An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Rabbit Food

(Proverbs 15:17 KJV)  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Vegetarians, animal rights advocates and lovers of tofu, this verse is for you.  Or at least that is the impression at first reading.  It seems to be telling us that “herbs” (vegetables NASB) (3419) are better than steak.  Actually that is not the case.  It is saying that “love” (160) is better than “hatred” (8135), but you knew that.  We just tend to forget it in our quest for success.

The veggies dished out here stand for the things we look down on in life as being for those too poor or ignorant to know better.  Things like driving an old Ford instead of a new BMW.  Things like attending a community college instead of Yale.  Things like being satisfied with a Timex instead of a Rolex.  I guess it even covers demanding steak when you have a hamburger budget.

What secondary fool’s gold keeps you from seeking the full blessings that God offers now, the things that you are wanting but can’t be measured when you are out in public?  I am sure it is different for each of us.  One man’s steak could well be another man’s tofu.

So?  What are your priorities?  What is the measure of success you strive to reach?  Remember the words of Paul,
(1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NASB)  If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Maybe it is time to recalibrate.

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