Muddy Waters

(Pro 25:26 KJV)  A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

As a kid it was fun to stomp in puddles or wade in small streams.  Part of the fun was stirring up the silt and mud.  It would make instant clouds that would take serious time to clear out.  What is fun for a child can be a problem for adults.  If you had been moving west in a wagon and came to a spring or creek, how would your parents have responded if you ran ahead and started muddying the water?  I think we both know.

The same is true for those of us seeking to live righteous lives.  We will obviously make mistakes.  There will be times when we will muddy the waters.  We can mess things us for others as well as ourselves.

So?  Perfect performance may be impossible but being aware that your actions effect others might be helpful in curbing your enthusiasm for stirring up the mud of life.  

Action vs Knowledge

Proverbs 2:11 (KJV) Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Earlier in the chapter we read about discernment.  Now the narrative switches to “discretion”.  This is a maturing of the message.  Discernment is a mental process.  You look at the facts and carefully analyze what you see.  You come to a conclusion.  This is where discretion comes in.

There is a saying about things like atomic energy and AI:  “Just because you can doesn’t mean that you should.”  What applies to technology also applies to our actions each day.

So?  As usual, start with the foundational truth, think and pray, and finally act based on what has gone before.  Too often we act and then pick ourselves up.  

Anger Issues

Proverbs 20:3 (KJV) It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

This verse brings to mind other sections of scripture.  It makes me think of the Proverb that says a soft answer turns away wrath.  It reminds me of Jesus instructing us to turn the other cheek, and to go the extra mile.  None of these, though, indicate that we are going to be perfect, and totally resistant to strife.

Our goal, and our honor if we achieve it, is to avoid strife, or as this verse says to “cease” from strife.  This can have different meanings.  It can mean stopping after the first few punches or insults.  It can mean walking away from someone you know will be aggressive.  It can mean ignoring verbal attacks upon you.

The main point though is that it is not a sign of weakness, or lack of character to avoid conflict.

So?  Don’t let other people drag you into verbal or physical altercations.  Avoid them, both the situations and the people.  Refuse to be drawn in.  Keep in mind it is the highroad.

Cast the Stone

(Pro 22:10 KJV)  Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

“Contention” (4066) is a major evil in our homes, churches and communities.  The people who spread it do not have a happy future.  The people who have to live with it need a constant influx of grace to deal with it.  Sometimes you can do something about it.  You can vote members off the church board.  You can leave a church or get a new job.  Sometimes you cannot do much.  Marriage is one of the ways in which the word is used.  The solution there seems to be staying as far away from the trouble maker as possible.

So?  My first concern is to examine my own life and make sure I am not one who brings strife.  It is always hard to see things in yourself but it won’t happen at all unless we are aware of the potential.  If it is any consolation there is one verse that says the disaster that awaits the contentious will come suddenly. 

No Dessert Today

(Pro 27:7 KJV)  The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

I am not sure who first used the phrase “you say that like it is a bad thing” but it comes to mind as I read this phrase “sated (7649) man (5315)”.  The NASB really falls down here.  The KJV is much better with “full soul”.  In both translations it seems like a negative thing but I am not so sure.  

Notice that the man with the full soul is not even interested in the honey.  He has what he needs.  There is a time for honey and a time for no honey.  This is the kind of satisfaction that you feel after a great meal when the waitress comes up and says, “Got room for dessert, Honey?”  (When they start to call you “Honey” you know you are getting old.)  The one who is full will reply, “No, I don’t have any room.”  You could probably eat it.  It might look good.  The desire is tamped down so you are not tempted.

So?  I think that point for us is to make sure that we have a steady diet of the word and the presence of God so that the things life throws at us are on a level we can say “no” to. 

Mouth Editors

(Pro 15:28 KJV) The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

How often has it been that the first thing we think of to say is usually not what needs to be said?  Sometimes it is mean spirited.  Sometimes it is critical for the wrong reasons.  Sometimes it is just stupid.  One problem with words is that they can’t be undone.  It would be nice if we could go back over the day and edit our contributions.  When I write something to post on the internet there is usually an editing and a curing process that goes on.  I write.  Then the next day I edit.  On this blog I try to keep a month ahead.  When I post it I edit it again and I am always amazed at the things I find that I missed before.  Sometimes I need to express my thoughts differently or I find a better word.  And even though I know the difference between their, there and they’re, I still type the wrong one at times.

So?  We need to work at installing editors on our mouths.  Rarely is life worse if we don’t say something critical.  You can’t say the same about compliments. 

Strange Morsels

(Pro 26:22 KJV) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

I find the translation “dainty morsels” (3859) (NASB) to be strange.  I find the “wounds” of the KJV to be even stranger.  The definition of the word is “to swallow greedily”.  The translation brings to mind awesome cookies that melt in your mouth.  The definition speaks of shoveling it in as fast as possible.  Either way it is something that the eater wants.  Such is the nature of gossip.  It has an addictive fascination with many people.  It is what stimulates people to read, and sometimes even buy, the gossip magazines at the check out.  It is the attraction that keeps much of what is on daytime TV alive and well.  People want to know the dirt.  

I think this is intended as a warning to us.  There are inclinations we can resist and we need to resist them for our spiritual health.  In many cases you know who the gossips are.  In many cases you can avoid them.

So?  Keep your mind empty of what these people want to say.  It is easier to avoid than to erase. 

Words Can Hurt

(Pro 12:18 KJV) There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Why is it so hard for us to stop and think before we speak?  Is it because experience has taught us that if we stop and think we will never get to let off steam, even if we are wrong?  Is it because it is easier to get forgiveness than permission?  Is it just the sinful desire to hurt?  It is hard to tell.

Selfish motives are destructive.  The destruction can be as mild as a minor moment of hurt feelings or it can cause death and disaster.  Either way it is selfish.  Either way it is sin.

So?  It is always a good time to stop and look back over the day and see if we have been drifting toward self-centeredness.  Sometimes it sneaks up on us.  Sometimes it comes crashing in.  Always it is a time for repentance and restoration. 

Picking Your Antidotes

(Pro 23:20 KJV) Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

At heart this is a call to moderation but keep in mind that some things are better avoided.  Since I have more trouble with food, let me talk about gluttony and moderation in eating.  With all the references to feasting and the good foods of life we need to understand we are not called to eat nothing but unsweetened oatmeal and brown rice.  We are to eat and enjoy.  At the same time we are not to be gluttons.

With alcohol you can do a total abstinence routine and suffer no complications.  While Timothy was told to take some wine for his “infirmities”,

(1Ti 5:23 KJV) Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

an honest person will admit that our water is clean and we have lots of medications available.  Food is not so simple.  We must eat and because of that we are to enjoy what we consume.  I find that some foods I cannot be moderate on.  If I go to a pizza buffet they will need to haul me out on a dolly.  I love pizza but it doesn’t have an “enough” switch.  On the other hand, I used to have a restaurant that had a vegetable soup that satisfied me.  For me the sin would be going to the pizza place.  It would make it impossible to control.

So?  Pick your poison and pick your antidote.  God have us minds and the free will to make decisions.  Use them wisely. 

How Many Guitars Is Enough?

(Pro 30:16 KJV) The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

When do we have “enough” (1952)?  The most common translation of this word in the NASB is “wealth” and the KJV, “riches”.  It is used most frequently in Proverbs.  It is not always a bad thing.  So the question again is, how much is enough?  This is a real question for Americans living in an economic system that at least pays lip service to free enterprise. 

I don’t think you can put a dollar amount on it.  There is something in us that always wants more.  I find myself thinking about a new guitar.  You know I really need one.  The problem is I already have six and don’t play them as much as I should.  Do I really need another?  No.  When it comes to a car that is not always in the repair shop or a home that does not have enough bathrooms things get a bit more serious.

So?  It is a hard line to balance on but although God promises to meet our needs He expects us to be stewards of the blessings.  I am looking for someone to give a guitar to, not so I have room for a new one, but because I have more than I need. 

Butt Out

(Pro 26:17 KJV) He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

I would think that it is often obvious when we should stick our nose in someone else’s business.  Or maybe the opposite is more appropriate.  It is usually obvious when we should not offer our two cents worth.  My wife tells the story of the time she was almost physically attacked in a store because she offered some advice to a father.  I was not there.  I know only what she tells me.  She was, of course, completely innocent and his hostility was unwarranted.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  It obviously was the wrong dog ears that she was ruffling.

So?  I think the point is that we should lean toward not offering unsolicited advice.  That is true even when it is obvious.  There are times when people are being real fools, like pushing on a door that says “Pull”.  Let them find out on their own.  It will be embarrassing enough.  It might also have more chance of being educational. 

That’s Just Her

(Pro 7:11 KJV) (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

Are we talking about a personality type or the result of questionable decisions?  Does it really matter?  All of us have personality types.  Every personality has its problems whether it is Pollyanna or Freddy Krueger.  Some obviously have more than others.  I tend to be someone who is quite willing to sit at home when I should be out getting something done.  My wife will come home from a two week trip and say, “I have to get out of the house.”

God has ways of using each personality type.  The woman in question in this verse obviously could be used in positive ways except she is choosing to head down the wrong path.  A warning to us is that she does not want to travel the road to hell alone.

So?  Be careful whom you enjoy being with.  Some paths lead other places than Rome. 

Verbal Diet

(Pro 18:21 KJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Many of us love to talk.  I think of myself as a loner and an introvert but there are times when I realize my mouth has been running on automatic.  That is a scary thing.  What makes me think that people want to listen to my opinions, or read them in the case of my internet posts. 

The internet is a reflection of the mind of God.  Like God, the internet never forgets.  It might be that your wife or a co-worker is the same way.  What will the record show?

So?  As usual, the less said the better.  I guess a corollary could be that the well said is the exception.  You never need to eat words that are never spoken. 

Freedom of Unspeech

(Pro 13:3 KJV) He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Americans who have read the Constitution are aware that we have what is called the “freedom of speech”.  I don’t know about you but when I listen or read what is called news or free speech I sometimes wonder if that is such a good idea.  This verse reminds us that just because we have the political freedom to speak our mind, it is not always the right thing to do.

The focus here is on our personal safety.  There are times to keep our mouth shut because to say anything would incite a violent reaction.  There are times, as we have seen in the case of General Mike Flynn, where speaking boldly puts you in jail.  And of course there are times when it is just wisdom in inaction to be silent.

So?  It is much more frequent for most of us to say too much than it is to say too little.  Isn’t that a reminder we need? 

Then What?

(Proverbs 20:17 KJV)  Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

We need to think more about the “afterward” (310).  Obviously this has an eternal concern but I think Solomon is more focused on the next few moments, days or years.  This is not just a spiritual concern but a principle that seeps into every area of life.  We are so affluent as a culture that we forget that debts must be paid.  We live on credit in our finances.  We live on the principle built up by previous generations.  Our decisions have consequences even if we don’t see them.

As Christians we should always be asking ourselves what the long term results will be to our decisions and actions.  When you have a genuine emergency it is sometimes necessary to charge things you don’t have the money for.  The problem is in those two words “genuine emergency”.  That does not mean a lack of planning.

So?  God is concerned about today and what we face.  He is concerned because He has the big picture.  He wants us to end up at the right conclusion.  We can’t do it if we refuse to consider what comes after.

I Don’t Buy It

(Proverbs 23:1 KJV)  When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

This chapter has a lot to say about our social relationships and how our sensual natures can lead us into trouble.  Here it involves the pride that can develop when we are invited to the best parties.  There is a tendency to think that someone really cares.  Another theme in the chapter has to do with being consumed by the food and later it deals with alcohol. 

Pick your poison or select your warning.  For me it would be the gluttony aspect.  I don’t really like big parties and I don’t drink but keep me away from the store when potato chips are on sale.  I try to avoid that aisle even when they are not on sale.

So?  When you realize what your weaknesses are it is always best to avoid contact.  Such a simple step but effective.  I can’t eat what I leave in the store. 

The Mouth as a Trap

(Proverbs 18:7 KJV)  A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

We read about the two edged sword in different contexts.  Here we see that talking too much can cause a double disaster.  The first is “destruction” (ruin NASB) (4288) in this life.  We can get in fights, lose friends, damage our reputation and who knows what else by a careless word at the wrong time.  That is bad enough.

But it seems to get worse.  It can also damage your “soul” (5315).  I don’t know how far to take this but it gives me the impression that an undisciplined mouth can eventually destroy my status before God.  That has eternal consequences. 

So?  How much encouragement do we need to stop talking and be polite?  Some need more than others. 

Have a Slow Day

(Proverbs 18:6 KJV)  A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

I like to bask in the foolishness of others.  It is frequent and clear.  The problem is that by my measure, I am just as big a fool.  Probably bigger.  How many times has my mouth seemed to take charge and say things that I can’t call back?  It is a good thing that I am not counting.  It is a bad thing that God is.

The good news is that fools have hope.  They can change.  Sometimes it happens overnight.  Other times it takes years.  The point is, it can happen.

So?  Every time my mouth reveals what is going on inside me I need to have a moment of repentance and recommitment.  I may slow down my day.  It will slow down my mouth.

Start a Honey Don’t List

(Proverbs 27:7 KJV)  The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Three out of the last four chapters have referred to “honey” (5317).  The approach has been varied.  It is good to eat.  You can eat too much.  You can get to where it does not appeal to you.  I have been going figurative and looking at honey as the good things in life.  Here we are warned that we can have so much that we are no longer drawn to the good things.  We already looked at moderation and balance.  Here the idea is focus and priorities. 

What kind of things can bring me to the point where the honey of life no longer appeals?  I have a lot of unread books on my shelf.  I am part way through many of them.  They range from ancient philosophy to modern politics.  It would be good to get to reading them but I find that the science fiction and mysteries call so loud that the others have a muted appeal. 

So?  Maybe the only way I can get back to enjoying the really good things is to deny myself some of the distractions that are so easy to “eat”. 

Sweet Decay

(Proverbs 25:16 KJV)  Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Yesterday I was noticing that we are told to enjoy the good things.  Now, just a few verses later the word switches from “enjoy” to “moderation”.  Keep in mind the danger of proof-texting and the importance of context. 

Often moderation is a matter of acceptance.  Proverbs warns about being consumed with getting rich or getting an inheritance too quickly.  The Christian life has goals and ambition but the underlying motivation is to bring glory to God.  It is bound by a belief in Providence and walking in faith.  There will be lean times and times of plenty.  We practice moderation by accepting what is while we work for the better.

Often moderation is a matter of following the directions.  Medication is a good example.  Even simple things like over the counter pain killers will tell you to only take so many pills in 24 hours and not to go over a certain number of days.  Just because one is good it does not mean that 10 will be ten times as good.  Too much of a “good” thing can kill you.

So?  Enjoy the good stuff but don’t overdo it.  Don’t lose your sense of priorities.  God has allowed for variety and the appetite that enjoys more when motivated by hunger.