(Proverbs 14:7 KJV) Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
How does one follow this advice? I find that I am surrounded by fools. Keep in mind that wisdom starts with a fear of the Lord and the vast majority of people you rub elbows with have no fear of the Lord. That means no wisdom. That means fools. They may be afraid of crystals, breaking a mirror, death or zombies but they have no fear of the Lord.
The first step is to accept it. It is not being judgmental to acknowledge that the majority of people you meet don’t have a clue to the real values of life. It is a simple fact. They can still be nice neighbors, compatible co-workers and a great second baseman for the softball team. While you are cheering the team on remember that it isn’t wisdom you are exhibiting but hospitality.
So? Saturate yourself with wisdom. Tune up your fear. Make the eternal ooze from your spiritual pores. If you can’t get away from them you can at least leave the smell of righteousness.
Friday, April 14, 2017
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Fat Worship
(Proverbs 13:4 KJV) The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
How does this apply in regard to worship? I have approached it this way before but it grabs me this way again because I am struggling to find a place to worship. In my heart I know that I can get something from the most boring worship service. I know that my attitude has a lot to do with it, but....
It is hard for me to get into the “song of the week” style of contemporary worship. We have “worship leaders” who think that the words they came up with this week trump Isaac Watts, Fanny J. Crosby, Graham Kendrick and so many others who are genuinely gifted in worship music. It has been a long time since I have heard a piece of music that is new to me that grips my soul and motivates my heart to sing. I don’t think the problem is in me.
So? I am grateful for my I-pod and other devices that allow me to worship at any time. Sometimes I feel really fat just driving in my car. I only wish I could have that experience in corporate worship. I will continue to try.
How does this apply in regard to worship? I have approached it this way before but it grabs me this way again because I am struggling to find a place to worship. In my heart I know that I can get something from the most boring worship service. I know that my attitude has a lot to do with it, but....
It is hard for me to get into the “song of the week” style of contemporary worship. We have “worship leaders” who think that the words they came up with this week trump Isaac Watts, Fanny J. Crosby, Graham Kendrick and so many others who are genuinely gifted in worship music. It has been a long time since I have heard a piece of music that is new to me that grips my soul and motivates my heart to sing. I don’t think the problem is in me.
So? I am grateful for my I-pod and other devices that allow me to worship at any time. Sometimes I feel really fat just driving in my car. I only wish I could have that experience in corporate worship. I will continue to try.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Wicked Is As Wicked Does
(Proverbs 12:2 KJV) A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
How do we recognize the difference between the “good” (2896a) and the “wicked” (evil NASB) (4209)? I will concede that it is sometimes hard, hard enough that we are told not to judge. At the same time we can recognize actions and whether they are good or evil. We can tell whether they build up or destroy. We can tell whether they conform to the clear teaching of scripture or violate it in principle and detail.
In short we can often tell the good from the bad by observing actions. If someone is living in sexual sin, whether it be adultery, pedophilia or sodomy, we know that they are devising evil. It really doesn’t matter how much they claim to love Jesus.
So? There are times to draw a line and defend it. Standing up for God’s principles is not judging. Condemning someone else for what you do in secret is. We can know the difference.
How do we recognize the difference between the “good” (2896a) and the “wicked” (evil NASB) (4209)? I will concede that it is sometimes hard, hard enough that we are told not to judge. At the same time we can recognize actions and whether they are good or evil. We can tell whether they build up or destroy. We can tell whether they conform to the clear teaching of scripture or violate it in principle and detail.
In short we can often tell the good from the bad by observing actions. If someone is living in sexual sin, whether it be adultery, pedophilia or sodomy, we know that they are devising evil. It really doesn’t matter how much they claim to love Jesus.
So? There are times to draw a line and defend it. Standing up for God’s principles is not judging. Condemning someone else for what you do in secret is. We can know the difference.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Glaze Meters
(Proverbs 11:13 KJV) A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
The obvious application here has to do with gossip. It occurred to me today that this could also be applied to a person who reveals too much of their own personal information. Who really wants to hear all the “secrets” (5475) you have to offer about your own personal thoughts?
The most common offense in this type of behavior would be the organ recital. As I get older I have more aches and pains. When I get together with other geezers we find common ground and get into a quid pro quo of ailments. That may work with some people but since I don’t like to hear about their latest visit to the podiatrist it doesn’t work well with me. I must learn patience with them but more important must learn restraint for myself.
So? Develop a glaze meter. Watch people’s eyes to see when they start to glaze over. It is not hard to exceed the limit of someone’s TMI index. I sometimes wonder if God gets tired of our griping.
The obvious application here has to do with gossip. It occurred to me today that this could also be applied to a person who reveals too much of their own personal information. Who really wants to hear all the “secrets” (5475) you have to offer about your own personal thoughts?
The most common offense in this type of behavior would be the organ recital. As I get older I have more aches and pains. When I get together with other geezers we find common ground and get into a quid pro quo of ailments. That may work with some people but since I don’t like to hear about their latest visit to the podiatrist it doesn’t work well with me. I must learn patience with them but more important must learn restraint for myself.
So? Develop a glaze meter. Watch people’s eyes to see when they start to glaze over. It is not hard to exceed the limit of someone’s TMI index. I sometimes wonder if God gets tired of our griping.
Monday, April 10, 2017
The Silver Standard
(Proverbs 10:20 KJV) The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
This is a strange comparison, or should I say contrast: The “tongue” (3956) and the “heart” (3820). James talks about the tongue being one of the least parts of the body and yet here we have it being linked with silver. We need to take note of that as we set the priorities in our lives.
The idea is echoed in Paul’s discussions on the spiritual gifts. We have a tendency to put people in a hierarchy and treat them based on our judgement. God, on the other hand, looks deeper and wider. We don’t have God’s x-ray vision, true. We do however have the standards that He has given us. For instance, we know that righteousness is more important than money in the bank. That means that it is more important to tell the truth than get the account. It is a matter of uprightness to not be considered “with” it so that we can stay on the straight and narrow.
So? You may be rejected today. Make sure it is the smell of righteousness they are rejecting, not just your attempt to save water.
This is a strange comparison, or should I say contrast: The “tongue” (3956) and the “heart” (3820). James talks about the tongue being one of the least parts of the body and yet here we have it being linked with silver. We need to take note of that as we set the priorities in our lives.
The idea is echoed in Paul’s discussions on the spiritual gifts. We have a tendency to put people in a hierarchy and treat them based on our judgement. God, on the other hand, looks deeper and wider. We don’t have God’s x-ray vision, true. We do however have the standards that He has given us. For instance, we know that righteousness is more important than money in the bank. That means that it is more important to tell the truth than get the account. It is a matter of uprightness to not be considered “with” it so that we can stay on the straight and narrow.
So? You may be rejected today. Make sure it is the smell of righteousness they are rejecting, not just your attempt to save water.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Wake Up Reminder
(Proverbs 9:18 KJV) But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
“Sheol” (7585), or as the KJV calls it “hell”, is a reality. I don’t like it. Many reject it. We use it as a cuss word rather than a place to avoid. There are people who attend church, preach in pulpits and call themselves Christians who reject the idea. How you can reject anything just because you don’t like it and still call yourself a Christian is a puzzle to me.
Hell is a place to avoid. It is enough of a reason to turn to Jesus.
So? Maybe we should pick a day each year to stop and remind ourselves about what Jesus has saved us from. Maybe Halloween would be a good day. Or perhaps April Fools day would do the job. Don’t ignore the consequences of rejection.
“Sheol” (7585), or as the KJV calls it “hell”, is a reality. I don’t like it. Many reject it. We use it as a cuss word rather than a place to avoid. There are people who attend church, preach in pulpits and call themselves Christians who reject the idea. How you can reject anything just because you don’t like it and still call yourself a Christian is a puzzle to me.
Hell is a place to avoid. It is enough of a reason to turn to Jesus.
So? Maybe we should pick a day each year to stop and remind ourselves about what Jesus has saved us from. Maybe Halloween would be a good day. Or perhaps April Fools day would do the job. Don’t ignore the consequences of rejection.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Wise Beginnings
(Proverbs 8:27 KJV) When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
Wisdom is not eternal but seems to have come into being before what we call creation. One of the questions that keep coming up as you read Proverbs is the personification of Wisdom. There are times when it seems to be Jesus and other times when it seems to be the Holy Spirit. It is neither. Although this verse makes it sound eternal, previous verses seem to indicate it was created or produced.
When I listen to William Lane Craig talking philosophy he sometimes gets off on whether numbers are eternal or created. To a philosophy major it is interesting and challenging. To the rest of us it is often time to fast forward. Wisdom is from God. It is not God.
So? I guess we should not get into being impressed by college degrees and certificates. The real question is, has our fear of the Lord caused us to be open to learn His wisdom and given us the courage to life it.
Wisdom is not eternal but seems to have come into being before what we call creation. One of the questions that keep coming up as you read Proverbs is the personification of Wisdom. There are times when it seems to be Jesus and other times when it seems to be the Holy Spirit. It is neither. Although this verse makes it sound eternal, previous verses seem to indicate it was created or produced.
When I listen to William Lane Craig talking philosophy he sometimes gets off on whether numbers are eternal or created. To a philosophy major it is interesting and challenging. To the rest of us it is often time to fast forward. Wisdom is from God. It is not God.
So? I guess we should not get into being impressed by college degrees and certificates. The real question is, has our fear of the Lord caused us to be open to learn His wisdom and given us the courage to life it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)