God's Best Creation

Her children rise up and bless her;

Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

“Many daughters have done nobly,

But you excel them all.”

Proverbs 31:28-29

Oh, the blessed wife.  It is no mystery that the Proverbs so regularly defend marital fidelity and highlight the endless importance of the wife and the mother.  These are two of the most important and central offices in all of God’s created order.  While many in the modern culture will downplay the importance of the natural offices of a woman by suggesting that the only way a woman can be valuable is if she is fulfilling the natural offices given to men, the Bible will have none of that non-sense.  No person has more power to change the world than the woman who loves her husband and children with the Lord’s amazing love.  No accomplishment can be said to be greater and more important than to have raised up children who know the Lord.  No greater compliment can be given than that a person accurately lived out the love that is found between Jesus Christ and His church within their very marriage.  The sweetest praise of anyone will not be the praises of the masses, but of the very family which she loved taught and nurtured by God’s amazing and gracious provision.

Tried, Tested, and Trustworthy

Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Do not add to His words

Or he will reprove you,

And you will be proved a liar.

Proverbs 30:5-6

My heart was beating so hard it was almost shaking my limbs.  It may have…had they not already been shaking from the fear.  Looking down from the makeshift rope bridge to the rocky canyon below was enough to drive every other thought out of my mind.  The only real comfort to be found was that there were many others who had crossed this shaky bridge before me.  It is easy to forget how many saints have gone before us.  How many people have lived full and amazing lives of submission to the Lord hand His word.  This is not some untested, new path on a road to nowhere.  Living in accordance with God’s word is walking a time-tested path.  Submitting our thoughts to God’s thoughts and our ways to His ways is not a 50-50 split.  It is a sure thing – and that fact is born witness by generations of well-known and unknown faithful men and women who placed their trust in the Lord’s ways and wisdom and walked that faith out day by day.

Hasty Mistakes

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 29:20

One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given came from a lovely lady named Gail Grimstone through my father.  “Never make a decision until you have to.”  While there may be some truth to the general idea that “He who hesitates has lost” my problem is more frequently the latter.  The snap judgment is the enemy of wisdom.  It is interesting that we often portray our “wise men” culturally as listening, taking long pauses, and responding thoughtfully and intentionally.  Our desire to get our opinion out there is rarely a wise.  

Temper, Temper

A fool always loses his temper,

But a wise man holds it back.
Proverbs 29:11

There is an important biblical distinction between anger and “losing one’s temper.”  Just as there is a distinction between desire and lust.  In both cases the transition comes when the feeling moves from being present to one that controls our behavior.  Jesus himself grew angry at multiple points in his ministry, but that anger never cause Him to sin.  Things like anger and extreme desire are natural acceptable feelings for humanity.  When those become the driving influences on our thoughts, words and behaviors then we have a large problem.  It is at this point that we begin to act as the fool – the practical atheist – the one who seeks to be God of our own lives.  Wisdom, on the other hand, can consider the reality that our feelings are only a part of the equation of how we ought to behave.  A wise person is not lead by those strong emotions but by the Spirit of God within him – and thus has that much less to apologize for later.

How's your Heart?

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,

But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

Proverbs 28:26

This is an uncomfortable message. The world system is constantly at odds with the truth of the word of God, and this is an example.  The world puts forth hundreds of books, plays, essays, and movies about the person who “follows their heart.”  Heart, in this context, is a word that encompasses a person’s thoughts, will and emotions.  While the heart may be the best guide for the unbeliever, those who know the Lord have a far greater standard by which to walk.  We know that, as Jeremiah wrote: "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Far better than our own perception and intuition the believer has the privilege of walking by the Word of God, which is a lamp to our feet (Psalm 119:105) as illumined by the forever indwelling Holy Spirit of God.  We can heartily praise the Lord that we have so much more wisdom by which to walk than just our own thoughts, emotions and perceptions – we have His Light by which we may walk.

The Pleasures of Staying Sharp

As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:17

Hearing the clang and zing of two iron implements being rubbed together is a sort of conflict.  If the there was no friction between the two, the process would be doing very little for the sharpening of the blade.  This proverb is more than just a warning to have friends about – it is an injunction upon every believer to have people around who lovingly and faithfully challenge you.  There are ways that we can safeguard ourselves from all but the slightest levels of conflict and opposition to out viewpoints.  Even if our viewpoints and attitudes are totally correct (an incredible unlikelihood) surrounding ourselves with no one to challenge us to think critically and question makes us as useless as a dull blade in battle.   

Loving Wounds, Kisses that Kill

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 27:6

Who could forget the kiss with which Judas betrayed the Lord?  It was the final act in a long relationship of an unfaithful heart.  There are many questions that we have about the life of Judas, but there is no question that there was definite cruelty in the kiss with which the disciple betrayed the Master.  In contrast to this we could think of the wounding of Peter’s betrayal in the temple courtyard – where he denied even knowing Jesus (John 18:15-18).  While that failure was dealt with when Peter saw Jesus on the beach the faithful wounding of a friend was given by Jesus.  As Jesus repeatedly asks Peter if he loves Jesus more than these three times Peter is grieved.  At that moment Peter was restored, having faced his own shortcoming as a blustery big talker this faithful wound was critical in transforming Peter from a big talker into a pillar of the early church.

Eight-Legged Pride

Let another man praise you,

And not your own mouth;

A stranger, and not your own lips.

Proverbs 27:2

In his classic work The Metamorphosis, Ovid tells the story of Arachne.  This mythical tale concerns a woman who believes she is go good at weaving that she boasts herself to be even better than the goddess Athena.  This arrogance ultimately ends in Arachne being turned into a spider and made to weave for the rest of her days (along with all or her creepy offspring).  It is absolutely amazing how infrequently a person needs to tell others how good they are at something.  It is amazing because that does not stop people from taking the opportunity to tell others how good they think they are at something.  Interestingly arrogance is becoming an absolute cultural ethic!  If the story of Arachne were to be made a fresh today it would surely be a story of how Arachne boasted and then finally defeated Athena – yet the old wisdom is the best.  A person can render a wonderful talent, beauty or ability utterly worthless with just a touch of arrogance.  Yet, interestingly, no assessment needs to be made of one’s own abilities to continue to strive to improve and appreciate them.

"JK! I'm Crazy!"

Like a madman who throws fire brands, arrows and death,

Is the man who deceives his neighbor

And says, “I was only joking!”

Proverbs 26:18-19

Having a truly crazy person is a great liability.  A person who fully and completely lacks all sense of sanity becomes a danger to himself and others in very short order.  That person may become even more dangerous should he be supplied with weapons.  Imagine going into battle with a person who is meant to be on your side, only to find that person firing indiscriminately and taking out his own men.  This is the image which the Bible uses to explain a person who lies for a joke.  C.S. Lewis pointed out in the Screwtape Letters what a marvelous tool this is on the part of the Satanic influence upon earth.  A person can be cruel, a person can be selfish, a person can be dishonest but if it is framed as a joke it is supposed to be just fine.  There is a great place for humor, but there is also a way to use humor as a weapon of destruction.  

Slave to Everything

Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls.

Proverbs 25:28

Modern psychology has been baffled by anger.  There was a thought that anger had to be expressed…that once it was out it wouldn’t be “in” any more.  But this proved not to be the case.  The people who express the most anger seem to have more anger to express!  It turns out that a person who is controlled by their feelings is more likely to do something that is deeply unwise.  Furthermore, our feelings are rarely indicative of the truth.  As an example, how many times have the words “I hate you!” and “I love you!” been spoken and been absolutely lies except for that the person “felt that way” at a certain time.  Emotions are, of course, a vital part of what God made us to be as humans.  They are NOT, however, to be the governing force in our thoughts, behaviors attitudes and actions.  That leaves us as vulnerable as a city without walls to a world that would use our very own emotions to control and destroy us.

Good Boundaries

Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,
Lest he become weary of you and hate you.

Proverbs 25:17

I grew up in the great days of the 80’s and 90’s sitcoms.  In Full House Kimmie Gibbler was the example of this proverb.  In Family Matters it was Steve Urkel.  This is the person that would be a bit of an oddball if they showed up in the house occasionally.  The may even have been endearing, but because they showed up every single episode for a good portion of the time they “wore out their welcome” and became the butt of most of the jokes.  In the context of a sitcom this is funny.  It is funny because one of the main characters is usually deeply bothered by this person, but it is also funny because their violation of this simple principle causes the audience to think that there is almost no end to the abuse that can be heaped upon that person.  There are, of course, those special relationships in life that really are “closer than a brother” as Solomon put it.  Most of the time, however, we must be very careful not to insert ourselves into other people homes or even their private space.  Just as a relationship can die because by in attention a relationship can be killed by smothering as well.  And like everything in life – a relationship needs space to breath.  

Golden Words

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold

In settings of silver.

Proverbs 25:11

The ability to say the right word at the right time is a special skill.  We may think of those perfectly timed and beautifully put speeches of history.  Speeches like the Gettysburg Address and the “I have a Dream Speech” still ring in the ears as relevant and full of impact to this very moment.   On more personal occasions, we know the power of a person who gives the right word of encouragement, tenderness or a rebuke at just the right moment.  Scripture tells that these moments are not magical moments of coincidence – they are the result of being steeped in God’s word and attentive to the situation which is before us.  Being attentive, patient, and filled with God’s word will give us the opportunity to speak words which outweigh precious metals in their value.

Rock and Roll and Right Choices

Prepare your outside work,
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterwards build your house.
Proverbs 24:27

Many stories are told of Jimi Hendrix, the great rock and roll guitarist of the sixties.  One of the stories that goes around is that he would occasionally pawn his guitar to satisfy some immediate desire.  This meant that whoever was trying to get him to the next show would often have to find out where his guitar was pawned and redeem it for him before he could play another gig.  It seems strange because the guitar was Jimi’s major source of income.  It seems that you would want to pawn absolutely ANYTHING before choosing to pawn the one thing that was likely to bring you the income needed to redeem what you pawned.  This is the purpose of this parable.  The “outside work” in this case would be attending to that which will provide for your needs and generate income.  The next step after that is to build and prepare your house.  This simple choice to keep things in order will keep life balanced between income and expense.  Or as Charles Dickens put it in his wonderful book David Copperfield: “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds nought and six, result misery."

Of Wine and Idolatry

Do not look on the wine when it is red,

When it sparkles in the cup,

When it swirls around smoothly;

At the last it bites like a serpent,

And stings like a viper.

Proverbs 23:31-32

While the choice to drink alcohol is an area of liberty in Scripture there is no question at all that drunkenness is outside of God’s will for mankind.  There is an interesting feature in the process of addiction wherein the substance in question becomes truly beautiful to the addicted person.  Once this goes further it becomes the only beautiful or attractive thing.  Whether that be alcohol, caffeine or any other substance or behavior that we may become dependent upon, aside from dependence upon the Lord.  Alcohol is and obvious addiction but there are several other potential addictions that can be just as destructive such as drugs, television, pornography, or exercise and diet.  There are any number of things which can slowly but surely move from their place as a good thing to something deeply admired, to something that is idolized.  The subtle process of slipping into idolatry is a gradual road to destruction that becomes deeply noticeable when we spend time just gazing in awe at that thing – be  it a drug, an activity, a relationship or an action.

Good Work Done Well

Do you see a man who excels in his work?

He will stand before kings;

He will not stand before unknown men.

Proverbs 22:29

A dear friend of mine used to be fond of saying: “Work fascinates me…I could watch it all day!”  And no matter how many times he said it I would laugh.  As time passes I realize how much truth is hidden in that little joke.  Watching someone who has truly mastered their work through discipline and effort is a special pleasure.  Whether this is something that is a person’s profession or simply their hobby is immaterial.  Seeing the careful effort applied with wisdom and hard work is always something that is noteworthy.  While this world may emphasize the “quick buck” the word of God always glorifies steady, constructive, hard work.

Training Up a Child

Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it

Proverbs 22:6

Proverbs are not promises.  A promise is a guarantee that something is going to happen or be done by the promise maker.  There are wonderful promises in the Bible, such as John 1:12: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”  This is a great promise!  To everyone who trusts in the name of Jesus Christ they are made children of God.  Proverbs, however, differ in that they are not promises but observations about how God designed the world in more general terms.  This is important because there are many who wonder how their children depart from the faith and the way in which they were raised.  While this is not a guarantee, it is a very important principle in parenting.  As we train up our children we are constantly training them, disciplining them and hoping to see them equipped to live a good and constructive life.  This however, is all second to training children up to see and know the Lord.  Giving our children the tools which they need to grow in Christ is the most important thing to instill in them and earlier is always better than later! 

Understanding You Can Depend On

There is no wisdom or understanding

Or counsel against the Lord.

Proverbs 21:30

The world is filled with new wisdom and understanding.  Every day new and exciting research comes to light about technological advances, scientific discoveries, and medical breakthroughs that are beyond amazing.  There is, however, a great amount of understanding that is perverted to be made to appear as if it is against the Lord.  The specifics aside it is a powerful reminder to us all that the study of the physical earth is simply a study of the matter which God created, the rules which God set in place, and the information which God put in place for this world to spin.  While we may discover many new exciting things, like why leaves are green, God was the One who dictated that leaves would be green.  We may discover how to fix a malfunctioning organ in the human body, but God was the one who made that organ and allowed it to be repaired.  We will see wonderful discoveries, knowledge and understanding but they only confirm all that the Lord has put into place by His perfect will.

Interesting Perspecives

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

But the LORD weighs the hearts.

Proverbs 21:2

We must never forget, as humans, the incredible power we possess in not seeing what we choose not to see.  Whatever the situation it is so easy for us to self-deceive and choose to believe that what we want is somehow the right thing to do.  This is why so many human conversations are simply confirmations of the idea: “I was right to do that, wasn’t I?” However, we justify our actions it is important to remember that we may be able to fool others, and we may be able to fool ourselves – but the Lord is not fooled.  Even our most elaborate justification is empty before Him.  1 Samuel 16:7 tells us: “But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  At first this is a bit unnerving – terrifying even – when we consider our subtle and deceptive ways.  But it ends with great freedom.  The Lord is never deceived and He still loves us – we no longer need to attempt to deceive ourselves to run from humility and truth.  It is with this understanding that David would boldly pray: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

Sinful and Self-Decieved

Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”

Proverbs 20:9

The world has been trying to deal with sin since sin entered the world.  Some have sought to ignore it, others have simply surrendered to it and called evil good and good evil.  These methods never bring anything but a deeper self-deception.  The apostle John would deal with exactly this problem in his first biblical epistle.  In 1 John he would deal with those who denied that they had sinned and those who would deny that they even retained the nature to sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10

These verses show us that foolishness and spiritual self-deception are never far from our door.  It is the greatest foolishness to try to find a way to rationalize away our sin.  Far better, indeed, is allowing God do deal with sin in His way – by trusting Jesus Christ’s perfect and permanent payment for all sin on the cross.

Things that Stay the Same

There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel – that will stand.

Proverbs 19:21

The Hebrew word translated plans has the idea of a machine…something doing its job mechanically and continually to make plans.  It can be negative in meaning, but here it is neutral.  A man continues thinking, planning and plotting based upon new information and new situations at every single moment.  This is one of the many limitations of humanity – we are limited in time, space and perception.  Try as we might we are always going to be vulnerable to a new fact or factor that will cause our plans to change. 

The Lord is in a different situation altogether.  The Lord’s character and plans will never be surprised, nor will they ever be changed because of something which He didn’t see or know.  The Lord’s plan is perfect and it is not ever in question.  This means that, as fallible and shortsighted people we are always making the wisest choice by building our plans around His perfect and unchanging counsel.  This means building our thinking around His perfect word.