He Started It

Proverbs 19:26 (KJV) He that wasteth his father, [and] chaseth away his  mother, is  a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

It used to be that the trip home from church was the invitation for war in the backseat.  It was always the other person’s fault.  It seems like the kids always felt like there would be nothing that we as adults could do about what they were doing.  One of the great things about getting older and spending time with your kids is they tell you about things you did as a parent that you don’t remember.

Evidently, there was one day when our kids were acting up in the backseat.  Repeated warnings fell on deaf ears.  The kids felt like since we were on the road there was nothing that could really be done.  Evidently I stopped the car in the middle of the road , got out, opened the back door and got serious about discipline.  I didn’t pull off in a parking lot.  There was no place to pull off.  I dealt with it right there in the middle of the street.  My kids still remember that.

When I look at this verse, I wonder if this is about a family where the father never pulled the car over and got out to deal with a problem.  I wonder if it’s the result of a lack of discipline.  Keep in mind that a lack of discipline is a two-way street.  If the parent doesn’t offer it the child doesn’t receive it, the result is disaster.

So?  Whether you are a parent or a grandparent, you still are molding the younger generation.  I will admit that original sin is real.  I understand that people make choices on their own.  We as responsible adults need to help them make those decisions and learn the consequences.  

Lifelong Learning

Proverbs 16:22 (KJV) Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

The thought of going back to school terrifies me.  Going back as a teacher creates nightmares.  Most of the nightmares I have put me in a classroom with all of the fears that are involved and being in a situation like that.  The idea of having to go and sit as a student causes revulsion in my life.  I have listened to enough fools over the years to know that my patience does not extend anymore to them.

That being said, I think that one of the things that we need to accept as we get older is the importance of continuing to learn and to seek truth.  As we age, one of the things that we get concerned about is dementia and a decrease in our mental abilities.  I am coming to the conclusion that one of the things that can at least hold that at bay a little bit, or slow it down, is to keep our minds active.  Not sure that’s what Solomon was talking about here, but if you put together understanding and instruction and the fact that the two work together to form a wellspring of life, make your own conclusions.

So?  Keep reading for truth.  Keep seeking great thoughts.  Keep listening to what the Holy Spirit is whispering.   Let it be a wellspring within you.  

Word Power

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

In this verse we see a kind of a change of direction in the comments.  This is the beginning of where Solomon reviews the effect of our words.  Notice that “word” is not used in this verse, but it does talk about us as “scorners".  A scorner scorns with his words.  I guess you could also use looks and gestures, but what we say is certainly a part of that.

The use of words continues to come up through the rest of the chapter.  Words are powerful things.  It’s probably a safe statement to say that we need to be more careful in what we say, and how we say it.  That would start with examining our hearts and our motives.  It would involve taking a moment to think before we speak.  It would demand that we seriously consider effects of our casual comments and words.

So?  I am certainly guilty of humor that injures people.  I’m guilty of speaking out of turn or too impulsively.  My God have mercy on me and on you. 

Brainstorming

Proverbs 29:11 (KJV) A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Modern business models at one point had a technique called brainstorming.  I believe you would sit around and just say anything that came to mind.  There was no criticism.  There was no limitation.  There was no penalty for anything you said.  At least that was the theory.  I’m not sure it worked that well in real life.  One reason it didn’t work very well is people are really afraid to express their thoughts because they knew what their superiors wanted and as low level employees they weren’t about to risk their necks by being honest.

Psychology has similar ideas about sharing your inner feelings and opening up who you are and what you really want to say.  I’ve never been to any in-depth psychological counseling, but I picture people sitting around and sharing your thoughts.  Remember the Bob Newhart show and how he would have a group of crazies sitting in a circle and sharing.  This is just another one of those ideas of modern psychology that go against what God seems to really want.

So?  I’m sure there’s a time for sharing thoughts but the point here is that you should spend a bit of time meditating and clarifying you’re thinking before you just blurt things out.  It goes along with the idea of being quick to listen and slow to speak.  

A New Diet Plan?

Proverbs 13:25 (KJV) The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

It always mystifies me when I am reading my NASB and it has a marginal footnote which tells me what something means literally.  Here we have that case.  What’s interesting is that when it tells me what it means literally and it’s pretty much exactly what the KJV is saying.  You see food that we eat is designed not for our appetites, but to satisfy our souls.

Would that not be a great topic for a diet book?  Actually, I think I have read such a book. It was called The Weigh Down Diet.  And the point of the book is that you eat in response to the built-in mechanisms that God has put into your body.  You respond to the body’s call is based on your contact with the Holy Spirit and not with your sinful appetites.  You eat to satisfy your soul.

So?  I wish I could say that I have this down.  I still struggle.  I am a glutton.  I can’t fix it.  I trust the Lord to somehow give me victory over this and to satisfy the crying out of my soul. 

She’s Everywhere

Proverbs 7:12 (KJV) Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

What proverbs is telling us in this chapter is a literal story of seduction.  Since I am not a young dude out looking for some action, it doesn’t penetrate deeply on a literal level.  However, as I look at this verse, I see some figurative applications that are possible.

Notice that this harlot is lurking at every corner.  Since that is literally impossible I am going to choose to take it as a figure of speech for us today.  I don’t do that to show little concern for fidelity and high moral standards, but just to make it a bigger application.  How many things in our lives seem to pop up in different places, trying to drag us into sin and failure?  What are your big temptations?  What topics are good for Satan to drag you down?  My biggest weak point is gluttony.  That one is obvious to me.  It’s possible that there are other weak points that I am not noticing or choose to ignore.  I need to meditate on that a little bit.

So?  What are your weak points?  Is there some way that Satan is trying to get to you?  Ask God to reveal things to you.  If it’s simply a matter of changing your schedule to avoid them, then get out your calendar.  If it’s a matter of greater discipline, and start working on it.  God will meet you and help you overcome.  And watch those corners. 

You Will Need a Dictionary

Proverbs 4:12 (KJV) When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

I must have been reading this verse in a modern translation because today when I read it in the KJV all I could do was scratch my head.  Take another look at it and look at that word which you think says, “straighten”, but it doesn’t.  It’s spelled differently.  If you read this while thinking it reads “straighten”, then it doesn’t make any sense.  But again, that’s not what it says.

So I went to the dictionary, and this word is more in line with our concept of a straitjacket.  The concept behind it can involve getting straight, but it’s more in the concept of confining and keeping within specific boundaries.  The overall point is that if you learn wisdom and allow it to guide you, it will open up your opportunities and your options.

So?  When you read something that doesn’t seem to make any sense, look a little deeper.  God is not the author of confusion, even if the translators sometimes seem a little old-fashioned. 

Timely Word

Proverbs 31:7 (KJV) Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

It is somewhat amusing the way God brings certain verses in front of you on certain occasions.  I’m assuming this will be posted on December 31.  That means it’s New Year’s Eve.  I’m at the point in life where I’ll probably be in bed about the same time, as I usually am, hopefully by 9 o’clock.  I’m not too much into celebrating the new year anymore.

One of the ways many people celebrate is to drink too much.  I don’t drink at all.  I’ve tasted a few things, but don’t like it.  I also have moral issues with it.  I’ve often wondered why people think it is so much fun to get drunk and do stupid things, and often not even remember how stupid they were.

I think there is a point where people who drink too much notice that it says to forget and remember no more.  They are trying to forget part of their life that they don’t like.  I tend to think you use it as an escape.  I’m sure this doesn’t apply to people who have a glass of wine at dinner or might feel like a cocktail when they get home from work is relaxing.  I’m sure they have self control and don’t have to deal with this.  For them it’s just recreation.  But for others they’re trying to escape.

So?  If you’re one of those that likes to get drunk on New Year’s Eve then I would invite you to stop and seriously think about what your motivation is.  It’s easy for me to get judgmental since I don’t drink.  I am aware of that.  I have other things I have to meditate on and look at.  Too bad you don’t have a blog to advise me.

In Praise of Mediocre

(Pro 30:8-9 KJV)  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

It’s hard for us to accept the fact that mediocre represents excellence.  Here the emphasis is on our physical condition.  On one side, we don’t have enough.  On the other side we have too much.  What is ironic about this is that we would still feel like we did not have enough when we were on the side of excess.

One of the conditions of the human being is that we always want more.  Those of us who are gluttons know what it is to be full and yet still continue to eat . If you asked us for a rational explanation, I don’t think we could give one.  For some people it’s the size of their house.  For some it is that shiny new car that is just a little bit better than the one they had before.  For some it’s romantic entanglements.  The point is there comes a place where enough is, or should be, enough.

So?  I can’t tell you where that place is for you, but I know it exists.  I would suggest that it’s just a little bit before what you have now.  The truth is God is probably already supplied you with an abundance of everything you need.  Sure I go to work but don’t necessarily demand overtime.

Go Deep

(Pro 20:5 KJV)  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

As I read this verse this morning, my mind went to the soup pot.  I thought of how I go about filling my bowl when I presented with a large container and a dipper.  I don’t skim the top, unless I just want water.  I dig down deep with the ladle, stir around a bit, and come up with what has set up residency in the bottom.

How I go about it depends on what I’m looking for.  If I just want the big chunks of meat or of fish or whatever the primary ingredient is, I dig straight down and bring up the bottom.  If I want a well-balanced bowl of soup or chili I stir it around, dig deep to get a good portion of the solids, but bring up a good amount of liquid with it.

God constantly tries to give us counsel.  He tries to teach us.  It takes us digging down.  It takes us going into the deep water and trying to draw out what God has to say to us.  We need to go for it.

So?  It’s sometimes expected that God will give us an easy answer.  That’s for the crisis, for the emergency.  Generally speaking, we need to dig and then expect God to meet us. 

Torpor

(Pro 23:21 KJV)  For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

As I read the New American Bible it used a word for “drowsiness” (5124) that I recognized but don’t use often.  The word was “torpor”.  I think that is a much better word.  I have been struggling with torpor.  I am not depressed.  I am not unaware.  I am in a malaise that keeps me from being productive.  The context here was too much food and too much wine.  A few days ago I tried to only eat when I was hungry.  I was coming to the conclusion that gluttony was dulling my mind.  So far it is making a difference.  This verse reinforces the idea.

It may not last but I am dividing my eating into three categories.  Two are positive:  hunger and feasting.  Feasting is Biblical and a part of the fellowship of family and church.  The other is appetite.  Someone like me cannot respond to our appetite.

So?  Three days do not a principle verify but I am going to work with it.  It might work for me and be totally useless to you.  May God direct you as you deal with your weak points. 

Now That’s a Problem

(Pro 19:13 KJV)  A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

This verse makes me wonder how often we say, “Why me, Lord?”  Do you know anyone who has children that have lost their anchor and a spouse that was a mistake?  One of the questions people ask has to do with fault.  Was it my fault?  On both cases you might say, “Yes,” you might say, “No”.  It is one of those things that could go both ways and you may never know the answer to the problem.

I would say that the son has more of a chance to be the father’s fault.  While he was born a free agent and will make his own decisions, as a father you have a lot of molding to do.  You also have an example.  Still, at the end of the day he has free will and will exercise it.

The spouse, wife in this example, is a little more complex.  When courting people put forth their best foot.  Think of it as social make up.  If you have ever seen a celebrity without their make-up it can be quite a shock.  People are good at putting their best foot forward.  God promises us the grace to deal with the people in our lives.

So?  I don’t see any blame in this verse.  I do see an awareness of the problems of life.  Follow the standard advice.  Let the past go after you learn from it and begin to build a life of faith and joy.  God will join you on the journey. 

Self Teach

(Pro 2:2 KJV)  So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

I have been hearing a lot of sermon reviews lately.  I have been hearing comments in response to pod casts and You Tube videos.  What hits me is how often the comments reflect how entertaining the speaker was.  They will share some amazing insight accompanied by charts, graphs and power point slides and the listener will go, “Wow”.  

What is happening is that the listener is letting someone else do their thinking for them.  We are to seek knowledge by using our own thinking, reading and prayer.  The Amplified Bible gets this across by throwing in the words  [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly].  In effect they are doing just what the verse says we should not be doing.

So?  Listen and benefit by the teaching of others but never let it substitute for your own diligent seeking of truth. 

Schedules and Priorities

(Pro 2:4 KJV)  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

What a great verse to consider at the beginning of a new year.  If we want to know the vast riches of being a child of God then we need to invest our time.  The context of the next verse is fear and knowledge.  The application runs throughout our lives.  I have experienced this at different levels.

The first time I enjoyed this promise was when I was a full time pastor.  One of the awesome rewards of that position is you get paid to spend time in prayer and study.  I remember walking around the church building praying over all the people and events that different spots brought to mind.  I remember the hours I spent studying the word.  It was a great time.

Then I went into secular employment and it was quite a come down.  I did not respond to it well in the sense of my personal spiritual discipline.  Eventually I decided that I needed to bite the bullet and find a way to set aside time.  After trying different things I was forced to admit it would mean getting up earlier.  That meant going to bed earlier.  It was a good time.

Now, in retirement, I find that I have a combination.  I have the time.  I still need to discipline myself.   It in an investment that pays off.

So?  Don’t wait for retirement but wherever you are I would encourage you to set aside time and adjust your schedule to experience what this verse is recommending. 

Listen to the Cliches

(Pro 13:25 KJV)  The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

There is some good advice for dieters in this verse.  It does not come through as clearly in the NASB as the KJV.  Notice that the KJV tells us that it is the “soul” (5315) that you are to satisfy (7648).  We are not to eat to fill our bellies but to fill our souls.  As Americans we tend to overdo the physical input.  We tend to underdo the spiritual.  Maybe this is why we need to spend more time in fasting.

We are in the midst of the holidays.  That calls for feasting even in the Bible.  Don’t be a scrooge but focus on the fellowship that builds your soul not the sugar that dulls your mind.

So?  You know all the cliches.  Sometimes there is wisdom in a cliche.

The Problem with Giving Good Advice

(Pro 3:22 KJV)  So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

I think that Solomon would have benefitted by reading his own writings.  If you know anything about the life of Solomon, he did not finish well.  The start was powerful.  God met him and he responded with humility.  God promised him much but he was not able to handle it.  Instead of being leery of pagan wives he jumped into polygamy with both feet.  In the end, the women won.  Satan won.  Solomon turned his back on the Lord and embraced the evils of his pagan spouses.

So?  It isn’t enough to be able to quote Bible verses.  Evidently it wasn’t even enough to write Bible verses.  The promises are real.  Make sure that your heart is in tune and your ears are cleaned out. 

Too Close for Comfort

(Pro 23:21 KJV)  For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Again we see “drunkard” (heavy drinker NASB) (5433a) and “glutton” (2151b).  These are recurring themes in Proverbs.  To be fair, both are statements of overdoing.  Both show lack of self control.  Personally I think that the problem is lack of discipline more than the food or alcohol themselves.  The world is full of people who enjoy a fine whiskey or a glass of good wine.  I am not one of those people but I know they exist.  I also know the world is full of people who have been destroyed by booze or ER cases just waiting to happen.

The church has walked away from the issues.  We are told not to judge.  We are told is it because society has abandoned people.  We are told a lot of things.  What we need to tell is the excess is sin.

So?  The gluttony part hits me.  I admit it and I am working on it.  May God have mercy on me and on others struggling with the lack of self control.  May we put Jesus first. 

Sick of It

(Psa 91:3 KJV)  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

Three times in this chapter there is reference to death by disease.  Here and in verse 6 we have “pestilence” (1698) and in verse 10 you have “plague” (5061).  This deadly threat was something that people lived with on a daily basis in ancient times.  Gradually we have learned to deal with them.  Antibiotic treatments were a big breakthrough.  Yet the general population is still in dread.  We saw how easy it was to produce panic with the manipulation of the information on Covid.

As I glanced through the ways that “pestilence” was used I noticed that it was often a tool used by God on enemies of His people and even on Israel when they lived in disobedience.  Our modern sensitivity compels us to ignore this fact.  Even Jesus at one point said that a man was not ill because of his sin or his parents failures.  At the same time when you look at the people who actually contacted covid and were pushed over the edge, most of them had what were called co-morbidities such as diabetes, lung issues or heart disease.  What is interesting is that those are often caused by life style choices, not always, but often.

So?  It makes a difference how we live.  This is an area that we are not to condemn.  It doesn’t really help someone to tell their survivors that they ate themselves to death.  At the same time it is a warning bell for us with the many “pleasures” we embrace.  The call is to live an upright life.

Cost of Living

(Pro 23:20 KJV)  Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
(Pro 23:21 KJV)  For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

I am not even a light drinker, unless this refers to coffee, however, I have been known to be a glutton.  So, ouch.  The question that came to my mind today was whether this was given on the level of the Ten Commandments, sin, or whether it is a principle that will make our lives better.  If I were just looking at verse 20 I could lean toward the sin category but when I look at verse 21 it sounds like good advice for a successful life.

Recently we went to a buffet that my grandchildren refer to as “the restaurant where kids get to pick what they eat.”  That usually means bowls of mandarin oranges, pasta, red jello and ice cream.  It is a place I avoid because I am a glutton and sometimes know my limits.  I did notice that my fellow gluttons seemed to be a bit on the lower level of the socio-economic scale.  That is not just because of the quality of the food.  I have been to the buffets in Las Vegas that cost an arm and a leg and although it is expensive I have the feeling that many of the people their also can’t afford to be paying that much.  

But they do and in the long term it will keep them in the lower socio-economic group.

So?  Sometimes the Bible just gives good advice.  Will we go to hell for going to an all-you-can-eat place?  I doubt it but the pattern might say a lot about our overall wealth picture.

Follow Directions

(Pro 10:17 KJV)  He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

As I began reading in this verse the phrase “way (734) of life (2425b)” (path of life NASB) stood out to me.  It came to me that just because you are on that road today it does not guarantee that you will be on it tomorrow.  The road will not go away.  The wandering is on your part.  

There are various reasons why we get off the path.  Sometimes we get distracted.  I will confess this has happened to me a time or two.  I can’t remember if it is getting worse as I get older, but it happens.  You are cruising along, deep in a discussion with yourself, and suddenly you realize you have just passed the turn you wanted to make.  The results vary.  In Southern California there was usually another off-ramp a quarter of a mile down the road where you could correct your error.  In Texas you might need to drive a couple of miles.

Sometimes we find the directions confusing.  I will at times use the GPS feature to get somewhere.  This is only when I don’t know the route.  I find that many times the directions given by the all-knowing AI is either confusing, wrong or comes too late.  I am often forced to do what I should have done at the beginning, figure it our myself.

So?  Staying on track is part of the life of righteousness.  The Holy Spirit will cover a lot of mistakes and wake us up at times but we still need to apply ourselves if we want to arrive at our destination.