(Proverbs 28:16 KJV) The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
As people raised in a country that knows more liberty than any in history we tend to assume that leaders who are not picked by a democratic process are all evil. Most modern Americans don’t know the key difference between a dictator and a tyrant. Dictator is a term used by the Romans for a leader appointed through due process and given absolute powers for a specific period of time. A tyrant usually takes power by force of arms and never gives it up. A dictator can rule well. I have heard it said the the most efficient form of government is a benevolent dictatorship. A tyrant on the other hand used whatever means are necessary to make and keep himself king of the hill.
It is not uncommon for leaders to start out understanding that they are servants of the people and devolve into self-centered minarets. They do not understand the dynamics of leadership although they know how to apply power. They rarely die in their beds.
So? Leadership takes place at many levels from cleaning homes to ruling countries. We all have some type of leadership. Apply the wisdom God has given in yours.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Pets and Profits
(Proverbs 27:26 KJV) The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
Animal lovers pay attention. Animals are not our brothers, they are our resources. Here we see clothing and profit. In the next verse we see milk. Other places we see concepts of “the fatted ox” and of course there were the sacrifices in the temple. It is true that the peasants of that day my have had the cow sleep in the house but that was more a poverty issue than a desire for companionship. Many cultures thought dogs were edible and also horses. Cats didn’t seem to have any use. It has nothing to do with anything but I can’t find cats mentioned anywhere in the Bible.
So? Pets can be companionship. In another context they might be a coat. Either way they are still animals. Sorry about that. Don’t tell my wife.
Animal lovers pay attention. Animals are not our brothers, they are our resources. Here we see clothing and profit. In the next verse we see milk. Other places we see concepts of “the fatted ox” and of course there were the sacrifices in the temple. It is true that the peasants of that day my have had the cow sleep in the house but that was more a poverty issue than a desire for companionship. Many cultures thought dogs were edible and also horses. Cats didn’t seem to have any use. It has nothing to do with anything but I can’t find cats mentioned anywhere in the Bible.
So? Pets can be companionship. In another context they might be a coat. Either way they are still animals. Sorry about that. Don’t tell my wife.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
A Corner of Hatred
(Proverbs 26:24 KJV) He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Lying is a form of hatred. I wonder if that might be one way to draw the line between what is becoming more socially acceptable in exaggeration and lies. The person who tells a tall story to entertain is not motivated by hatred. A person “roasting” or “bagging” is hopefully not motivated by hatred so it would not qualify as a lie.
In contrast some people say nothing when a good word is appropriate because their hatred makes it impossible to say anything good about a person. This is obviously not a compete description of lying but it is an element.
So? We are to love. I think it okay to hate sin but our basic motivation is in I Corinthians 13.
Lying is a form of hatred. I wonder if that might be one way to draw the line between what is becoming more socially acceptable in exaggeration and lies. The person who tells a tall story to entertain is not motivated by hatred. A person “roasting” or “bagging” is hopefully not motivated by hatred so it would not qualify as a lie.
In contrast some people say nothing when a good word is appropriate because their hatred makes it impossible to say anything good about a person. This is obviously not a compete description of lying but it is an element.
So? We are to love. I think it okay to hate sin but our basic motivation is in I Corinthians 13.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
The Hidden Mary
(Proverbs 25:24 KJV) It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
It is always interesting to me when a verse like this is put together “by chance” with Christmas. If you have never spent much time with pregnant women you will know that some of them could have written the book on “brawling” (contentious NASB) (4066). There is a time period called “transition”, if my memory serves me. It is a time when you don’t want to allow the expectant mother near any legal contract and definitely don’t want to let her talk to a divorce lawyer.
Do you suppose Mary might have had a few moments when she was hard to live with? We generally don’t think about it but she had to walk across the country at 8 ½ months. Keep in mind the cute little donkey is not mentioned in scripture. Did she tell Joseph about her swollen ankles and need to go to the bathroom. Probably.
So? Everyone is entitled to periods of being hard to live with. In the same way all of us are expected to go the extra mile for others and try to not join them in attitude. Merry Christmas, for those nit-pickers, Happy Incarnation Day.
It is always interesting to me when a verse like this is put together “by chance” with Christmas. If you have never spent much time with pregnant women you will know that some of them could have written the book on “brawling” (contentious NASB) (4066). There is a time period called “transition”, if my memory serves me. It is a time when you don’t want to allow the expectant mother near any legal contract and definitely don’t want to let her talk to a divorce lawyer.
Do you suppose Mary might have had a few moments when she was hard to live with? We generally don’t think about it but she had to walk across the country at 8 ½ months. Keep in mind the cute little donkey is not mentioned in scripture. Did she tell Joseph about her swollen ankles and need to go to the bathroom. Probably.
So? Everyone is entitled to periods of being hard to live with. In the same way all of us are expected to go the extra mile for others and try to not join them in attitude. Merry Christmas, for those nit-pickers, Happy Incarnation Day.
Monday, December 24, 2018
Guy Wires Needed
(Proverbs 24:25 KJV) But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
How many times have you heard someone say something that needs to be said and it is obvious they are not being supported by the crowd? I can remember faculty meetings where I would point out that the king had no clothes and got no support at all. I could live with that. What I found frustrating was the number of people who would come up afterward, when no one could hear them, and say they really appreciated what I had said. Really? Then why did they leave me hanging in the wind?
When we are around someone who has taken a step based on truth and morality we need to step up and express our agreement. We don’t need to agree with them on everything and we can clarify that, but we need to bless them with a word of agreement. Give them a guy wire to keep them from getting blown over.
So? Those who support righteousness need our support or next time they may not have enough courage to speak up.
How many times have you heard someone say something that needs to be said and it is obvious they are not being supported by the crowd? I can remember faculty meetings where I would point out that the king had no clothes and got no support at all. I could live with that. What I found frustrating was the number of people who would come up afterward, when no one could hear them, and say they really appreciated what I had said. Really? Then why did they leave me hanging in the wind?
When we are around someone who has taken a step based on truth and morality we need to step up and express our agreement. We don’t need to agree with them on everything and we can clarify that, but we need to bless them with a word of agreement. Give them a guy wire to keep them from getting blown over.
So? Those who support righteousness need our support or next time they may not have enough courage to speak up.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Lie Down with Care
(Proverbs 23:34 KJV) Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
Just in case you are still living in denial, this is not praise for clever behavior or the ability to think outside the box. This is a reminder of all the really retarded actions you have taken in your life if you are someone who gets drunk. You may not remember. That may be a result of the alcohol blocking your memory. It may be that the alcohol killed the brain cells tasked with remembering that moment. It may just be a psychological defensive measure because you could not live with the embarrassment when you were sober.
Alcohol has a place. I admit that. Usually its place is in a bottle waiting for a medical emergency or a time in life where things are totally hopeless (see the beginning of chapter 31). I may be that something else makes you forget the important things. I guess gluttony or a juicy bit of gossip can also make us embarrass ourselves.
So? We all make mistakes. I guess this is a reminder that we should work to avoid situations which make the mistake a guarantee instead of a possibility. This is a good reminder during the Christmas/New Year holidays.
Just in case you are still living in denial, this is not praise for clever behavior or the ability to think outside the box. This is a reminder of all the really retarded actions you have taken in your life if you are someone who gets drunk. You may not remember. That may be a result of the alcohol blocking your memory. It may be that the alcohol killed the brain cells tasked with remembering that moment. It may just be a psychological defensive measure because you could not live with the embarrassment when you were sober.
Alcohol has a place. I admit that. Usually its place is in a bottle waiting for a medical emergency or a time in life where things are totally hopeless (see the beginning of chapter 31). I may be that something else makes you forget the important things. I guess gluttony or a juicy bit of gossip can also make us embarrass ourselves.
So? We all make mistakes. I guess this is a reminder that we should work to avoid situations which make the mistake a guarantee instead of a possibility. This is a good reminder during the Christmas/New Year holidays.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Rich Leadership
(Proverbs 22:7 KJV) The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
As much as we might find this offensive it is more than an observation, it is a principle. Being rich implies that you have been successful. Yes, I know that some people are rich because their parents were successful but it is more common for children to squander the wealth of their parents than preserve it. People who get into debt tend to be the ones who have made bad decisions. I know that is true today. I assume it was true then
What kind of bad decisions? An obvious mistake is to use a credit card for something that you really don’t need and can’t really afford. We use credit cards but we are careful to pay them off each month. That in itself is a trap because it puts you a month behind. If there is a sudden downturn in the economy people like us will also be in trouble.
So? Do you want leaders who have been failures or those who have been successful. Let me put it another way, would you want someone who can’t do simple math to be your accountant?
As much as we might find this offensive it is more than an observation, it is a principle. Being rich implies that you have been successful. Yes, I know that some people are rich because their parents were successful but it is more common for children to squander the wealth of their parents than preserve it. People who get into debt tend to be the ones who have made bad decisions. I know that is true today. I assume it was true then
What kind of bad decisions? An obvious mistake is to use a credit card for something that you really don’t need and can’t really afford. We use credit cards but we are careful to pay them off each month. That in itself is a trap because it puts you a month behind. If there is a sudden downturn in the economy people like us will also be in trouble.
So? Do you want leaders who have been failures or those who have been successful. Let me put it another way, would you want someone who can’t do simple math to be your accountant?
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