear example: "Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." God formed man in His own image, and God delights when man reflects that image.
When God created the heavens and the earth, He brought order out of chaos (Genesis 1). Ever since sin entered the world, it is constantly trying to turn God's order back into chaos. In creating, God brought light, peace, harmony and life. Justice maintains light, peace, harmony and life. Sin diminishes light, peace, harmony and life. To thwart justice is sin. Justice is a very serious issue with God - and should be for man. Judgments are not to be made frivolously, nor out of bias. Evidence is to be based on established truth and not just the reality of a moment. Judges are to be impartial, not allowing their personal feelings to sway their verdict. Without true justice, society quickly deteriorates into chaos.
On what is the society of man to base justice? As Christians, we are to confidently base our justice system on the Word of God. The established Truths of His Word are to take precedence over every other ‘reality’. His Word not only reveals the moral basis of right and wrong, but He also reveals that there are systems and authorized governing officials established for the purpose of dealing with social justice. But what about those who have never heard, or do not have the Word of God? Will they still be held accountable? Romans chapter one reveals that man can build and conduct a proper justice system on what is known as 'Natural Law'. Conscience, history, and careful observance of nature are enough to reveal God's justice (knowledge of God). This system quickly becomes contaminated and distorted when those in positions of authority begin to use their positions for self-serving purposes rather than for preserving justice for the people whom they serve. Order reverts to chaos. When authorities choose to become self-serving, they pervert justice in both directions. They can acquit guilty people who can make them wealthier (bribes), or who can make them more powerful (connections), or who they just happen to like (subjectivity). Or, they can condemn innocent people for any number of reasons, such as revenge, indifference, favors to others, political expediency, etc.
How do we apply the lesson of this proverb to our personal lives? First, we are to be a just people. Justice speaks of equity and integrity, not carrying out sentences on others. Unless we hold a civil position of governing authority, we are not to judge others and then carry out the sentence (vigilantism). I must confess, we do this far too much. Our courtrooms are not mahogany paneled rooms in the county buildings; they are telephone lines, coffee shops, hallways and dinner tables. We hold the condemned in prisons of our own bitterness. Without having all of the evidence, we tend to share our prejudices against others and then execute the sentence of character assassination and belittlement. If we do not have enough strength to fully carry out the execution, we use our resources to build allies until we do have the strength. Then we proceed carry out our own method of justice until finally, we get satisfaction. Self-satisfaction. Chaos. Instead of loving our perceived enemies, we assist our real enemy in promoting chaos.
God walked in the garden with His man until sin came and introduced chaos into paradise. It was no longer good. Sin separated man from God. God persevered with sinful man and came to walk with us again - in the person of Jesus Christ. Once again He determined to bring order out of chaos. He showed us that the real way to achieve this is not to condemn but to serve. He offered us mercy instead of judgment, and He admonishes us to continue to follow His example. Let us not confuse justice and judgment. Romans 13:1-5 reveals that the power of judgment has been given to governing authorities by God. Hebrews 13:17 reveals that those authorities will one day give an accounting to God. Our responsibility is to "act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with (our) God." (Micah 6:8). We have a full-time job just judging ourselves (1 Cor. 11:31). When we honestly judge ourselves in the light of God's Word, we discover that we have no platform on which we can stand to judge others. There is only One who has the credentials to do that - and thank heavens He is merciful. Should not we be merciful as well?
Friday, August 15, 2008
August 16
Aug 16 - Today from Proverbs 16 we look at verse 1
"To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue."
This proverb addresses a profound mystery that has caused controversy amongst even the greatest of theologians. It is the mystery of the relationship of man's free will and God's sovereignty. The proverb does not solve the mystery, it only validates it.
Men are not puppets being manipulated by God to work out His great drama of history. Man is free to make his own choices and devise his own plans. "To man belong the plans of the heart." God can speak to and influence man's heart - and the devil can just as easily speak to and influence man's heart. Judas heard the same teachings and saw the same miracles that the other eleven disciples heard and saw. The betrayal of Jesus by Judas was a decision that Judas made. Yet, in the grand scheme of things, the say over the final outcome was God's and God's alone. "From the Lord comes the reply of the tongue." God did not make Judas choose wrong, but Judas participated in ultimately fulfilling God's will. It's a mystery. When Caiaphas the High Priest executed the sentence of Jesus death, he did it in the anointing of the office. He declared that it was better that one man die for the people than to see the whole nation perish (John 11:50). The writer of the gospel then reveals that Caiaphas did not say this on his own, but that he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation (vs. 51). Caiaphas made the choice from his own heart. His plan was wicked. Yet, its outcome was clearly in God's hands, and became a part of God's Divine Drama. It's a mystery.
Now, can we say that Judas and Caiaphas deserve to be rewarded for their participation in bringing God's plan of redemption to fulfillment? Can they look back and boast that they were ultimately right after all? Will God excuse them because they were mere players on God's divine stage of life? Can they stand before the generations of saints and declare that they deserve some credit for restoring man to God? The answer is clearly found in verse 5 of Proverbs 16 - "The Lord detests the proud heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished." Pride is found in self-centeredness. When the plans of a person's heart are born out of their own understanding and not God's, the plan is born of pride. Betrayal and murder do not come from God's understanding. Judas and Caiaphas would not go unpunished.
What is the practical lesson here? The lesson is that we can not be completely pragmatic about our faith. We cannot say, "In the end, it all worked out for the better. It was, therefore, a good plan after all." If the plan was unjustly conceived in one's own understanding, and it's execution caused harm and pain to others, those who participated will not go unpunished - no matter what the outcome. Thank God that He is able to turn all things to good for those that love Him and have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). That doesn't mean that 'things' were right and good from the start. In Genesis 50:15-21 we see the end of the story of Joseph. Joseph's brother's intended to do away with him. They carried out their self-centered plan of brotherly betrayal and Joseph was out of the family for many years - but God turned the situation to good and saved Joseph's brothers from hardship and starvation through, and in spite of, their own evil action. Were the brothers pragmatic in their approach to Joseph in the end? Did they say that if it weren't for their action that Joseph would have never risen to power and that their father would have suffered and starved to death in his old age? No. They humbled themselves before Joseph and confessed their sin. They offered themselves as servants, pleading for mercy. Joseph indeed had mercy - and even gave grace. He was a Christ-type.
As we traverse this world as followers of Christ, we are going to find ourselves on both sides of the issue. There will be times when we devise a wrong and unjust plan out of our own understanding, and people will be hurt. Even if God turns the situation to good, we still stand accused. In those situations we must humble ourselves and come forward and confess our sin to God and to those who were hurt. We must ask for mercy. Only then will we find release from our guilt in the matter. There will be times when we are the victims of the wrong devices of others. God, in His mercy may turn it to good, but the anger and hardness of heart may still keep us bound. We must forgive and move on with God's purposes. If the guilty humble themselves and ask for mercy, we must accept their contriteness and receive them. If they remain proud and unrepentant, we must forgive and leave the final outcome in God's hands. Joseph said to his brothers, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?" Listen to the implication dear saints. Our task is to follow God's purposes, not to take God's place. He is the final judge, and the proud of heart will not go unpunished. We can take comfort in that if we must, but the greater promise is to be our constant focus; the promise that the righteous will be rewarded. Righteousness is servanthood. That is God's purpose for us.
"To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue."
This proverb addresses a profound mystery that has caused controversy amongst even the greatest of theologians. It is the mystery of the relationship of man's free will and God's sovereignty. The proverb does not solve the mystery, it only validates it.
Men are not puppets being manipulated by God to work out His great drama of history. Man is free to make his own choices and devise his own plans. "To man belong the plans of the heart." God can speak to and influence man's heart - and the devil can just as easily speak to and influence man's heart. Judas heard the same teachings and saw the same miracles that the other eleven disciples heard and saw. The betrayal of Jesus by Judas was a decision that Judas made. Yet, in the grand scheme of things, the say over the final outcome was God's and God's alone. "From the Lord comes the reply of the tongue." God did not make Judas choose wrong, but Judas participated in ultimately fulfilling God's will. It's a mystery. When Caiaphas the High Priest executed the sentence of Jesus death, he did it in the anointing of the office. He declared that it was better that one man die for the people than to see the whole nation perish (John 11:50). The writer of the gospel then reveals that Caiaphas did not say this on his own, but that he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation (vs. 51). Caiaphas made the choice from his own heart. His plan was wicked. Yet, its outcome was clearly in God's hands, and became a part of God's Divine Drama. It's a mystery.
Now, can we say that Judas and Caiaphas deserve to be rewarded for their participation in bringing God's plan of redemption to fulfillment? Can they look back and boast that they were ultimately right after all? Will God excuse them because they were mere players on God's divine stage of life? Can they stand before the generations of saints and declare that they deserve some credit for restoring man to God? The answer is clearly found in verse 5 of Proverbs 16 - "The Lord detests the proud heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished." Pride is found in self-centeredness. When the plans of a person's heart are born out of their own understanding and not God's, the plan is born of pride. Betrayal and murder do not come from God's understanding. Judas and Caiaphas would not go unpunished.
What is the practical lesson here? The lesson is that we can not be completely pragmatic about our faith. We cannot say, "In the end, it all worked out for the better. It was, therefore, a good plan after all." If the plan was unjustly conceived in one's own understanding, and it's execution caused harm and pain to others, those who participated will not go unpunished - no matter what the outcome. Thank God that He is able to turn all things to good for those that love Him and have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). That doesn't mean that 'things' were right and good from the start. In Genesis 50:15-21 we see the end of the story of Joseph. Joseph's brother's intended to do away with him. They carried out their self-centered plan of brotherly betrayal and Joseph was out of the family for many years - but God turned the situation to good and saved Joseph's brothers from hardship and starvation through, and in spite of, their own evil action. Were the brothers pragmatic in their approach to Joseph in the end? Did they say that if it weren't for their action that Joseph would have never risen to power and that their father would have suffered and starved to death in his old age? No. They humbled themselves before Joseph and confessed their sin. They offered themselves as servants, pleading for mercy. Joseph indeed had mercy - and even gave grace. He was a Christ-type.
As we traverse this world as followers of Christ, we are going to find ourselves on both sides of the issue. There will be times when we devise a wrong and unjust plan out of our own understanding, and people will be hurt. Even if God turns the situation to good, we still stand accused. In those situations we must humble ourselves and come forward and confess our sin to God and to those who were hurt. We must ask for mercy. Only then will we find release from our guilt in the matter. There will be times when we are the victims of the wrong devices of others. God, in His mercy may turn it to good, but the anger and hardness of heart may still keep us bound. We must forgive and move on with God's purposes. If the guilty humble themselves and ask for mercy, we must accept their contriteness and receive them. If they remain proud and unrepentant, we must forgive and leave the final outcome in God's hands. Joseph said to his brothers, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?" Listen to the implication dear saints. Our task is to follow God's purposes, not to take God's place. He is the final judge, and the proud of heart will not go unpunished. We can take comfort in that if we must, but the greater promise is to be our constant focus; the promise that the righteous will be rewarded. Righteousness is servanthood. That is God's purpose for us.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
August 15
Aug 15 - Today from Proverbs 15 we look at verse 30
"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones."
A little effort goes a long way in a relationship. Consider the following two scenarios of the same situation:
You are meeting an acquaintance for lunch. When you arrive, the waitress informs you that your party is waiting. She leads you to the table. As you arrive, your acquaintance briefly looks up from the menu and says, "Hey, how's it going?" and continues to study the menu as you seat yourself.
- or -
As you arrive, your acquaintance put down the menu, rises with a beaming smile and a robust handshake and says, "Hi (your name). I am so glad we could get together like this. I've been looking forward to our time."
Few people demand to feel important. But all people respond well to feeling important. That's what a cheerful look does - it makes the other person feel important - like their life and presence actually has some value. Add some good news to the cheerful look and there is great emotional health happening to the recipient. What kind of good news? Simple things like "I am glad we could get together," or "I've been looking forward to our time." That's good new for anyone.
The gospel is called "good news". Imagine God sitting at the table waiting for your arrival. When you approach, do you see Him looking up with a stern face and a lecture ready on His lips? Or do you see Him smile, rising to greet you with an embrace and saying, "I am so glad you are here. I so enjoy spending time with you." The good news is that the second scenario is the heart and character of our Father. And, it is through Christ that we can experience such joy in our heart. We are fully excepted in Him.
If we can grasp this truth and live in this joy, we can become God's agents of cheerful looks and good news in the lives of those around us every day. Have you ever passed by a stranger on the sidewalk or in a hallway and they caught your eye for the briefest moment as they flashed you smile and gave you a word of good news like "Nice day, isn't it?" It gives you a little lift. They made you feel important. Yes, the day is a little nicer. If a stranger's smile and kind word can lighten one's day, think of what a friend or family member can do! Think of what you can do! A little effort goes a long way.
"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones."
A little effort goes a long way in a relationship. Consider the following two scenarios of the same situation:
You are meeting an acquaintance for lunch. When you arrive, the waitress informs you that your party is waiting. She leads you to the table. As you arrive, your acquaintance briefly looks up from the menu and says, "Hey, how's it going?" and continues to study the menu as you seat yourself.
- or -
As you arrive, your acquaintance put down the menu, rises with a beaming smile and a robust handshake and says, "Hi (your name). I am so glad we could get together like this. I've been looking forward to our time."
Few people demand to feel important. But all people respond well to feeling important. That's what a cheerful look does - it makes the other person feel important - like their life and presence actually has some value. Add some good news to the cheerful look and there is great emotional health happening to the recipient. What kind of good news? Simple things like "I am glad we could get together," or "I've been looking forward to our time." That's good new for anyone.
The gospel is called "good news". Imagine God sitting at the table waiting for your arrival. When you approach, do you see Him looking up with a stern face and a lecture ready on His lips? Or do you see Him smile, rising to greet you with an embrace and saying, "I am so glad you are here. I so enjoy spending time with you." The good news is that the second scenario is the heart and character of our Father. And, it is through Christ that we can experience such joy in our heart. We are fully excepted in Him.
If we can grasp this truth and live in this joy, we can become God's agents of cheerful looks and good news in the lives of those around us every day. Have you ever passed by a stranger on the sidewalk or in a hallway and they caught your eye for the briefest moment as they flashed you smile and gave you a word of good news like "Nice day, isn't it?" It gives you a little lift. They made you feel important. Yes, the day is a little nicer. If a stranger's smile and kind word can lighten one's day, think of what a friend or family member can do! Think of what you can do! A little effort goes a long way.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
August 14
Aug 14 - Today from Proverbs 14 we look at verse 1
"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."
I am fully convinced that there is a spiritual law equal to the physical law of the second law of thermodynamics. I am a little out of my technical element here, but it was explained to me that the second law of thermodynamics basically states that everything is in the constant process of breaking down to its most basic natural elements. Having some basic knowledge of the law, I feel this to be a correct statement, although only a single facet of a complex concept.
The point of the illustration is that man must be constantly caring for (preventative maintenance), or repairing (corrective maintenance), physical objects in order to overcome the 'destructive' forces of the second law. The automobile is a prime example. We use engine oil to keep friction from wearing the moving engine parts out. We change oil because the basic protective elements of the oil break down. Even this protective maintenance is not enough to completely stop the second law. Eventually the heat and stress of energy does its work and parts wear out and must be replaced - corrective maintenance. We employ maintenance to slow down or overcome the second law. It's work, but it's necessary labor for the purpose of protecting our investments and being good stewards of our endowments.
We readily 'get it' when it comes to understanding the practical application and outcome of the physical realm of the second law, even if we do not fully understand or are not fully able to articulate it. We either work to maintain - or we suffer loss. That is somewhat what the metaphor of our proverb is stating. The wise woman may not be literally building constant editions on her house, but through maintenance she may build parts of her house several times over. Similarly, the foolish women may not be literally tearing her house down brick by brick, but her misplaced values and efforts may be contributing to lack of maintenance and the result is that her house is indeed being 'torn down'. The second law is a law, and is constantly at work.
There is also a spiritual 'second law'. It is just as much of a law as the physical second law. But because we cannot readily see the outcome we have much more difficulty in practical application. Spiritual wisdom is understanding things the way God meant them to be. Sin introduced the spiritual 'second law' by making man self-centered/self-serving rather than God-centered/neighbor-serving. The apostle Paul reveals that this self-nature is somehow intimately connected to the 'flesh' (our sensual being). Even as believers, as long as we remain in this 'corrupted body' we have residence for the 'old nature'. Unless we continually work spiritual maintenance, the spiritual second law is at work to break us down to our most natural and basic elements - the old nature of self-centered/self-serving ways.
Jesus revealed and supported this spiritual second law in Luke 11:23 where He says, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." As soon as we stop maintaining our relationship with Him, we allow the force of the spiritual second law to do its work. There is no 'neutral'. Just because the foolish woman is not tearing bricks out of the wall does not mean that her house is not being destroyed. She must practice proper maintenance in order to keep her house sound and functional. Just because we are not cursing or openly opposing the Lord Jesus does not mean that we are not slipping back into our old nature. If we are not maintaining, we are opposing. There is no neutral ground.
Wisdom pursues seeking restoration and maintenance in keeping a God-centered/neighbor-serving life. Foolishness misplaces values and puts effort into self-centered/self-serving things. One builds, the other tears down. It's a law. A law that even Jesus Himself revealed and upholds. The great thing is, He gives grace to maintain. It's the only way we can.
"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."
I am fully convinced that there is a spiritual law equal to the physical law of the second law of thermodynamics. I am a little out of my technical element here, but it was explained to me that the second law of thermodynamics basically states that everything is in the constant process of breaking down to its most basic natural elements. Having some basic knowledge of the law, I feel this to be a correct statement, although only a single facet of a complex concept.
The point of the illustration is that man must be constantly caring for (preventative maintenance), or repairing (corrective maintenance), physical objects in order to overcome the 'destructive' forces of the second law. The automobile is a prime example. We use engine oil to keep friction from wearing the moving engine parts out. We change oil because the basic protective elements of the oil break down. Even this protective maintenance is not enough to completely stop the second law. Eventually the heat and stress of energy does its work and parts wear out and must be replaced - corrective maintenance. We employ maintenance to slow down or overcome the second law. It's work, but it's necessary labor for the purpose of protecting our investments and being good stewards of our endowments.
We readily 'get it' when it comes to understanding the practical application and outcome of the physical realm of the second law, even if we do not fully understand or are not fully able to articulate it. We either work to maintain - or we suffer loss. That is somewhat what the metaphor of our proverb is stating. The wise woman may not be literally building constant editions on her house, but through maintenance she may build parts of her house several times over. Similarly, the foolish women may not be literally tearing her house down brick by brick, but her misplaced values and efforts may be contributing to lack of maintenance and the result is that her house is indeed being 'torn down'. The second law is a law, and is constantly at work.
There is also a spiritual 'second law'. It is just as much of a law as the physical second law. But because we cannot readily see the outcome we have much more difficulty in practical application. Spiritual wisdom is understanding things the way God meant them to be. Sin introduced the spiritual 'second law' by making man self-centered/self-serving rather than God-centered/neighbor-serving. The apostle Paul reveals that this self-nature is somehow intimately connected to the 'flesh' (our sensual being). Even as believers, as long as we remain in this 'corrupted body' we have residence for the 'old nature'. Unless we continually work spiritual maintenance, the spiritual second law is at work to break us down to our most natural and basic elements - the old nature of self-centered/self-serving ways.
Jesus revealed and supported this spiritual second law in Luke 11:23 where He says, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." As soon as we stop maintaining our relationship with Him, we allow the force of the spiritual second law to do its work. There is no 'neutral'. Just because the foolish woman is not tearing bricks out of the wall does not mean that her house is not being destroyed. She must practice proper maintenance in order to keep her house sound and functional. Just because we are not cursing or openly opposing the Lord Jesus does not mean that we are not slipping back into our old nature. If we are not maintaining, we are opposing. There is no neutral ground.
Wisdom pursues seeking restoration and maintenance in keeping a God-centered/neighbor-serving life. Foolishness misplaces values and puts effort into self-centered/self-serving things. One builds, the other tears down. It's a law. A law that even Jesus Himself revealed and upholds. The great thing is, He gives grace to maintain. It's the only way we can.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
August 13
Aug 13 - Today from Proverbs 13 we look at verse 4
"The sluggard craves and gets nothing, the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied."
Diligence is a virtue. All of the truly great men and women of history are marked by their diligence. They understood that the real accomplishments of life are not won in the human pool of lottery, but are carved out of the bedrock of humanity.
The Hebrew language is supported by imagery. The base meaning of the word for diligent gives one the image of a sharp instrument, such as might be used for mining gold or threshing grain. It denotes incisiveness. The modern English defines diligent as 'done with persevering, painstaking effort and care.' Diligence combines determination, patience, perseverance and excellence. Diligence is a virtue.
God has 'hardwired' every human being. They are born with natural specialized gifts and abilities. It is referred to as the bent of a person. Some people love numbers and calculations. They excel in positions such as accounting and engineering. Others have trouble balancing their personal checkbook. On the other hand, some people are very sensitive and gifted in creative arts. They can make beautiful masterpieces as their hands nimbly form the creative imagery that flows from their soul. God created man with incredible diversity, and He created man to serve his fellow man by discovering, developing and applying his own special abilities.
Sluggardness and diligence are not a part of God's hardwire job. They fall more into the category of attitude. Man has been given a choice here. Diligence begins with the understanding that things worth achieving are worth our best efforts. Success takes time, training, persevering, working through failures, learning from mistakes, going further, going deeper, sifting through the worthless, and the proverbial blood, sweat and tears. None of it is wasted. All of it builds character. There is joy, fulfillment, and a deep satisfaction in diligently serving in your area of giftedness - even through the learning and developmental years. It's an attitude, and it begins with the end in view and persevering through whatever stands in the way with patience and a teachable spirit.
Sluggardness begins with the attitude that 'the world owes me something.' Even sluggards have special gifts and abilities, but they somehow believe that they deserve instant reward for their ability. They are ‘misunderstood, taken advantage of, dealt with unfairly, and distracted at every hurdle’ (sic). They have little or no patience when the things they crave are in view. Perseverance isn't even in their vocabulary. They are quick to share with the world how unfair life is.
Give a diligent person and a sluggard a prized goal, give them both the same ability, stand them at the starting line, and drop the flag. You will soon see the only difference in their lives is attitude. One will encounter every obstacle and hurdle, learn from the experience, and continue down the track. The other will look for shortcuts and detours and become distracted in the process. One will eventually own the goal and feel the satisfaction of getting there, the other will be left with nothing but excuses, frustrations, and regrets. Diligence requires a sharp instrument. One understands that the gold is buried amongst tons of common dirt. The other fully expects that the gold is lying on the surface, just around the next bend. One understands that the rich grain is intimately connected to the chaff and must be threshed out. The other believes that rich grain comes neatly sacked up. The Hebrew language is beautiful imagery - is it not?
"The sluggard craves and gets nothing, the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied."
Diligence is a virtue. All of the truly great men and women of history are marked by their diligence. They understood that the real accomplishments of life are not won in the human pool of lottery, but are carved out of the bedrock of humanity.
The Hebrew language is supported by imagery. The base meaning of the word for diligent gives one the image of a sharp instrument, such as might be used for mining gold or threshing grain. It denotes incisiveness. The modern English defines diligent as 'done with persevering, painstaking effort and care.' Diligence combines determination, patience, perseverance and excellence. Diligence is a virtue.
God has 'hardwired' every human being. They are born with natural specialized gifts and abilities. It is referred to as the bent of a person. Some people love numbers and calculations. They excel in positions such as accounting and engineering. Others have trouble balancing their personal checkbook. On the other hand, some people are very sensitive and gifted in creative arts. They can make beautiful masterpieces as their hands nimbly form the creative imagery that flows from their soul. God created man with incredible diversity, and He created man to serve his fellow man by discovering, developing and applying his own special abilities.
Sluggardness and diligence are not a part of God's hardwire job. They fall more into the category of attitude. Man has been given a choice here. Diligence begins with the understanding that things worth achieving are worth our best efforts. Success takes time, training, persevering, working through failures, learning from mistakes, going further, going deeper, sifting through the worthless, and the proverbial blood, sweat and tears. None of it is wasted. All of it builds character. There is joy, fulfillment, and a deep satisfaction in diligently serving in your area of giftedness - even through the learning and developmental years. It's an attitude, and it begins with the end in view and persevering through whatever stands in the way with patience and a teachable spirit.
Sluggardness begins with the attitude that 'the world owes me something.' Even sluggards have special gifts and abilities, but they somehow believe that they deserve instant reward for their ability. They are ‘misunderstood, taken advantage of, dealt with unfairly, and distracted at every hurdle’ (sic). They have little or no patience when the things they crave are in view. Perseverance isn't even in their vocabulary. They are quick to share with the world how unfair life is.
Give a diligent person and a sluggard a prized goal, give them both the same ability, stand them at the starting line, and drop the flag. You will soon see the only difference in their lives is attitude. One will encounter every obstacle and hurdle, learn from the experience, and continue down the track. The other will look for shortcuts and detours and become distracted in the process. One will eventually own the goal and feel the satisfaction of getting there, the other will be left with nothing but excuses, frustrations, and regrets. Diligence requires a sharp instrument. One understands that the gold is buried amongst tons of common dirt. The other fully expects that the gold is lying on the surface, just around the next bend. One understands that the rich grain is intimately connected to the chaff and must be threshed out. The other believes that rich grain comes neatly sacked up. The Hebrew language is beautiful imagery - is it not?
Monday, August 11, 2008
August 12
Aug 12 - Today from Proverbs 12 we look at verse 19
"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment."
Truth. Postmodernists say there is no such thing as absolute truth, there are only realities. They are partially correct. Most realities are not truth. But the postmodernists are wrong when they say there is no absolute truth. Truth is found in the Creator. Realities not based in truth are only temporary - truth will eventually consume them just as light consumes the darkness.
When you walk into a dark room and turn on the light switch, light does not start from the bulb and push darkness out the window or through the walls. It simply consumes the darkness. When the times will have reaches their fulfillment, and the incarnate Truth, the Lord Jesus Christ, comes to consummate God's eternal plan and bring all things in heaven and earth together under one Head (Ephesians 1:10), there will be only one reality - and it will endure forever. All other realities will be consumed.
It's a curious thing about truth. It cannot be undone and it cannot be consumed. If it is true, it stands forever. A lie, on the other hand, becomes undone the instant it is exposed to truth. Truth is supported by evidence. Lies are supported only by believability. When the evidence stands against the believability of even the best contrived lie, the lie no longer has support - nor does the liar.
There is evidence of absolute truth all around us. One of those evidences is to be the life of the believer. Jesus called us to be His witnesses. A witness bears evidence to the truth. Our testimony of a changed life, of God's intervening grace, of gracious servitude in a self-serving world, of integrity of character, of holy living - all are to bring a witness to the Truth. History and archeology bear witness to the Truth. The marvel and order of creation bears witness to the Truth. The Holy Spirit comes to bear witness to the Truth. Man must live in denial and embrace the lie in order to continue to stay in rebellion and remain unaccountable to the Truth. But the Truth is eternal, and one day it will expose and consume all lies, and those who lived in denial of Him will have no excuse to fall back on. Excuses will be gone. Their only recourse will be to bow the knee and confess the Truth before they too are removed to a place where there is no light. Their moment of living a self-serving lie is gone. Now they will be relegated to ages of existence in darkness, knowing that they rejected light. I think that will be the torment of ‘hell’. We should wish it on no man, for Jesus died for all men. All men deserve to be relegated to such an existence - especially me. But God in His grace rescued me. Now He calls me to be a witness to others - even the worst of sinners.
Truthful lips are those which speak the truth. Truth abides in the heart. An unbeliever can say 'Jesus is Lord', but if it is not born from the heart, it is not truth to the one who spoke it. That is the key - it must be truth to the one who speaks it. Jesus says there will be many who say to Him "Lord, Lord . . .", and He will say, "I never knew you. Away from me you evil doers." (Matthew 7:22-23). The lie was not that He is Lord, that is truth. The lie was that He was not their Lord. They were living in the wrong reality.
Lordship is Headship. He is the Master. His Word is non-negotiable. Discipleship is serious business. Truth is to be embraced, proclaimed, and lived out. Is it worth it?
"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment."
Truth. Postmodernists say there is no such thing as absolute truth, there are only realities. They are partially correct. Most realities are not truth. But the postmodernists are wrong when they say there is no absolute truth. Truth is found in the Creator. Realities not based in truth are only temporary - truth will eventually consume them just as light consumes the darkness.
When you walk into a dark room and turn on the light switch, light does not start from the bulb and push darkness out the window or through the walls. It simply consumes the darkness. When the times will have reaches their fulfillment, and the incarnate Truth, the Lord Jesus Christ, comes to consummate God's eternal plan and bring all things in heaven and earth together under one Head (Ephesians 1:10), there will be only one reality - and it will endure forever. All other realities will be consumed.
It's a curious thing about truth. It cannot be undone and it cannot be consumed. If it is true, it stands forever. A lie, on the other hand, becomes undone the instant it is exposed to truth. Truth is supported by evidence. Lies are supported only by believability. When the evidence stands against the believability of even the best contrived lie, the lie no longer has support - nor does the liar.
There is evidence of absolute truth all around us. One of those evidences is to be the life of the believer. Jesus called us to be His witnesses. A witness bears evidence to the truth. Our testimony of a changed life, of God's intervening grace, of gracious servitude in a self-serving world, of integrity of character, of holy living - all are to bring a witness to the Truth. History and archeology bear witness to the Truth. The marvel and order of creation bears witness to the Truth. The Holy Spirit comes to bear witness to the Truth. Man must live in denial and embrace the lie in order to continue to stay in rebellion and remain unaccountable to the Truth. But the Truth is eternal, and one day it will expose and consume all lies, and those who lived in denial of Him will have no excuse to fall back on. Excuses will be gone. Their only recourse will be to bow the knee and confess the Truth before they too are removed to a place where there is no light. Their moment of living a self-serving lie is gone. Now they will be relegated to ages of existence in darkness, knowing that they rejected light. I think that will be the torment of ‘hell’. We should wish it on no man, for Jesus died for all men. All men deserve to be relegated to such an existence - especially me. But God in His grace rescued me. Now He calls me to be a witness to others - even the worst of sinners.
Truthful lips are those which speak the truth. Truth abides in the heart. An unbeliever can say 'Jesus is Lord', but if it is not born from the heart, it is not truth to the one who spoke it. That is the key - it must be truth to the one who speaks it. Jesus says there will be many who say to Him "Lord, Lord . . .", and He will say, "I never knew you. Away from me you evil doers." (Matthew 7:22-23). The lie was not that He is Lord, that is truth. The lie was that He was not their Lord. They were living in the wrong reality.
Lordship is Headship. He is the Master. His Word is non-negotiable. Discipleship is serious business. Truth is to be embraced, proclaimed, and lived out. Is it worth it?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
August 11
Aug 11 - Today from Proverbs 11 we look at verse 30
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."
Here we have an ancient proverb with a modern evangelical term - "soul-winner". Have you ever considered the implications of this term? "We are out there winning souls for Christ." What exactly does that mean, and how does one go about it?
In studying the great narrative of the Bible, a basic truth has become profoundly clear to me. That truth is that God created man with a servant heart. This is fundamental in God's purpose and program for mankind whom He loves so much. Sin corrupted the servant heart and made it a self-serving heart. This is the cause of evil, wickedness and rebellion. The Bible sums it up in one word - pride. Pride has levels of subtlety that are all but impossible to discern without the enlightening work of the Holy Spirit. Paul preached a gospel of grace - no one can successfully argue that point. But when you carefully read the imperatives of Paul's epistles, you will see that in every instance sin is an exposure of a form of pride, and there is a call to repentance from its practice. Our Lord Jesus came to restore mankind to God's original intent and to give us a servant's heart. God Himself has a servant's heart, perfectly exemplified in the life and ministry of His Son Jesus. Now we are called to be sons of God in Christ.
From this observation, I have also discovered that righteousness is servanthood. Many define righteousness as right living. I agree, this is a good definition. And, right living would be living out God's intent - that of being servant. The Jews in Jesus' day thought that righteousness came by keeping the law, yet Jesus accused them of being fruitless. There is no righteousness in legalism. Jesus says the greatest in His Kingdom is the one who serves. It is out of servanthood that is born the fruit of righteousness.
"The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life." The fruit of righteousness is things like clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, giving drink to the thirsty, and comforting the prisoner. Serving. This is when we are living out our restored position as sons of God. God is the giver of life. His grace rains on the unrighteous as well as the righteous. He is constantly serving His creation - His grace and provision flow without end. As sons of God, we are to emulate His attitude. Where we see inequity and injustice, our servitude is to bear fruit in bringing quality of life to those who lack. We become a part of the tree of life.
Winning souls is the supernatural progression of true righteousness. Other religions capture souls through deceit and domination. History clearly reveals that Islam has spread its wide influence through war, violence and subjugation. Allah is not a serving god, but a god who demands strict servitude of his subjects. There is no grace in Islamic 'charity' - anything that appears to be charity is strictly self-serving. True Christianity has spread through the fruit of righteousness. Christian hospitals, Christian shelters, Christian feeding programs, Christian agricultural projects, Christian poly-tech schools - the list goes on and on. All have been started and continue to operate as servant programs and organizations, open to all, not just Christians. It is in these environments of God's love and provision of grace that unbelievers begin to experience the reality of the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom of grace and justice headed by a King who revealed that true greatness lies in the righteousness of being a servant. Their souls are won over by the fruit of righteousness. We will not win souls by being nice people. We will not win souls by being a people who don't smoke, drink, dance or cuss. We won't win souls by telling people that God loves them when we are unwilling to love them. We win souls by living out our restored positions as servants of the Most High God, and of our fellow man - then we tell them about our marvelous Savior who died to restore them as well.
Why is winning souls wise? Because every soul won from the world system and the deceitful snare of darkness becomes another branch on the tree of life and expands the ability of producing the fruit of righteousness in a world which so desperately needs it.
Where do YOU think the church should be investing the best of her efforts (time, talents and treasures), today? What’s stopping you?
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."
Here we have an ancient proverb with a modern evangelical term - "soul-winner". Have you ever considered the implications of this term? "We are out there winning souls for Christ." What exactly does that mean, and how does one go about it?
In studying the great narrative of the Bible, a basic truth has become profoundly clear to me. That truth is that God created man with a servant heart. This is fundamental in God's purpose and program for mankind whom He loves so much. Sin corrupted the servant heart and made it a self-serving heart. This is the cause of evil, wickedness and rebellion. The Bible sums it up in one word - pride. Pride has levels of subtlety that are all but impossible to discern without the enlightening work of the Holy Spirit. Paul preached a gospel of grace - no one can successfully argue that point. But when you carefully read the imperatives of Paul's epistles, you will see that in every instance sin is an exposure of a form of pride, and there is a call to repentance from its practice. Our Lord Jesus came to restore mankind to God's original intent and to give us a servant's heart. God Himself has a servant's heart, perfectly exemplified in the life and ministry of His Son Jesus. Now we are called to be sons of God in Christ.
From this observation, I have also discovered that righteousness is servanthood. Many define righteousness as right living. I agree, this is a good definition. And, right living would be living out God's intent - that of being servant. The Jews in Jesus' day thought that righteousness came by keeping the law, yet Jesus accused them of being fruitless. There is no righteousness in legalism. Jesus says the greatest in His Kingdom is the one who serves. It is out of servanthood that is born the fruit of righteousness.
"The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life." The fruit of righteousness is things like clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, giving drink to the thirsty, and comforting the prisoner. Serving. This is when we are living out our restored position as sons of God. God is the giver of life. His grace rains on the unrighteous as well as the righteous. He is constantly serving His creation - His grace and provision flow without end. As sons of God, we are to emulate His attitude. Where we see inequity and injustice, our servitude is to bear fruit in bringing quality of life to those who lack. We become a part of the tree of life.
Winning souls is the supernatural progression of true righteousness. Other religions capture souls through deceit and domination. History clearly reveals that Islam has spread its wide influence through war, violence and subjugation. Allah is not a serving god, but a god who demands strict servitude of his subjects. There is no grace in Islamic 'charity' - anything that appears to be charity is strictly self-serving. True Christianity has spread through the fruit of righteousness. Christian hospitals, Christian shelters, Christian feeding programs, Christian agricultural projects, Christian poly-tech schools - the list goes on and on. All have been started and continue to operate as servant programs and organizations, open to all, not just Christians. It is in these environments of God's love and provision of grace that unbelievers begin to experience the reality of the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom of grace and justice headed by a King who revealed that true greatness lies in the righteousness of being a servant. Their souls are won over by the fruit of righteousness. We will not win souls by being nice people. We will not win souls by being a people who don't smoke, drink, dance or cuss. We won't win souls by telling people that God loves them when we are unwilling to love them. We win souls by living out our restored positions as servants of the Most High God, and of our fellow man - then we tell them about our marvelous Savior who died to restore them as well.
Why is winning souls wise? Because every soul won from the world system and the deceitful snare of darkness becomes another branch on the tree of life and expands the ability of producing the fruit of righteousness in a world which so desperately needs it.
Where do YOU think the church should be investing the best of her efforts (time, talents and treasures), today? What’s stopping you?
August 10
Aug 10 - Today from Proverbs 10 we look at verse 2
"Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death."
The Bible. A complex narrative of God's plan and purpose for man; man's original failure; God's mercy and plan of redemption; and the climax of the narrative is His redemptive work through Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful and compelling narrative, and can only be truly understood through the revealing work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is by far the central focus of the Biblical narrative - from Genesis to Revelation. All other themes of the Bible are lacking substance without this single central focus. Our proverb for today could be placed in the Biblical theme of values. To fully understand the wisdom of this proverb, we are to apply Biblical definition to values. Values are to be based on eternal things.
Values are choices, and they are lived out in our lives each day in our behavior. Values asks the question, "What is of greater importance?" Once the choice is made, behavior follows. Jesus puts it quite simply in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:21 where He says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
The lesson in today's proverb is quite simple once we understand the issue of values. Before sin entered the human race, values were measured in serving in relationships with others. If others prospered, all benefited. Paul teaches this restored concept in his discourse on Body Life; "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." (1 Cor. 12:26). After sin entered, self became the primary focus of man (the basis of the world system). Self then determined the value of life in the corrupted measure of money and influence over others. Relationships became pretty much self-serving. If there was no perceived added value to self in a relationship, then self placed little or no value on that relationship. "Am I my brother's keeper?" asked Cain of God. (Genesis 4:9).
At a critical point in the narrative, God gave moral law that would instill a behavior that would reflect proper values until grace came through Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:23-25). But, the law could not deliver from death. There may have been some behavior modification, but there was no real change in values because the treasures of the heart were still based on the values of this world system. "If I keep the law, I will live forever in Paradise." (sic). Some behavior change, but still self-serving motives. Jesus taught that there must be a greater change than that of behavior modification. We needed a new heart and He came that we may experience that change. "The Kingdom of God is near," cried John the Baptist as he heralded the coming ministry of our Lord Jesus. "You must be born-again if you want to see and enter the Kingdom of God," said Jesus to Nicodemas - a man learned in the law. Something brand-new must take place, and the One who was to usher in the Kingdom was here.
Ill-gotten treasures. They are the things based on self-serving worldly values. Not just money - but things like popularity, promotion, and public esteem. Or perhaps values lie in completely different areas like solitude, care-free living, uncomplicated life, and few responsibilities. In both categories we discover that the values are self-centered and are of no value in the greater purposes of God and His Kingdom. On the one hand, the subjects are ambitious and use their relationships to achieve their own self-serving goals. On the other hand, the subjects do not take any responsibility for their neighbor's well-being and avoid unwanted relationships all together. These values can even be found in the same person at different stages in one's life. One can spend one's 'productive years' pursuing ambitious values of accumulating money, and then one's latter years pursuing solitude in enjoying what the ambitious years produced. (Sounds like the American dream - doesn't it?) All the while, there has been little or no real value accomplished in God's Kingdom.
Righteousness. Righteousness comes by believing God and then responding with appropriate behavior. "Abraham believed God, and is was credited to him as righteousness." (Gen. 15:6, Rom. 4:3 & Gal. 3:6). In the narrative, it was through Abraham that the covenant of God's promise that "all nations will be blessed through you" came about. Abraham wasn't a perfect man - he had many faults and the narrative of the Bible is very honest in revealing them. But - Abraham believed God and grew to set his values accordingly. The promised blessing to Abraham ultimately came in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, in Him, we are righteous, and we are called to believe Him and to follow Him in restoring and developing relationships for no greater purpose than to serve and to bless others. The real treasures in this world are the eternal things - the Word of God and the souls of people. That is where Jesus invested His time, talent and treasures - and His very life. That is where Jesus calls us to invest ourselves. When we invest ourselves in God's Word and in the lives of others, there our hearts will be also.
Cain, the life-taker asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Jesus, the life-giver answered, "Love your neighbor as your self."
"Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death."
The Bible. A complex narrative of God's plan and purpose for man; man's original failure; God's mercy and plan of redemption; and the climax of the narrative is His redemptive work through Jesus Christ. It is a beautiful and compelling narrative, and can only be truly understood through the revealing work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is by far the central focus of the Biblical narrative - from Genesis to Revelation. All other themes of the Bible are lacking substance without this single central focus. Our proverb for today could be placed in the Biblical theme of values. To fully understand the wisdom of this proverb, we are to apply Biblical definition to values. Values are to be based on eternal things.
Values are choices, and they are lived out in our lives each day in our behavior. Values asks the question, "What is of greater importance?" Once the choice is made, behavior follows. Jesus puts it quite simply in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:21 where He says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
The lesson in today's proverb is quite simple once we understand the issue of values. Before sin entered the human race, values were measured in serving in relationships with others. If others prospered, all benefited. Paul teaches this restored concept in his discourse on Body Life; "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." (1 Cor. 12:26). After sin entered, self became the primary focus of man (the basis of the world system). Self then determined the value of life in the corrupted measure of money and influence over others. Relationships became pretty much self-serving. If there was no perceived added value to self in a relationship, then self placed little or no value on that relationship. "Am I my brother's keeper?" asked Cain of God. (Genesis 4:9).
At a critical point in the narrative, God gave moral law that would instill a behavior that would reflect proper values until grace came through Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:23-25). But, the law could not deliver from death. There may have been some behavior modification, but there was no real change in values because the treasures of the heart were still based on the values of this world system. "If I keep the law, I will live forever in Paradise." (sic). Some behavior change, but still self-serving motives. Jesus taught that there must be a greater change than that of behavior modification. We needed a new heart and He came that we may experience that change. "The Kingdom of God is near," cried John the Baptist as he heralded the coming ministry of our Lord Jesus. "You must be born-again if you want to see and enter the Kingdom of God," said Jesus to Nicodemas - a man learned in the law. Something brand-new must take place, and the One who was to usher in the Kingdom was here.
Ill-gotten treasures. They are the things based on self-serving worldly values. Not just money - but things like popularity, promotion, and public esteem. Or perhaps values lie in completely different areas like solitude, care-free living, uncomplicated life, and few responsibilities. In both categories we discover that the values are self-centered and are of no value in the greater purposes of God and His Kingdom. On the one hand, the subjects are ambitious and use their relationships to achieve their own self-serving goals. On the other hand, the subjects do not take any responsibility for their neighbor's well-being and avoid unwanted relationships all together. These values can even be found in the same person at different stages in one's life. One can spend one's 'productive years' pursuing ambitious values of accumulating money, and then one's latter years pursuing solitude in enjoying what the ambitious years produced. (Sounds like the American dream - doesn't it?) All the while, there has been little or no real value accomplished in God's Kingdom.
Righteousness. Righteousness comes by believing God and then responding with appropriate behavior. "Abraham believed God, and is was credited to him as righteousness." (Gen. 15:6, Rom. 4:3 & Gal. 3:6). In the narrative, it was through Abraham that the covenant of God's promise that "all nations will be blessed through you" came about. Abraham wasn't a perfect man - he had many faults and the narrative of the Bible is very honest in revealing them. But - Abraham believed God and grew to set his values accordingly. The promised blessing to Abraham ultimately came in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, in Him, we are righteous, and we are called to believe Him and to follow Him in restoring and developing relationships for no greater purpose than to serve and to bless others. The real treasures in this world are the eternal things - the Word of God and the souls of people. That is where Jesus invested His time, talent and treasures - and His very life. That is where Jesus calls us to invest ourselves. When we invest ourselves in God's Word and in the lives of others, there our hearts will be also.
Cain, the life-taker asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Jesus, the life-giver answered, "Love your neighbor as your self."
Friday, August 8, 2008
August 9
Aug 9 - Today from Proverbs 9 we look at verse 13
"The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge."
The Teacher uses the literary technique of personification to better clarify the attributes of foolishness. Folly is the characterization of the attitude of foolishness in man. The first thing we note is that Folly is loud. She must be loud in order to drown out the voice of proper reason. People who indulge in an area of foolishness appear to be void of any semblance sound reasoning in that area.
Back in the early 60s, when I was at the tender age of about thirteen or fourteen, I was determined to take up smoking. I am not sure why. I guess because it was a 'grown-up' thing to do, and it was impressive amongst my peer group. This is the loud voice of folly. I never thought about the fact that I was lighting some mildly toxic plants on fire and intentionally sucking the tar-laden smoke into my nice pink lungs. The first few times I tried, my body fought against the notion. My lungs rejected the acrid smoke by coughing. My brain tried to signal me that there was something unnatural about this as I became a bit dizzy. But I persevered, and overcame the objections of my physical body. I soon joined the impressive ranks of the smokers in our society - but I still couldn't do it openly because it was against the law at my age and my parents would never approve of such behavior. Boy - talk about rejecting sound reasoning. . .
As years went by, the medical profession noticed that the majority of lung cancer victims were heavy smokers. They conducted controlled studies and discovered that smoking was not only the leading cause of lung cancer, but of heart disease as well. In fact, smoking was a very harmful habit to the human body. What a surprise for the unsuspecting public! Imagine, lighting a tar-laden, drug-laced (nicotine is a drug), substance on fire and sucking the smoke into one's lungs on a regular basis might be harmful! Who would have thought? "Get thou behind me, sound reasoning!" Fortunately for me, Folly was at my side shouting all the louder, "The Surgeon General be damned! He never conducted his studies on your body. Not everyone who smokes dies of lung cancer. You can smoke if you want." - And I wanted. "Thank you Folly. You're such a true and agreeable friend. You always have a way of allowing me to live my life the way I want."
Over fifteen years later, at the age of thirty, I met the Lord Jesus for real, and in His grace He delivered me from smoking. I don't know why me and not others. I have numerous Christian friends who truly love the Lord, and they continue to struggle with the habit. I can tell you this though, they regret having ever started the habit.
I use this personal experience only as an example. I do not condemn smokers - I still have my own areas of foolishness that I have to struggle with. It is so appealing to listen to the loud voice of Folly rather than the still small voice of sound reasoning which abides in every believer. The voice is that of the Holy Spirit, and one way He speaks is through our conscience. Our conscience is fortified with knowledge of God and is the source of discipline in our walk with the Lord. Folly is undisciplined because she either avoids or ignores the knowledge of God. As one develops such knowledge and discipline, Folly looses her voice and diminishes.
Folly entices people to live for themselves, and to live for today. Such people ignore the voice of sound reasoning. Reasoning provides for the future. The foolish either avoid thinking about the future; or, they believe that they are the exception to the future consequences of foolish living; or, they believe they can handle the future as it comes. They continue court and frolic with Folly as she leads them down the merry, carefree path of life. "But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave." (vs. 18). This is not only true of the end of their physical lives - but the foolish are actually the walking dead. They are separated from useful and purposeful living, and are spending themselves into nothingness rather than investing themselves into the lives of others, into the future - and even into eternity. As believers, we are to renew ourselves in the knowledge of God, and repent of dead works. We need grace to live in such a manner, and He offers abundant grace in Christ Jesus.
"The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge."
The Teacher uses the literary technique of personification to better clarify the attributes of foolishness. Folly is the characterization of the attitude of foolishness in man. The first thing we note is that Folly is loud. She must be loud in order to drown out the voice of proper reason. People who indulge in an area of foolishness appear to be void of any semblance sound reasoning in that area.
Back in the early 60s, when I was at the tender age of about thirteen or fourteen, I was determined to take up smoking. I am not sure why. I guess because it was a 'grown-up' thing to do, and it was impressive amongst my peer group. This is the loud voice of folly. I never thought about the fact that I was lighting some mildly toxic plants on fire and intentionally sucking the tar-laden smoke into my nice pink lungs. The first few times I tried, my body fought against the notion. My lungs rejected the acrid smoke by coughing. My brain tried to signal me that there was something unnatural about this as I became a bit dizzy. But I persevered, and overcame the objections of my physical body. I soon joined the impressive ranks of the smokers in our society - but I still couldn't do it openly because it was against the law at my age and my parents would never approve of such behavior. Boy - talk about rejecting sound reasoning. . .
As years went by, the medical profession noticed that the majority of lung cancer victims were heavy smokers. They conducted controlled studies and discovered that smoking was not only the leading cause of lung cancer, but of heart disease as well. In fact, smoking was a very harmful habit to the human body. What a surprise for the unsuspecting public! Imagine, lighting a tar-laden, drug-laced (nicotine is a drug), substance on fire and sucking the smoke into one's lungs on a regular basis might be harmful! Who would have thought? "Get thou behind me, sound reasoning!" Fortunately for me, Folly was at my side shouting all the louder, "The Surgeon General be damned! He never conducted his studies on your body. Not everyone who smokes dies of lung cancer. You can smoke if you want." - And I wanted. "Thank you Folly. You're such a true and agreeable friend. You always have a way of allowing me to live my life the way I want."
Over fifteen years later, at the age of thirty, I met the Lord Jesus for real, and in His grace He delivered me from smoking. I don't know why me and not others. I have numerous Christian friends who truly love the Lord, and they continue to struggle with the habit. I can tell you this though, they regret having ever started the habit.
I use this personal experience only as an example. I do not condemn smokers - I still have my own areas of foolishness that I have to struggle with. It is so appealing to listen to the loud voice of Folly rather than the still small voice of sound reasoning which abides in every believer. The voice is that of the Holy Spirit, and one way He speaks is through our conscience. Our conscience is fortified with knowledge of God and is the source of discipline in our walk with the Lord. Folly is undisciplined because she either avoids or ignores the knowledge of God. As one develops such knowledge and discipline, Folly looses her voice and diminishes.
Folly entices people to live for themselves, and to live for today. Such people ignore the voice of sound reasoning. Reasoning provides for the future. The foolish either avoid thinking about the future; or, they believe that they are the exception to the future consequences of foolish living; or, they believe they can handle the future as it comes. They continue court and frolic with Folly as she leads them down the merry, carefree path of life. "But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave." (vs. 18). This is not only true of the end of their physical lives - but the foolish are actually the walking dead. They are separated from useful and purposeful living, and are spending themselves into nothingness rather than investing themselves into the lives of others, into the future - and even into eternity. As believers, we are to renew ourselves in the knowledge of God, and repent of dead works. We need grace to live in such a manner, and He offers abundant grace in Christ Jesus.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
August 8
Aug 8 - Today from Proverbs 8 we look at verse 17
"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."
In chapter eight the Teacher utilizes the literary method of the personification of an inanimate object (wisdom), in order that the students may gain insights about wisdom from a different perspective. Verse 17 is wisdom speaking, not the Lord.
Chapter eight of Proverbs reveals three basic truths about wisdom; it teaches the extreme value of wisdom, it teaches that wisdom is established, and it teaches and that wisdom is hidden. It is important for the student to understand these truths as he processes life.
"I love those who love me . . ." The Hebrew word for love in this verse speaks of tender affection. It is more closely related to the Greek word phileo (brotherly love) than it is agape (unconditional love). In the Greek, phileo is a choice based upon more subjective values. Agape is a command. We first must develop an affection for wisdom before we can truly benefit from that which wisdom has to offer. (Just the opposite is true of the Lord. We must first receive what He has to offer before we can develop a tender affection for Him.) When we begin to realize the integrity of wisdom, the benefits of wisdom, and the value of wisdom, she indeed becomes an affectionate companion.
". . . and those who seek me find me." Wisdom is hidden. It is not hidden for the purpose of being kept from us. It is hidden from the inexperienced and immature mind because it is found only in experience and maturing. It is much like saying gems are hidden in the earth. They are hidden only because we have not yet been there. I once saw a documentary on a man who formed a theory that there were precious stones under the ice fields of the frozen north. His theory included visible clues that would help identify where the stones would have formed. He spent years, and invested his life savings in working out his theory - and it paid off. He became a very rich man. But, even after becoming richer than he had ever imagined, he continued searching the frozen wastelands for more. Not because of greed, but because he had developed an affection for the hunt. It gave him a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. The stones were hidden, but not for the purpose of being kept from the public. It's just that no one had been there yet. Someone developed an affection for finding them, diligently worked at it, and the stones were found. That's how it is with wisdom. It's right there for us, established before the foundation of the world (vs. 23). Once we develop an affection for it, and we become seekers of it - we will find it. It is found through experience. 'Book-learning' can be a 'visible clue' as to where the treasures of wisdom lie, but only experience will bring forth it's richness. I believe the old adage goes, "It is caught, not taught." If there is no affection for the pursuit, there will be no fruit. Failing is just as large a part of gaining wisdom as is success. Not every hole dug produces gemstones, but we can learn from every hole dug. Just the act of seeking is a part of the finding.
What are we to be seeking? This brings us to our simple definition of wisdom; "Understanding life the way God meant it to be."
Keep digging.
"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."
In chapter eight the Teacher utilizes the literary method of the personification of an inanimate object (wisdom), in order that the students may gain insights about wisdom from a different perspective. Verse 17 is wisdom speaking, not the Lord.
Chapter eight of Proverbs reveals three basic truths about wisdom; it teaches the extreme value of wisdom, it teaches that wisdom is established, and it teaches and that wisdom is hidden. It is important for the student to understand these truths as he processes life.
"I love those who love me . . ." The Hebrew word for love in this verse speaks of tender affection. It is more closely related to the Greek word phileo (brotherly love) than it is agape (unconditional love). In the Greek, phileo is a choice based upon more subjective values. Agape is a command. We first must develop an affection for wisdom before we can truly benefit from that which wisdom has to offer. (Just the opposite is true of the Lord. We must first receive what He has to offer before we can develop a tender affection for Him.) When we begin to realize the integrity of wisdom, the benefits of wisdom, and the value of wisdom, she indeed becomes an affectionate companion.
". . . and those who seek me find me." Wisdom is hidden. It is not hidden for the purpose of being kept from us. It is hidden from the inexperienced and immature mind because it is found only in experience and maturing. It is much like saying gems are hidden in the earth. They are hidden only because we have not yet been there. I once saw a documentary on a man who formed a theory that there were precious stones under the ice fields of the frozen north. His theory included visible clues that would help identify where the stones would have formed. He spent years, and invested his life savings in working out his theory - and it paid off. He became a very rich man. But, even after becoming richer than he had ever imagined, he continued searching the frozen wastelands for more. Not because of greed, but because he had developed an affection for the hunt. It gave him a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. The stones were hidden, but not for the purpose of being kept from the public. It's just that no one had been there yet. Someone developed an affection for finding them, diligently worked at it, and the stones were found. That's how it is with wisdom. It's right there for us, established before the foundation of the world (vs. 23). Once we develop an affection for it, and we become seekers of it - we will find it. It is found through experience. 'Book-learning' can be a 'visible clue' as to where the treasures of wisdom lie, but only experience will bring forth it's richness. I believe the old adage goes, "It is caught, not taught." If there is no affection for the pursuit, there will be no fruit. Failing is just as large a part of gaining wisdom as is success. Not every hole dug produces gemstones, but we can learn from every hole dug. Just the act of seeking is a part of the finding.
What are we to be seeking? This brings us to our simple definition of wisdom; "Understanding life the way God meant it to be."
Keep digging.
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