Tabula Rasa

(Proverbs 7:3 KJV)  Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

This verse makes me think of the concept of the “tabula rasa.”  The theory is that we are born as blank slates.  According to this when an infant is conceived he is an erased “table” (tablet NASB) (3871) .  Nothing has been written and everything is a result of the experiences writing upon that slate.  Thus two children that were identical at conception would be different if one mother lived in a quiet peaceful environment and the other was in constant stress and turmoil.  Everything that happened would determine the type of person that would develop. 

If you don’t recognize it, this is the model of psychology that is preferred by those who deny the existence of God, the behaviorists.  Man is good and totally a product of his environment.  There is no sin, just social problems.  The Bible teaches a different concept.

(Psalms 51:5 KJV)  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

We were conceived with a flawed nature.  It is natural for us to rebel against God.  Only His grace can change that.  Only the blood can erase the tablet and write a holy history for our remaining days.

So?  Allow God to write on your heart.  For some that means the erasing of forgiveness and being born again.  For others that is the daily experience of going to Him and letting Him renew the day.  Here’s to happy hearts.

Closet Jealousy

(Proverbs 6:34 KJV)  For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

I thought I had no problem with “jealousy” (7068).  As I have been working through I Corinthians 13 I skipped over the part that says love is not jealous.  But then I began to realize that my jealousy was of a different type.  I was becoming jealous of my wife’s freedom.  Don’t get me wrong, she is very busy and has many responsibilities.  But she has what I call an executive lifestyle.  She is able to schedule what she does.  She has much more control over what she does each day than I do.  I punch a clock.  I have to show up every day.  I realized that I was getting jealous, not of another man but of greater freedom.

So?  Jealousy can take many forms.  I was putting it in a little box built by culture.  God and His expectations are all inclusive and cannot be kept in a box.  Keep alert for areas that God wants to see you grow. 

A Ravishing Ugly

(Proverbs 5:20 KJV)  And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

Why do men cheat on their wives?  Why do women look for love in the wrong places?  I am sure that there are many excuses but there are few reasons.  We hear, “She is cold.”  We cry, “He doesn’t understand me.”  We have a million “reasons.”  In reality they are excuses to justify doing what we think will be exciting.

This is really a rhetorical question.  You remember what a rhetorical question is, don’t you?  It is a question that has an obvious answer and does not expect a response.

The question is, “Why be stupid?”  It could be expanded to “Why throw away everything you have ever worked for and invested in for a few moments of fun?”

If you are a follower of Jesus the answer is obvious.  Who would chase their latest flame knowing it could put them in eternal flames?

So?  Be faithful.  Be chaste.  Be pure.  It is a minimum expectation, not a goal.

Check for Construction Zones

(Proverbs 4:14-5 KJV)  Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

Today I am listing two verses because to understand this verse you need to read the context.  What are we looking out for here?  In verse 14 it warns us about the “path of the wicked.”  It is a way of living that is waiting to lead us to both a living and an eternal Hell.  It's existence is the bad news.

The good news is that it is an option, not a necessity.  It is possible to “avoid” (6544a) evil.  We are not “helpless pawns in the hands of fate.” 

Think of how you are planning your driving for the day on vacation.  You have certain requirements for the day but beyond that you can decide how to get there.  You go on line and check the traffic conditions for immediate access and you also can check for construction and detours on the way.

In terms of life this is following the path God has laid out for us.

(Isaiah 35:8 KJV)  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

The NASB calls this the “Highway of Holiness.”  I like that.

So?  Look ahead.  What possible bottlenecks will you be facing in your walk today?  Some you can avoid, some you can’t.  Don’t wander off into areas you can and should avoid.

Are You Sure?

(Proverbs 3:26 KJV)  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Our “confidence” (3689) is in the Lord, or at least it should be.

What does that mean?  To start with it means we do not trust in our own ability or planning.  Yes, we plan.  Yes, we develop skills.  Yes, we study.  But these are to be supplements, not the main support.  The reason we are able to face life with joy and a spring in our step is because we have met the Savior and He is in us.

Sometimes we don’t act like we have that security because we have not spent any time with Him.  That is why I get up earlier than is necessary to just get to work.  I budget in extra time in the morning.  By the time I walk out of the parking lot and into the work world my head is higher, my hope is clearer and my assurance is stronger.

The morning may not work for you.  I used to say the same thing.  Is the afternoon working for you?  Be honest now.  Maybe you need to reset your alarm clock.  Of course that means going to bed early.  Keep in mind I am past the stage of young children and since I am getting older it is easier to get up in the morning.  But think about it.

So?  If you have never tried it for a time, give it a shot.  What do you have to lose but a little sleep?  And your depression.  And your desperation.  And your frustration.

Focus, Focus

(Proverbs 2:15 KJV)  Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

The evil men of verse 12 are “froward” (devious NASB) (3868).  What this means is that they are always taking side trips.  As I write I am on vacation.  Tomorrow we will need to make tracks.  We must get from where we are staying back to our base, about 500 miles away.  We have one day to make it.  We took three days coming.  We have one day back. 

On the way down we were free to be “devious.”  We were free to turn aside, and we did.  It was part of the plan but the plan is different this time.  We must adhere to the straight and narrow.

What is your schedule?  Are you focused on the “paths” (734) God has for you or are you always getting sidetracked.  There is a time for side trips and a time to be goal oriented.

So?  Make sure the focus is correct.  No one can do it for you.  We all have different places in the mind of God.  Make sure that you are not getting distracted from what God has in mind.

A Naughty Problem

(Proverbs 1:25 KJV)  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

Once again the KJV gets my mental juices flowing.  It says we have “set at naught” (6544a) the “counsel” (6098) of God.  The NASB simply says “neglected.”  Both mean the same but the KJV cuts to the heart of the matter. 

We are used to the concept of resetting a game or a calculator.  Sometimes it is the thing to do.  Sometimes it wipes out all that we have done previously.  Have you had the experience on your computer?  Have you ever deleted a file or an entire folder and suddenly had that sick realization that you did not back it up? 

How often have we deleted all of the wisdom and knowledge that God has given to us?  And we pay the price.

So?  Listen, learn, remember.  It makes a difference.  Don’t zero out the wisdom that God has given you again and again.  That may be the reason that Proverbs repeats things so much.