Two Choices

(Proverbs 31:3 KJV)  Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

When you read this verse out of context it would be easy to look at this as a warning against revolution or rebellion.  We seemed to be warned not to destroy our political leaders.  When you read it in context you see that the author is one of the “kings” (4428) and the advice comes from his mother.  So what are we being warned about?

I would suggest, at least today, that this is a warning against self-destructive behavior.  In this context the specific warnings seem to be about whom you marry and what you drink.  Marriage is understood as a one time choice.  Drinking is something that faces us every day.  Either one can determine the direction of our life.  Of course our important decisions cover more ground that this.  The concern is the same.

So?  It would really help if we could develop a long term approach to decisions.  A friend of my wife once said that she should decide on the basis of what she would feel good about in ten years.  Wisdom is necessary on a regular basis. 

Brute Humility

(Proverbs 30:2 KJV)  Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

As true as this statement might be as a statement of humility, it cannot be literally true.  Anyone that lacking in mental worth would not be able to write the sentence.  I would call it an example of hyperbole.  For those not paying attention in junior high that is a literary devise of exaggeration to make a point. 

Humility is important in life.  It keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously.  At times I get stressed because I have not changed the world.  When I was young and excited I thought God had called me to make a big difference.  He has kept reminding me that He is quite capable of running the universe without my fine qualities.  That is why we have verses like Micah 6:8,

(Micah 6:8 KJV)  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

So?  I know I have referred to this verse frequently but not as frequently as I need to be reminded of it.  Compared to God our greatest scholar is not even ready to organize the card catalog.  I am far from the greatest scholar.  The miracle is that He still has a place for me in eternity.  Rejoice.  He has a place for you too.

Under Oath

(Proverbs 29:12 KJV)  If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

What kind of things would you put in the category of “lies” (falsehood NASB) (8267)?  It is a word used twenty times in Proverbs.  Obviously God is concerned about it.  Some people would consider it a problem only when testifying under oath.  Have you ever had someone lie to you and then say they had their fingers crossed?  The world, and its legal system, seem to think it is okay to lie as long as you have not cast a spell on your words.  God is not so light hearted.

One of the categories of fake that we often overlook are reference books.  How often do our children read text books that are written to deceive and brainwash?  How often do we read things we agree with and not consider if it is true or not?  We usually assume that if it agrees with us it must be true.  God’s expectations are not so low.

So?  We must diligently seek truth.  We must make sure that we do not repeat false information.  We need to remember that we represent a holy God who has no falsehood in Him.

Phoney Fixations

(Proverbs 28:19 KJV)  He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

The key word in this verse is “vain” (empty NASB) (7386).  Don’t get distracted by the fact that you are not a farmer or smug if you are.  This is not the basis for Thomas Jefferson wanting a nation of yeoman farmers.  Also don’t get hung up on “poverty” (7389).  The key concern is how we tend to spend our time on trivial gratifications. 

Think about all the time people spend on social media today.  I obviously blog and I use e-mail.  I have a smart phone but I try to keep it as dumb as possible.  There is a certain amount of modern technology that can add to the richness of life.  It is awesome to Skype with my daughter and see my granddaughter try to touch my nose on the screen.  The problem is when it consumes us.  I recently was forced to visit a major shopping mall on a Saturday.  It is amazing to see how many people go through their day with their nose on a smart phone.  I don’t think they are reading their bibles.

So?  Don’t let gadgets or social conventions steal your life.  I accept that is easy to say and hard to do. 

Praise Team

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

“Praise” (1984b) has its place but there are cautions involved.  One that is not mentioned here is to not let praise go to your head.  How we respond to praise is important.  A false modesty can be like an insult to the person talking about you but genuine humility can accept the fact that you did a good job without being ruined by the admission.

The caution here is that we are not to do the praising ourselves.  I think that part of that is not fishing for complements. 

So?  Keep in mind that to be humble you need something to be humble about.  Work on that. 

Who Dug This Hole?

(Proverbs 26:27 KJV)  Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

Our contemporary culture has made an art form of being a victim.  Everyone seems to assume that our problems are caused by someone else and we are innocent.  The traditional factors that mold people are environment and heredity.  You could do nothing about the first at the beginning of life and nothing about the second.  That way of looking at our lives is based on a secular humanist view that believes in evolution and no God.

There are two other factors that the pagans in and out of the church don’t acknowledge.  They are God and personal choices.  God has reached out to us in the person of Jesus Christ.  He offers not only eternal salvation but temporal transformation based on His grace and the power of the Holy
Spirit.  It is available to everyone.  That leaves our personal choices.

Just about everyone admits to both heredity and environment.  We disagree on the ratios of each and personal responsibility.  The Bible tells us the God has done the heavy lifting but we are still expected to respond.

So?  Rejoice.  It does not matter what your situation is, there is hope. 

Honey Is Just a Fringe Benefit

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

This is about balance and self control, or self control and balance.  Take your pick.  Choose your priority.  The choice is not an elimination.  It is a matter of order that includes both.  Do you eat your vegetables first or your meat?  We always confused people because my family would save the salad for the last course of the meal.

As Americans we do not like either virtue.  As Christians we need to be less American.  Yes, I know that much of traditional American values are rooted in the Bible but keep in mind that a lot of cultural developments and outright carnal desires have been grafted into the root. 

So?  How do we get oranges from the tree of our life instead of lemons or grapefruit?  It starts in knowing what the root is and that comes from keeping in contact with Jesus through reading the word, meditating on its meaning and applying it.

Not a Debate

(Proverbs 24:28 KJV)  Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

The key point here is be honest.  If we are looking to make excuses for ourselves we can focus on the meaning of “witness” (5707) or whom our “neighbor” (7453) is, but that should be saved for the college debate teams who are looking to win on points.  We, as believers, are not winning on points but on righteousness.

So?  Our goal is not a matter of getting away with something.  The issue is not will we get caught.  We are to be upright, straight, righteous.  God gives the standard and the Holy Spirit to empower.  Don’t settle for less. 

A Good Habit

(Proverbs 23:2 KJV)  And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

I have wanted to develop this habit.  There are certain people that are always trying to con me into something.  One way involves food.  That works for me because I am at best a borderline glutton.  I keep thinking that because someone has baked a cake or ordered something lavish at a restaurant I am on their good side.  It is not to be.

My goal is to identify those people and find some symbolic way to remind myself that I am not to be at ease.  At a meal it might be to literally pick up a knife and casually tap myself on the throat.  At a party maybe I could find a door and tap it with my head. 

So?  Just as all that glitters is not gold, neither is all that smiles a friend. 

The Gift of Scoffing

(Proverbs 22:10 KJV)  Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

What is the difference between a “scorner” (scoffer NASB) (3917b) and a person who is exercising the gift of discernment?  I believe there is a genuine conflict between the two even if the words might be identical at times.  They might even be impossible to tell apart because they often point out real problems that need to be dealt with.

I can think of two differences right out of the box.  First is attitude.  There is an arrogance in a scoffer that is based on a sense of superiority.  There is a joy in putting other people down.  You can see this in the use of humor.  Good friends can make what sound like insulting remarks and everyone thinks it is funny.  If a person on the street said the same thing there would be angry response.  The exhorter who is reproving or rebuking has a whole different attitude.  They are not speaking from superiority but from an awareness of their own failure. 

Second is the goal.  Scoffers tend to glory in division and attention to themselves.  Exhorters don’t want any glory and seek to improve the individual and the body of Christ.  Neither is satisfied with no response but want different outcomes. 

So?  Learn the difference.  One of the clues to wisdom is an ability to accept correction and a reluctance to give it. 

Manual or Automatic

(Proverbs 21:11 KJV)  When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

How much does a good education cost?  That depends on what you are measuring in learning and payment.  In reality you get what you pay for in time and effort.  Some people are blessed with the ability to learn from observing others.  Some can read a book and get the point.  I tend to be someone who often needs to be knocked on the head in order for the point to be made.

I am not sure I would really be happy with the short method of learning.  I read in fiction about sleep learning or downloading knowledge.  It sounds so good.  Wouldn’t it be great to learn fencing by attaching some electrodes and after a short period of time know all the moves.  The problem is that certain things need the discipline of practice so that the responses come without thinking.

So?  Rejoice.  We can all learn.  Morn.  It will never come automatically. 

Then What?

(Proverbs 20:17 KJV)  Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

We need to think more about the “afterward” (310).  Obviously this has an eternal concern but I think Solomon is more focused on the next few moments, days or years.  This is not just a spiritual concern but a principle that seeps into every area of life.  We are so affluent as a culture that we forget that debts must be paid.  We live on credit in our finances.  We live on the principle built up by previous generations.  Our decisions have consequences even if we don’t see them.

As Christians we should always be asking ourselves what the long term results will be to our decisions and actions.  When you have a genuine emergency it is sometimes necessary to charge things you don’t have the money for.  The problem is in those two words “genuine emergency”.  That does not mean a lack of planning.

So?  God is concerned about today and what we face.  He is concerned because He has the big picture.  He wants us to end up at the right conclusion.  We can’t do it if we refuse to consider what comes after.

The Politics of Sloth

(Proverbs 19:15 KJV)  Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

How do political positions relate to our faith?  There are many issues which are personal opinion or preference.  I think of taxes on imports and infrastructure renewal.  Others, such as abortion and homosexual marriage are obvious places to combine the two.  Some are more subtle.  Recently a politician suggested that everyone should have a guaranteed income and suggested two groups of people to consider.  One was those who could not work.  That is worth discussing.  The other group was those who do not want to work.  That is being addressed here.

The apostle Paul put it another way.

(2 Thessalonians 3:10 KJV)  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

That is a Biblical and Christian position.

So?  Don’t assume that we should not vote and campaign because it is beneath us.  There are certain positions, such as not encouraging sloth, that are based in our faith.  Apply them. 

Gossip by Any Other Name...

(Proverbs 18:8 KJV)  The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

It is interesting the different ways the Hebrew is translated.  Here the NASB has “whisperer” (7279) and the KJV has “talebearer”.  If you look at the other translations on my software I come up with one who says evil, gossip, double tongued and slanderer.  That is quite a selection.  The benefit of looking at all these translations is that we need to be reminded of all the ways we can rationalize our talking about other people.  You can pick one of these or one that you like better.  It is still an activity that God frowns on.  We know it is serious because of how often it is brought up. 

So?  Watch your mouth.  Nothing new here except when we are successful.

Divine Perspective

(Proverbs 17:22 KJV)  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

One of the goals of my morning routine is a “merry” (joyful NASB) (8056) “heart” (3820).  That is one reason I start by focusing on what I have to be thankful for.  It is so easy to get consumed with the pin pricks that distract us.  When you stub your toe it is easy to forget that you live in America and have a wealth of material goods surrounded by more liberty than history could ever imagine.  All you can think about is your sore toe.  In the morning I grab for the divine perspective and remind myself of all my blessings.  I always try to remember my salvation as the ultimate blessing.

So?  Having a good day is usually more a matter of discipline and attitude than perception based on distractions.  I find that if I don’t start in focus I wander in a haze all day. 

A Christian Nation

(Proverbs 16:10 KJV)  A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

Is America a Christian nation?  In one sense we have been and still kind of are.  We are Christian because we are not Muslim or Hindu.  That does not mean a lot.  Of greater importance are two other key elements.  The one we are not looking at today is the character and belief of the people.  In order to be a Christian nation America would need to have enough spiritual salt to deserve that label.  If we look at the way the general culture is going and how the so-called church has been discarding basic Biblical truth, the label is getting questionable.

The other element is the leadership.  That is what this verse addresses.  Does America have leaders who acknowledge and live by the word of God?  That is even more doubtful.  I believe there are a fair number of mayors, city counsel members, state officers and federal officials who are genuine in their faith and practice.  The problem is that they are few and far between.  It is a blessing of God to have leaders who walk the path of righteousness.  In a republic it is the job of the rank and file to elect those who can serve well.

So?  We have no elections on the near horizon but we do have the process of politics and living going on daily.  We need to stay awake, observe and when the next election comes, be ready to vote as if we wanted a Christian nation. 

A Fool’s Choice

(Proverbs 15:5 KJV)  A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

A “fool” (191) is not “prudent” (6191).  I guess the corollary of that is that a wise man is.  Have you ever prayed for prudence?  I don’t think I have.  It may be like praying for patience.  You don’t want situations where you have to exercise that gift. 

But it should be on our list, maybe close to the top.  Prudence has to do with balance and restraint.  Those are not popular in our personal choices or our cultural priorities.  Prudence makes it impossible to pray, “I want patience, and I want it now.”  Prudence says, “What is the right response (amount, priority, direction)?”  Prudence gets into all the little cracks of life.

So?  We all have many decisions daily.  Use some common sense.  God has given us the guidelines we need but we have to apply them. 

Eternal Trigger Warning

(Proverbs 14:27 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

“Fear” (3374) is one of those words or concepts that reminds us of the vast schism between the Bible and the world.  We tend to get comfortable because we still have a lot of Christian values in our culture.  They are fading but most of us are still immune from the depravity of paganism.  Fear, or awe and reverence, is shunned by the world around us.  We have schools establishing safe spaces and demanding trigger warnings to keep the sheltered souls in their care from feeling any mental or psychological discomfort.  We think the government and its programs can make life rainbows and cotton candy. 

The Bible teaches that a healthy fear is healthy.  The fear that we have of God is balanced.  On one side you have the consuming fire of a holy God.  That can get us to trembling if we are honest.  The God of the Bible should be an eternal trigger warning.  There is no safe space.  On the other side is the God who is love, who sent Jesus to die for our sins and make us part of the family of God.  But in that comfort is the fact that it is an Old Testament, patriarchal family, not a modern open family.

So?  Your comfort is hollow if it is not grounded in both the holiness of God and the love of God.  You are not on an arcade roller coaster.  You are on the Highway of Holiness. 

A Word of Hope

(Proverbs 13:1 KJV)  A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

How about a word of hope for those with young men in their lives.  Don’t give up on a teen ager or a slightly older kid.  Children are not known for their wisdom.  The key is at some magical point in their lives when their mind matures enough to begin to understand the big picture.  When they are 16 you as a parent know nothing.  Ten years later they can be amazed at how much you understood the world.  It happens.  Of course, some times it doesn’t.

Remember that your job is to train and demonstrate the “wise” (2450) lifestyle.  The one who will need to make the decision to embrace it is the child.  You can’t do it for him.

So?  Be an example of the life you want others to live.  You may not have children.  Your children may be out of the home.  Young eyes are still watching. 

Sleeping with Your Shoes On

(Proverbs 12:24 KJV)  The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

From the context we assume that being “diligent” (2742a) means showing up on time for work and putting in good time.  That is true as far as it goes but it doesn’t go far enough.  It also means paying attention.  If you are on guard duty you may never move from your guard post but you are expected to remain awake and alert during your duty hours.  Guard duty goes beyond that.  If I remember my days in the army correctly there was a group of men selected each night who had guard detail.  We had shifts.  When we were not on active alert we still were expected to sleep in the guard barracks and be ready to go at any time.  That meant sleeping with your shoes on.

It is impossible for us to remain on edge every moment of our life but we can find ways to stay prepared and ready to go.  It is based on an inner commitment to righteousness and the Holy God.  There may be times when the Holy Spirit is the only one awake and watching for the enemy but we are expected to be ready to respond.

So?  We are never off duty.  We are never released from the straight life.  We are never allowed to substitute sin for salvation.  Sleep well.

Scotch-Guarded

(Proverbs 11:8 KJV)  The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

Deliverance can take many forms.  It is my belief that God shields us from a bag full of tragedy and we are not even aware of it.  I notice it sometimes when I hesitate briefly at a green light and some clown comes plowing through, running the red.  If I had been quick off the dime I would have been road kill.  Guardian angels don’t get enough credit.  How many times have I been on an airplane of coughing and come off unscathed?  How many times did I have students cough in my face and the germs all died? 

Sometimes we are delivered because it never occurs to us to do evil.  I have never drifted, or charged, into infidelity.  If I think about it I can think of a few times where the offer was there but I didn’t even notice it.  If I wanted to really think about it I might find a lot of situations that would have gone completely different if I had been willing to be “wicked” (7563).

So?  Think of it as built in Scotchguard or some such chemical.  “Trouble” (6869a) beads up instead of soaking in.  Praise God. 

An Honest Man

(Proverbs 10:9 KJV)  He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

This brings to mind the saying, “You can’t cheat an honest man.”  That does not mean what it literally says.  What it is reminding us of is that we end up being the loser when we think we are the one pulling the fast one.  I have stopped going to pawn shops looking for a great deal.  I have bought two guitars in pawn shops.  I thought I was getting a great deal, not cheating, but a great deal.  It turns out I was paying market.  I didn’t get cheated but the person doing the selling knew exactly what he was doing.

When I hear offers that I can’t refuse, I refuse them.  You hear this stuff on the radio all the time.  Sign up for their free course and you will find out how to get rich in your spare time with no investment.  Right.  My first question is, “If it is so easy and so profitable, why are you wasting your time giving away your secret to the competition?”  The answer of course is that they make their money from people who want to get rich in their spare time with no investment.

So?  Sure, grace is free.  Salvation is a gift.  Living a holy life means living by certain standards.  Consider God an “honest man” who can’t be cheated. 

Eye Opener

(Proverbs 9:3 KJV)  She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

History is replete with what are called “mystery religions”.  These are belief systems with hidden knowledge that is only revealed to initiates as they work their way up the ladder of spiritual status.  In the days of Rome you had the gnostics.  Their influence is all through the New Testament as the apostles fought their influence.  The understanding of Christianity in the Koran shows the influence of the gnostic gospels and their influence in the Arabian world. 

Wisdom is not like that.  There may be a lot of things you don’t know but it isn’t because it is hidden from you.  The main reason is because you have not looked or listened.  God has laid it out for you.  I will admit as the secular, anti-Christian culture gains ground that things like Christmas carols are being driven from the public square but the word is still there.

So?  Rejoice that wisdom is available.  Seek it.  Pray that those around you would have their eyes opened.

Asking for Directions

(Proverbs 8:14 KJV)  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

In the battle of the sexes women often comment on how men are too macho to ask for directions.  We will do anything rather than admit we are lost.  I am not sure that is just a masculine trait but I know it is true in my life.  I would rather read the directions myself than ask someone how to do something.  I would rather get my own map than rely on someone else for directions.  I don’t base my clothes on the weather report as much as looking out the window or sticking my head out the door.  That is not bad.

The point here is that we need to be very careful where we go for help.  We will often have decisions to make and would like some input.  The problem is that we get many different opinions and often each is based more in the prejudices and goals of the advice giver rather than what is objectively right.

So?  It is fine to ask for advice but keep in mind that God has given us the basics in His word.  He has given His Holy Spirit to help us understand what it means.  He has worked a miracle of grace so that we want to know.  Seek Him first.

Who’s Counting

(Proverbs 7:26 KJV)  For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

What do you keep a record of?  Do you have anything you count?  Do you have goals?  Realize that you are on someone’s wish list.  They want to see you “cast down” (5307) and they want to be the one doing the casting.  They want you to be one of the “many” (7227a) on their list.

I am keeping track of the golf courses in my area.  I have a vague goal to play on all of them but it is not a compulsion.  For some people bringing you down is a compulsion.  It is how they get their jollies.  It is how they feel their worth. 

That is the bad news.  The good news is that we have God on our side.  He knows their poison and has the antidote. 

So?  There is a reason the old song said “Trust and obey” and not just “trust”.  There is a reason why the Bible reminds us of the glory and power of grace but also that we are expected to obey.  If you don’t take your medication it doesn’t really matter how miraculous the drug is. 

Not Feet First

(Proverbs 6:18 KJV)  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

It is sad how often our physical responses reflect what is really going on inside.  We live in a culture that tries to blame all of our troubles on our environment.  Thus we have a society of victims instead of people refusing to accept responsibility for their actions.  It is true that our surroundings have an effect on us.  Look at food.  How many are looking forward to a few honeyed locusts for dessert?  For some in the world that is a rare delicacy.  Americans like their milk.  For many that is disgusting.  Other tastes are built in.  We kept sugar from our first born for a long time.  He did not need to be conditioned to like it.  It was built in.

The condition of our “heart” (3820) has a lot to say which way our “feet” (7272) will “run” (7323).  The condition of our heart does depend on something outside, the grace of God.  The thing is we have a say in whether God’s grace does its work.

So?  Make sure your garden is weeded before you start giving lectures in horticulture. 

Cosmic Preppers

(Proverbs 5:10 KJV)  Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

While it is true that we are to be storing up treasures for heaven where rust and moths do not destroy there is a simultaneous command to be stewards of our earthly resource.  God is rooted in history and the physical world because He is the molder of one and the creator of the other.  There is a religious spur that is called Deism.  One of the aspects of Deism is that while it admits to a god, he is not involved.  You may have heard of the illustration of making a watch, winding it and leaving it to wind down.  That is the god of Deism.  It is not the God of the Bible.

As I speculate on why God gives us responsibility to manage our physical resources I come up with an idea that we are preparing for eternity.  In a sense we are cosmic preppers.  Somehow balancing our check books and living within our means will have a connection to eternal life.

So?  Manage your resources.  Make sure that the fruit of your labor goes into preserves and not the garbage bin.

Health Advice

(Proverbs 4:22 KJV)  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

We have here a verse for the health and wealth gospel people.  We have a promise of “health” (4832).  How simple can it be.  It may be obvious but it isn’t simple.  Like most of the promises of the Bible there are conditions and expectations.  Here the expectation is that you will seek and find wisdom.  That requires focus, study and discipline.  It isn’t like the book of the month club where the latest is sent if you do nothing.

A book that I have reread is None of These Diseases by S.I. McMillen.  He goes into the results of following the kosher laws of the Old Testament.  It seems God had reasons for the outline He gave the Jews.  The revised edition even goes into things like HIV.

So?  Living a righteous life may bring persecution from the world but it also delivers better health and mental stability.

McMillen, S.I. and Stern, David E.  None of These Diseases.  Grand
    Rapids:  Fleming H. Revell, Third Edition, 2000. 

‘Cause

(Proverbs 3:30 KJV)  Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

I think everyone has a “cause” (2600).  It may be trivial.  It may be universal.  I guess maybe I should say everyone needs a motivating factor in their life.  Some people go out and do battle every day over the silliest things.  To me one of the silliest is the organic community.  I can see that there is a place to avoid things that are contaminated and go for cleaner food.  The real problem we face though is that if all food was grown the way the extreme organic people want then the world would soon starve to death.  If you are wealthy enough to live that way then more power to you.

There is a saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  The same thing goes for our causes.  What may be earthshaking for you may be a non-issue for me. 

So?  Make sure that your bully pulpit is founded on the Rock.  Jesus gives us enough big issues to worry about.  We should not get excited about the latest craze. 

A Paradox of Balance

(Proverbs 2:8 KJV)  He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

It is important to make a note about whom the “He” is in this verse.  The NASB may be more artistic in its style but the KJV is more helpful by putting the word at the beginning of the passage.  He is God.  If you look back and read from verse 6 you can see that there are a number of things that God is going to be doing for His people.  If you read the further context it is clear that the recipients are not just those who are raised in a godly culture but those who follow the God of that culture.

So?  We keep running into reminders of the balanced paradox of life.  We are to put our shoulder to the wheel and work hard because it makes a difference.  While we do that we are to always keep in mind that God is in charge.  He is the source of salvation and the dispenser of judgement.  So relax and get to work. 

Salvation Is Not Mush and Rainbows

(Proverbs 1:24 KJV)  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

This verse talks about a God who reaches out to man.  Even in the days of the Old Testament He was offering salvation to those who would listen.  It also brings up the issue of free will.  In the TULIP view of salvation the “I” stands for irresistible grace.  That means that if God “called” (7121) you did not have the option of “refused” (3985).  How can a mere human refuse God?

Simple.  By saying “No.”

That is where the vast majority of people are.  That is why hell will be so full.  That is why the road is narrow leading to salvation.  It isn’t that God can’t make it wider but that it won’t need to be.  People say, “No.”  Can God force the issue?  Yes, He is God.  He can reach down, turn your will to mush and your disposition to rainbows and have you saying, “Yes, Sir!”  There have been times in history when He has done that, but the pattern is to speak, to call, to offer and let us respond.

So?  I think of it as a daily response of obedience.  I trust in grace and the blood of Christ.  At the same time I know my decision is vital.