(Pro 7:2 KJV) Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
This is another verse that tells me to be an Arminian, not a Calvinist. It is very clear that we are to “keep” (8104) the “commandments” (4687). I don’t care how you want to define that. You can limit it to the Ten Commandments. You can make it the law of love. Whatever you want to put in as the commandments, we are still told that we must obey them. That means that, if I want to “live” (2421a), I must respond. We are saved by grace, through faith. No believer questions that because it is a simple statement out of the word. My assertion is that statement of theological truth does not rule out the demand for obedience.
Why do Christians have such a hard time accepting the importance of the “commandments” (4687) of God? Maybe real Christians don’t. Maybe the ones who have trouble are the unrepentant. Commandments mean rules and standards. Rules and standards put limitations on our freedom. We don’t want that. We want the benefits of grace but not the limitations of holiness.
We are to focus our attention on the commandments of God. There is a reward: we will “live” (2421a). It would follow that if we don’t, we will die. Makes sense to me.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Literal or Figurative
(Pro 7:1 KJV) My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
This entire proverb at first seems to be a warning against sexual immorality. Literally that is the case, but when you compare the second part with the first, I wonder. The literal part is easy for us to accept: rejecting adultery is a given for believers, or at least it should be. The figurative applications hit closer to home for most of us because we are so good at making excuses and exceptions for ourselves.
This entire proverb at first seems to be a warning against sexual immorality. Literally that is the case, but when you compare the second part with the first, I wonder. The literal part is easy for us to accept: rejecting adultery is a given for believers, or at least it should be. The figurative applications hit closer to home for most of us because we are so good at making excuses and exceptions for ourselves.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Nap Time
(Pro 6:9-11 KJV) How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Proverbs deals with the causes of “poverty” (7389) repeatedly. Today’s popular reason for poverty is always oppression; the rich capitalist has stolen his money from the sweat and pain of the working classes. That is classic Marxist propaganda. The reason it takes hold is that it is ideological, so facts don’t matter, and there is are occasions in which it is true. Proverbs deals with oppression in a different place. Oppression happens. But that is not the cause of poverty being presented here.
We are talking about the sluggard. The sluggard faces poverty because he is lazy. See comments in verse 6. One tendency that the sluggard has is to spend too much time in bed. These verses cover sleeping in and taking naps. We are talking about a basic tendency to avoid work. Remember this is a farm culture. On a farm there are always things to do and the difference between a prosperous farm and a poverty farm can be the amount of work that goes into the property.
If oppression is the problem, by the rich and the politically powerful, that is an issue to be dealt with. If laziness is the problem, it must also be dealt with. It won’t go away by blaming other people for your poverty.
Proverbs deals with the causes of “poverty” (7389) repeatedly. Today’s popular reason for poverty is always oppression; the rich capitalist has stolen his money from the sweat and pain of the working classes. That is classic Marxist propaganda. The reason it takes hold is that it is ideological, so facts don’t matter, and there is are occasions in which it is true. Proverbs deals with oppression in a different place. Oppression happens. But that is not the cause of poverty being presented here.
We are talking about the sluggard. The sluggard faces poverty because he is lazy. See comments in verse 6. One tendency that the sluggard has is to spend too much time in bed. These verses cover sleeping in and taking naps. We are talking about a basic tendency to avoid work. Remember this is a farm culture. On a farm there are always things to do and the difference between a prosperous farm and a poverty farm can be the amount of work that goes into the property.
If oppression is the problem, by the rich and the politically powerful, that is an issue to be dealt with. If laziness is the problem, it must also be dealt with. It won’t go away by blaming other people for your poverty.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Learning to Lean
(Pro 5:1 KJV) My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
What good is “wisdom” (2451) if no one will “attend" (give attention NASB) (7181)? There may be a picture in Hebrew that does not come through in English. To “attend” (7181) has the idea of inclining your ears. Picture thinking you hear a sound and turning your head to get the best angle for hearing.
Our thinking must “bow" (incline NASB) (5186) toward hearing and “understanding” (8394). I think this says we have to prepare ourselves to listen. Think of this a leaning toward. This is the second part of the picture.
Body language says a lot about people and their attitude. People lean to show how they feel about someone.
One of the key points here is that the person in authority has something to share and it is worth listening to what they have to say. We live in an individualistic culture. We want to do our own thing and make our own decisions . That is not an automatic problem, but we must make those decisions based on the wisdom given to us by God and the godly people He has put in authority.
Even more important is our willingness to bow toward the Word and what it offers us.
What good is “wisdom” (2451) if no one will “attend" (give attention NASB) (7181)? There may be a picture in Hebrew that does not come through in English. To “attend” (7181) has the idea of inclining your ears. Picture thinking you hear a sound and turning your head to get the best angle for hearing.
Our thinking must “bow" (incline NASB) (5186) toward hearing and “understanding” (8394). I think this says we have to prepare ourselves to listen. Think of this a leaning toward. This is the second part of the picture.
Body language says a lot about people and their attitude. People lean to show how they feel about someone.
One of the key points here is that the person in authority has something to share and it is worth listening to what they have to say. We live in an individualistic culture. We want to do our own thing and make our own decisions . That is not an automatic problem, but we must make those decisions based on the wisdom given to us by God and the godly people He has put in authority.
Even more important is our willingness to bow toward the Word and what it offers us.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Self Serve
(Pro 4:7 KJV) Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Here is an interesting, but obvious, truth. In order to get something, begin getting it.
Start small. Start seeking. Above all, start. We have lost the art of life long learning. We want everything in a convenient package. And we want it now. Think of the labeling of packages. “Complete” and “Everything you need to...” are on the labels. “Ready in minutes.” “Just heat and eat.” “No assembly required.” We want it and we want it now.
At the same time we know that you get better food at a real restaurant than at a fast food drive-through. Places that want to attack us say “Home cooking.” There is something in us that knows it takes time to produce quality.
I don’t drink but I know that the most expensive alcoholic beverages are aged the longest. The best cheeses are aged. Bacon is better when it is cooked long and slow. You get the idea.
The same applies in our spiritual lives. We need to get started. We need to take the time. We need to pay attention. We need to begin and keep at it until it is done. And for us is will not be done until Jesus brings out the trumpets.
After time “acquiring” (7075) will bring “understanding” (998).
Here is an interesting, but obvious, truth. In order to get something, begin getting it.
Start small. Start seeking. Above all, start. We have lost the art of life long learning. We want everything in a convenient package. And we want it now. Think of the labeling of packages. “Complete” and “Everything you need to...” are on the labels. “Ready in minutes.” “Just heat and eat.” “No assembly required.” We want it and we want it now.
At the same time we know that you get better food at a real restaurant than at a fast food drive-through. Places that want to attack us say “Home cooking.” There is something in us that knows it takes time to produce quality.
I don’t drink but I know that the most expensive alcoholic beverages are aged the longest. The best cheeses are aged. Bacon is better when it is cooked long and slow. You get the idea.
The same applies in our spiritual lives. We need to get started. We need to take the time. We need to pay attention. We need to begin and keep at it until it is done. And for us is will not be done until Jesus brings out the trumpets.
After time “acquiring” (7075) will bring “understanding” (998).
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Smelly Christians
(Pro 3:4 KJV) So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
This brings to mind a description of Jesus:
(Luk 2:52 KJV) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
One of our goals is to be like Jesus. Jesus did not automatically turn people off. He drew people to Himself. We are to model that type of behavior. When you look at things like the fruit of the Spirit and descriptions of love in the Bible you find people that are very easy to like and be with. An obnoxious Christian is an oxymoron. You are either one or the other.
Having said that, we are not to be conformed to this world as Paul warned in Romans 12:2. We also have Paul pointing out that we will be the aroma (savour) of death to people who are spiritually dying.
(2Co 2:14-16 KJV) Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
The natural man has an aversion to the things of God. We have the Holy Spirit. There is a natural aversion to us and to what we have become. This is true even if we are not trying to push out way of believing off onto others. When we are at a party and don’t drink, people are offended. When we are at work, and don’t cheat, people are offended. In numerous ways that are natural to us, people are offended. Jesus offended when He healed on the Sabbath. He offended when He pointed out simple truth from the OT. Wear the smell with courage.
This brings to mind a description of Jesus:
(Luk 2:52 KJV) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
One of our goals is to be like Jesus. Jesus did not automatically turn people off. He drew people to Himself. We are to model that type of behavior. When you look at things like the fruit of the Spirit and descriptions of love in the Bible you find people that are very easy to like and be with. An obnoxious Christian is an oxymoron. You are either one or the other.
Having said that, we are not to be conformed to this world as Paul warned in Romans 12:2. We also have Paul pointing out that we will be the aroma (savour) of death to people who are spiritually dying.
(2Co 2:14-16 KJV) Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
The natural man has an aversion to the things of God. We have the Holy Spirit. There is a natural aversion to us and to what we have become. This is true even if we are not trying to push out way of believing off onto others. When we are at a party and don’t drink, people are offended. When we are at work, and don’t cheat, people are offended. In numerous ways that are natural to us, people are offended. Jesus offended when He healed on the Sabbath. He offended when He pointed out simple truth from the OT. Wear the smell with courage.
WiFi Again
It looks like I will have access to the internet for about a week. After that it will be problematic again.
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