Nightlights

(Pro 31:18 KJV)  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

Some of us would consider leaving the “candle" (lamp NASB) (5216) on all night wasteful.  It is certainly something that the poor of that day could not afford to do.  I would imagine that many of them went to bed at sundown and rose at dawn for that reason.  So we can assume that God has blessed this woman and her family for being focused and hard working.

I don’t know about you but I don’t leave a lamp on at night.  In my house there are enough computers and other devices that have power lights that I find I can make my way without stumbling over the big stuff.  Picture a world of almost total darkness.  A bit of light can make a big difference.  We can look at this metaphorically and think about the things in our life that can supply this kind of light.  It might be the music we habitually listen to.  It could be a poster on the wall or photographs on our desk.  

So?  Consider finding a spiritual night light.  When I am in my early morning time of thanksgiving and praise I like to look around the room and find the memories tied to different objects.  It helps to remind me of all the blessings God has given.

Three or Four

(Pro 30:29 KJV)  There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

So are there only three or four things that are impressive in our world?  Obviously not.  We need to accept that there are places in the Bible that we read literary devices.  I have a friend who is big on “rightly dividing the word of truth”, II Timothy 2:15.  The problem is that he is the only one he thinks capable of doing that.  I have not asked him about this verse but if he felt it was some very subtle teaching that fit into his system, then that would be that.  I would be on the border of heresy.

So?  There are interpretations that are totally false.  There are others which differ and can be considered correct.  We will never totally agree.  We can’t agree on the best coffee or the healthiest diet.  I hear people split churches over the color of the carpet.  We need to learn to separate the important from the superfluous.  Three or four is not important.  The physical resurrection of Jesus is. 

Judge Rightly

(Pro 29:10 KJV)  The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

This verse should be obvious, yet it isn’t.  I think one reason why we may not be supportive of the “blameless” (8535) is because we don’t know who is blameless and who is not.  We have lost our discernment about good and evil.  There are two good reasons for that, not good because they are acceptable but because they explain.

One reason we don’t know the good is because the values of the world have permeated the church.  When people living in adultery or fornication claim to be brothers and sisters in Christ the church has begun to accept the world’s definition of sexuality.  That is just one example.  It could extend also to refusing to reject heresy because we don’t want people to feel bad.

Another reason we don’t take stands for or against is that we don’t want to be called judgmental.  People take Jesus’ statement in Matthew 7, reject the context, overlook the rest of the Bible and act like sin cannot be called sin.  Thus we will have the same regard for the widowed mother as we have for the welfare queen.

So?  We are called not only to live “upright” (3477) but to think upright.  It is hard.  It is condemned by the sinners who revel in their sin.  It is expected by God. 

Cliff Hangers

(Pro 28:18 KJV)  Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

I read this and get a vision of Wiley Coyote as he rides a rocket sled, catches up with Road Runner and shoots past him as the bird steps aside.  Wiley finds himself suspended in mid air with no support and suddenly he starts his “fall” (5307) “all at once” (259).

Most of us are not like the road runner, cruising through life with a stupid smile on our face, knowing that the producers of the cartoon have destined us to survival and triumph.  I for one would have my moments of panic, or should I say, have had my moments of panic.  One example of that is the omnipresent propaganda about the China Virus that has people living in fear, constantly looking over their shoulders and trembling at the thought of shaking hands.  In spite of my skepticism I keep forgetting that God provided me with a marvelous immune system that is more effective than any vaccine and my guardian Angel is on the job.  

So?  Live righteously and expect that it makes a difference.  God may allow stumbling blocks and hard times but He will make sure of the final score.  Acme doesn’t have a chance. 

Remember the Alamo

(Pro 27:1 KJV)  Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Is this a recommendation that we should be pessimists?  Are we supposed to assume tomorrow will be a disaster?  No.  The Bible is full of admonitions to expect God’s blessings along with being thankful for the ones we have.  The precaution involves boasting about a tomorrow based on your great exploits of today.

We are always to place our trust in the Lord, not in our genius or hard work.  We have all seen examples of “the best laid plans of mice and men” that crumbled when reality strikes.  We have also seen disasters turn around to glorious success.  We have seen combinations of the two.  The two things that make the difference are our confidence in God and His actual plans for our time in history.  Living in Texas makes me more aware of the Battle of the Alamo.  It was a disaster.  It would have been a tragedy if it was the end of the story but the reality is that it gave the Texans a chance to gather to defeat Santa Ana.  That did not make the deaths and destruction pleasant but made them a moment of glory.

So?  Since we can’t see the future nor understand the strands of history at work, why not accept that God is in charge and we can trust Him?  I can’t think of a good reason either. 

Small Cracks

(Pro 26:28 KJV)  A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

This would seem to imply that there is no such thing as a little white lie.  It doesn’t rule it out but the idea is that lies destroy.  It is hard to get this across to the generation I taught because their lives were already so broken by the deceptions of their parents and culture that they had no idea what it was to really trust.  Marriage cannot thrive and might be impossible to preserve in an atmosphere of deceit.  Secure, mature children cannot be raised when lies are accepted as normal.  How can a business do well if the customers can’t trust the management?

Little white lies are usually the crack that starts to destroy the foundation.  Or think of how a leak in your roof starts small and you may not even know about it until major damage has been done.

So?  There is a reason why false witness is condemned as one of the Ten.  It behooves us to pursue the integrity and strength of the truth. 

Easy to Say

(Pro 25:27 KJV)  It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

I hate moderation.  It isn’t any fun.  I have noticed though that in the long run I am better off if I practice it.  Think of the nights we would have slept better if we had stopped eating when we reached the point.  Think of the next mornings after staying up reading long past your bed time.  Here the mention is honey and trying to get ahead.  They are not bad things unless they become an end in themselves.

So?  Easy to say and hard to do is the story of my life.  It is a story I need to work on.