A Lecture on Abundance

Proverbs 13:23 (KJV) Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

There’s a theme going through this chapter in Proverbs.  It’s expressed many different ways.  It’s the idea that there is adequate resource in our world to take care of the needs of the people in it.  In response to that there are many reasons given for why people don’t have what they need.

This one is pretty indirect in one sense.  In another is very clear.  The NASB talks about oppression, which is another way of saying that there was no correct judgment.  The policies of government and the actions of the wealthy and powerful create conditions which really work against the benefit of common people.  Here the common people are identified as the poor.  In this case, it looks like they are the working, or deserving, poor.  They have the land.  They have the ability to produce food, but it is made impossible by social forces.

Another part of that is that sometimes people are too willing to take the handout of government and it siphons off any initiative and productivity they might have.  We’ve seen that in the recent restrictions on the welfare being given out by the government.  People have been conditioned to dependence.  They didn’t know how to function anymore when the government removed it’s helping hand.

So?  Be aware of the need for government responsibility but also the call for each and every one of us to do our part in providing for ourselves in our families.  

Lead On

Proverbs 12:26 (KJV) The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

A surface reading of this verse tends to imply a kind of arrogant superiority that we have trouble with when we think of humility.  So I looked a little deeper.  The “excellent” of the KJV is “guide” in the NASB.  Neither one of those makes a lot of sense so I looked deeper into the meaning of the word and it seems to have the idea of searching.

So I’m guessing that the idea here is that the righteous, which should be us, are qualified to lead because they have looked into the basics of life, they have searched out and found truth.

So?  Is that a description of you and me?  Have we spent serious time looking to see what is really true and then based our life on it?  I would hope so.  If not, now is the time to start.  

The Big Picture

Proverbs 11:22 (KJV) As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

The idea of putting gold in a pig’s nose seems really strange to us today.  Is it any different than the way in which people will put diamond studded collars on cats or dogs?  Is it any different than someone who is eaten up with disease caused by a dissipate lifestyle might be driving a very expensive sports car?

We are often distracted by characteristics that stand out in our mind as being desirable.  We might look at the famous celebrity.  We see the fawning response of their fans.  We see the cheers and the waves.  What we don’t see is the inner loneliness or the children that are consumed by drugs.  We don’t see the liver eaten up by alcohol or the lungs rotted by tobacco.  We see the make up.  We see the carefully tailored clothes.  We see the glitter.  We see the gold in the pigs nose.

So?  God looks at the complete person.  We can only be truly complete when we live in Him and in His way.  Try to back off and focus on the big picture not just the glowing jewel. 

Talking Points

(1Pe 3:15 KJV)  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

(Proverbs 10 also read)

This is on my list of great Bible verses.  I have referred to it often in my walk.  I never considered that it would also apply in discussions with fellow believers.  Today I am looking at it in that light.

I have a fellow traveler who has some decidedly strong opinions that I disagree with.  He is so consumed with things that I consider “bottom of the bucket list” that he even got to the point of asking me if I believed in the trinity.  I am still not sure where that question came from but I think it was simply because I disagreed with him on his theological system.  I used to enjoy debating him because he came up with things I had never thought of and pressed me to think.  I am beginning to think that the debate is one way and his concern is to evangelize me to his point of view.

So?  I will continue to dialog but I am going to put more emphasis on the last two concepts of this verse.  And I need to leave my sense of humor in my pocket because he is dead serious.  

Some Things Are Worth Repeating

Proverbs 9:10 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Don’t tell me you’ve never heard this verse before.  The problem with verses we are familiar with, or truth that is often repeated, is that we get used to it and don’t stop to think about it.  It might be useful every month when I read through this chapter of Proverbs to stop and contemplate this as one of those great truths that needs to be reconsidered regularly.

I can’t guarantee I’ll still feel that way next month but right now I need to remind myself about the importance of the fear of the Lord.  This is a stew of ideas.  As in any good stew it has many ingredients and the more they influence each other, the longer they are cooked, the more they are reheated, they just get better.  So start with the craven fear that makes us tremble in the corner when we hear a noise in the dark.  We don’t like to think about that, but that might be a good place to start.  We live in a day where we get complacent and we have great security.  That makes us take things for granted.

So?  Let’s start there this week, this month, today.  God is so holy, so grand, so beyond our understanding that it behooves us to spend a moment trembling in the corner in fear.  Of course that is then mitigated by the fact that we know Jesus loves us, which means that God loves us.  We belong to Him.  That will help us come out of our corner. 

All Inclusive

Psalm 117:1 (KJV) O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

(Proverbs 8 also read)

One of my favorite past times has been debating dispensationalism with a friend.  He’s not just a dispensationist but a mid-Acts dispensationist.  That’s even more exclusive than being a dispensationalist if you can picture such a thing.

One of the points that he constantly likes to make is that the Old Testament was written for the Jews and does not apply to the rest of us.  He would allow that occasionally there’s a principal that should be considered, but usually those are principles that support his theological system so he’s a bit selective there.  Occasionally I come across versus like this that take his system and ask the question, “Have you read your Bible lately?”

You see, as I look at this I see two words that seem to imply being outside Israel.  The first one is “nations”.  This is a term in Hebrew that you may be familiar with, goy.  This is a word that is used almost insulting by Jews to refer to gentiles.  When you look at the scholarly definitions, it says it’s usually used for people outside of Israel.  That would mean you and me.

So I thought maybe this word “peoples” refers to Israel.  Not so.  It’s only used four times in the Old Testament and if you look them up each time, it is very clear that it is talking to people who are not Jews.

So?  At least in this one spot, it is very clear that God had all of us in mind as He was preparing the world for the coming of the Messiah.  Even in the days of the Old Testament, He was calling upon the whole world to praise Him.  Join me. 

Spur of the Moment

Proverbs 7:22 (KJV) He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

The KJV has here “straightway” for the NASB “suddenly”.  Since most of us don’t know what straightaway means it’s probably better to go with the more modern English.  Straight way would give us the idea of going directly.  It could have the concept of following your plan or looking at the goal post 100 yards away and running for all your worth for a touchdown.

That is not the concept.

The concept is that on the spur of the moment you decide you’re going to change direction or that you’re going to make a decision.  Sometimes these decisions are life-changing.  Sometimes they are eternity changing.  This is a sad story because the final verses talk about how this decision is sending him to Sheol or as we might say, hell.

Beware of hasty decisions.  I know when I’m around someone trying to sell me something and they tell me that they’re gonna give me this great deal, but I have to make my decision right now, I walk away.  If the great deal is legitimate it will be there later.

So?  Know the principles that you were living your life by.  You can only follow those if you have been reading them and understanding them.  And then stick to your guns. 

They Are Everywhere

Proverbs 6:22 (NASB95) When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

Who are the “they” in this verse?  If you look back a little bit, it’s the commandments of God.  Now you run into people everywhere who tell you that the law doesn’t apply to you.  That is sad.  The law was given by God for a good reason.  When used properly it can be a tremendous source of inspiration and guidance.  I assume you know enough about your Bible to realize that it is God’s choice, His grace, His love in action that saves you because of your trust in Jesus and the sacrifice He made on the cross.  That truth does not eliminate the message of this verse.

When you study the commandments of God, it seeps into your soul in such a way that you find guidance in making decisions.  It helps the Holy Spirit do what He is designed to do and tasked to do.

Look at the context in which knowing God’s eternal standards will improve your life:  When you walk, sleep, wake up.  Notice it doesn’t say anything about sitting in front of the TV.  I don’t know if that’s important but you might think about it.

So?  We get right with God by trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus then, if it’s genuinely taken hold of our soul, we start walking in obedience and joy.  Have a good journey today.  

Simply Glorious

Psalm 116:6 (KJV) The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

It is amazing to me how content I can be with my limitations when I am basking in the presence of Him who has no limitations.  What makes it such a joyful encounter is the awareness that He is real, that His loving kindness is extended toward me, that He sent Jesus to suffer on the cross for me, and He is so patient and aware of my limitations.

So? Glory!  

The Need for Braces

2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

(Proverbs 4 also read)

Every time I come across this word “perfect” I think about how modern Christians seem to get offended by it, or repelled might be a better word.  We shouldn’t be.  It’s a wonderful insight in how God works with his people.

Notice that the “weakness” is in us.  We can’t avoid it.  It is reality.  We are inadequate for what we face in life.  If you think you’re adequate then you’re probably missing what the real challenge is.  But the promise is that God will make us adequate, that His strength is made perfect as He acts as a brace for our withered limbs.  Or you might even think of it as a prosthetic device.

We have a lady at church who walks funny.  I thought she was having hip problems or something along those lines, but it turns out that she had a leg amputated and she’s walking on a prosthetic.  She’s able to get around quite well as long as she keeps in mind that she has this perfection making her weakness adequate.

So?  What are our weaknesses?  I tend to find that I forget I’m getting old.  Sometimes I move too fast.  So far the Lord has kept me from major catastrophe, but in life, we need to be aware of our limitations and learn how to lean so that God can compensate.  

Applied Wisdom

Psalm 111:10 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

(Proverbs 3 also read)

We need to be mindful of a constant reminder by the word that it is not enough just to have head knowledge, or even just heart knowledge; we must apply the knowledge that we have.  Notice the simple little verb “do”.  There is some correlation between applying truth and just believing it.

We’re familiar with the concept of muscle memory.  By doing things repeatedly, we learned to do them by habit without thinking.  It speeds up the process quite a bit and allows us to focus on higher level thoughts and applications.  The same thing can be said about spiritual issues, about wisdom.  This might also in a bit of a stretch apply to why Jesus had to come and live as a human being.  There’s something about actually experiencing life that brings it a depth and richness that is not understood any other way.

So?  Believe it.  Apply it.  Get the full benefit of what God is offering. 

We Forget

Proverbs 2:22 (KJV) But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

In reading these last two verses, it came to my mind again.  Eternity is going to have an element of the physical in it.  We have that popular conception of floating around on clouds.  Some people imagine the masses of elders and saints, bowing down before the throne on the sea of glass and chanting, “Holy holy holy”.  You need to read the rest of Revelation.  You need to read about the new Jerusalem descending to earth.  You need to read about the river of life running out of Jerusalem and the tree of life growing on both sides.  Remember the wolf lying down with a lamb?

We will not be cut off from the Earth.  We are to be established.  I like to think that we still have access to flowing through the cosmos and diving into the center of massive stars, but our focus and our home is always going to be on earth.

So?  Get used to it.  Enjoy it.  Imagine what it will be like when our sin caused limitations are removed totally.  

What Was That?

Proverbs 1:23 (KJV) Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Reproof without response is a waste of breath.  That doesn’t mean God won’t keep trying to reach us and get us to listen, but there comes a point where we are expected to respond.  Notice the first word “turn”.  God gives us insight in His word, through preaching, our reading, our meditation and expects us to take it and apply it to our lives.  The result is that we are supposed to do things differently.

When we practice obedience, the promise here is that God will “pour out His spirit” on us and then He will bring us a deeper understanding of what it is that He’s trying to say.

So?  It’s a new month.  It’s getting close to a new year.  Those are days we highlight but there are no days when it’s a bad idea to start changing our direction if God is speaking to us.