Song of Songs is a book of love, marriage and sex. This book was written by King Solomon as he writes of the intimacy between himself as the bridegroom and his bride. In our society, we have condoned the movement from love to lust; getting instead of giving; and a general lack of commitment, hence our high divorce rates. There are themes in this book that discuss sex, love, commitment, beauty and problems. Sex is God’s gift to creation. God wants sex to be motivated by love and commitment, not lust; for mutual pleasure, not self-gratification. Love is a powerful expression of feeling and commitment that should not be manipulative or prematurely encouraged in a relationship. The basis of true love is commitment; where there is genuine love, you won’t find fear of deceit, manipulation, or exploitation. Marriage is the celebration of daily commitment to each other. There is a misconception about beauty that plagues our society; physically attractive by superficial standards. Personality and moral purity are so often overlooked; a shame that lasting beauty is denied and transient beauty embraced. Sometimes problems arise in relationships; over time, feelings of indifference and loneliness entered into Solomon’s relationship with his wife. During those times, love grew cold and barriers were raised; as what happens in many relationships. Through careful communication, lovers can be reconciled, commitment can be renewed and romance refreshed. It is important to take care of problems while they are still small and not allow walls to come between you and your partner. Using languages of love is important for encouraging and appreciating the person you love. Telling your partner you love them is important as well as showing it. Lover says, “How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves…Beloved says: ‘How handsome you are, my lover! Oh how charming!’”(1:15, 16)
“Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.”(2:7) Feelings of love overpower your reason because feelings are not enough for a lasting relationship. This verse encourages us not to force romance where the love grows faster than the commitment needed to make love last. It’s important to patiently wait for feelings of love and commitment to develop together.
“All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves...I looked for him and I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves.”(3:2) The woman searched in the middle of the night for her love. When you love someone, you will do whatever it takes to ensure their safety and care for their needs at any cost.
“You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.”(4:15) Solomon’s bride was refreshing like a fountain. Do you refresh your significant other or do you complain, or focus on negativity and problems? Partners should continually work at refreshing each other by an encouraging word, and unexpected gift, a change of pace, a surprise note, or even having attention to timing to respect the other person’s needs. The rest of the world is not so refreshing; so being a haven for your partner is a great gift and way to keep your relationship healthy and growing.
“His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my lover, this my friend.”(5:16) The bride calls Solomon her friend. Can you call your significant other your best friend? In a healthy marriage or relationship, the lovers are great friends. Taking the time to develop a deep friendship is important before allowing feelings of love and passion to drive you into marriage too early. Being friends involves listening, sharing, and showing understanding for the other’s likes and dislikes. Friendship takes time, but it makes a love relationship much deeper and far more satisfying.
“But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.”(8:12) Solomon’s bride willingly gave Solomon the fruit of her property. In a good marriage, there is no private property; there are no secrets. Everything should be shared between the partners. Devotion and commitment were the foundational components of this marriage and were the reasons that even through many trials; they honored each other. The faithfulness of our marital love should be a reflection of God’s perfect faithfulness to us.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Ecclesiastes 1-12
Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes to describe that life apart from God is meaningless. Solomon was the wisest man ever known; he studied, taught, judged, and wrote. Kings and leaders traveled from afar to learn from him. Solomon had Godly wisdom and insight on life, but he failed to take his own advice and began a downward spiral in his own life. Solomon looked back on his life with an attitude of humility and repentance. He was hoping to spare his readers the bitterness of learning through his personal experience that life without God is empty and meaningless. In this book, Solomon affirms the value of knowledge, relationships, work, and pleasure, but only in their proper place according to God’s will.
Isn’t it interesting the amount of searching we do? True happiness is not in our power to accumulate or attain because we always want more than we can have. People continue to search, yet the more they try to get, the more they realize how little they really have. Without God, satisfaction is a lost search. Human wisdom doesn’t have all the answers. Knowledge and education have their limits. To really understand life and purpose is to seek the wisdom only God can give you. In order to have God’s wisdom in our lives, we first need to get to know him and honor him.
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”(1:9) Many people feel dissatisfied and restless. People wonder and worry; If I am in God’s will, why am I so tired and unfulfilled? What is the meaning of life? Why do I feel burned out? What is to become of me? Solomon tests our faith challenging us to find true and lasting meaning in God alone.
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done, and what I toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”(2:10) Solomon highlights two kinds of wisdom; 1)Human knowledge, reasoning, or philosophy and 2) the wisdom that comes from God. Solomon summarizes that attempts at finding life’s meaning as “chasing after the wind”. In all our accomplishments, our good feelings are only temporary. Security and self-worth are not found in these accomplishments, and can easily feel like we are “chasing after the wind.” True enjoyment in life comes only as we follow God’s guidelines for living. Those who really know how to enjoy life are the ones who take life each day as a gift from God, being grateful and serving him.
“Again I saw something meaningless under the sun; there was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth….two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work...if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?”(4:8, 9, 11) Life is created for companionship; not isolation and for intimacy; not loneliness. We are not placed on this earth to serve ourselves; but to serve God and others. Beware of isolating yourself and going at life alone. Becoming a team player and having good companionship make our time here meaningful.
“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”(5:10) Do you find yourself constantly wanting more than you have? Solomon observed that those who love money and seek it obsessively never find the happiness is falsely promises. Money in itself is not wrong; but loving money leads to all types of sin.
“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”(7:8) To finish what we start requires hard work, wise guidance, self-discipline, and patience. Anyone with vision can start a project; but vision without wisdom often results in unfinished projects and goals.
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love…whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”(9:9) How sad it would be to be married and not appreciate the enjoyment and companionship God has given you.
“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”(11:4) Waiting for perfect circumstances will lead to inactivity. Have you had someone tell you that their life is on hold until this or that; or before making a decision, they are waiting to have a certain amount of money in their bank account? If we wait for the perfect time and place, we may never begin. Take steps to do something today. Don’t wait for conditions that may never exist and waste your life. It is important to approach your decisions from God’s perspective; approach life with an attitude that although our lives are short; we will live with God forever.
“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, whether it is good or evil.”(12:13) Our time on earth is so short, we should use the time to learn important truths that will affect this life and eternity. No matter the mysteries and contradictions of life, we must work toward the single purpose of knowing God. We should enjoy our lives as it is a gift from God and love him with all our hearts, minds and souls by following his commandments. In order to live properly, we must, recognize that human effort apart from God is futile; put God first now; receive everything that is good as a gift from God; realize that God will judge both evil and good; know that God will judge the quality of every person’s life. People strive for the very enjoyment that God gives for free, as a gift; isn’t that ironic?
Isn’t it interesting the amount of searching we do? True happiness is not in our power to accumulate or attain because we always want more than we can have. People continue to search, yet the more they try to get, the more they realize how little they really have. Without God, satisfaction is a lost search. Human wisdom doesn’t have all the answers. Knowledge and education have their limits. To really understand life and purpose is to seek the wisdom only God can give you. In order to have God’s wisdom in our lives, we first need to get to know him and honor him.
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”(1:9) Many people feel dissatisfied and restless. People wonder and worry; If I am in God’s will, why am I so tired and unfulfilled? What is the meaning of life? Why do I feel burned out? What is to become of me? Solomon tests our faith challenging us to find true and lasting meaning in God alone.
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done, and what I toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”(2:10) Solomon highlights two kinds of wisdom; 1)Human knowledge, reasoning, or philosophy and 2) the wisdom that comes from God. Solomon summarizes that attempts at finding life’s meaning as “chasing after the wind”. In all our accomplishments, our good feelings are only temporary. Security and self-worth are not found in these accomplishments, and can easily feel like we are “chasing after the wind.” True enjoyment in life comes only as we follow God’s guidelines for living. Those who really know how to enjoy life are the ones who take life each day as a gift from God, being grateful and serving him.
“Again I saw something meaningless under the sun; there was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth….two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work...if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?”(4:8, 9, 11) Life is created for companionship; not isolation and for intimacy; not loneliness. We are not placed on this earth to serve ourselves; but to serve God and others. Beware of isolating yourself and going at life alone. Becoming a team player and having good companionship make our time here meaningful.
“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”(5:10) Do you find yourself constantly wanting more than you have? Solomon observed that those who love money and seek it obsessively never find the happiness is falsely promises. Money in itself is not wrong; but loving money leads to all types of sin.
“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”(7:8) To finish what we start requires hard work, wise guidance, self-discipline, and patience. Anyone with vision can start a project; but vision without wisdom often results in unfinished projects and goals.
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love…whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”(9:9) How sad it would be to be married and not appreciate the enjoyment and companionship God has given you.
“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”(11:4) Waiting for perfect circumstances will lead to inactivity. Have you had someone tell you that their life is on hold until this or that; or before making a decision, they are waiting to have a certain amount of money in their bank account? If we wait for the perfect time and place, we may never begin. Take steps to do something today. Don’t wait for conditions that may never exist and waste your life. It is important to approach your decisions from God’s perspective; approach life with an attitude that although our lives are short; we will live with God forever.
“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, whether it is good or evil.”(12:13) Our time on earth is so short, we should use the time to learn important truths that will affect this life and eternity. No matter the mysteries and contradictions of life, we must work toward the single purpose of knowing God. We should enjoy our lives as it is a gift from God and love him with all our hearts, minds and souls by following his commandments. In order to live properly, we must, recognize that human effort apart from God is futile; put God first now; receive everything that is good as a gift from God; realize that God will judge both evil and good; know that God will judge the quality of every person’s life. People strive for the very enjoyment that God gives for free, as a gift; isn’t that ironic?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Proverbs 21-31
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.”(Proverbs 23:11) Our culture would have us believe that riches lead to happiness. Of course not all, but most celebrities with fame and fortune are the unhappy of all and cause their own demise with the constant “chase”. Done spend your time chasing fleeting earthly treasures.
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor...Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding…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…In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.”(23:20, 23, 29, 32, 33) To some, alcohol is comforting or an excuse to drop inhibitions and behave according to animal instinct without rational thought. Real relief and comfort comes from dealing with the cause of the anguish and sorrow and turning to God for peace. You can lose yourself in alcohol; and you can find yourself in God. The Bible warns the dangers of wine. Wine dulls the senses; limits clear judgment; it lowers the capacity for control; it destroys a person’s efficiency. Wine is a means for self-indulgence, or as an escape from life. I have witnessed people in bars who were “respectable and of sound judgment” until they decided to indulge and become drunk. To watch a strong individual give in so easily to temptation and weakness is a sad sight. The people that claim they have the most fun when they are drinking leads me to wonder if they know what “fun” really means and if they ever uncover the buried painful emotions that they are desperately trying to run away from. Alcohol will never be a means to a healthy end. Beware of seeking numbness and hardening your heart so that in time; it becomes challenging to give and receive love.
“If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!”(24:10) Times of struggle and trouble can show you who you are; what type of character you’ve developed. Trouble can be a great thing. Difficulty helps you grow stronger. Complaining of your troubles only actualized your weakness in overcoming the trial to experience the joy. Instead, consider good times and bad times blessings because God is preparing you for situations He needs you to be strong for in the future. It’s like experiencing growing pains; sure when you were a child you wouldn’t wish those feelings on your worst enemy; but then again, how will you relate to your children or others who experience similar growing pains had you not gone through what you did. This is when it is always important to remember God’s good purposes for allowing circumstances in your life; when we remember this life “is not all about me” and realize that God equips us to help another in their circumstance; we begin to realize why things may have happened to us.
“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”(24:26) One who gives an honest answer is a true friend; bending the truth to avoid hurt feelings will only hurt your friend more. Have you had a friend speak honestly and freely to you and you knew it was the truth even though you didn’t like hearing it? It doesn’t feel great when someone holds a mirror to your face and challenges you to evaluate your weaknesses; but this is part of true friendship. When you love someone; you encourage them to see the truth and make changes on their own accord when necessary. When people want the sugar coated version of the truth; it is usually because they aren’t ready to do something about the truth or ready to even hear it.
“Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.”(25:13) Trustworthy friends and coworkers are hard to come by in our world; fair-weathered acquaintances are much easier with the rise of easy communication through technology. A faithful messenger is punctual, responsible, honest, and hardworking.
“Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.”(25:18) False testimony or lying is vicious. Its affects can cut like a stab wound. When we are tempted to gossip about someone, we should imagine ourselves stabbing the person we care about with a sword because that is the way it feels when the gossip has been discovered.
God’s word is God’s gift to us. We know Him through His word and in studying the Bible, His word speaks to us. God can communicate in more ways than one and it is important to realize that His word is our guide; but in order to understand and apply His word, you’ll need the Holy Spirit to direct how the word is meaningful for you and in your particular situations. For instance, in Proverbs, there seems to be a contradiction in the word. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.”(26:4) The very next line reads, “answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.”(26:5) Although seemingly contradictory, it is important to realize that this is precisely the reason you need the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read the word so that you’ll know which truth applies to you and at which time. You may use both truths with 2 different people; or both for the same person on two different days. It is impossible to apply God’s word without the Holy Spirit for times like this when you don’t know which path is the wiser of the two.
Here are four different tongues. The controlled tongue: those that think before speaking, know when silence is best, and give wise advice. The caring tongue: those who speak truthfully while seeking to encourage. The conniving tongue: filled with wrong motives, gossip, slander, and a desire to twist the truth. The careless tongue: patterns of speech filled with lies, curses, quick-tempered words that can lead to rebellion and destruction.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”(27:17) Meeting of the minds helps people see their ideas with new clarity to shape them into brilliant insights. To gain such mental sharpness is to place yourself in the presence of those who challenge you and stimulate thought. People who can free themselves of ego and immerse themselves in openly sharing in discussion; this occurs with people who learn how to argue the thought and not the thinker. Two people who selflessly bring together their ideas can help each other become sharper.
Diligence versus Laziness: The Diligent: Become rich, gather crops early will rule, prize their possessions, are fully satisfied, bring profit, have an easy path, stay awake and have food to spare, make careful plans, give without sparing, reap abundance through hard work. The lazy: are soon poor, sleep during harvest, are an annoyance, chase fantasies, will become slaves, waste good resources, want much but get little, experience poverty, have trouble all their life, love sleep and grow poor, love pleasure and become poor, desire things but refuse to work for them, sleep too much which leads to poverty, experience poverty because of laziness.
“If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.”(28:9) God will not listen to our prayers if we secretly intent to go back to our sin as soon as we get off our knees; we can’t keep secrets from an all-knowing God. It is not the depth of our sin that closes God’s ear to our prayer, but the intention to repeat the sin over and over again.
“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”(28:13) It is hard to admit we are wrong at times. Have you met someone where you can’t remember ever hearing them willingly admit to a wrongdoing? Have you been that person? It is easy to admire someone who openly and graciously admits their mistakes. These people have a strong self-image. They do not always have to be right to feel good about themselves. Be willing to reconsider and admit to being wrong. The first step toward forgiveness is confession.
Qualities of Good Leadership: diligence, trustworthy messengers, listen before answering, able to discern, listen to both sides of the story, stand up under adversity, able to stand up under praise. What happens without good leadership: honoring the wrong people backfires, a wicked ruler is dangerous, and people despair.
“A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.”(29:1) Making the same mistake over and over again is not only foolish and a waste of time, but also an invitation to disaster. People will face consequences when they refuse to learn the lessons from mistakes.
“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”(29:11) Have you ever seen someone you thought really had it together and then they lost their temper and gave in to looking ridiculous in their own anger? Did their credibility come down in your eyes? We are witnesses to those around us; God is always watching our behavior. It doesn’t matter how many great deeds you do; when we lose our tempers and give way to anger against another, deserving or not according to us, we lose all our credibility as a trustworthy and sound individual.
“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise; Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.”(30:24) Ants teach us about preparation; coneys about wise building; locusts about cooperation and order; and lizards about fearlessness.
The book of Proverbs ends with a picture of a woman of strong character, great wisdom, many skills, and great compassion. “The wife of Noble Character” is described in the Epilogue as an excellent wife and mother. She is a manufacturer, importer, manager, realtor, farmer, seamstress, upholsterer, and merchant. The results of her strength are described as achievements because of her reverence for God. Her attractiveness comes entirely from her character; not outside appearance. “A wife of noble character who can find? Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm. She works with eager hands. She provides food for her family…her arms are strong for her tasks. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. “(31:10-31) Her qualities are hard work, fear of God, respect for spouse, foresight, encouragement, care for others, concern for the poor, wisdom in handling money, successes, honor, and worth.
Proverbs show us how to become wise and live according to God’s wisdom. It helps us make decisions and live according to God’s ideal.
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor...Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding…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…In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.”(23:20, 23, 29, 32, 33) To some, alcohol is comforting or an excuse to drop inhibitions and behave according to animal instinct without rational thought. Real relief and comfort comes from dealing with the cause of the anguish and sorrow and turning to God for peace. You can lose yourself in alcohol; and you can find yourself in God. The Bible warns the dangers of wine. Wine dulls the senses; limits clear judgment; it lowers the capacity for control; it destroys a person’s efficiency. Wine is a means for self-indulgence, or as an escape from life. I have witnessed people in bars who were “respectable and of sound judgment” until they decided to indulge and become drunk. To watch a strong individual give in so easily to temptation and weakness is a sad sight. The people that claim they have the most fun when they are drinking leads me to wonder if they know what “fun” really means and if they ever uncover the buried painful emotions that they are desperately trying to run away from. Alcohol will never be a means to a healthy end. Beware of seeking numbness and hardening your heart so that in time; it becomes challenging to give and receive love.
“If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!”(24:10) Times of struggle and trouble can show you who you are; what type of character you’ve developed. Trouble can be a great thing. Difficulty helps you grow stronger. Complaining of your troubles only actualized your weakness in overcoming the trial to experience the joy. Instead, consider good times and bad times blessings because God is preparing you for situations He needs you to be strong for in the future. It’s like experiencing growing pains; sure when you were a child you wouldn’t wish those feelings on your worst enemy; but then again, how will you relate to your children or others who experience similar growing pains had you not gone through what you did. This is when it is always important to remember God’s good purposes for allowing circumstances in your life; when we remember this life “is not all about me” and realize that God equips us to help another in their circumstance; we begin to realize why things may have happened to us.
“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”(24:26) One who gives an honest answer is a true friend; bending the truth to avoid hurt feelings will only hurt your friend more. Have you had a friend speak honestly and freely to you and you knew it was the truth even though you didn’t like hearing it? It doesn’t feel great when someone holds a mirror to your face and challenges you to evaluate your weaknesses; but this is part of true friendship. When you love someone; you encourage them to see the truth and make changes on their own accord when necessary. When people want the sugar coated version of the truth; it is usually because they aren’t ready to do something about the truth or ready to even hear it.
“Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.”(25:13) Trustworthy friends and coworkers are hard to come by in our world; fair-weathered acquaintances are much easier with the rise of easy communication through technology. A faithful messenger is punctual, responsible, honest, and hardworking.
“Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.”(25:18) False testimony or lying is vicious. Its affects can cut like a stab wound. When we are tempted to gossip about someone, we should imagine ourselves stabbing the person we care about with a sword because that is the way it feels when the gossip has been discovered.
God’s word is God’s gift to us. We know Him through His word and in studying the Bible, His word speaks to us. God can communicate in more ways than one and it is important to realize that His word is our guide; but in order to understand and apply His word, you’ll need the Holy Spirit to direct how the word is meaningful for you and in your particular situations. For instance, in Proverbs, there seems to be a contradiction in the word. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.”(26:4) The very next line reads, “answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.”(26:5) Although seemingly contradictory, it is important to realize that this is precisely the reason you need the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read the word so that you’ll know which truth applies to you and at which time. You may use both truths with 2 different people; or both for the same person on two different days. It is impossible to apply God’s word without the Holy Spirit for times like this when you don’t know which path is the wiser of the two.
Here are four different tongues. The controlled tongue: those that think before speaking, know when silence is best, and give wise advice. The caring tongue: those who speak truthfully while seeking to encourage. The conniving tongue: filled with wrong motives, gossip, slander, and a desire to twist the truth. The careless tongue: patterns of speech filled with lies, curses, quick-tempered words that can lead to rebellion and destruction.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”(27:17) Meeting of the minds helps people see their ideas with new clarity to shape them into brilliant insights. To gain such mental sharpness is to place yourself in the presence of those who challenge you and stimulate thought. People who can free themselves of ego and immerse themselves in openly sharing in discussion; this occurs with people who learn how to argue the thought and not the thinker. Two people who selflessly bring together their ideas can help each other become sharper.
Diligence versus Laziness: The Diligent: Become rich, gather crops early will rule, prize their possessions, are fully satisfied, bring profit, have an easy path, stay awake and have food to spare, make careful plans, give without sparing, reap abundance through hard work. The lazy: are soon poor, sleep during harvest, are an annoyance, chase fantasies, will become slaves, waste good resources, want much but get little, experience poverty, have trouble all their life, love sleep and grow poor, love pleasure and become poor, desire things but refuse to work for them, sleep too much which leads to poverty, experience poverty because of laziness.
“If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.”(28:9) God will not listen to our prayers if we secretly intent to go back to our sin as soon as we get off our knees; we can’t keep secrets from an all-knowing God. It is not the depth of our sin that closes God’s ear to our prayer, but the intention to repeat the sin over and over again.
“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”(28:13) It is hard to admit we are wrong at times. Have you met someone where you can’t remember ever hearing them willingly admit to a wrongdoing? Have you been that person? It is easy to admire someone who openly and graciously admits their mistakes. These people have a strong self-image. They do not always have to be right to feel good about themselves. Be willing to reconsider and admit to being wrong. The first step toward forgiveness is confession.
Qualities of Good Leadership: diligence, trustworthy messengers, listen before answering, able to discern, listen to both sides of the story, stand up under adversity, able to stand up under praise. What happens without good leadership: honoring the wrong people backfires, a wicked ruler is dangerous, and people despair.
“A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.”(29:1) Making the same mistake over and over again is not only foolish and a waste of time, but also an invitation to disaster. People will face consequences when they refuse to learn the lessons from mistakes.
“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”(29:11) Have you ever seen someone you thought really had it together and then they lost their temper and gave in to looking ridiculous in their own anger? Did their credibility come down in your eyes? We are witnesses to those around us; God is always watching our behavior. It doesn’t matter how many great deeds you do; when we lose our tempers and give way to anger against another, deserving or not according to us, we lose all our credibility as a trustworthy and sound individual.
“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise; Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.”(30:24) Ants teach us about preparation; coneys about wise building; locusts about cooperation and order; and lizards about fearlessness.
The book of Proverbs ends with a picture of a woman of strong character, great wisdom, many skills, and great compassion. “The wife of Noble Character” is described in the Epilogue as an excellent wife and mother. She is a manufacturer, importer, manager, realtor, farmer, seamstress, upholsterer, and merchant. The results of her strength are described as achievements because of her reverence for God. Her attractiveness comes entirely from her character; not outside appearance. “A wife of noble character who can find? Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm. She works with eager hands. She provides food for her family…her arms are strong for her tasks. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. “(31:10-31) Her qualities are hard work, fear of God, respect for spouse, foresight, encouragement, care for others, concern for the poor, wisdom in handling money, successes, honor, and worth.
Proverbs show us how to become wise and live according to God’s wisdom. It helps us make decisions and live according to God’s ideal.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Proverbs 11-20
People are funny about money. Here is God’s advice about money: Be generous in giving, place people’s needs ahead of profit, be cautious of countersigning for another, don’t accept bribes, help the poor, store up for the future, and be careful about borrowing.
“The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death.”(11:19) Righteous people attain life by living more fully each day. When you live right with proper diet, exercise, balance and rest; you will find that you will lead a more meaningful life. Taking care of ourselves physically is important; our bodies are our temples and we honor God when we honor our bodies. That means being cautious to what we put in our bodies. We must also develop our ability to think; God gave us a mind for a reason and like nourishment to our bodies; our minds require proper nourishment as well. This means avoiding subjecting your thoughts to things that cloud your mind, bring confusion, cause anger, arouse lust, generate greed and so forth. It’s always important to guard our hearts and our minds against evil.
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”(12:1) A wise person is a model of a meaningful life. Their sense of purpose attracts others who long for the same thing. Years of schooling are a waste of time for someone without desire to learn. If you embrace being taught; there is no end to what you are able to learn. Being willing to accept discipline and correction, learning from people’s mistakes and learning from the wisdom of others will allow you to apply wisdom. A person who declines constructive criticism has issues with pride usually and such a person is likely to learn little. The efforts of the wise stand against the test of time; real success comes to those who do what is right. Knowing how to do what is right comes from wisdom only God can give. “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”(12:15) Taking advice from trusted counsel and those who have God’s work embedded in their hearts are a great way to see the truth in a bed of lies. Reach out and seek such counsel when you notice your life taking a different turn; or a change in your attitude toward negativity. God may send someone in your path to speak His truth and help free you from bondage. Wise learners: quietly accept instruction and criticism, love discipline, listen to advice, accept parents’ discipline, profit from constructive rebuke; while foolish failures ignore instruction, hate correction, think they need no advice, and self-destruct by refusing rebuke.
“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”(13:3) The tongue is one of the smallest appendages in the body and the one that can cause the most damage. Do not take words lightly; words can bring ruin to yourself and everyone around you. You have not mastered self-control if you do not control what you say and how you say it. It is important to stop and think before you react or speak. When you learn to control the tongue, you learn to control the rest of your body. Have you had an argument with someone and said things you later regretted? We all have. Have you considered what you could have done differently to avoid that feeling of regret in the future? Holding your tongue is a good start. Saying nothing far outweighs saying something hurtful that bears no merit. If you must correct someone’s behavior; doing so with love, kindness, compassion and truth is what God calls us to do; not take out our own wrath to satisfy our own egos.
“Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”(13:10) When we make choices for good, those choices breed other opportunities for good; evil choices have the same pattern in the opposite direction. Obedience brings the greatest safety and security; the right choices reflect your integrity and bring you closer to God who will care for you better than you can care for yourself. Admitting we are wrong and seeking help through advice can be difficult for people, especially those immersed in their own egos and pride. Admitting to being wrong requires humility and leads to freedom. Humility heals and pride stirs up conflict. Be willing to admit to your mistakes and ask others to help you when you need it; we were not meant to live our lives alone and living in community requires both these actions to live well. God gives the best advice. The only way to know his advice is to study what he says by reading his word and seeking advice of those who know his word as well. Since God created us; he knows us and loves us better than we can do for ourselves and it only makes sense to listen to his instructions and do what he says since he is our manufacturer. Like operating a car, we will “run right” when we follow the owner’s manual; in this case it is God’s word. Proud people take little account of their weaknesses and do not anticipate road blocks. These people are easily tripped up when things don’t work out according to their plan. Proud people seldom realize that pride is their problem interesting enough; although most people around them would concur pride is the culprit. Ask someone you trust whether self-satisfaction has blinded you to obvious warning signs. That person may help you avoid a fall.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”(14:12) If someone tells you to take the path of least resistance, or “if it’s right, it will be easy”, or flow down the stream merrily for life is but a dream; beware of taking an easy route that leads to ruin. Not all choices will be hard, but easy choices should prompt us to take a second look; for it may be the greatest trick to trap us. One little easy decision can lead to lifelong consequence as we’ve all experienced and seen in others’ journeys. Is the solution attractive because it allows me to be lazy? Because it doesn’t challenge me to change my life-style? Because it requires no moral restraints? Many times, the right choice often requires hard work and self-sacrifice. Don’t be enticed by false shortcuts that seem right but end in death. This death is not just literal; it could be death of a marriage, friendship, job, joy, etc.
The wise: help others with good advice, enjoy wisdom, seek knowledge, value wisdom above riches, respond to correction, pursue wisdom, trust in wisdom, keep peace, and stay on straight paths. The foolish: lack judgment, are gullible, pursue illusive dreams, are proud and arrogant, repeat their mistakes, trust in themselves, unleash their anger, lash out when discovered in their mistakes, walk a troublesome path, and persist in their foolishness.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed…he who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.”(15:22, 32) People with tunnel vision; those who are so close minded they couldn’t see the truth if it slapped them in the face are likely to miss the right road because they have closed their minds to any new options and insist their way is right. We need the help of those who can broaden our vision and perspective. Seeking out the advice of those who know you and have a wealth of experience is not a weakness but a strength. Building a network of advisors is encouraged. Being open to new ideas and being willing to weigh their suggestions carefully will lead to stronger plans that move toward success.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”(16:4) The final outcome of all our plans are ultimately in God’s hands. Does that mean we shouldn’t make plans? No. On the contrary, like any relationship, we are involved in equal partnership with a balance between our efforts and God’s control. He gave us minds to use, the humility to seek advice from others and the capability to plan for good reason. Use all the resources you have and entrust the final results to him. People fall short of doing this by giving excuses. People can rationalize anything and create ways for their own version of right and wrong. Before putting ANY plan into action, consider these questions: 1) Is this plan in harmony with God’s truth? 2) Will it work under real life conditions? 3) Is my attitude pleasing to God? Here is a good balance for being in an equal partnership with God in making plans: Trust God as if everything depended on him and work as if everything depending on you. Think of all your plans and then ask yourself; have you committed it to the Lord?
“Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.”(16:32) Self-control outweighs conquest. Success can be ruined by losing control of your temper. Most people can feel their anger rise toward explosion if it gets that far; in this very moment it is important to realize that if you proceed to losing control, you may forfeit the very thing you want the most. Don’t allow anger to get the best of you because something didn’t go your way. Through trials and hardship, God reveals our character to us and clears out anything that gets in the way of completely trusting him. Through tough times, see God’s desire to refine your faith and purify your heart. Be careful in your arguments with others when you feel anger. It is tempting, especially in an argument, to bring up all the mistakes the other person has ever made. Love, however, keeps its mouth shut. Bringing things into arguments that are unrelated to the topic being discussed are usually said to satisfy your own ego and pride and to prove yourself right. As we grow in our faith in God, we acquire God’s ability to forgive and forget the sins of the past.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”(17:22) Such people who come with words of encouragement, positive thinking and words, and enthusiasm are pain-relieving medicine. Healing of the body is influenced heavily by the weights on our minds and in our hearts. Wallowing in self-pity causes chronic diseases. There is a reason for this. God urges us to trust him, to be his servants and we cannot do these things when we live as victims in self-pity. I believe that is the reason there are physical consequences we suffer when we allow our negative, evil and poisonous thoughts and emotions to consume our thoughts and actions. We are not here on earth simply for ourselves; God wants us to get out of ourselves and help another. He may have allowed a painful circumstance to happen to you so that you may be a witness to warn another, or help heal another who has experienced the same pain. When we get out of ourselves and realize we are not here for us; it will inspire the cheerful heart in you to reach out to others. “A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”(18:14)
“A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.”(17:24) Having big dreams comes with a warning; chasing fantasies and having wandering eyes and not having gratitude for the blessings God has already provided to you can lead to destruction and sadness. If you don’t behave that you appreciate what God has already done for you, what if he assumes you don’t want it and takes it away? Who will you have to blame for not cherishing what you had but yourself? It is far better to align your goals with God’s to be the kind of person he wants you to be. Wisdom, honesty, patience and love are great goals to have and they determine your eternal future; your life here on earth is finite. Though we must exercise responsibility and obedience in our time here, ultimately what truly matters is how we prepare to walk with God for all eternity; which is much longer than our lifetime!
“He who answers before listening; that is his folly and his shame.”(18:13) Here are three basic principles for making sound decisions: 1) Get the facts before answering; 2) Be open to new ideas; 3) Make sure you hear both sides of the story before judging. The only alternative to seeking additional information prior to making sound decisions is prejudice; judging before obtaining the facts. Difficult as it may be, and a test to your patience, before jumping into a decision, seeking additional information is always the best choice.
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”(18:22) Contrary to popular belief that marriage is obsolete and “playing the field” leads to more happiness, this verse states the opposite. God created marriage and stated it was good. Today’s emphasis on individual freedom is misguided. People think that freedom comes from living a life alone and strictly for oneself; but freedom comes from a life of self-sacrifice and living in relationship that provides groundwork to apply what selfless and giving truly mean. Strong individuals are important and so are strong marriages. God pronounced marriage good and created it for our enjoyment as well as his metaphor for the relationship between Christ and his people. Marriage and being single are gifts from God so long as the current state is being used to serve God and not yourself. Loneliness plagues our society. Have you been in a crowd and felt more lonely than if you were physically alone? It is better to have one friend or partner that sticks by your side when the going gets tough, listens and supports you, cares and offers love to you that to be in isolation or surrounded by fair-weathered friends that don’t provide any of these things. Seek to become a true friend or partner instead of wishing you could find it in another person; take on that challenge and see what God does.
“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.”(19:2) Have you felt like you were rushing into the unknown? Many people marry without knowing what to expect of their partner or of married life. Don’t rush into the unknown. Be sure you understand what you’re getting into and where you want to go before you take the first step. If it still seems unknown, be sure you are following God. It is good to love yourself in ways that protect yourself; not self-serving ways; but ways that allow you to seek wisdom.
“The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death.”(11:19) Righteous people attain life by living more fully each day. When you live right with proper diet, exercise, balance and rest; you will find that you will lead a more meaningful life. Taking care of ourselves physically is important; our bodies are our temples and we honor God when we honor our bodies. That means being cautious to what we put in our bodies. We must also develop our ability to think; God gave us a mind for a reason and like nourishment to our bodies; our minds require proper nourishment as well. This means avoiding subjecting your thoughts to things that cloud your mind, bring confusion, cause anger, arouse lust, generate greed and so forth. It’s always important to guard our hearts and our minds against evil.
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”(12:1) A wise person is a model of a meaningful life. Their sense of purpose attracts others who long for the same thing. Years of schooling are a waste of time for someone without desire to learn. If you embrace being taught; there is no end to what you are able to learn. Being willing to accept discipline and correction, learning from people’s mistakes and learning from the wisdom of others will allow you to apply wisdom. A person who declines constructive criticism has issues with pride usually and such a person is likely to learn little. The efforts of the wise stand against the test of time; real success comes to those who do what is right. Knowing how to do what is right comes from wisdom only God can give. “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”(12:15) Taking advice from trusted counsel and those who have God’s work embedded in their hearts are a great way to see the truth in a bed of lies. Reach out and seek such counsel when you notice your life taking a different turn; or a change in your attitude toward negativity. God may send someone in your path to speak His truth and help free you from bondage. Wise learners: quietly accept instruction and criticism, love discipline, listen to advice, accept parents’ discipline, profit from constructive rebuke; while foolish failures ignore instruction, hate correction, think they need no advice, and self-destruct by refusing rebuke.
“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”(13:3) The tongue is one of the smallest appendages in the body and the one that can cause the most damage. Do not take words lightly; words can bring ruin to yourself and everyone around you. You have not mastered self-control if you do not control what you say and how you say it. It is important to stop and think before you react or speak. When you learn to control the tongue, you learn to control the rest of your body. Have you had an argument with someone and said things you later regretted? We all have. Have you considered what you could have done differently to avoid that feeling of regret in the future? Holding your tongue is a good start. Saying nothing far outweighs saying something hurtful that bears no merit. If you must correct someone’s behavior; doing so with love, kindness, compassion and truth is what God calls us to do; not take out our own wrath to satisfy our own egos.
“Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”(13:10) When we make choices for good, those choices breed other opportunities for good; evil choices have the same pattern in the opposite direction. Obedience brings the greatest safety and security; the right choices reflect your integrity and bring you closer to God who will care for you better than you can care for yourself. Admitting we are wrong and seeking help through advice can be difficult for people, especially those immersed in their own egos and pride. Admitting to being wrong requires humility and leads to freedom. Humility heals and pride stirs up conflict. Be willing to admit to your mistakes and ask others to help you when you need it; we were not meant to live our lives alone and living in community requires both these actions to live well. God gives the best advice. The only way to know his advice is to study what he says by reading his word and seeking advice of those who know his word as well. Since God created us; he knows us and loves us better than we can do for ourselves and it only makes sense to listen to his instructions and do what he says since he is our manufacturer. Like operating a car, we will “run right” when we follow the owner’s manual; in this case it is God’s word. Proud people take little account of their weaknesses and do not anticipate road blocks. These people are easily tripped up when things don’t work out according to their plan. Proud people seldom realize that pride is their problem interesting enough; although most people around them would concur pride is the culprit. Ask someone you trust whether self-satisfaction has blinded you to obvious warning signs. That person may help you avoid a fall.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”(14:12) If someone tells you to take the path of least resistance, or “if it’s right, it will be easy”, or flow down the stream merrily for life is but a dream; beware of taking an easy route that leads to ruin. Not all choices will be hard, but easy choices should prompt us to take a second look; for it may be the greatest trick to trap us. One little easy decision can lead to lifelong consequence as we’ve all experienced and seen in others’ journeys. Is the solution attractive because it allows me to be lazy? Because it doesn’t challenge me to change my life-style? Because it requires no moral restraints? Many times, the right choice often requires hard work and self-sacrifice. Don’t be enticed by false shortcuts that seem right but end in death. This death is not just literal; it could be death of a marriage, friendship, job, joy, etc.
The wise: help others with good advice, enjoy wisdom, seek knowledge, value wisdom above riches, respond to correction, pursue wisdom, trust in wisdom, keep peace, and stay on straight paths. The foolish: lack judgment, are gullible, pursue illusive dreams, are proud and arrogant, repeat their mistakes, trust in themselves, unleash their anger, lash out when discovered in their mistakes, walk a troublesome path, and persist in their foolishness.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed…he who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.”(15:22, 32) People with tunnel vision; those who are so close minded they couldn’t see the truth if it slapped them in the face are likely to miss the right road because they have closed their minds to any new options and insist their way is right. We need the help of those who can broaden our vision and perspective. Seeking out the advice of those who know you and have a wealth of experience is not a weakness but a strength. Building a network of advisors is encouraged. Being open to new ideas and being willing to weigh their suggestions carefully will lead to stronger plans that move toward success.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”(16:4) The final outcome of all our plans are ultimately in God’s hands. Does that mean we shouldn’t make plans? No. On the contrary, like any relationship, we are involved in equal partnership with a balance between our efforts and God’s control. He gave us minds to use, the humility to seek advice from others and the capability to plan for good reason. Use all the resources you have and entrust the final results to him. People fall short of doing this by giving excuses. People can rationalize anything and create ways for their own version of right and wrong. Before putting ANY plan into action, consider these questions: 1) Is this plan in harmony with God’s truth? 2) Will it work under real life conditions? 3) Is my attitude pleasing to God? Here is a good balance for being in an equal partnership with God in making plans: Trust God as if everything depended on him and work as if everything depending on you. Think of all your plans and then ask yourself; have you committed it to the Lord?
“Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.”(16:32) Self-control outweighs conquest. Success can be ruined by losing control of your temper. Most people can feel their anger rise toward explosion if it gets that far; in this very moment it is important to realize that if you proceed to losing control, you may forfeit the very thing you want the most. Don’t allow anger to get the best of you because something didn’t go your way. Through trials and hardship, God reveals our character to us and clears out anything that gets in the way of completely trusting him. Through tough times, see God’s desire to refine your faith and purify your heart. Be careful in your arguments with others when you feel anger. It is tempting, especially in an argument, to bring up all the mistakes the other person has ever made. Love, however, keeps its mouth shut. Bringing things into arguments that are unrelated to the topic being discussed are usually said to satisfy your own ego and pride and to prove yourself right. As we grow in our faith in God, we acquire God’s ability to forgive and forget the sins of the past.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”(17:22) Such people who come with words of encouragement, positive thinking and words, and enthusiasm are pain-relieving medicine. Healing of the body is influenced heavily by the weights on our minds and in our hearts. Wallowing in self-pity causes chronic diseases. There is a reason for this. God urges us to trust him, to be his servants and we cannot do these things when we live as victims in self-pity. I believe that is the reason there are physical consequences we suffer when we allow our negative, evil and poisonous thoughts and emotions to consume our thoughts and actions. We are not here on earth simply for ourselves; God wants us to get out of ourselves and help another. He may have allowed a painful circumstance to happen to you so that you may be a witness to warn another, or help heal another who has experienced the same pain. When we get out of ourselves and realize we are not here for us; it will inspire the cheerful heart in you to reach out to others. “A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”(18:14)
“A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.”(17:24) Having big dreams comes with a warning; chasing fantasies and having wandering eyes and not having gratitude for the blessings God has already provided to you can lead to destruction and sadness. If you don’t behave that you appreciate what God has already done for you, what if he assumes you don’t want it and takes it away? Who will you have to blame for not cherishing what you had but yourself? It is far better to align your goals with God’s to be the kind of person he wants you to be. Wisdom, honesty, patience and love are great goals to have and they determine your eternal future; your life here on earth is finite. Though we must exercise responsibility and obedience in our time here, ultimately what truly matters is how we prepare to walk with God for all eternity; which is much longer than our lifetime!
“He who answers before listening; that is his folly and his shame.”(18:13) Here are three basic principles for making sound decisions: 1) Get the facts before answering; 2) Be open to new ideas; 3) Make sure you hear both sides of the story before judging. The only alternative to seeking additional information prior to making sound decisions is prejudice; judging before obtaining the facts. Difficult as it may be, and a test to your patience, before jumping into a decision, seeking additional information is always the best choice.
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”(18:22) Contrary to popular belief that marriage is obsolete and “playing the field” leads to more happiness, this verse states the opposite. God created marriage and stated it was good. Today’s emphasis on individual freedom is misguided. People think that freedom comes from living a life alone and strictly for oneself; but freedom comes from a life of self-sacrifice and living in relationship that provides groundwork to apply what selfless and giving truly mean. Strong individuals are important and so are strong marriages. God pronounced marriage good and created it for our enjoyment as well as his metaphor for the relationship between Christ and his people. Marriage and being single are gifts from God so long as the current state is being used to serve God and not yourself. Loneliness plagues our society. Have you been in a crowd and felt more lonely than if you were physically alone? It is better to have one friend or partner that sticks by your side when the going gets tough, listens and supports you, cares and offers love to you that to be in isolation or surrounded by fair-weathered friends that don’t provide any of these things. Seek to become a true friend or partner instead of wishing you could find it in another person; take on that challenge and see what God does.
“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.”(19:2) Have you felt like you were rushing into the unknown? Many people marry without knowing what to expect of their partner or of married life. Don’t rush into the unknown. Be sure you understand what you’re getting into and where you want to go before you take the first step. If it still seems unknown, be sure you are following God. It is good to love yourself in ways that protect yourself; not self-serving ways; but ways that allow you to seek wisdom.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Proverbs 1-10
I have been looking forward to this book from the beginning. Although I love every book for different reasons, the book of Proverbs holds a special place in my heart. When the Lord spoke to Solomon and asked what he wanted most, Solomon replied with a prayer for wisdom and discernment to rule the kingdom according to God’s will. The book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom and discipline, two areas I love, and the majority of this book was written by Solomon; known for being the wisest man who ever lived because his wisdom was given by God himself.
There is a vast difference between knowledge and wisdom. Institutions, universities, professors, philosophers, the wide array of books on life and experience and all the ways we currently obtain facts have their place without a doubt; however, wisdom is applying those facts to life; which is an art that necessitates consistent practice. We must live out what we know; otherwise, the information is useless.
A proverb is a short, concise sentence that conveys moral truth that calls a person to action. Proverbs is a collection of wise statements and is the nature of true wisdom. This book focuses on God’s character, his works and blessings and it tells us HOW we can live in close relationship to Him. Solomon writes, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”(1:7) He then writes of practical ways to live according to godly wisdom. The topics covered include wisdom for youth, for all people, and for leaders. Discipline, family life, self-control, resisting temptation, business matters, words and the tongue, knowing God, marriage, seeking the truth, wealth and poverty, immorality and wisdom. The word proverb means “to rule or to govern”; these reminders provide profound guidance for governing our lives.
Themes in the book of Proverbs are: Wisdom; the Bible, God’s word, leads us to live rightly, have right relationships, and make right decisions. Relationships; when we relate to others, we need consistency, tact, and discipline to use the wisdom God gives us; our relationships suffer if we do not treat others according to the wisdom God gives. Speech; a test of how wise we’ve become; we must exercise self-control, honest and well chosen words. Work; we are accountable to carry out our work with diligence and discipline, not laziness. God encourages us to work purposefully, never succumbing to lax or self-satisfied behavior. Success; God judges success based on having a good reputation, moral character, and the spiritual devotion to obey him. All our time, talents and resources are gifts from God and we should strive to use these wisely.
One of the most annoying types of people is a know-it-all, one who constantly shares their dogmatic opinions, is closed minded, resents discipline, and refuses to learn. Solomon calls this type of person a fool. He encourages us to be open to the advice of others; those who know you well and give valuable insight and counsel. Only God knows it all. It is important to learn how to learn from others. True wisdom is scarce in our society, but knowledge is plentiful in our age of technology and information. Trust in God will make you truly wise as you begin to apply what you know to every aspect of your life. Our actions always speak louder than our words. Solomon warns us against sin, “if sinners entice you, do not give in to them…do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths…such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.”(1:10, 15, 19) Sin is enticing because it is the easy route; the path of least resistance. When we follow others who lead us on evil paths and refuse to listen to the truth, our own appetites become our rulers and we go above and beyond to gain satisfaction. We cannot be friendly with sin and expect our lives to remain unaffected. “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?”(1:22) A fool, or simple one, is someone with a character deficiency like rebellion, laziness or anger; this is a call for foolish ways to cease through wisdom and discipline.
“For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”(1:32, 33) Persisting in rebellious independence or choosing God’s wisdom is your choice and you reap the consequences or rewards of the path you choose. The problems that people create for themselves; those who decide to go about life on their own will be destroyed sooner or later. Don’t ignore God’s advice even when it’s painful to follow; it will keep you safe from greater pain in the future. Wisdom results in two ways; it is a God-given gift and also the result of an energetic search. God gives wisdom to those who earnestly seek it.
“Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you.”(2:11) Discretion is the ability to tell right from wrong. You will become more able to detect evil motives in men and women. When practicing discretion, your evaluation of courses and consequences will be made more clear. Two of the most difficult sins to avoid are pride and sexual immoralities, for both are seductive. Pride speaks to the misconception that we deserve something and sexual desire speaks to needing something. When in combination; the two are deadly. Pride appeals to the empty head; sexual desire to the empty heart. Do not allow yourself to be fooled; ask Him for the strength to resist these temptations and remember what God says about who you are and what you are meant to be.
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”(3:3) Love and faithfulness are important for one’s character. Both involve attitudes and actions. A loving person does not just feel love for themselves, but acts loyally and responsibly. A faithful person does not just believe the truth, but they work for justice for others. Our lives reveal love and faithfulness; thoughts and words are not enough. Do your actions measure up to your words?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”(3:5) When we are faced with tough decisions, sometimes we feel we cannot trust anyone, including ourselves and God. God is the best judge of what we want because he created us. We have been given the gift of reason and should put our minds to use; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others. We should not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen and be corrected by God’s word and wise counselors. We must acknowledge God in all our ways to truly receive his guidance. Take some time to evaluate your priorities. What is important to you? What is God’s advice regarding that issue? When you include God in all you do, he will guide you to what your heart desires because you will be working for his purposes that he already instilled in your heart.
A person who has wisdom: is loving and enjoys and prosperous life; is faithful and has favor with God and people; trusts in the Lord and has a reputation for good judgment; puts God first and enjoys true success; turns away from evil and enjoys health and vitality; knows right from wrong and has honor and peace; listens and learns and is protected; does what is right; possesses knowledge and discretion, hates pride, arrogance and evil behavior; respects and fears God; gives good advice and has common sense; loves correction and is teachable; and knows God.
“Preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you.”(3:21) Discernment (discretion) is the ability God gives to many people to think and make correct decisions. Sound judgment includes discernment, but goes beyond it and includes knowledge that comes from instruction, training, discipline and the insight that results from knowing and applying God’s truth.
“Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.”(4:13) It is hard to imagine that our friends could lead us astray from a good path. Sometimes it is difficult to confront or criticize a friend for wrong plans or actions. While we should accept others, we need a healthy skepticism about human behavior. Proceed with caution when you feel yourself being heavily influenced; do not allow your friends to cause you to fall into sin.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.”(4:23-26) Guarding our hearts does not mean being closed off from accepting or giving love. Our hearts; where our feelings of love and desire are housed, dictates to a great extent how we live. People usually find the time to do what they enjoy. Guarding our hearts means that we make sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path. Make sure your affections push you in the right direction. Desires require boundaries; we cannot go after everything we see. When we look straight ahead; keeping our eyes fixed on our goals, we won’t get sidetracked on the detours that lead to sin. When desire is fully activated, people don’t usually want advice; they crave satisfaction. The best time to learn of the dangers of foolishness is way before the temptation comes. Resistance to sin is easier when the decision has already been made before the temptation; don’t wait to see what happens. Like anything good requires preparation; prepare for temptation by deciding now how you will act when you face it. When death comes, it will be too late to ask for advice.
“May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife? For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great foolishness.”(5:18-23) In today’s society of urging people against marriage; promoting “independence” and “freedom” as if these are only found outside God’s gift to us of marriage, this passage urges couples to look to one another for lifelong satisfaction and companionship. When people allow their marriages and relationships to become dull, they easily become tempted by the excitement and pleasures found in “greener pastures” and desert their commitments. First, there is no such thing as “greener pastures”; when the union was blessed by God from the beginning, the issue of the relationship becoming “dull” is of the fault of the people involved. If people feel empty within their marriage; it is usually because of a disconnect within their relationship with God, not their spouse. God designed marriage and only within this covenant relationship can we find real love and fulfillment. Don’t let God’s best for you be wasted on the illusion of greener pastures with someone new; remember newness is always short-lived. There is no depth to newness just for the simple excitement of being “new” and the false idea that new is better than what you know, truly love and trust. God wants us to rejoice with the spouse he gave us as we give our full selves to God and to each other. Faithfulness in marriage is not intended to be boring, lifeless, pleasureless, or dull. God gives sex as a gift to married people for their mutual enjoyment. Real happiness comes when we find pleasure in the relationship God has given or will give us and when we commit ourselves to making it pleasurable for our spouse. When we carelessly pursue sexual pleasure without God’s blessing; it shows our resentment for God’s timing and a lack of faith that He knows best.
“How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.”(6:9-11) Proverbs warns against the temptation of laziness, of sleeping instead of working. If laziness turns us from our responsibilities, poverty may soon bar us from the legitimate rest we should enjoy. Everyone has 24 hours in a day; how do you spend your time? It is so easy to waste time and allow life to slip right by you without notice, and one day look in the mirror and not recognize yourself. Refuse to be a lazy person and sleeping through your productive time to grow and work. Time is God’s great gift to us and we must show our gratefulness by living diligently for him and seize opportunities we are given to serve him.
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that quick to rush in to evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”(6:16-19)
“…the corrections of discipline are the way to life…Do not lust in your heart after her beauty, or let her captivate you with her eyes…a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.”(6:23, 25, 32) Lust should be a warning sign of dangers to come. When people say that it’s alright to proceed in sexual sin as long as no one gets hurt; the real truth is that someone always gets hurt. God’s laws are not arbitrary. They do not forbid good, clean fun; they warn us against destroying ourselves through unwise decisions and actions that will cause pain and destruction of running ahead of God’s timing. Here are ways to avoid sexual sin: first, guard your mind. Begin to notice how the media through TV, movies, internet, music, etc cloud your mind with fantasies that allure you and lead you to wrong desires. Second, keep away from settings and friends that tempt you to sin. Third, don’t think only of the moment and focus on the future. The more you begin to love and respect God, the more you will hate evil; God hates evil. Loving God and loving sin cannot coexist. “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”(8:17)
“Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.”(9:1)Biblically, the number seven represents completeness and perfection; hence God created his masterpiece in seven days. Poetically, this verse states that wisdom is complete and perfect. We should never cease to search for God’s wisdom. In this chapter, wisdom and foolishness are compared in the metaphor of two women preparing a feast and inviting people to it. Wisdom is a responsible woman of character; foolishness is a prostitute serving stolen food. Wisdom appeals to the mind first; foolishness to the senses or feelings and emotions. The pleasures of foolishness, no matter how enticing, are short-lived as I’m sure you’ve experienced in your own life. Think of a time your emotions got the best of you and you were desperate to have something you desired because “it feels good”; how did you feel when you got it? How long did your feelings last? The satisfaction that wisdom brings lasts forever.
“Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.”(9:8, 9) You can tell if you are a mocker or a wise person by the way you respond when criticized. Instead of being quick to defend yourself; listen to what is being said and learn from your critics. This is the path to wisdom. Wisdom begins with knowing God intimately. Only God can give us true insight to living because he created all life.
I love this proverb: “He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”(10:17) Discipline is important in all areas of your life. From the foods we eat, how we exercise, time management, serving others to staying on the course that God has set for us when temptation strikes and tries to deter us from our paths; self-discipline is the ingredient that we need to keep us on the right track. Being in relationship with God is a partnership and requires that we hold ourselves to higher standards by exercising self-discipline; not expecting God to take care of all our needs without our work. Being corrected is not the best feeling; but when we can take correction and make changes, we become closer to the purpose God has created for us.
There is a vast difference between knowledge and wisdom. Institutions, universities, professors, philosophers, the wide array of books on life and experience and all the ways we currently obtain facts have their place without a doubt; however, wisdom is applying those facts to life; which is an art that necessitates consistent practice. We must live out what we know; otherwise, the information is useless.
A proverb is a short, concise sentence that conveys moral truth that calls a person to action. Proverbs is a collection of wise statements and is the nature of true wisdom. This book focuses on God’s character, his works and blessings and it tells us HOW we can live in close relationship to Him. Solomon writes, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”(1:7) He then writes of practical ways to live according to godly wisdom. The topics covered include wisdom for youth, for all people, and for leaders. Discipline, family life, self-control, resisting temptation, business matters, words and the tongue, knowing God, marriage, seeking the truth, wealth and poverty, immorality and wisdom. The word proverb means “to rule or to govern”; these reminders provide profound guidance for governing our lives.
Themes in the book of Proverbs are: Wisdom; the Bible, God’s word, leads us to live rightly, have right relationships, and make right decisions. Relationships; when we relate to others, we need consistency, tact, and discipline to use the wisdom God gives us; our relationships suffer if we do not treat others according to the wisdom God gives. Speech; a test of how wise we’ve become; we must exercise self-control, honest and well chosen words. Work; we are accountable to carry out our work with diligence and discipline, not laziness. God encourages us to work purposefully, never succumbing to lax or self-satisfied behavior. Success; God judges success based on having a good reputation, moral character, and the spiritual devotion to obey him. All our time, talents and resources are gifts from God and we should strive to use these wisely.
One of the most annoying types of people is a know-it-all, one who constantly shares their dogmatic opinions, is closed minded, resents discipline, and refuses to learn. Solomon calls this type of person a fool. He encourages us to be open to the advice of others; those who know you well and give valuable insight and counsel. Only God knows it all. It is important to learn how to learn from others. True wisdom is scarce in our society, but knowledge is plentiful in our age of technology and information. Trust in God will make you truly wise as you begin to apply what you know to every aspect of your life. Our actions always speak louder than our words. Solomon warns us against sin, “if sinners entice you, do not give in to them…do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths…such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.”(1:10, 15, 19) Sin is enticing because it is the easy route; the path of least resistance. When we follow others who lead us on evil paths and refuse to listen to the truth, our own appetites become our rulers and we go above and beyond to gain satisfaction. We cannot be friendly with sin and expect our lives to remain unaffected. “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?”(1:22) A fool, or simple one, is someone with a character deficiency like rebellion, laziness or anger; this is a call for foolish ways to cease through wisdom and discipline.
“For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”(1:32, 33) Persisting in rebellious independence or choosing God’s wisdom is your choice and you reap the consequences or rewards of the path you choose. The problems that people create for themselves; those who decide to go about life on their own will be destroyed sooner or later. Don’t ignore God’s advice even when it’s painful to follow; it will keep you safe from greater pain in the future. Wisdom results in two ways; it is a God-given gift and also the result of an energetic search. God gives wisdom to those who earnestly seek it.
“Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you.”(2:11) Discretion is the ability to tell right from wrong. You will become more able to detect evil motives in men and women. When practicing discretion, your evaluation of courses and consequences will be made more clear. Two of the most difficult sins to avoid are pride and sexual immoralities, for both are seductive. Pride speaks to the misconception that we deserve something and sexual desire speaks to needing something. When in combination; the two are deadly. Pride appeals to the empty head; sexual desire to the empty heart. Do not allow yourself to be fooled; ask Him for the strength to resist these temptations and remember what God says about who you are and what you are meant to be.
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”(3:3) Love and faithfulness are important for one’s character. Both involve attitudes and actions. A loving person does not just feel love for themselves, but acts loyally and responsibly. A faithful person does not just believe the truth, but they work for justice for others. Our lives reveal love and faithfulness; thoughts and words are not enough. Do your actions measure up to your words?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”(3:5) When we are faced with tough decisions, sometimes we feel we cannot trust anyone, including ourselves and God. God is the best judge of what we want because he created us. We have been given the gift of reason and should put our minds to use; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others. We should not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen and be corrected by God’s word and wise counselors. We must acknowledge God in all our ways to truly receive his guidance. Take some time to evaluate your priorities. What is important to you? What is God’s advice regarding that issue? When you include God in all you do, he will guide you to what your heart desires because you will be working for his purposes that he already instilled in your heart.
A person who has wisdom: is loving and enjoys and prosperous life; is faithful and has favor with God and people; trusts in the Lord and has a reputation for good judgment; puts God first and enjoys true success; turns away from evil and enjoys health and vitality; knows right from wrong and has honor and peace; listens and learns and is protected; does what is right; possesses knowledge and discretion, hates pride, arrogance and evil behavior; respects and fears God; gives good advice and has common sense; loves correction and is teachable; and knows God.
“Preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you.”(3:21) Discernment (discretion) is the ability God gives to many people to think and make correct decisions. Sound judgment includes discernment, but goes beyond it and includes knowledge that comes from instruction, training, discipline and the insight that results from knowing and applying God’s truth.
“Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.”(4:13) It is hard to imagine that our friends could lead us astray from a good path. Sometimes it is difficult to confront or criticize a friend for wrong plans or actions. While we should accept others, we need a healthy skepticism about human behavior. Proceed with caution when you feel yourself being heavily influenced; do not allow your friends to cause you to fall into sin.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.”(4:23-26) Guarding our hearts does not mean being closed off from accepting or giving love. Our hearts; where our feelings of love and desire are housed, dictates to a great extent how we live. People usually find the time to do what they enjoy. Guarding our hearts means that we make sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path. Make sure your affections push you in the right direction. Desires require boundaries; we cannot go after everything we see. When we look straight ahead; keeping our eyes fixed on our goals, we won’t get sidetracked on the detours that lead to sin. When desire is fully activated, people don’t usually want advice; they crave satisfaction. The best time to learn of the dangers of foolishness is way before the temptation comes. Resistance to sin is easier when the decision has already been made before the temptation; don’t wait to see what happens. Like anything good requires preparation; prepare for temptation by deciding now how you will act when you face it. When death comes, it will be too late to ask for advice.
“May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife? For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great foolishness.”(5:18-23) In today’s society of urging people against marriage; promoting “independence” and “freedom” as if these are only found outside God’s gift to us of marriage, this passage urges couples to look to one another for lifelong satisfaction and companionship. When people allow their marriages and relationships to become dull, they easily become tempted by the excitement and pleasures found in “greener pastures” and desert their commitments. First, there is no such thing as “greener pastures”; when the union was blessed by God from the beginning, the issue of the relationship becoming “dull” is of the fault of the people involved. If people feel empty within their marriage; it is usually because of a disconnect within their relationship with God, not their spouse. God designed marriage and only within this covenant relationship can we find real love and fulfillment. Don’t let God’s best for you be wasted on the illusion of greener pastures with someone new; remember newness is always short-lived. There is no depth to newness just for the simple excitement of being “new” and the false idea that new is better than what you know, truly love and trust. God wants us to rejoice with the spouse he gave us as we give our full selves to God and to each other. Faithfulness in marriage is not intended to be boring, lifeless, pleasureless, or dull. God gives sex as a gift to married people for their mutual enjoyment. Real happiness comes when we find pleasure in the relationship God has given or will give us and when we commit ourselves to making it pleasurable for our spouse. When we carelessly pursue sexual pleasure without God’s blessing; it shows our resentment for God’s timing and a lack of faith that He knows best.
“How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.”(6:9-11) Proverbs warns against the temptation of laziness, of sleeping instead of working. If laziness turns us from our responsibilities, poverty may soon bar us from the legitimate rest we should enjoy. Everyone has 24 hours in a day; how do you spend your time? It is so easy to waste time and allow life to slip right by you without notice, and one day look in the mirror and not recognize yourself. Refuse to be a lazy person and sleeping through your productive time to grow and work. Time is God’s great gift to us and we must show our gratefulness by living diligently for him and seize opportunities we are given to serve him.
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that quick to rush in to evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”(6:16-19)
“…the corrections of discipline are the way to life…Do not lust in your heart after her beauty, or let her captivate you with her eyes…a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.”(6:23, 25, 32) Lust should be a warning sign of dangers to come. When people say that it’s alright to proceed in sexual sin as long as no one gets hurt; the real truth is that someone always gets hurt. God’s laws are not arbitrary. They do not forbid good, clean fun; they warn us against destroying ourselves through unwise decisions and actions that will cause pain and destruction of running ahead of God’s timing. Here are ways to avoid sexual sin: first, guard your mind. Begin to notice how the media through TV, movies, internet, music, etc cloud your mind with fantasies that allure you and lead you to wrong desires. Second, keep away from settings and friends that tempt you to sin. Third, don’t think only of the moment and focus on the future. The more you begin to love and respect God, the more you will hate evil; God hates evil. Loving God and loving sin cannot coexist. “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”(8:17)
“Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.”(9:1)Biblically, the number seven represents completeness and perfection; hence God created his masterpiece in seven days. Poetically, this verse states that wisdom is complete and perfect. We should never cease to search for God’s wisdom. In this chapter, wisdom and foolishness are compared in the metaphor of two women preparing a feast and inviting people to it. Wisdom is a responsible woman of character; foolishness is a prostitute serving stolen food. Wisdom appeals to the mind first; foolishness to the senses or feelings and emotions. The pleasures of foolishness, no matter how enticing, are short-lived as I’m sure you’ve experienced in your own life. Think of a time your emotions got the best of you and you were desperate to have something you desired because “it feels good”; how did you feel when you got it? How long did your feelings last? The satisfaction that wisdom brings lasts forever.
“Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.”(9:8, 9) You can tell if you are a mocker or a wise person by the way you respond when criticized. Instead of being quick to defend yourself; listen to what is being said and learn from your critics. This is the path to wisdom. Wisdom begins with knowing God intimately. Only God can give us true insight to living because he created all life.
I love this proverb: “He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”(10:17) Discipline is important in all areas of your life. From the foods we eat, how we exercise, time management, serving others to staying on the course that God has set for us when temptation strikes and tries to deter us from our paths; self-discipline is the ingredient that we need to keep us on the right track. Being in relationship with God is a partnership and requires that we hold ourselves to higher standards by exercising self-discipline; not expecting God to take care of all our needs without our work. Being corrected is not the best feeling; but when we can take correction and make changes, we become closer to the purpose God has created for us.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Psalms 125-150
Have you ever wondered why after great suffering, you can experience great joy? Is it really because time heals all wounds? God’s ability to restore life is beyond our understanding. How does time heal? We can’t see or feel time and somehow we feel better we are changed as it passes. Faith is like time; we can’t see it or feel it; but it’s alive and working all the time. It is not time, but God that brings good out of any tragedy. When you feel burdened, know that your times of grief will end and that you will again find joy because God loves you more than you can imagine. We must exercise patience as we wait. “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”(Psalm 126:6)
“In vain you rise up early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those he loves.”(Psalm 127:2) Hard work honors God and He is not against our human effort. Working, however, to the exclusion of family and rest may be an excuse for not trusting God to provide. This verse gives no green light for laziness; the Lord despises being lazy. God encourages us to lead a balanced life; working when it’s time for work; surrendering to rest for restoration and renewal; giving your all to your family and having the energy to do your best in all areas of your life; not limited to one. A good family life is a reward for following God. The values outlined in His word include love, service, honesty, integrity, and prayer. These are helpful for all relationships and vital in the home. Reading and obeying God’s word is a good place to start in building the foundation to grow your home.
Have you felt isolated from God when in the depths of despair? Despair should not lead to self-pity; causing us to think more of ourselves than God. Despair should lead to confession and humility and then to God for mercy, forgiveness, and redemption. Crying out to God will turn your attention to the only One who can really help versus feeling sorry for ourselves and wallowing in hopelessness.
Do you hold grudges against others? Do you find it useless and a waste of time when others hold grudges against you or vice-versa? “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with your there is forgiveness therefore you are feared.”(Psalm 130:3) Holding a grudge is like building a wall between you and another person and it is nearly impossible to talk openly while the wall is there. God does not keep a record of our sins; can you imagine if He did? When God forgives; He forgives and forgets, thus tearing down any walls between us and Him. Even though we love and fear God as our King, we can still speak to Him openly and honestly. It is important when modeling our forgiveness to others after our gratefulness for our own forgiveness from God everyday; it is important to really mean forgiveness by not holding a grudge and forgetting the sins against you. Our Father knows best; He knows that holding on only wears us down; when you create movies in your mind of arguing with another and trying to prove yourself right; who are you hurting? And if your intention is to make another feel bad; where do you think those feelings really come from? Not from God. God is pure love.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”(Psalm 133:1) Unity is precious. Living in unity does not mean we will agree on everything; there are many differing opinions just as there are varying animals in the animal kingdom. The foundation of our unity should be our agreement on our purpose in life; to work together for God. In our outward expression of unity, our inner purpose is revealed.
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands.”(Psalm 138:8) Everyone has dreams and desires for their life and makes plans accordingly. People work hard to see those dreams and plans become reality. To make the most out of this life, we must include God’s plan in our plans. He alone knows our future and what is best for us.
“You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord.”(Psalm 139:3) Do you wear a mask and conceal yourself from others to know the real you? Sometimes, we don’t let people get to know our true selves because we are afraid they will discover something about us that they won’t like. Because God already knows everything about us, and still accepts and loves us, you can feel safe to reveal your true self to Him and to others. God’s opinion is the only one that truly matters; when you are right with God, which is your only concern and can feel free to express your truth to others and in your relationships. Concealing who you are hurts yourself, those who know you and wish to know your true self and all your relationships.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”(Psalm139:23) Make this verse your prayer. When you ask the Lord to search your heart and thoughts and to reveal your sin, you will be continuing on God’s way everlasting.
“Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; Let a righteous man strike me- it is a kindness; let him rebuke me-it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it.”(Psalm141:4) David asks God to guard his heart in this Psalm. Evil acts begin with evil desires. To ask God to make you stronger, take away temptation, or change your circumstances is not enough; you must ask him to change you on the inside; at the level of your desires. David talks about being rebuked by a righteous person being a kindness. Often times we take criticism poorly and become defensive; when in fact the correction is for our own benefit. Nobody particularly likes criticism; especially those with overwhelming egos; but everybody can benefit when they learn how to accept criticism in a positive way: 1) Don’t refuse it, 2) consider it a kindness, 3) keep quiet (don’t fight back). Put this into practice and it will help you make it productive no matter how it was originally intended.
The Lord is worthy of our praise. Praising God means : 1) taking our minds off or problems and shortcomings and focuses them on God, 2)Praise leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship, 3) Praise causes us to consider and appreciate God’s character, 4) Praise lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.
Sometimes our burdens seem more than we can bear and we wonder when and if it shall pass. David is standing at an intersection in Psalm 145 and focuses on God to carry his burdens. God is more than able to lift us up because, 1) his greatness is unfathomable, 2) he does mighty acts across many generations, 3)he is full of glorious splendor and majesty, 4) he does wonderful and awesome works, 5) he is righteous, 6) he is gracious, compassionate, patient, and loving, 7) he rules over an everlasting kingdom, 8) he is our source of all our daily needs, 9)he is righteous and loving in all his dealings, 10) he remains near to those who call on him, 11) he hears our cries and saves us. God is always ready to carry your burden and lift to up; ask Him.
“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save…The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord loves the righteous; and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.”(Psalm 146:3, 8, 9) Man is an inadequate savior and false hope. God does not separate the social and spiritual needs of people. We are God’s instruments to help Him here on earth. God frustrates the wicked because his values are the opposite of worldly values and what our society considers norm. Jesus turned society’s values upside down when he proclaimed “ many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first (Matthew 19:30), and that whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”(Matthew 16:25) When we feel that we don’t understand ourselves, what we want, how we feel, what’s wrong with us or what we should do about it’ know that God’s understanding is limitless. God understands you perfectly. Take your mind off yourself and put your focus on God. When you strive to become more and more like him by following his ways, you will better understand yourself; remember we were created in God’s image.
“Praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”(Psalm 150:4) The book of Psalms parallels our spiritual journey through life. Beginning with two roads; the way to life and the way to death. When we choose God and life, we must still face both blessings and troubles; joy and grief; successes and obstacles. God is with us through it all, guiding, encouraging, comforting and caring. As the life of a wise and faithful person comes to an end, they see clearly that God’s road is the right choice; ensuring our home with Him.
“In vain you rise up early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those he loves.”(Psalm 127:2) Hard work honors God and He is not against our human effort. Working, however, to the exclusion of family and rest may be an excuse for not trusting God to provide. This verse gives no green light for laziness; the Lord despises being lazy. God encourages us to lead a balanced life; working when it’s time for work; surrendering to rest for restoration and renewal; giving your all to your family and having the energy to do your best in all areas of your life; not limited to one. A good family life is a reward for following God. The values outlined in His word include love, service, honesty, integrity, and prayer. These are helpful for all relationships and vital in the home. Reading and obeying God’s word is a good place to start in building the foundation to grow your home.
Have you felt isolated from God when in the depths of despair? Despair should not lead to self-pity; causing us to think more of ourselves than God. Despair should lead to confession and humility and then to God for mercy, forgiveness, and redemption. Crying out to God will turn your attention to the only One who can really help versus feeling sorry for ourselves and wallowing in hopelessness.
Do you hold grudges against others? Do you find it useless and a waste of time when others hold grudges against you or vice-versa? “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with your there is forgiveness therefore you are feared.”(Psalm 130:3) Holding a grudge is like building a wall between you and another person and it is nearly impossible to talk openly while the wall is there. God does not keep a record of our sins; can you imagine if He did? When God forgives; He forgives and forgets, thus tearing down any walls between us and Him. Even though we love and fear God as our King, we can still speak to Him openly and honestly. It is important when modeling our forgiveness to others after our gratefulness for our own forgiveness from God everyday; it is important to really mean forgiveness by not holding a grudge and forgetting the sins against you. Our Father knows best; He knows that holding on only wears us down; when you create movies in your mind of arguing with another and trying to prove yourself right; who are you hurting? And if your intention is to make another feel bad; where do you think those feelings really come from? Not from God. God is pure love.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”(Psalm 133:1) Unity is precious. Living in unity does not mean we will agree on everything; there are many differing opinions just as there are varying animals in the animal kingdom. The foundation of our unity should be our agreement on our purpose in life; to work together for God. In our outward expression of unity, our inner purpose is revealed.
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands.”(Psalm 138:8) Everyone has dreams and desires for their life and makes plans accordingly. People work hard to see those dreams and plans become reality. To make the most out of this life, we must include God’s plan in our plans. He alone knows our future and what is best for us.
“You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord.”(Psalm 139:3) Do you wear a mask and conceal yourself from others to know the real you? Sometimes, we don’t let people get to know our true selves because we are afraid they will discover something about us that they won’t like. Because God already knows everything about us, and still accepts and loves us, you can feel safe to reveal your true self to Him and to others. God’s opinion is the only one that truly matters; when you are right with God, which is your only concern and can feel free to express your truth to others and in your relationships. Concealing who you are hurts yourself, those who know you and wish to know your true self and all your relationships.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”(Psalm139:23) Make this verse your prayer. When you ask the Lord to search your heart and thoughts and to reveal your sin, you will be continuing on God’s way everlasting.
“Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; Let a righteous man strike me- it is a kindness; let him rebuke me-it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it.”(Psalm141:4) David asks God to guard his heart in this Psalm. Evil acts begin with evil desires. To ask God to make you stronger, take away temptation, or change your circumstances is not enough; you must ask him to change you on the inside; at the level of your desires. David talks about being rebuked by a righteous person being a kindness. Often times we take criticism poorly and become defensive; when in fact the correction is for our own benefit. Nobody particularly likes criticism; especially those with overwhelming egos; but everybody can benefit when they learn how to accept criticism in a positive way: 1) Don’t refuse it, 2) consider it a kindness, 3) keep quiet (don’t fight back). Put this into practice and it will help you make it productive no matter how it was originally intended.
The Lord is worthy of our praise. Praising God means : 1) taking our minds off or problems and shortcomings and focuses them on God, 2)Praise leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship, 3) Praise causes us to consider and appreciate God’s character, 4) Praise lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.
Sometimes our burdens seem more than we can bear and we wonder when and if it shall pass. David is standing at an intersection in Psalm 145 and focuses on God to carry his burdens. God is more than able to lift us up because, 1) his greatness is unfathomable, 2) he does mighty acts across many generations, 3)he is full of glorious splendor and majesty, 4) he does wonderful and awesome works, 5) he is righteous, 6) he is gracious, compassionate, patient, and loving, 7) he rules over an everlasting kingdom, 8) he is our source of all our daily needs, 9)he is righteous and loving in all his dealings, 10) he remains near to those who call on him, 11) he hears our cries and saves us. God is always ready to carry your burden and lift to up; ask Him.
“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save…The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord loves the righteous; and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.”(Psalm 146:3, 8, 9) Man is an inadequate savior and false hope. God does not separate the social and spiritual needs of people. We are God’s instruments to help Him here on earth. God frustrates the wicked because his values are the opposite of worldly values and what our society considers norm. Jesus turned society’s values upside down when he proclaimed “ many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first (Matthew 19:30), and that whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”(Matthew 16:25) When we feel that we don’t understand ourselves, what we want, how we feel, what’s wrong with us or what we should do about it’ know that God’s understanding is limitless. God understands you perfectly. Take your mind off yourself and put your focus on God. When you strive to become more and more like him by following his ways, you will better understand yourself; remember we were created in God’s image.
“Praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”(Psalm 150:4) The book of Psalms parallels our spiritual journey through life. Beginning with two roads; the way to life and the way to death. When we choose God and life, we must still face both blessings and troubles; joy and grief; successes and obstacles. God is with us through it all, guiding, encouraging, comforting and caring. As the life of a wise and faithful person comes to an end, they see clearly that God’s road is the right choice; ensuring our home with Him.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Psalms 113-124
God is always responsive and able to be reached. He leans down and listens to our spoken voice and the call of our hearts. Have you fallen in love with God? When you stop and accept your answered prayers, your love for God will grow. “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”(Psalm 116:1) If God has answered even one prayer that you can think of, why not go to Him for all your needs? If you’ve ever thought you can’t think of anything God has done for you, Psalm 117 gives two reasons for praising God: His great love toward us and His faithfulness that endures forever. “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”(Psalm 118:6) Man is insignificant compared to the power of God; don’t put your trust and faith solely in man; these are precious and in need of protection that only the Lord can provide.
How do we stay pure in a filthy environment? Everywhere we turn, we find temptation to lead to impure lives. Start paying more attention to the messages in the media, on TV, in music, on the radio, in movies, the world of “reality entertainment” and “celebrity”. Little by little, we and our children are becoming perverted by these messages when we consider them the “norm”. The only shield of protection is to be counseled by God Himself who can protect us against the tempting influences around us. The wisdom to discern what we allow into our hearts and lives comes from God’s word and doing what it says.
Do you ever feel like a stranger on earth? Like you are somehow separated from our environment and always seeking the right path to take? God and the word He’s given is our map. To wander aimlessly through life and risk missing our real destination is a sad fate for those who don’t read and follow the map for their lives. Every journey requires a map or guide. We are travelers through this life and the Bible should be our road map to point out safe routes, obstacles to avoid, and our final destination. To learn our way is to study God’s way; what better way could there be besides the road God has chosen for you?
When we pray to God and ask Him for blessings; do you ask for tangible and insignificant things that are short-lived; or do you ask for intangible attributes that will help you grow as a child of God? Things like wisdom, discernment, a giving and generous spirit, the will to love your enemies, discipline, or a desire to serve? “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”(Psalm 119:97-104) God’s word makes us wise. True wisdom goes beyond amassing knowledge; it is applying knowledge in a life-changing way that is wisdom. Intelligent, formally educated people with stacks of degrees or experienced people are not necessarily wise; wisdom comes from allowing what God teaches to guide us. Praying for discernment will give us the ability to understand, and we need the desire to apply Scripture where we need help. The Bible is like medicine, when applied to specific areas; it works. God’s word cannot lie; it is perfect truth. The Bible is completely true and trustworthy. For the peace of mind we all seek; here is clear instruction on how to attain this: if we love God and obey his laws, we will have great peace. Trust in God, who alone stands above the pressures of daily life and gives us full assurance. To find peace with yourself; peace with others; you must find peace with God. Ask Him how and He will show you.
How do we stay pure in a filthy environment? Everywhere we turn, we find temptation to lead to impure lives. Start paying more attention to the messages in the media, on TV, in music, on the radio, in movies, the world of “reality entertainment” and “celebrity”. Little by little, we and our children are becoming perverted by these messages when we consider them the “norm”. The only shield of protection is to be counseled by God Himself who can protect us against the tempting influences around us. The wisdom to discern what we allow into our hearts and lives comes from God’s word and doing what it says.
Do you ever feel like a stranger on earth? Like you are somehow separated from our environment and always seeking the right path to take? God and the word He’s given is our map. To wander aimlessly through life and risk missing our real destination is a sad fate for those who don’t read and follow the map for their lives. Every journey requires a map or guide. We are travelers through this life and the Bible should be our road map to point out safe routes, obstacles to avoid, and our final destination. To learn our way is to study God’s way; what better way could there be besides the road God has chosen for you?
When we pray to God and ask Him for blessings; do you ask for tangible and insignificant things that are short-lived; or do you ask for intangible attributes that will help you grow as a child of God? Things like wisdom, discernment, a giving and generous spirit, the will to love your enemies, discipline, or a desire to serve? “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”(Psalm 119:97-104) God’s word makes us wise. True wisdom goes beyond amassing knowledge; it is applying knowledge in a life-changing way that is wisdom. Intelligent, formally educated people with stacks of degrees or experienced people are not necessarily wise; wisdom comes from allowing what God teaches to guide us. Praying for discernment will give us the ability to understand, and we need the desire to apply Scripture where we need help. The Bible is like medicine, when applied to specific areas; it works. God’s word cannot lie; it is perfect truth. The Bible is completely true and trustworthy. For the peace of mind we all seek; here is clear instruction on how to attain this: if we love God and obey his laws, we will have great peace. Trust in God, who alone stands above the pressures of daily life and gives us full assurance. To find peace with yourself; peace with others; you must find peace with God. Ask Him how and He will show you.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Psalms 91-111
Have you felt that you’ve had a guardian angel look after you? Angels can be God’s messengers; Angels are not visible, except on special occasions. “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.”(Psalms 91:11) It is comforting to know that God watches over us even in times of great stress and fear.
“Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law; you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.”(Psalms 94:12) God disciplines us to protect and help us; as a parent corrects their child. Self-discipline and God’s discipline is essential for really understanding right and wrong. For those trained by discipline, although painful during the process, the righteousness and peace that follow makes the pain worthwhile. Instead of accepting your own stubbornness, realize that God is urging you to follow his paths and not your own. When you feel the struggle of pain, it is important to persevere forward; a hardened heart is useless. When someone’s heart is hardened, they’ve stubbornly become set in their ways and cannot turn to God. This is tragic. This doesn’t happen right away; be cautions when you allow series of choices to disregard God’s will. If you resist God long enough, God may resist you in return. “For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”(Psalm 95:10) God turns His back when we insist upon ungrateful hearts, not worshiping or submitting to Him, testing God because of stubborn doubts. God warns us strongly against hardening our hearts to Him and encourages us to reject the glamour of sin and anything that separates us from God.
When we are sincere in our claims to love God and be faithful to Him; then our desires will reflect common ground with God’s desires. You love what God loves; and you will hate evil as God does. If you admire people who selfishly only look out for themselves or those who get ahead in life using any means to accomplish their own greedy ends, then your desire is clearly not pleasing God. It is important to stand up against evil; including socially accepted evil. “The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.”(Psalms 101:3-5)
In the economic crisis we are in, there is perpetual loss of hope. If you were to lose everything, how would you behave? When we realize that God created us and gives us all we have, we will want to give to others as God gave to us; if you lost everything; you still have God and all he gives. We did not create ourselves; God created us. Although many would agree with this, people live in direct contradiction when they behave as though they are the creator and center of their own little worlds. This point of view leads to a greedy possessiveness that in turns leads to a loss of hope itself. It is important to stand on the only solid rock you have even in times of crisis; God and His promises.
Do you have a hard time accepting forgiveness from anyone, including God’s forgiveness? “The Lord is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger, abounding in love…For as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”(Psalms 103:8,13,14) East from west is symbolic of God’s forgiveness; when God forgives our sin, he separates it from us and doesn’t even remember if. We need never wallow in the past, for God has wiped our slate clean. If we follow God, we should model His forgiveness; this means truly forgiving someone also means to forget the sin. If not, we have not truly forgiven and dishonor what God does for us daily.
Do you ever wonder if miracles exist? Sometimes we get so stuck in our little make believe worlds and victimize ourselves to think miracles don’t apply to us; this view is blind and ungrateful. Looking at God’s miracles in the Bible; if you were to count them, it would be astounding. They cover every aspect of life. If you ever question God’s hand; look at his track record and what He has done for us individually- birth, personality development, loving friends and family, specific guidance, healing and salvation and the list goes far beyond. If you think you’ve never seen a miracle; take a closer look; you will see God’s power and loving intervention on your behalf. If God hadn’t breathed into you the breath of life, you wouldn’t be here right now. It’s important to have gratitude for the things we take for granted.
Historically, the Israelites had many troubles; God allowed it in order to help them. In the same way, our troubles can be helpful because they, 1) humble us, 2) wean us from the allurements of the world and drive us back to God, 3) vitalize our prayers, 4) allow us to experience more of God’s faithfulness, 5) make us more dependent upon God, 6) encourage us to submit to God’s purpose for our lives, and 7) make us more compassionate toward others in trouble. It is so important to trust God’s provision and care regardless of our circumstances. If you give way to complaining, as we saw historically with the Israelites, God may give you what you ask for, even if it is not the best for you. If you’re not getting what you want, have you considered that God knows it is not in your best interest? Instead of insisting on your own way; spend some time in meditation listening to God speak to you; for you may decide you no longer want what you thought you did once you see what God has for you.
“The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy….The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”(Psalm 111:7,10) The only way to become wise is to revere God. Too often people get trapped into thinking their academic knowledge and life experience alone makes them wise; instead of acknowledging that God alone is the source of wisdom. When our very foundation for gaining wisdom is unstable, we are prone to mistakes and foolish choices; we cannot arrogantly think that wisdom comes from us alone; that is a direct insult to our Creator.
God is our redeemer; redemption means recovery of something or someone upon payment of ransom. All people were being held in bondage of sin; it’s human nature; until Jesus paid the price to free us. Jesus gave his life as a perfect sacrifice to allow us to freely approach God’s throne through prayer and have God active in our lives through the Holy Spirit; without this, people are not permitted into the Most Holy Place; God’s presence.
“Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law; you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.”(Psalms 94:12) God disciplines us to protect and help us; as a parent corrects their child. Self-discipline and God’s discipline is essential for really understanding right and wrong. For those trained by discipline, although painful during the process, the righteousness and peace that follow makes the pain worthwhile. Instead of accepting your own stubbornness, realize that God is urging you to follow his paths and not your own. When you feel the struggle of pain, it is important to persevere forward; a hardened heart is useless. When someone’s heart is hardened, they’ve stubbornly become set in their ways and cannot turn to God. This is tragic. This doesn’t happen right away; be cautions when you allow series of choices to disregard God’s will. If you resist God long enough, God may resist you in return. “For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”(Psalm 95:10) God turns His back when we insist upon ungrateful hearts, not worshiping or submitting to Him, testing God because of stubborn doubts. God warns us strongly against hardening our hearts to Him and encourages us to reject the glamour of sin and anything that separates us from God.
When we are sincere in our claims to love God and be faithful to Him; then our desires will reflect common ground with God’s desires. You love what God loves; and you will hate evil as God does. If you admire people who selfishly only look out for themselves or those who get ahead in life using any means to accomplish their own greedy ends, then your desire is clearly not pleasing God. It is important to stand up against evil; including socially accepted evil. “The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.”(Psalms 101:3-5)
In the economic crisis we are in, there is perpetual loss of hope. If you were to lose everything, how would you behave? When we realize that God created us and gives us all we have, we will want to give to others as God gave to us; if you lost everything; you still have God and all he gives. We did not create ourselves; God created us. Although many would agree with this, people live in direct contradiction when they behave as though they are the creator and center of their own little worlds. This point of view leads to a greedy possessiveness that in turns leads to a loss of hope itself. It is important to stand on the only solid rock you have even in times of crisis; God and His promises.
Do you have a hard time accepting forgiveness from anyone, including God’s forgiveness? “The Lord is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger, abounding in love…For as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”(Psalms 103:8,13,14) East from west is symbolic of God’s forgiveness; when God forgives our sin, he separates it from us and doesn’t even remember if. We need never wallow in the past, for God has wiped our slate clean. If we follow God, we should model His forgiveness; this means truly forgiving someone also means to forget the sin. If not, we have not truly forgiven and dishonor what God does for us daily.
Do you ever wonder if miracles exist? Sometimes we get so stuck in our little make believe worlds and victimize ourselves to think miracles don’t apply to us; this view is blind and ungrateful. Looking at God’s miracles in the Bible; if you were to count them, it would be astounding. They cover every aspect of life. If you ever question God’s hand; look at his track record and what He has done for us individually- birth, personality development, loving friends and family, specific guidance, healing and salvation and the list goes far beyond. If you think you’ve never seen a miracle; take a closer look; you will see God’s power and loving intervention on your behalf. If God hadn’t breathed into you the breath of life, you wouldn’t be here right now. It’s important to have gratitude for the things we take for granted.
Historically, the Israelites had many troubles; God allowed it in order to help them. In the same way, our troubles can be helpful because they, 1) humble us, 2) wean us from the allurements of the world and drive us back to God, 3) vitalize our prayers, 4) allow us to experience more of God’s faithfulness, 5) make us more dependent upon God, 6) encourage us to submit to God’s purpose for our lives, and 7) make us more compassionate toward others in trouble. It is so important to trust God’s provision and care regardless of our circumstances. If you give way to complaining, as we saw historically with the Israelites, God may give you what you ask for, even if it is not the best for you. If you’re not getting what you want, have you considered that God knows it is not in your best interest? Instead of insisting on your own way; spend some time in meditation listening to God speak to you; for you may decide you no longer want what you thought you did once you see what God has for you.
“The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy….The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”(Psalm 111:7,10) The only way to become wise is to revere God. Too often people get trapped into thinking their academic knowledge and life experience alone makes them wise; instead of acknowledging that God alone is the source of wisdom. When our very foundation for gaining wisdom is unstable, we are prone to mistakes and foolish choices; we cannot arrogantly think that wisdom comes from us alone; that is a direct insult to our Creator.
God is our redeemer; redemption means recovery of something or someone upon payment of ransom. All people were being held in bondage of sin; it’s human nature; until Jesus paid the price to free us. Jesus gave his life as a perfect sacrifice to allow us to freely approach God’s throne through prayer and have God active in our lives through the Holy Spirit; without this, people are not permitted into the Most Holy Place; God’s presence.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Psalms 72-90
Those who put their hope, joy and confidence in their wealth are living in dreamland. “How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.”(Psalm 73:19) Dreams are real only in the mind of the dreamer. It would be a shame to awaken to the reality of God’s truth because you’ve spent too much time basing your life’s goals on unreal expectations or living in fantasy land.
David had spent his early days as a Shepherd; providing guidance, provision and protection for his flocks, which was a job with high responsibility in those times. God used this as a training ground for future responsibilities that God had in store for the greatest King of Israel that he would become. When David was trained and ready, in God’s time, God brought him from caring for sheep to caring for Israel. Do you sometimes feel your position is meaningless or not up to standards set by a superficial and materialistic society? Don’t treat your present circumstances lightly or irresponsibly; it very well could be God’s training ground for the future He wants you in.
There is a fine line between persistence and stubbornness. God encourages our persistence and warns us against stubbornness because of its self-serving motives. Have you ever insisted on doing something and stopped at practically nothing to achieve your goal? “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices…How quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!”(Psalm81:11-14) God allowed the Israelites to carry on blindly, stubbornly and selfishly. They could have been obeying and pursing God enjoying his favor. God sometimes will allow us to continue in our own stubbornness to bring us to our senses. Have you ever felt like finally the light bulb went off and you accepted something you once fought? Yielded your stubborn strength to a power that is worthy of being in control? God does not stop us from rebelling, because he wants us to learn the consequences of sin so that we are encouraged to come to Him first before we waste our time and our lives. He uses these experiences to turn people away from greater sin to having real faith.
When we pray to God and ask that He answers, we must keep in mind that all we think is good for us may not be in line with what God knows to be the best for us. God doesn’t promise to give us everything we think we need, but he will not withhold what he has set aside for us and what he deems as permanently good. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.”(Psalm 84:11) God gives us the means to walk along his path and he also gives us the choice whether or not to walk it. When we obey him, he will not hold anything back that will help us serve Him; all that He gives us that fulfill His plan will inevitably create joy in our hearts; it is when we fail to walk according to His will that we feel disconnected and confused to our life’s purpose.
“Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven…Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.”(Psalm 85:10) The relationships between God and us and marriage relationships are living symbols of the union between love and faithfulness; you cannot have one without the other. Saying that you love God and demonstrating unfaithfulness directly negates your claim. If you say you love your significant other but hold secrets, lie and act unfaithfully by dishonoring them; you do not love that person. Our relationship is founded in faith because that is what we give to Him in order to experience his unconditional love. To be completely righteous is impossible for us, for the only person who was without sin was Jesus Christ himself. We are to model after the Lord’s righteousness from heaven by being faithful to Him and to each other on earth. The greatest intangible “feeling” that we experience and seek in our lifetimes is love. Isn’t it interesting that God is love. Isn’t it also interesting that we experience love with one another and require the same statutes to sustain our relationships that God requires of our relationship with Him? This is because God shows us the relationship He wants to have with us and uses our own relationships with parents, friends, family and significant others to demonstrate what relationship means. Ask yourself; what is required of you to maintain fruitful relationships with those you say you truly love? Do you show your love for God in similar ways?
David had spent his early days as a Shepherd; providing guidance, provision and protection for his flocks, which was a job with high responsibility in those times. God used this as a training ground for future responsibilities that God had in store for the greatest King of Israel that he would become. When David was trained and ready, in God’s time, God brought him from caring for sheep to caring for Israel. Do you sometimes feel your position is meaningless or not up to standards set by a superficial and materialistic society? Don’t treat your present circumstances lightly or irresponsibly; it very well could be God’s training ground for the future He wants you in.
There is a fine line between persistence and stubbornness. God encourages our persistence and warns us against stubbornness because of its self-serving motives. Have you ever insisted on doing something and stopped at practically nothing to achieve your goal? “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices…How quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!”(Psalm81:11-14) God allowed the Israelites to carry on blindly, stubbornly and selfishly. They could have been obeying and pursing God enjoying his favor. God sometimes will allow us to continue in our own stubbornness to bring us to our senses. Have you ever felt like finally the light bulb went off and you accepted something you once fought? Yielded your stubborn strength to a power that is worthy of being in control? God does not stop us from rebelling, because he wants us to learn the consequences of sin so that we are encouraged to come to Him first before we waste our time and our lives. He uses these experiences to turn people away from greater sin to having real faith.
When we pray to God and ask that He answers, we must keep in mind that all we think is good for us may not be in line with what God knows to be the best for us. God doesn’t promise to give us everything we think we need, but he will not withhold what he has set aside for us and what he deems as permanently good. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.”(Psalm 84:11) God gives us the means to walk along his path and he also gives us the choice whether or not to walk it. When we obey him, he will not hold anything back that will help us serve Him; all that He gives us that fulfill His plan will inevitably create joy in our hearts; it is when we fail to walk according to His will that we feel disconnected and confused to our life’s purpose.
“Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven…Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.”(Psalm 85:10) The relationships between God and us and marriage relationships are living symbols of the union between love and faithfulness; you cannot have one without the other. Saying that you love God and demonstrating unfaithfulness directly negates your claim. If you say you love your significant other but hold secrets, lie and act unfaithfully by dishonoring them; you do not love that person. Our relationship is founded in faith because that is what we give to Him in order to experience his unconditional love. To be completely righteous is impossible for us, for the only person who was without sin was Jesus Christ himself. We are to model after the Lord’s righteousness from heaven by being faithful to Him and to each other on earth. The greatest intangible “feeling” that we experience and seek in our lifetimes is love. Isn’t it interesting that God is love. Isn’t it also interesting that we experience love with one another and require the same statutes to sustain our relationships that God requires of our relationship with Him? This is because God shows us the relationship He wants to have with us and uses our own relationships with parents, friends, family and significant others to demonstrate what relationship means. Ask yourself; what is required of you to maintain fruitful relationships with those you say you truly love? Do you show your love for God in similar ways?
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