Where’s It Happening?

(Proverbs 7:11 KJV)  (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

How many of our problems come to us because we are not willing to “abide” (remain NASB) (7931) at our “house” (home NASB) (1004).  Here Solomon is specifically targeting a woman on the prowl, but the principle catches all of us in its beam.  This was written before the days of internet porn, what they are calling “cyberbullying”, hackers invading privacy and even the Home Shopping Network.  We have many ways to get in trouble without leaving the house.

But again, the principle applies.  Take something we all have to deal with, more day than money.  I don’t know if you have ever run a test of expenses by writing everything down that you spend.  It is amazing how much goes towards activities outside the home that are not necessary.  One example hits most of us.  We have countless franchises of fast food sirens, all catering to people who say things like, “It is cheaper to eat out” or “I am too tired to cook”.  Really?  Are you too tired to work that extra job to pay for it?

So?  The problem is not working hard or having a second job.  The problem is trading the time we have to prepare for eternity with being out “where it is happening”.  It should be happening in your home.  God is with you everywhere but He can get you to listen better in certain situations. 

In Praise of Nagging

(Proverbs 6:3 KJV)  Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

I wonder if Jesus had this in mind when He told the story about the widow who kept after the judge until he gave her justice.  Notice the reason he gave.

(Luke 18:5 KJV)  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

It would seem that nagging can have positive results. 

The biggest problem is admitting that we made a mistake.  First we need to admit it to ourselves, then confess it to the neighbor.  Then keep confessing until you get some action.

So?  Honesty and persistence are steps that we need to add to our arsenal of daily living.

Life Basics

(Proverbs 5:18 KJV)  Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

Faithful monogamy.  It is such a simple standard.  It is such a clear standard.  It is such an ignored standard in our day.  It reflects the special place that the marriage relationship has in the heart of God.

It is sexual and permissive within the bounds of monogamous marriage. 

It is familial, giving the foundation for the raising of children.

It is collegial, it shares the responsibilities, trials and joys of life.

It is deep.  When the years pass you may lose the shine but you remember the sparkle and keep the spark alive.

So?  Believers should be setting the example of what marriage is. 

Leftover Pumpkins Won’t Help

(Proverbs 4:7 KJV)  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

The translation from NASB starts of with totally different wording.

(Proverbs 4:7 NAS77)  "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.

The difference is not in the Hebrew.  First, look at the words in italics.  Both are inserted to make it flow.  The key word translated differently is “beginning” (7225) or “principle”.  It has the idea of being first in importance.  If I were translating it, which is always dangerous, I would start with,

(Proverbs 4:7 Pumice Pathetic Paraphrase) Wisdom first.  Get Wisdom....

This tells us a couple of things.  First, wisdom is vital.  It is not an option.  It is a requirement.  Second, it ain’t gonna happen unless we make it a priority.  God is not like the Fairy God Mother who waves her wand and turns mice and a pumpkin into a coach and four.  Third, it is available to everyone.

So?  What are you waiting for, Cinderella?  No one is going to be able to acquire wisdom for you.  God will award it but only to those who seek. 

Non-Sparkly

(Proverbs 3:15 KJV)  She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

There are times when we need to put on our thinking caps and get beyond the words of scripture.  I am not a big fan of “rubies” (jewels NASB) (6443).  I do not understand why people are fascinated with jewelry.  That does not just apply to the old geezer with a big medallion and gold chains.  It refers to things like engagement rings and all things that go sparkle.  When you look at the Hebrew word you find several possible translations.  One of them is coral. 

Think of this as a term used like we use “Kleenex” or “Coke”.  It is kind of generic for things that show wealth.  We might think in terms of a Rolls Royce or Lamborghini.  To see is to be impressed.  Wisdom is, or should be, of more value to us than any of these sparklies. 

One reason wisdom is not so popular is that it does not draw attention to the person using it.  It is not ostentatious.  It is not loud.  It is not pushy.  It often goes unnoticed.  We should still seek it and value it.

So?  Be really different.  Be wise. 

Emergency Reserves

(Proverbs 2:7 KJV)  He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

As I was reading this chapter I again wrestled with the meaning of “wisdom” (8454).  Traditionally most cultures have associated wisdom with advanced age because older people have more experience.  At the same time we are aware that many people just become bigger fools as they move through life. 

So what is wisdom?

We know it is rooted in a fear of the Lord which means a person must know enough about God to fear Him.  This chapter up until now talks about listening and learning from the words and teaching given by God.  We would associate that with the Bible.  My thought for today is that wisdom is based on knowing the right principles and standards.  In some cases wisdom is kind of obvious.  Look at the list of the Ten Commandments.  There is little to argue with unless you are an atheist who rejects God or a rebel who refuses to worship God.  But there are bigger principles, more subtle if you will, that need to be applied in complex situations. 

What do you do when you need to chose between two principles?  The standard example is the people who were hiding Jews from the Nazis.  They lied.  They disobeyed the government.  Most of us understand that.  The situations we face are a little more complex.

So?  No guru is going to give us answers for every little crossroad we come to.  We need to build our own reserve of principles that we can apply to cloudy paths.  We need to walk “uprightly” (in integrity NASB) (8537) so we develop skill in applying the principles.  We need to be listening so that the discernment is available as the Holy Spirit speaks.  Be Wise. 

Windows of Enticement

(Proverbs 1:10 KJV)  My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

My daughter and I somehow were talking about smoking and she asked me if I had ever tried tobacco.  When I said, “No”, I explained the different stages I had gone through.  One of the stages was a short period where I would have tried it if someone had offered me one.  After that brief window I was not open to it at all.  If someone had enticed me I would have at least opened a door to a different direction in life.

Or maybe not.  Perhaps one drag would have been enough.  I have enough confidence to the work of the Holy Spirit to believe that if I had been that stupid, Providence would have made me wake up. 

So?  The fact remains that there are temptations around us and they are often active, not passive.  The active are often easier to resist than the ones that just lay in wait.  Remember that line from the Lord’s Prayer, “...and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,...”  Next time you are at church and the congregation recites it, let it jump out and wake you up.