Shake It Up, Baby

(Proverbs 30:33 KJV)  Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

In the process of home schooling our children, one of the things we did was make butter.  It was one of the activities we did at a party.  Home schoolers really know how to have fun.  We did not have a churn, but you don’t need one.  We put cream in little jars and gave each person one and sang, “Shake it up, baby.  Twist and shout.”  Well, maybe not, but they were told to keep shaking the jar.  So we had a bunch of kids, walking around at a party shaking little bottles.  Eventually we heard, “Hey, I’m getting a lump!”  Butter was forming.

What does the “churning” (4330) process do?  It keeps things moving and raises the temperature slowly.  When everything is just right you have the butterfat pull together and form a solid from the liquid.  If you keep agitating you can pull something out of nothing.  You can change the makeup of a situation. 

This is how it relates to “wrath” (anger NASB) (639).  If you keep churning a situation you can provoke anger.  Many times hostility is caused because someone kept churning.  That is why we are told to turn the other cheek.  We are told to forgive.

So?  Today, make a note on your spiritual slate that you are not going to churn.  Watch for the tendency.  Make the world a more peaceful place by not stirring it up.  Sounds simple.  Now do it.