Who’s Counting

(Proverbs 7:26 KJV)  For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

What do you keep a record of?  Do you have anything you count?  Do you have goals?  Realize that you are on someone’s wish list.  They want to see you “cast down” (5307) and they want to be the one doing the casting.  They want you to be one of the “many” (7227a) on their list.

I am keeping track of the golf courses in my area.  I have a vague goal to play on all of them but it is not a compulsion.  For some people bringing you down is a compulsion.  It is how they get their jollies.  It is how they feel their worth. 

That is the bad news.  The good news is that we have God on our side.  He knows their poison and has the antidote. 

So?  There is a reason the old song said “Trust and obey” and not just “trust”.  There is a reason why the Bible reminds us of the glory and power of grace but also that we are expected to obey.  If you don’t take your medication it doesn’t really matter how miraculous the drug is. 

Not Feet First

(Proverbs 6:18 KJV)  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

It is sad how often our physical responses reflect what is really going on inside.  We live in a culture that tries to blame all of our troubles on our environment.  Thus we have a society of victims instead of people refusing to accept responsibility for their actions.  It is true that our surroundings have an effect on us.  Look at food.  How many are looking forward to a few honeyed locusts for dessert?  For some in the world that is a rare delicacy.  Americans like their milk.  For many that is disgusting.  Other tastes are built in.  We kept sugar from our first born for a long time.  He did not need to be conditioned to like it.  It was built in.

The condition of our “heart” (3820) has a lot to say which way our “feet” (7272) will “run” (7323).  The condition of our heart does depend on something outside, the grace of God.  The thing is we have a say in whether God’s grace does its work.

So?  Make sure your garden is weeded before you start giving lectures in horticulture. 

Cosmic Preppers

(Proverbs 5:10 KJV)  Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

While it is true that we are to be storing up treasures for heaven where rust and moths do not destroy there is a simultaneous command to be stewards of our earthly resource.  God is rooted in history and the physical world because He is the molder of one and the creator of the other.  There is a religious spur that is called Deism.  One of the aspects of Deism is that while it admits to a god, he is not involved.  You may have heard of the illustration of making a watch, winding it and leaving it to wind down.  That is the god of Deism.  It is not the God of the Bible.

As I speculate on why God gives us responsibility to manage our physical resources I come up with an idea that we are preparing for eternity.  In a sense we are cosmic preppers.  Somehow balancing our check books and living within our means will have a connection to eternal life.

So?  Manage your resources.  Make sure that the fruit of your labor goes into preserves and not the garbage bin.

Health Advice

(Proverbs 4:22 KJV)  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

We have here a verse for the health and wealth gospel people.  We have a promise of “health” (4832).  How simple can it be.  It may be obvious but it isn’t simple.  Like most of the promises of the Bible there are conditions and expectations.  Here the expectation is that you will seek and find wisdom.  That requires focus, study and discipline.  It isn’t like the book of the month club where the latest is sent if you do nothing.

A book that I have reread is None of These Diseases by S.I. McMillen.  He goes into the results of following the kosher laws of the Old Testament.  It seems God had reasons for the outline He gave the Jews.  The revised edition even goes into things like HIV.

So?  Living a righteous life may bring persecution from the world but it also delivers better health and mental stability.

McMillen, S.I. and Stern, David E.  None of These Diseases.  Grand
    Rapids:  Fleming H. Revell, Third Edition, 2000. 

‘Cause

(Proverbs 3:30 KJV)  Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

I think everyone has a “cause” (2600).  It may be trivial.  It may be universal.  I guess maybe I should say everyone needs a motivating factor in their life.  Some people go out and do battle every day over the silliest things.  To me one of the silliest is the organic community.  I can see that there is a place to avoid things that are contaminated and go for cleaner food.  The real problem we face though is that if all food was grown the way the extreme organic people want then the world would soon starve to death.  If you are wealthy enough to live that way then more power to you.

There is a saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  The same thing goes for our causes.  What may be earthshaking for you may be a non-issue for me. 

So?  Make sure that your bully pulpit is founded on the Rock.  Jesus gives us enough big issues to worry about.  We should not get excited about the latest craze. 

A Paradox of Balance

(Proverbs 2:8 KJV)  He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

It is important to make a note about whom the “He” is in this verse.  The NASB may be more artistic in its style but the KJV is more helpful by putting the word at the beginning of the passage.  He is God.  If you look back and read from verse 6 you can see that there are a number of things that God is going to be doing for His people.  If you read the further context it is clear that the recipients are not just those who are raised in a godly culture but those who follow the God of that culture.

So?  We keep running into reminders of the balanced paradox of life.  We are to put our shoulder to the wheel and work hard because it makes a difference.  While we do that we are to always keep in mind that God is in charge.  He is the source of salvation and the dispenser of judgement.  So relax and get to work. 

Salvation Is Not Mush and Rainbows

(Proverbs 1:24 KJV)  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

This verse talks about a God who reaches out to man.  Even in the days of the Old Testament He was offering salvation to those who would listen.  It also brings up the issue of free will.  In the TULIP view of salvation the “I” stands for irresistible grace.  That means that if God “called” (7121) you did not have the option of “refused” (3985).  How can a mere human refuse God?

Simple.  By saying “No.”

That is where the vast majority of people are.  That is why hell will be so full.  That is why the road is narrow leading to salvation.  It isn’t that God can’t make it wider but that it won’t need to be.  People say, “No.”  Can God force the issue?  Yes, He is God.  He can reach down, turn your will to mush and your disposition to rainbows and have you saying, “Yes, Sir!”  There have been times in history when He has done that, but the pattern is to speak, to call, to offer and let us respond.

So?  I think of it as a daily response of obedience.  I trust in grace and the blood of Christ.  At the same time I know my decision is vital.