Something to Look Forward To

(Proverbs 30:19 KJV)  The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

Solomon is sharing some things that he considers wonderful and that he cannot understand.  This brings us to asking ourselves what kind of book we are reading.  If this is a personal memoir, then some of this makes sense.  Solomon knew nothing about navigation.  On the other hand, you would think with all of his wives he should have learned something about women.

If this is a historical statement then we can understand that the ancients did not understand Bernoulli’s Principle that explains how a wing gives lift.  At this point they did not know about the compass.  Fine.

But we are talking about deeper things here.  What is it like to soar like an eagle?  What kind of thoughts does a snake think as it moves?  There are so many things we do not know and cannot know.

So?  It certainly gives us something to look forward to in eternity.  This morning I was looking at the forest around me and thinking about how glorious it is but how dull it will be compared to the glories of eternity.  I don’t understand.  I can’t understand.  Now.  But then?  It is something to look forward to.

Odd Man Out

(Proverbs 29:23 KJV)  A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

This seems to be another telling of the concept of “the first shall be last and the last shall be first.”  It is the idea that the values and standards of God’s kingdom produce results that are opposite to the world’s expectations.  Here the one who lives by his “pride” (1346) and sees himself as being better than others will end up on the bottom.  The educational systems of our world are teaching self-esteem and self actualization.  The Bible is teaching a “humble” (8217) “spirit” (7307).

We are supposed to be out of step.  We are supposed to be different.  It is not that our goal is the difference but that our goal is eternal.

Sometimes I revel in the language of the KJV.  One phrase I like appears twice in the New Testament.

(Titus 2:14 KJV)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

(1 Peter 2:9 KJV)  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

We are to be a “peculiar people.”  Modern translations point out that this means a “special possession.”  If we were the home of a stereotypical octogenarian we would be a knick-knack that was placed on the shelf of honor.  We would be the treasured souvenir to be high-lighted and shown off.

We are to be a holy people.  We are to be different.

So?  Don’t try to blend in with the crowd.  It would be like trying to dance a waltz in 4/4 time.  It just doesn’t work.  Viva la difference.

Surprise! Surprise!

(Proverbs 28:22 KJV)  He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

This is a follow up on verse 20 where it also talks about the man who “hastens” (926) to be rich.

What are you chasing with your life?  The focus here is “wealth” (1952).  Is that the big goal of your life, the overwhelming priority?  Remember that the problem is not wealth, the problem is our attitude toward money and how it ranks in our obedience to the Way.  Notice that it doesn’t say if this man is now rich or poor.  Both groups lust after wealth.  It is possible that the poor are more guilty of this than the wealthy.  I like the KJV here.  Where the NASB says he does not “know” (3045) the KJV says “considereth not.” 

So?  Be careful what you wish for.  Consider the results if you get what you want.  Remember all the times when you wanted a toy with passion, received it and were bored within a few days. 

Paper, Stone and Iron Scissors

(Proverbs 27:17 KJV)  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

As I read this again I had another thought about the steel rod that came with my wife’s knives.  The idea being expressed here is that we need fellowship.  We can keep each other sharp.  That is good as far as it goes.

There are other aspects of being sharp.  One is that it is not enough to just use other iron to sharpen iron.  Eventually we need to use the stone.  In this case that means that we also need the divine touch to stay where we should be spiritually.  As important as fellowship with believers is in our growth and maintenance, nothing can take the place of coming into contact with the living God on a regular basis.

So?  It is not enough to read what others have to say about prayer.  It is not enough to listen to others talk about what they read in the Bible.  It is not enough for others to share how their faith helped them through a tough time.  We must also pray, read and trust.  Let God make you sharp enough to benefit from contact with other believers.

Conceited Eyes

(Proverbs 26:12 KJV)  Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Why does a “fool” (3684) have more “hope” (8615b) than the pseudo-wise?  I addressed this before but another thought is that a fool might actually have an excuse.  Notice I said “might.”  We are experts at finding and using excuses for ourselves.  This is not supposed to be an escape hatch for you but a point of possibility for the naive and simple.

God is holy.  God is just.  God is righteous.  Those traits demand that sin be punished.  But the cross shows the other side of God:  Mercy, forgiveness, patience, kindness, gracious.  This is why we say that God is love.  Agape love in the New Testament and chesed love in the Old Testament embody both extremes in perfect balance.  That means we have hope.

The sinner has hope.  The saint knows that hope.  The fool has hope.  The wise apply that hope.  For those who get beyond their own “conceit” (eyes NASB) (5869) it works out to eternal life.

So?  Rejoice or repent, depending on where you are in your walk.  God offers both wrath and comfort.  The choice is really yours.  In this area I am pro-choice. 

Be Spring Water

(Proverbs 25:26 KJV)  A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

This is not an encouraging verse as stated.  It is a warning about being “righteous” (6662) and still setting a bad example.

There are a couple of assumptions.  First, it again assumes that there are righteous.  I have addressed that before.  Second, it assumes that the righteous can mess up.  Third, it seems to assume that the warning can help us avoid messing up.  I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be a “troubled” (polluted NASB) (7843) “fountain” (well NASB) (4726).

That offers the positive side of this, the encouraging idea.  We do not need to be the person who is “falling down” (gives way NASB) (4131).  It is assumed that such a life is possible.  We can be salt and light, after all, Jesus called us that.  We can be saints, Paul called us that.

So?  Go out and salt your world.  Today you will be an influence of some kind.  Make it the influence of righteousness.

A Respecter of Persons

(Proverbs 24:23 KJV)  These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

It seems like I ran across this idea just a few days ago.  “Respect of persons" (partiality NASB) (5234/6440) is a sin.  We see this again and again.  You might say it gets old but so does vitamin C.  But like vitamin C, your body does not seem to store some types of truth.  Everything around us pushes us toward prejudging and giving special benefits to certain groups.

Yesterday I wrote about honoring your parents and family values.  That is at odds with out world.  Being truly unbiased is another Christian trait that goes against our culture.  Let me run a verse by you.

(Galatians 3:28 KJV)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Here are three categories:  Ethnic, social and gender.  In each of them we are to consider ourselves one.  Of course you have the uniting factor of being believers but the principle is there.

So?  Don’t fall into the trap of class warfare or divisiveness that is so common in our culture.  People are people.  All need salvation.  All can become brethren.  Be different because you accept that they aren’t.