(Proverbs 14:13 KJV) Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
I think of this as a possible endorsement of “gallows humor”. I say that because I have rarely seen a situation in which I cannot see something to joke about. Often I have the common sense to realize my one liner would be in bad taste and only cause more “pain” (3510). Too frequently my mouth exceeds the speed of thought.
It is also a reminder that even the love of Christ does not shelter us from the stubbed toes of life. Look at the life of Paul. Look at the rejection of the prophets. For that matter, Jesus knew a bit of suffering Himself. The good news is that even in the dark times we are walking in the light. Don’t think of the low spots as being abandoned by God or punishment for some moment of weakness.
So? We have a hope, an assurance, based on the character of God and made possible by the blood of Christ. Rejoice in the hard times and laugh if you can. Just don’t expect everyone to see the lighter side.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Monday, November 13, 2017
Sweat Capital
(Proverbs 13:11 KJV) Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
I recently had the opportunity to spend some time discussing life with a few millennials. It is like talking to aliens from outer space. They have starry eyed dreams of making a big splash in life but they don’t have a job now. Actually this way of thinking has been around for generations. I would guess it was fifteen or twenty years ago I had a conversation with a young woman who in desperation had taken a job teaching middle school. She was constantly frustrated with the daily grind of the classroom and the ridiculous demands of administration. Part of the problem was that she was teaching science with only a few classes in anthropology under her belt. The bigger problem was a sense of entitlement. Her dignity was attacked because she had taken all kinds of classes in public policy and she “was trained to be the one behind the desk giving orders, not the one out in the field.”
Too many people want the rewards of hard work and don’t want to put in the hours required. I see budding musicians who will never know success because they don’t see the importance of learning their scales. I see future NBA stars who will never get off the playground because they think they are too good to learn discipline.
So? Don’t sneer at hard work. It is the path to success. This is true in our careers, our child rearing and our spiritual walks.
I recently had the opportunity to spend some time discussing life with a few millennials. It is like talking to aliens from outer space. They have starry eyed dreams of making a big splash in life but they don’t have a job now. Actually this way of thinking has been around for generations. I would guess it was fifteen or twenty years ago I had a conversation with a young woman who in desperation had taken a job teaching middle school. She was constantly frustrated with the daily grind of the classroom and the ridiculous demands of administration. Part of the problem was that she was teaching science with only a few classes in anthropology under her belt. The bigger problem was a sense of entitlement. Her dignity was attacked because she had taken all kinds of classes in public policy and she “was trained to be the one behind the desk giving orders, not the one out in the field.”
Too many people want the rewards of hard work and don’t want to put in the hours required. I see budding musicians who will never know success because they don’t see the importance of learning their scales. I see future NBA stars who will never get off the playground because they think they are too good to learn discipline.
So? Don’t sneer at hard work. It is the path to success. This is true in our careers, our child rearing and our spiritual walks.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
No Smoking
(Proverbs 12:9 KJV) He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
Does the phrase “smoke and mirrors” ring any bells? How about “all smoke and no fire”? We tend to get distracted by the spectacular and showy. It is part of human nature. Stage magicians have perfected the art of illusion and misdirection. The rabbit does not really come out of the hat. What they get the masses to do is assume something and believe it based on that assumption.
The only way we can get around this is to know what is true and reject that which we know is not. It used to be called common sense but as people have lost contact with the wisdom of the ages it is replaced by mob psychology. It is better to drive an old car that is paid for than to have a leased one that you can’t really afford. Sending your child to day care does not get them ahead in life as much as the faithful attention of a mother. It doesn’t matter that everyone else is doing it. It doesn’t matter that some children seem to come through it just fine.
So? Again I harp on the principle of reading and thinking about what the word says to us. Only then can we judge truth from fiction. Only one leads to eternal life.
Does the phrase “smoke and mirrors” ring any bells? How about “all smoke and no fire”? We tend to get distracted by the spectacular and showy. It is part of human nature. Stage magicians have perfected the art of illusion and misdirection. The rabbit does not really come out of the hat. What they get the masses to do is assume something and believe it based on that assumption.
The only way we can get around this is to know what is true and reject that which we know is not. It used to be called common sense but as people have lost contact with the wisdom of the ages it is replaced by mob psychology. It is better to drive an old car that is paid for than to have a leased one that you can’t really afford. Sending your child to day care does not get them ahead in life as much as the faithful attention of a mother. It doesn’t matter that everyone else is doing it. It doesn’t matter that some children seem to come through it just fine.
So? Again I harp on the principle of reading and thinking about what the word says to us. Only then can we judge truth from fiction. Only one leads to eternal life.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
The Two Step
(Proverbs 11:20 KJV) They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
This seems to be comparing apples and oranges. We have “heart” (3820) which refers to the inner man and “way" (walk NASB) (1870) which refers to the outer. Some people like to ignore that both are necessary.
We must have an inner transformation. We see words like “washed”, “cleansed” and “filled”. These are accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit through the grace of God. It doesn’t matter how well you follow the rules if you are still in your sins.
There must be an “upright” (blameless NASB) (8549) aspect. That has to do with our volitional actions. We are expected to expend willful energy walking in obedience. It is still done through the power of the Spirit working in our lives but demands our willing cooperation. It doesn’t do much good to have a date in your Bible that you can point to on which you were saved if there is no fruit from that moment.
So? I would rather “delight” (7522) the Lord than be an “abomination” (8441).
This seems to be comparing apples and oranges. We have “heart” (3820) which refers to the inner man and “way" (walk NASB) (1870) which refers to the outer. Some people like to ignore that both are necessary.
We must have an inner transformation. We see words like “washed”, “cleansed” and “filled”. These are accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit through the grace of God. It doesn’t matter how well you follow the rules if you are still in your sins.
There must be an “upright” (blameless NASB) (8549) aspect. That has to do with our volitional actions. We are expected to expend willful energy walking in obedience. It is still done through the power of the Spirit working in our lives but demands our willing cooperation. It doesn’t do much good to have a date in your Bible that you can point to on which you were saved if there is no fruit from that moment.
So? I would rather “delight” (7522) the Lord than be an “abomination” (8441).
Friday, November 10, 2017
Tortoise Time
(Proverbs 10:26 KJV) As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
As I looked at the context I noticed that this verse had a different pattern than the two surrounding it. As I looked a little further I saw that the two forms are mixed through the chapter. Some of the verses contrast two thoughts. This continues or elaborates on the first idea.
The issue being addressed is sloth, one of the seven deadly sins. The NASB uses the modern term of “lazy” (6102). I say modern because it does not seem to appear in the KJV, which here uses “sluggard”. The danger is more than being slow. It is a slowness that is caused by a lack of focus and application. Think of the tale of the Tortoise and the Hare. The hare was very quick but did not apply himself. The tortoise was slow but always working toward the goal.
So? Are you frustrated because you are not the horse with the fancy saddle? Maybe God needs a sure footed donkey to get the job done.
As I looked at the context I noticed that this verse had a different pattern than the two surrounding it. As I looked a little further I saw that the two forms are mixed through the chapter. Some of the verses contrast two thoughts. This continues or elaborates on the first idea.
The issue being addressed is sloth, one of the seven deadly sins. The NASB uses the modern term of “lazy” (6102). I say modern because it does not seem to appear in the KJV, which here uses “sluggard”. The danger is more than being slow. It is a slowness that is caused by a lack of focus and application. Think of the tale of the Tortoise and the Hare. The hare was very quick but did not apply himself. The tortoise was slow but always working toward the goal.
So? Are you frustrated because you are not the horse with the fancy saddle? Maybe God needs a sure footed donkey to get the job done.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
A Well Earned Slap Down
(Proverbs 9:7 KJV) He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
If you are anxious to see how this works go to a public forum of some sort, stand up and make a defense of Biblical marriage. The very thought makes me shudder. I would hope that if the occasion demanded it, I would have the courage to stand and speak the truth as God has established it. I still shudder. You know what would happen. At the very least you would be called names and the polite ones would end in “phobe”. You would also stand a good chance of physical assault and/or legal action.
If this happens, and it probably will, wear the accusations as a badge of honor. Understand that it is not you they are rejecting but the God you serve.
So? Think twice before you make a public statement. Ask yourself if anyone will listen. Ask God if it is necessary. The second thought should outweigh the first. I don’t think this is telling us not to speak but to not be naive about the reaction.
If you are anxious to see how this works go to a public forum of some sort, stand up and make a defense of Biblical marriage. The very thought makes me shudder. I would hope that if the occasion demanded it, I would have the courage to stand and speak the truth as God has established it. I still shudder. You know what would happen. At the very least you would be called names and the polite ones would end in “phobe”. You would also stand a good chance of physical assault and/or legal action.
If this happens, and it probably will, wear the accusations as a badge of honor. Understand that it is not you they are rejecting but the God you serve.
So? Think twice before you make a public statement. Ask yourself if anyone will listen. Ask God if it is necessary. The second thought should outweigh the first. I don’t think this is telling us not to speak but to not be naive about the reaction.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Promises, Promises
(Proverbs 8:34 KJV) Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
The Bible is full of promises. We like to quote them and we should. What we like to overlook is the conditional nature of those promises. This chapter in Proverbs is full of promises. In this verse we have the vision of being “blessed” (835). I would like to live that. The rest I am not always so sure about.
Notice the three requirements for the one promise. We are to pay attention, daily, at our assigned post. We can’t sleep-in until the celestial alarm clock goes off and expect to get the prize.
So? It is all very wonderful, and Biblical, to believe in the sovereignty of God. I believe in it myself. Salvation is a gift that God chooses to give. The other side of that is He can also choose not to give. In His sovereignty He makes the decisions of bestowing blessings. Are you feeling lucky today or do you think it might help somehow to follow the directions?
The Bible is full of promises. We like to quote them and we should. What we like to overlook is the conditional nature of those promises. This chapter in Proverbs is full of promises. In this verse we have the vision of being “blessed” (835). I would like to live that. The rest I am not always so sure about.
Notice the three requirements for the one promise. We are to pay attention, daily, at our assigned post. We can’t sleep-in until the celestial alarm clock goes off and expect to get the prize.
So? It is all very wonderful, and Biblical, to believe in the sovereignty of God. I believe in it myself. Salvation is a gift that God chooses to give. The other side of that is He can also choose not to give. In His sovereignty He makes the decisions of bestowing blessings. Are you feeling lucky today or do you think it might help somehow to follow the directions?
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