Empty Offerings

(Proverbs 7:14 KJV)  I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

Hypocrisy has always been a part of the church.  Sometimes it is a way of life.  God will have no mercy.  Think of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.  Sometimes it is a momentary failure.  Think of Peter as Paul straightens him out in Galatians 2.  God forgives upon our repentance. 

Don’t get distracted by either type.  How many people are there in the church who are going through the motions and acting pious, yet they are really dragging others down.  Too many.  Make sure that you are not one of them.  Remember the warning of Jesus.

(Matthew 18:6 KJV)  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

So?  Learn to ignore the hypocrites.  Make sure that you have not joined their ranks.  If you fall for it, repent.  This might be a place where public confession would have a place. 

Beauty Contest

(Proverbs 6:25 KJV)  Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

“Beauty” (3308) can be a positive trait.  This is not about good looks being bad.  It is about a bad heart looking good.  It is about priorities and goals.

We are so easily swayed by outward appearances.  I am currently reading through Pride and Prejudice for the first time.  It is an act of love for the women of my life.  One of the things that comes through is the way the women of the novel judge every man on two things:  His looks and his money.  It is an awesome walk through shallow values.  I am not sure we are any better.

There is a saying that beauty is only skin deep but ugly goes all the way through.

So?  We have heard this so many times.  We need a constant reminder.  Stay alert.  Keep in mind the standards of upright living.  Apply them. 

Voice Lessons

(Proverbs 5:13 KJV)  And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

What “voice” (6963) catches your attention?  Have you ever been in a situation where a lot of commotion was going on everywhere and suddenly the woman next to you perks up and says, “Yes, dear.”  She has heard her child call.  You didn’t hear it, but she did.  Why?  She was tuned in to that voice, she was aware of the situation and she was listening.

We have also seen parents who don’t seem to be able to hear a thing.

I find of great interest that the KJV has “obeyed” where the NASB has “listened.”  The Hebrew word means both.  One requires the other.

So?  Which are you when it comes to the voice of God.  Are you tuned in?  Are you listening?  Do you want to hear?  You don’t need to answer me, answer yourself.  And God. 

The Insomnia of Evil

(Proverbs 4:16 KJV)  For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

The first thirteen verses of this chapter are singing the praises of wisdom then in verse 14 it turns to warning against making the wrong choices.  Here Solomon points out to us that there are people who glory in their wrong choices.  There are people who rejoice in “evil” (7489a).

As much as we want to be positive, think the best of people and not judge, we are surrounded by people who thrive on evil.  They cover it up well.  They may not even see it themselves.  But they are tense with frustration if they have not done something to fight the cause of God.

So?  Live with caution.  Be aware.  And rejoice because you serve the righteous God. 

Addition, Not Subtraction

(Proverbs 3:2 KJV)  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

How often have your read verses like this and looked around at your world.  What I see often seems to contradict this.  I see righteous people dying before their time, or so it seems to me.  I see the upright going through persecution.  In fact the Bible promises persecution to the faithful.  So how do we read this?

Just the way it was written.  It says God will “add” (3254).  The addition is based on us following the directions He has given us.  Look at how long you would live.  Obedience will increase it.  Look at the peace you might have known.  Obedience will increase it.  We don’t know what the base line was.  We don’t know what would have been. 

We do know that God watches and responds.

So?  Obey.  You can ask for a comparison in eternity.  Then you can find out about that car that would have taken you out if God had not restrained it.  Until then, rest in peace.  

Counting Spiritual Calories

(Proverbs 2:13 KJV)  Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

To live in “uprightness” (3476) is a conscious choice.  In fact it is a series of conscious choices.  Even people who believe in election and eternal security would agree with this. 

Every choice you make is not of eternal significance.  Coke or Pepsi isn’t in the Bible but it might make a difference if one is making contributions to anti-Biblical agendas.  The color you wear might not make a difference unless you are choosing a rainbow pattern for Gay Pride Day. 

Small choices do make a long term difference.  If you have ever tried to lose weight you know how hard it is.  It isn’t the desire to lose but the multiple choices to make.  I was choosing between two flavors of Oreo.  They were 10 calories difference.  No big deal but if I made this choice every day for a year it would make a pound difference. 

So?  The spiritual calories can also add up.  Don’t start to compromise.  Walk in righteousness.  Walk upright.  Remember you want to fit in your robes at the wedding feast of the Lamb. 

Casting Call

(Proverbs 1:14 KJV)  Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

What does it mean to “cast” (throw NASB) (5307) in this context?  The word itself is very common.  The most common translation in both KJV and NASB is to “fall.”  It carries the idea of laying on the ground, often in submission.

What causes, groups and individuals do we willingly submit to?  Obviously we have some.  Each has a definite level of commitment and right to make demands.  If you are married you took vows.  If you have a job you probably signed some kind of paperwork.  If you have software you signed your life away and didn’t realize it. 

Too often we make commitments and don’t think about what it will take.  Have you every told someone you would pray for them?  Did you?  Have you ever promised to call or write and it never happened?  Did you bring children into the world and still keep up your “need” for leisure and recreation? 

Our first, and only, commitment is to almighty God.  That does not mean we don’t sign on for other things but He is the one who sets the context and conditions for those other commitments.

So?  Are you too busy with soccer to make it to church?  Do you need to work overtime to make your car payments?  Look at what you have committed to and the priorities you claim to have.