Economics 102

(Pro 31:24 KJV)  She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

We run into people who try to force socialism into the Bible.  They look at the events of Acts and how the rich were selling what they had and dividing it among the poor.  If you read Acts with an open mind you will find that the socialist approach did not work too well.  We find the same thing in the Pilgrims and Jamestown.  When you expect people to respond to the “from everyone according to his ability” of Marxism you find that no one seems to have any ability.

Here we have what we would call free enterprise.  Probably not capitalism because that is a reflection of big investors organizing for greater profits and production.  Here you have an individual, using her talents and energy to produce a product and sell it at a profit.  Earlier you saw that she was using her resources to invest in property.

So?  Really try to run the strange theories you hear by the word to test them out.  Some may make you think.  That can be good but make sure that your thinking is within the framework of eternal truth not peer pressure. 

Be a Scholar

(Pro 30:1 KJV)  The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

This is a good place to remind ourselves about how to study the Bible.  Much of what we “know” isn’t true.  Most people would tell you categorically that Solomon wrote Proverbs.  They say this because either they never read Proverbs or they read it in the I-must-read-five-chapters-a-day mode in which they never bother to engage their brain.  The Bible clearly states that this chapter of Proverbs was written by someone named Agur.  You see the same thing in the book of Psalms.  When you study the Bible, start with the Bible.

I would also say, finish with the Bible.  It is amazing how commentators will throw in things like “Agur is another name for Solomon.”  My response is, “Says who?”  Not the Bible, that is sure.

So?  Like much of life we need to learn to do our own thinking instead of listening to experts who are having ego issues.  It is the Holy Spirit’s job to lead us into all truth not our local specialist.  Happy studying.

Eternal Standards

(Pro 29:7 KJV)  The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

In our modern, narcissistic times we have perverted the concept of “rights” (1779).  Because we have accepted the humanistic view that man is the end of all things and the center of the universe, we interpret this idea to be special consideration for ourselves.  This obviously runs into conflict when someone else wants special consideration.

The idea here is that there are universal standards of right and wrong.  Everyone should be treated the same in regard to those standards.  What is right is the standard, not the individual.  As human beings we have the limitations of our senses and the objective nature in which we experience and remember.  That is why we have dictionaries and the Bible.  That is why we have a Constitution and written laws.

So?  Hard as it is, we must get out of ourselves.  We must embrace the eternal instead of the temporal.  That is impossible without the cleansing power of the blood.  Even for the redeemed it is a tall order, but order it is. 

Splash Carefully

(Pro 28:20 KJV)  A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

Again we see the contrast of two different lives.  I would assume that we would want to be thought of as “faithful” (530).  I could assume wrong.  At the other end is the person who is so concerned about making a big splash in life that he is willing to make just about any compromise.

Before we get too judgmental we need to examine our own priorities.  It may be that financial wealth is not your weak spot.  There are other goals we can pursue robustly and with a focus that distorts all around us.  We learn to make excuses for what we deem important.  

So?  We should be leery of saying things like, “God would never expect that of me.”  Another one I think is abused is, “God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.”  Not that it isn’t true but I am not sure that he has put them in your care.  Faithfulness requires alertness and honesty. 

Hubris and Humility

(Pro 27:2 KJV)  Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

A word which is making a comeback is “hubris”.  A few years ago I had to look it up.  Now I could use it myself with growing frequency.  One thinks of politicians.  One thinks of social media executives.  One thinks of the medical profession.  One thinks of our children.  Hubris is everywhere.

The cure for hubris is the application of Christian love.  I Corinthians 13 is a good place to start but a verse that always hits me in this way is,

(Php 2:3 KJV)  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

So?  I guess another way to say this is “don’t toot your own horn”.  As hubris is thinking too much of yourself so humility is having the right perspective.  Even when others praise you be careful about believing it. 

Who’s the Fool?

(Pro 26:6 KJV)  He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

I have been looking to compare the righteous with the unrighteous this month.  I have had a hard time trying to find that in this chapter.  There is a steady list of statements about those who invoke God’s wrath but little about the obedient.  So let me look at the two roles provided in this verse.  We have the “fool” (3684) and the fool’s enabler.  

Fools exist.  If you glance down the beginning verses in this chapter, you find repeated reference.  It is used 49 times in Proverbs.  I would say that Solomon knows his fools and finds them everywhere.  If Solomon was surrounded by them I think we can assume that they are still with us.  

Don’t join them.  I think the point here is that if you trust a fool then you are a fool yourself.  I think it is also assumed that we can see the fools if we look.  Of course that starts with remembering that fools have no wisdom because they have no fear of the Lord.

So?  I don’t want to be either one.  I think I will work on fearing the Lord. 

The Moderation Gene

(Pro 25:16 KJV)  Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Moderation again.  Don’t you get tired of moderation?  I have a can of peanuts.  I don’t dare open it because if I do I will eat way too much.  Now I probably would not eat enough to “vomit” (7006a) but I would certainly eat more than is moderate.  This verse assumes that some people will eat too much and others would restrain themselves.  It isn’t fair because some people do not have the glutton gene.  You have seem people eat half a cookie and leave the rest.  I don’t understand it.

I wish I had the moderation gene.  It would make life so much easier.  The reality is that I don’t when it comes to food.  That is where discipline comes in.  

So?  We are expected to learn moderation if it does not come naturally.  It is part of the package just like telling the truth may not come naturally to some.  Here the issue is vomiting.  Other places it talks about becoming so full that we lose our ability to respond.  Either way, moderation is the road we are expected to follow.