(Proverbs 12:14 KJV) A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
At first this seems like an observation. On rereading, it seems like it might be a command to be “satisfied” (7646). I guess this is another case of both/and instead of either/or.
This is another approach to the Protestant Work Ethic, aka Bible Work Ethic. We are expected to work and produce in our lives. God doesn’t really have a lot of time for parasites. What I like about this verse is that it extends the concept of work beyond being a farmer. This verse reminds us that there are many ways to contribute to the world, society and the kingdom.
Some of us contribute the “fruit” (6529) of our “mouth" (words NASB) (6310). We are talkers and writers. Give me a board, a square and a saw and I will produce a mess. Give me a word processor and I will show you how to make it sing.
Some of us contribute the “recompense" (deeds NASB) (1576) of our “hands” (3027). If you go back and read the sections about the building of the tabernacle, you will see that the gift of craftsmanship was given by the Holy Spirit. In my mind that puts it on the list of spiritual gifts. You can be a carpenter for Jesus just as readily as a preacher.
Some are so blessed that they can contribute in both areas. I think of such overlooked contributions as mothering children or making your home the playground for neighborhood children who have no adults at home.
So? Accept who you are. If you take a back seat let it be because Jesus is teaching someone else to drive. Be a blessing in your way, not the way your older brother does it.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Technical Difficulties
I don't know if it effected the entire Blogger community but I have not been able to post anything for a couple of days. The notice even said that they had withdrawn what was posted yesterday. I am going to post Thursdays offering immediately, followed by the one that would have been up this morning. Hopefully I will be back on schedule tomorrow.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Hearing Lessons
(Proverbs 11:14 KJV) Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Do you ever get tired of people telling you what you should do? I can understand that. It is much easier to write a blog than to read and apply it. I find that it is too easy for me to avoid “counsel” (guidance NASB) (8458). Often this is the stubbornness within me that doesn’t want to hear it. How often have you been around someone and you tell yourself, “I know what they are going to say.” This can be little more than our sinful nature refusing to listen to the Holy Spirit.
I need worthwhile counsel. You need worthwhile counsel. We all need worthwhile counsel. Even givers of counsel need worthwhile counsel. Have I covered everyone? I think the “worthwhile” is covered in the “multitude” (abundance NASB) (7230) principle.
For guidance to be useful you must really want input. Every second Monday we have a faculty meeting that goes an hour and a half. One of the mantras that we constantly hear from our fearless leaders is “I wanted to get your input.” If you have been to these type of meetings you should either be laughing or crying now. Too often we are like that. We say we want advice, but we already know what we are going to do. We seek many counselors because we keep looking until we find someone who will tell us what we want to hear.
For guidance to be useful we also must learn to listen. Pay attention. Engage your mind.
Everyone can find the advice they need, but where? Who is to supply the “guidance” (8458) that people need so much? It is found in an “abundance” (7230) of “counselors” (3289). Don’t just think of names. Think of sources. The Bible is alive. It can speak to you. The Holy Spirit can point out things you have either never seen or forgotten. The Sunday sermon can speak to you if you will listen. Podcasts can speak to you. Blogs can speak to you. And don’t forget your wife. God can speak through her. Really.
So? Seek counsel. Listen, think, meditate, apply.
Do you ever get tired of people telling you what you should do? I can understand that. It is much easier to write a blog than to read and apply it. I find that it is too easy for me to avoid “counsel” (guidance NASB) (8458). Often this is the stubbornness within me that doesn’t want to hear it. How often have you been around someone and you tell yourself, “I know what they are going to say.” This can be little more than our sinful nature refusing to listen to the Holy Spirit.
I need worthwhile counsel. You need worthwhile counsel. We all need worthwhile counsel. Even givers of counsel need worthwhile counsel. Have I covered everyone? I think the “worthwhile” is covered in the “multitude” (abundance NASB) (7230) principle.
For guidance to be useful you must really want input. Every second Monday we have a faculty meeting that goes an hour and a half. One of the mantras that we constantly hear from our fearless leaders is “I wanted to get your input.” If you have been to these type of meetings you should either be laughing or crying now. Too often we are like that. We say we want advice, but we already know what we are going to do. We seek many counselors because we keep looking until we find someone who will tell us what we want to hear.
For guidance to be useful we also must learn to listen. Pay attention. Engage your mind.
Everyone can find the advice they need, but where? Who is to supply the “guidance” (8458) that people need so much? It is found in an “abundance” (7230) of “counselors” (3289). Don’t just think of names. Think of sources. The Bible is alive. It can speak to you. The Holy Spirit can point out things you have either never seen or forgotten. The Sunday sermon can speak to you if you will listen. Podcasts can speak to you. Blogs can speak to you. And don’t forget your wife. God can speak through her. Really.
So? Seek counsel. Listen, think, meditate, apply.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Like Money in the Bank
(Proverbs 10:15 KJV) The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
This seems like a simple statement, too simple. How does this apply to me, and you, today?
We see two different groups of people, the “rich man” (6223) and the “poor” (1800b). At first glance there is no criticism here, only comment, but this is the inspired word, so lets assume that God has a message for us. I think that Solomon is pointing out the flaws in the thinking of both groups.
Rich people tend to feel like their “wealth” (1952) gives them strength. They stand behind it as if it will really protect them. It becomes their “fortress” (7151/5797). Most people who have a computer and an internet connection would be classified as rich on a Biblical standard. Keep in mind that the rich of those days did not usually have indoor plumbing, A/C, instant communications, broadcast TV (let alone satellite), root canals, appendectomies...the list can go on. When you have money in the bank and canned goods on the shelf it is hard to remember that it is God who brings the harvest and gives the increase. Are you more concerned about getting a RIF notice or having God write Ichabod over your house? What is your fortress?
Most of us think we are closer to being “poor” (1800b) than being rich. The danger for the truly poor or the emotionally poor is that they focus on their “poverty” (7389). I have always liked a statement that someone’s grandmother was supposed to have said, “We aren’t poor, we just don’t have any money.” Poor is often an attitude. It is an attitude of hopelessness. Did you see the movie “Pursuit of Happyness” with Will Smith? I hated it and loved it. I hated it because I don’t like seeing people go through pain. I loved it because it showed what hard work and perseverance can do in a life. God can change our attitudes and our future. Don’t let your bank balance “ruin” (4288) you.
So? We sang it last week. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way...” Works for me and I am a teacher in California where the state is on the verge of bankruptcy, everyone is mad at public sector employees and Christians are fair game.
This seems like a simple statement, too simple. How does this apply to me, and you, today?
We see two different groups of people, the “rich man” (6223) and the “poor” (1800b). At first glance there is no criticism here, only comment, but this is the inspired word, so lets assume that God has a message for us. I think that Solomon is pointing out the flaws in the thinking of both groups.
Rich people tend to feel like their “wealth” (1952) gives them strength. They stand behind it as if it will really protect them. It becomes their “fortress” (7151/5797). Most people who have a computer and an internet connection would be classified as rich on a Biblical standard. Keep in mind that the rich of those days did not usually have indoor plumbing, A/C, instant communications, broadcast TV (let alone satellite), root canals, appendectomies...the list can go on. When you have money in the bank and canned goods on the shelf it is hard to remember that it is God who brings the harvest and gives the increase. Are you more concerned about getting a RIF notice or having God write Ichabod over your house? What is your fortress?
Most of us think we are closer to being “poor” (1800b) than being rich. The danger for the truly poor or the emotionally poor is that they focus on their “poverty” (7389). I have always liked a statement that someone’s grandmother was supposed to have said, “We aren’t poor, we just don’t have any money.” Poor is often an attitude. It is an attitude of hopelessness. Did you see the movie “Pursuit of Happyness” with Will Smith? I hated it and loved it. I hated it because I don’t like seeing people go through pain. I loved it because it showed what hard work and perseverance can do in a life. God can change our attitudes and our future. Don’t let your bank balance “ruin” (4288) you.
So? We sang it last week. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way...” Works for me and I am a teacher in California where the state is on the verge of bankruptcy, everyone is mad at public sector employees and Christians are fair game.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Are You Expecting?
(Proverbs 9:9 KJV) Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Will you go to church expecting to hear from the Lord this Sunday? We all know that some preachers seem to have missed their calling. Do I hear an “Amen?”
But remember that the ultimate teacher is the Holy Spirit. He is the one who prepares our hearts and opens out minds. Take that thought with you this Sunday and try it on for size. One thing I notice about the kids at school, they cannot find answers in a book because they refuse to admit to themselves that it is there and they have the ability to find it.
I know that is true in my life. I have trouble finding light bulbs when I need them. I go and look where they have been and they aren’t there. I go ask my wife and she tells me there are where they have always been. I am skeptical but take her at her word and go look again. This time I look harder, just to prove her wrong. Guess what. They are right there under a folded clothe. If I had not had my eye on her I would swear she ran ahead of me and put them there after I looked.
God has wisdom waiting for you. It may be that the Holy Spirit will need to stir your mind at something the preacher says and you will have to take a tangent in your Bible while he continues to drone on. It may be that something will come to your mind and you will need to look it up during the announcements. It may be that the terrible praise chorus they are singing reminds you of one of the great truths your learned in one of the dinosaur hymns.
So go expecting and looking. God has many ways to pass on wisdom and understanding. No harvest is gathered without some sweat.
Will you go to church expecting to hear from the Lord this Sunday? We all know that some preachers seem to have missed their calling. Do I hear an “Amen?”
But remember that the ultimate teacher is the Holy Spirit. He is the one who prepares our hearts and opens out minds. Take that thought with you this Sunday and try it on for size. One thing I notice about the kids at school, they cannot find answers in a book because they refuse to admit to themselves that it is there and they have the ability to find it.
I know that is true in my life. I have trouble finding light bulbs when I need them. I go and look where they have been and they aren’t there. I go ask my wife and she tells me there are where they have always been. I am skeptical but take her at her word and go look again. This time I look harder, just to prove her wrong. Guess what. They are right there under a folded clothe. If I had not had my eye on her I would swear she ran ahead of me and put them there after I looked.
God has wisdom waiting for you. It may be that the Holy Spirit will need to stir your mind at something the preacher says and you will have to take a tangent in your Bible while he continues to drone on. It may be that something will come to your mind and you will need to look it up during the announcements. It may be that the terrible praise chorus they are singing reminds you of one of the great truths your learned in one of the dinosaur hymns.
So go expecting and looking. God has many ways to pass on wisdom and understanding. No harvest is gathered without some sweat.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Who Is Watching the Gates?
(Proverbs 8:3 KJV) She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
I am going to give myself a tongue-lashing today. You can either sit back and enjoy my discomfort or see if it applies to you also.
This is talking about the places where Wisdom should be found. Notice I said “should be,” not “is.” There is a decided lack of presence when it comes to wisdom found at our “gates” (8179). “Gates?” Our cities don’t have gates. No, but theirs did and the gates where one of the places that people would congregate as they were waiting to be processed in and out. At the gates you would find a group of the elders of the community. If you look at the last chapter in Proverbs where it talks about the perfect wife you will find that while she is out starting businesses and planting vineyards, he is at the gates,
We can’t expect God’s Wisdom to be dispensed Balaam’s Ass style. We are going to need to speak up. By that I don’t mean read Bible verses to them. I mean speak from the assumptions of the Bible.
So? I am guilty of neglect here. I pray that God would help me become a channel for the Holy Spirit to work, not a road block.
I am going to give myself a tongue-lashing today. You can either sit back and enjoy my discomfort or see if it applies to you also.
This is talking about the places where Wisdom should be found. Notice I said “should be,” not “is.” There is a decided lack of presence when it comes to wisdom found at our “gates” (8179). “Gates?” Our cities don’t have gates. No, but theirs did and the gates where one of the places that people would congregate as they were waiting to be processed in and out. At the gates you would find a group of the elders of the community. If you look at the last chapter in Proverbs where it talks about the perfect wife you will find that while she is out starting businesses and planting vineyards, he is at the gates,
(Proverbs 31:23 KJV) Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.Am I doing anything to make wisdom be known at the gates of my community? Am I attending city council meetings? Am I giving my two cents at school board meetings? Am I participating in community forums? Am I making excuses? The answers are no, no, no, yes.
We can’t expect God’s Wisdom to be dispensed Balaam’s Ass style. We are going to need to speak up. By that I don’t mean read Bible verses to them. I mean speak from the assumptions of the Bible.
So? I am guilty of neglect here. I pray that God would help me become a channel for the Holy Spirit to work, not a road block.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Farewell Bonhoeffer
I have just removed Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Letters and Papers from Prison from my reading list. It is a great book. For more comments you can visit my more eclectic blog, Medley of Worship. Or you are welcome to limit your reading this Perpetual Proverbs.
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