In reading through the first few chapters of Proverbs, I have noticed something. The book of Proverbs is unashamedly full of terms of endearment such as: "My child," "My son," "My children," etc. This is not just a book of clever sayings and rules; it is intimate and personal. This is a father's heart lovingly doing his best to share Godly wisdom to and patiently cultivate Godly character in his children. The author starts first two verses of the chapter with the loving admonition, "My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years and your life will be satisfying." NO doubt much of this wisdom grew as a result of his own failures, cultivated in the soil of painful consequences, and watered by an abundance of tears. Like any good and Godly parent he realizes that he is far from perfect, but he hopes against all hope that his children will take his teaching to heart, steer clear of then pitfalls he has seen and fallen prey to, and avoid the mistakes he has made. Those of us who are parents, grandparents, older sisters, aunts, or are in any position of caring influence over a child can all relate. We would much rather see them learn from our mistakes than make the same mistakes we made and learn the hard way. Solomon is not writing so much to strangers as he is to those whom he loves and is close to. And in an even further reaching sense, God the father is speaking through these proverbs to us his children, teaching and shaping us into the image of his son Christ Jesus.
The theme of Proverbs 3 seems to be all about relationships....our relationship to others, our relationship to God, our relationship to ourselves and to our money and possessions. It is about keeping these relationships in correct perspective, and balance and thereby living successful lives by living in right relationship with God, people, and things. The first important life lesson this father seeks to impart to his children is all about rightly relating to others as well as to God. These are the virtues of loyalty and kindness. We get a sense from verse 3 that these two character traits are so important that they need to be inextricably bound to our person. "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!" he says. Then as a very effective visual aide he further emphasizes, "Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart."
Dictionary.com defines the word loyalty as: faithfulness to commitments or obligations. In other words Solomon is instructing his children to be people of their word and their convictions, people who can be counted on to do what they have committed to do even when it is not always convenient. The ancients took loyalty and commitment very seriously, and there are many instances in the
Bible where we see people entering into a type of commitment with God or other humans known as a covenant.
A covenant is a binding commitment in which all parties involved agree to do or not do something specific. The terms of said covenant were articulated verbally in the form of vows that were often sealed by the shedding of blood (e.g circumcision, piercing the ear, sacrifice of an animal). The breaking of such a covenant often carried very serious consequences, from banishment from one's community to death. Because of the seriousness making covenant, such commitments were not to be entered into rashly. In Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 it says "When you make a promise to God, don't delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to make and promise and not keep it. Don't let your mouth make you sin."
Nowadays covenants are often entered into on a way too lightly, without much serious thought and broken as soon as things are no longer convenient or easy, or a "better option" comes along. As women we often over-commit, attempting to show Godly love by being all things to all people only to ultimately find ourselves stressed out and burned out to the point of not having even the energy to fulfill those commitments. Or, we rashly commit to people or causes based on emotion alone, often to find ourselves heartbroken and disillusioned when we find out that things are not as we expected or that the commitment is one-sided. How does one know when and how to make rightful commitments and what if you already made a rash commitment? I believe, Solomon anticipated those questions from his children when he added the next statement in verses 5 and 6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." The answer may come through a Bible verse that speaks to our heart directly giving new and fresh insight, an inner voice that speaks to us as we pray, the advice of a Godly friend or counselor, a change in circumstances, etc. Whichever way he chooses to do it, God has promised that if we seek his will in all we do, he will show us which path to take.
The bottom line is that as children of God, we are to trust our heavenly Father to lead us in making wise commitments and then be loyal to whatever he directs us to do. When people see us, they should see in us the image and character of Christ who is faithful, trustworthy, honest, and true, and always keeps his word. The world needs to see women who are totally committed to Christ and will do what is right even when it is not convenient or popular and even in the midst of great difficulty. The ones God has entrusted to us in love, need to know that we are totally committed to them and that our love for them will never change even when they disappoint us, make bad choices, or do not live up to our expectations, just as Jesus laid down his life not only for the ones who loved and followed him but also for the ones who despised and crucified him.
To be fair, at times we will need to exercise tough love. Sometimes, we will have to hold those we love accountable for their destructive and harmful actions, and sometimes one of the most loving and compassionate things we can do for prodigal loved ones is to let them go and experience the consequences of their actions and pray that it leads them to repentance. However, in showing loyalty and kindness even under these circumstances, we must assure them that our love for them will never change. Is it always easy? No. Will you always feel the love? No. Is it convenient? Not always. But 1 Corinthians 13:8 assures us that love never fails. Do you want to be a person on loyalty? I do. Since this discussion on loyalty has gone a little longer than I had planned, we will talk a bit about the virtue of kindness and then move on to the rest of the chapter the next time. Grace and peace to you and yours.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Desire Proverbs 2 (Part 2)
Desire was created by God. It is inborn in every human baby from the moment he or she enters the outside world. We all have them. However, just like everything else God created, natural and healthy desires imbedded within sinful human flesh, living in a fallen world can easily become perverted. In fact any healthy desire can become bad if we choose to fulfill those desires in ways outside of those ordained by the God of perfect wisdom. Verses 12-22 at first glance seems to be an admonishment addressed primarily to the hearts of men; however, we as women are not exempt from trying to fulfill healthy desires in ungodly ways, and we too can be weak in this area.
It all started back in Genesis 3 with the very first woman, Eve and the serpent. Now keep in mind that the first couple, Adam and Eve up until this time lived in a perfect world, were lacking nothing, and lived in perfect harmony with their Creator. One would think that living in such an environment would be so fulfilling that there would be absolutely no room for dissatisfaction. But it says in Genesis 3:1 that the serpent was more shrewd than any other animal that God had created. Thus he became the perfect vessel for Satan's deceptive scheme. Taking advantage of the fact that God had created man with free will and the power of choice, the serpent introduced a weapon so powerful that it spoiled the once perfect environment and changed the course of history in an instant. The weapon of choice that was introduced that day... doubt. It started with one question concerning the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which God had forbidden them to eat. The question began with the words, "Did God really say....?" And suddenly, Eve began to wonder if what they had was all there was and if maybe God was withholding something from them. The serpent fed into those doubts further by stirring pride and self righteousness into the mix, causing her to question God's integrity, credibility, and even his goodness. "You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. "God knows that your eyes will be opened as you eat it (the fruit) and you will be like God, Knowing both good and evil." The rest is history. The sad thing is, that this tactic still works just as effectively here where we live in the 21st century.
As women we are wired with the desire to be loved and cherished. The serpent asks, "Did God really say to keep yourself pure until marriage and to wait on him to bring the right husband?" or "Can God really give you the desires of your heart and bring you fulfillment with or without a husband? After all, you are lonely, the supply of marriageable men is dwindling, you are almost 25, 30, 40, etc. and the clock is ticking." Do we choose to trust God or do we doubt Gods' goodness and give in causing the desire for love to degenerate into lust and desperation? I know what I am talking about here. I did not marry until I was 41 so I have lived this.
As women, we also have a need for friendship and wholesome conversation. The serpent asks, "Did God really say, you would have to give an account for every idle word that comes out of your mouth? Spreading that rumor is only speaking the truth and besides, it is really a prayer request and will ultimately help that person;" or "Sure that joke is a little off color but it is all in good fun and you are among friends. God knows your heart." Are we willing to take a stand and just say NO or do we give in, potentially destroy friendships, and cause wholesome conversation to become negative and slanderous speech, poisonous to ourselves and to those around us?
We as women also have a need to be needed and to feel a sense of significance. The serpent will ask, "Did God really say that you are created in his image and that he delights in you? If God really loves you why did he allow all of this to happen to you and why does everyone else at your age seem to have their life together except for you?" Do we trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God and choose to believe that our significance as well as our identity is in him despite our circumstances? Or do we give in, wallow in self pity, become angry at the whole world, or manipulate things and people to try and force significance? There are many things we as women want and need that the serpent seeks to pervert and use against us, and I could go on and on, but you get the picture
I find it interesting that the first desire that the serpent appealed to in Eve was the desire for wisdom. By using her sense of beauty and her appreciation for good food (She saw that the tree was beautiful and the fruit looked delicious. Gen 3;6b) he was able to lure her into thinking that God was somehow withholding his wisdom from them and that eating the fruit would give them the wisdom what they were lacking. I also find it interesting that her husband Adam also partook of the forbidden fruit without question when he was the one who was close enough to her to have gently reminded her of all the wonderful things that God had already provided for them and of her significance in their Creator. But that is a different topic for a different time.
The bottom line of verses 12-22 of Proverbs 2 is that since the very first sin in the garden of Eden the tank of our needs and desires has become an empty place in our souls that must be filled. A tank that is daily filled with the Spirit of God and godly wisdom will guide us in the paths of righteousness and keep us out of the arms of evil twisted men and immoral promiscuous women. But a tank that is not filled with with God and godly wisdom will be filled by default with mere human wisdom, futile thinking, and ungodly pursuits, leaving us open prey to the serpent and his minions. It is a road that ultimately leads to death and destruction. The good news is that as long as we are breathing earth's air, we have a choice. Even if we have already given in to the serpent's lies and are headed down the wrong road, we still have a choice. We can turn around (repent) be filled with the Spirit and godly wisdom and get on the right road. Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." I don't know about you but I like the idea of a rich and satisfying (abundant) life much better. Selah.
It all started back in Genesis 3 with the very first woman, Eve and the serpent. Now keep in mind that the first couple, Adam and Eve up until this time lived in a perfect world, were lacking nothing, and lived in perfect harmony with their Creator. One would think that living in such an environment would be so fulfilling that there would be absolutely no room for dissatisfaction. But it says in Genesis 3:1 that the serpent was more shrewd than any other animal that God had created. Thus he became the perfect vessel for Satan's deceptive scheme. Taking advantage of the fact that God had created man with free will and the power of choice, the serpent introduced a weapon so powerful that it spoiled the once perfect environment and changed the course of history in an instant. The weapon of choice that was introduced that day... doubt. It started with one question concerning the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which God had forbidden them to eat. The question began with the words, "Did God really say....?" And suddenly, Eve began to wonder if what they had was all there was and if maybe God was withholding something from them. The serpent fed into those doubts further by stirring pride and self righteousness into the mix, causing her to question God's integrity, credibility, and even his goodness. "You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. "God knows that your eyes will be opened as you eat it (the fruit) and you will be like God, Knowing both good and evil." The rest is history. The sad thing is, that this tactic still works just as effectively here where we live in the 21st century.
As women we are wired with the desire to be loved and cherished. The serpent asks, "Did God really say to keep yourself pure until marriage and to wait on him to bring the right husband?" or "Can God really give you the desires of your heart and bring you fulfillment with or without a husband? After all, you are lonely, the supply of marriageable men is dwindling, you are almost 25, 30, 40, etc. and the clock is ticking." Do we choose to trust God or do we doubt Gods' goodness and give in causing the desire for love to degenerate into lust and desperation? I know what I am talking about here. I did not marry until I was 41 so I have lived this.
As women, we also have a need for friendship and wholesome conversation. The serpent asks, "Did God really say, you would have to give an account for every idle word that comes out of your mouth? Spreading that rumor is only speaking the truth and besides, it is really a prayer request and will ultimately help that person;" or "Sure that joke is a little off color but it is all in good fun and you are among friends. God knows your heart." Are we willing to take a stand and just say NO or do we give in, potentially destroy friendships, and cause wholesome conversation to become negative and slanderous speech, poisonous to ourselves and to those around us?
We as women also have a need to be needed and to feel a sense of significance. The serpent will ask, "Did God really say that you are created in his image and that he delights in you? If God really loves you why did he allow all of this to happen to you and why does everyone else at your age seem to have their life together except for you?" Do we trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God and choose to believe that our significance as well as our identity is in him despite our circumstances? Or do we give in, wallow in self pity, become angry at the whole world, or manipulate things and people to try and force significance? There are many things we as women want and need that the serpent seeks to pervert and use against us, and I could go on and on, but you get the picture
I find it interesting that the first desire that the serpent appealed to in Eve was the desire for wisdom. By using her sense of beauty and her appreciation for good food (She saw that the tree was beautiful and the fruit looked delicious. Gen 3;6b) he was able to lure her into thinking that God was somehow withholding his wisdom from them and that eating the fruit would give them the wisdom what they were lacking. I also find it interesting that her husband Adam also partook of the forbidden fruit without question when he was the one who was close enough to her to have gently reminded her of all the wonderful things that God had already provided for them and of her significance in their Creator. But that is a different topic for a different time.
The bottom line of verses 12-22 of Proverbs 2 is that since the very first sin in the garden of Eden the tank of our needs and desires has become an empty place in our souls that must be filled. A tank that is daily filled with the Spirit of God and godly wisdom will guide us in the paths of righteousness and keep us out of the arms of evil twisted men and immoral promiscuous women. But a tank that is not filled with with God and godly wisdom will be filled by default with mere human wisdom, futile thinking, and ungodly pursuits, leaving us open prey to the serpent and his minions. It is a road that ultimately leads to death and destruction. The good news is that as long as we are breathing earth's air, we have a choice. Even if we have already given in to the serpent's lies and are headed down the wrong road, we still have a choice. We can turn around (repent) be filled with the Spirit and godly wisdom and get on the right road. Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." I don't know about you but I like the idea of a rich and satisfying (abundant) life much better. Selah.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Desire Proverbs 2 (Selah)
As I am sitting here at my dining room table typing this morning, my heart is quite full and there are so many things that I want to share that I am feeling almost overwhelmed. So much has happened in my own life within the past four weeks. To be totally transparent, a piece of my world, one of the things I felt I could count on has been tested and shaken quite suddenly, and with it my confidence. So much of what has happened has been totally out of my control which has left me feeling blindsided and quite vulnerable. Now to be fair, this piece of my world admittedly was not the most ideal situation... but it was mine (or so I thought) and it was comfortable in that it provided a certain amount of familiarity and security. Over the years I had settled in, come to know and love the people, and had become quite familiar with the landscape. But in moment it all changed, and I am left with a heart that is aching with pangs of loss, and feeling more like a fish out of water these days.
So as I wait here for the Lord to give me inspiration to pass along to you concerning desire, I am also struggling with my own self doubts and fears, dealing with my own wisdom and trust issues, and questioning my own desires. Then I open the blinds to the northwest facing bay window and behold the most beautiful view of the Blue Ridge mountains from my back yard. The brilliant blue/green of these peaks against the backdrop of a perfectly clear pale blue sky is especially beautiful at this time of year with just a subtle hint of color at the tree line. We have lived in this house for a little over 6 years now and and this mountain view that I fell in love with the very first time I saw this house, still takes my breath away. And then a scripture comes to mind.... Psalm 125:1,2 "Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mt. Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forever." Then I come to my senses as I am once again reminded about just how BIG our God is. What a comfort it is to know that at this moment of my weakness and no matter how I feel, I can be as strong as those mountains simply by trusting in the one who is made them. And at this moment where I feel so insecure and out of pocket, I can still belong and feel safe and secure because the strong nurturing arms of the Lord surround me on every side always and forever. Therefore I can write about desire not because, I am worthy or have my own life together but because He is bigger than anything I face and it is his strength and not mine that I am depending on. The plan for today was to write about desire gone bad; however, I am feeling the need just to pause for today and meditate on these things. So for now we will take a selah and continue with desire the next time.
So as I wait here for the Lord to give me inspiration to pass along to you concerning desire, I am also struggling with my own self doubts and fears, dealing with my own wisdom and trust issues, and questioning my own desires. Then I open the blinds to the northwest facing bay window and behold the most beautiful view of the Blue Ridge mountains from my back yard. The brilliant blue/green of these peaks against the backdrop of a perfectly clear pale blue sky is especially beautiful at this time of year with just a subtle hint of color at the tree line. We have lived in this house for a little over 6 years now and and this mountain view that I fell in love with the very first time I saw this house, still takes my breath away. And then a scripture comes to mind.... Psalm 125:1,2 "Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mt. Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forever." Then I come to my senses as I am once again reminded about just how BIG our God is. What a comfort it is to know that at this moment of my weakness and no matter how I feel, I can be as strong as those mountains simply by trusting in the one who is made them. And at this moment where I feel so insecure and out of pocket, I can still belong and feel safe and secure because the strong nurturing arms of the Lord surround me on every side always and forever. Therefore I can write about desire not because, I am worthy or have my own life together but because He is bigger than anything I face and it is his strength and not mine that I am depending on. The plan for today was to write about desire gone bad; however, I am feeling the need just to pause for today and meditate on these things. So for now we will take a selah and continue with desire the next time.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Desire Proverbs 2 (Part 1)
What comes to mind when you think of desire? Dictionary.com defines desire as:
to wish or long for; crave; want. One of my earliest memories of desiring something was at age 7 when I wished for, longed for, craved for a bicycle with a banana seat ( yes, I am that old). Now my parents had just given me a brand new bike for Christmas the year before and I had just learned to ride without training wheels. I was as happy as could be until... the bicycle with the banana seat came out on the market. And suddenly, I just HAD to have one. ALL of my friends had one. At least that is what I whined to my parents. Their answer was simple. They did not tell me no. They simply told me if I could come up with the money, I could have one. I did not know what a new banana seat bicycle would cost and I am not certain whether my parents realized that I would take them seriously. Maybe they thought that was the end of it but it was only the beginning for me. I knew what I wanted and so at just 7 years old I set out to raise the money to get it.
So my best friend and I decided to go into business together that summer. Together we did odd jobs for neighbors like raking, pulling weeds, cleaning yards etc. We also crafted rings and bracelets from the colorful telephone wire that the telephone company guys left behind and sold them for 10 cents a piece. Each evening as I placed the coins I had earned that day in a large glass pickle jar, I dreamed of the day when I would finally bring my shiny new banana seat bicycle home. Some of the jobs we did were difficult, dirty, and grimy but I was willing to do it in order to get my bike.
Finally the day came when I had completely filled up the pickle jar and I joyfully presented the jar to my parents. We dumped all of money out on the kitchen table and counted it. I had earned a total of $13.00 in coins which at that age was quite a lot of money to me. My parents said that it was just enough to get the bike and we went to get it the next day. Of course $13.00 would not even scratch the surface in getting a new bike even back in those days. I did not know that at the time but I think maybe by "just enough" my parents meant that my drive, initiative, and effort were just enough for them to want to help me make my dreams come true.
What do you desire? Desire especially in religious circles has sadly become frowned upon as something base and selfish. Dreams and desires are often frowned upon in favor of self sacrifice and denying oneself. While there is certainly a place for sacrifice and self denial, that does not make desire a bad thing. In fact, God created desire. One of the things God wants us to desire is Godly wisdom. In our study of Proverbs 1 we have already established that Godly wisdom is a good thing and something that we should seek. Proverbs 2 takes it a step further in admonishing us to not only seek Godly wisdom but to desire it as one would desire silver or hidden treasures. To actively pursue it as something of true value just as I in my childhood ambition valued that new banana seat bike so much that I was willing to find a way to earn the money to get it. We are to treasure it, tune our ears to it, concentrate on understanding it, and search for it with all of the fervency that one would search for a valuable treasure or prized possession. Human wisdom is limited and even in our best efforts to do these things, we will come up short. However as we lay out the $13.00 worth of wisdom we have collected on the table of God's grace, our Heavenly Father sees our desires and our efforts and declares that it is just enough. Not only does he make up the difference for a reward that we even in our best efforts could never earn enough to pay for, he gives us more than enough to fulfill the destiny to which he has called us. That destiny as it is described in Proverbs 2:7-12 includes:
So my best friend and I decided to go into business together that summer. Together we did odd jobs for neighbors like raking, pulling weeds, cleaning yards etc. We also crafted rings and bracelets from the colorful telephone wire that the telephone company guys left behind and sold them for 10 cents a piece. Each evening as I placed the coins I had earned that day in a large glass pickle jar, I dreamed of the day when I would finally bring my shiny new banana seat bicycle home. Some of the jobs we did were difficult, dirty, and grimy but I was willing to do it in order to get my bike.
Finally the day came when I had completely filled up the pickle jar and I joyfully presented the jar to my parents. We dumped all of money out on the kitchen table and counted it. I had earned a total of $13.00 in coins which at that age was quite a lot of money to me. My parents said that it was just enough to get the bike and we went to get it the next day. Of course $13.00 would not even scratch the surface in getting a new bike even back in those days. I did not know that at the time but I think maybe by "just enough" my parents meant that my drive, initiative, and effort were just enough for them to want to help me make my dreams come true.
What do you desire? Desire especially in religious circles has sadly become frowned upon as something base and selfish. Dreams and desires are often frowned upon in favor of self sacrifice and denying oneself. While there is certainly a place for sacrifice and self denial, that does not make desire a bad thing. In fact, God created desire. One of the things God wants us to desire is Godly wisdom. In our study of Proverbs 1 we have already established that Godly wisdom is a good thing and something that we should seek. Proverbs 2 takes it a step further in admonishing us to not only seek Godly wisdom but to desire it as one would desire silver or hidden treasures. To actively pursue it as something of true value just as I in my childhood ambition valued that new banana seat bike so much that I was willing to find a way to earn the money to get it. We are to treasure it, tune our ears to it, concentrate on understanding it, and search for it with all of the fervency that one would search for a valuable treasure or prized possession. Human wisdom is limited and even in our best efforts to do these things, we will come up short. However as we lay out the $13.00 worth of wisdom we have collected on the table of God's grace, our Heavenly Father sees our desires and our efforts and declares that it is just enough. Not only does he make up the difference for a reward that we even in our best efforts could never earn enough to pay for, he gives us more than enough to fulfill the destiny to which he has called us. That destiny as it is described in Proverbs 2:7-12 includes:
- God's gift of the treasure of common sense to the honest
- God's promise to be a shield to those who walk in integrity
- God's promise to guard the path of the just, and to grant divine protection for those who are faithful to him.
- God's promise to to grant us understanding of what is right, just, and fair and direction as to the right way to go, and ultimately,
- Joy and safety in making wise choices.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Don't Miss This! Proverbs 1
"These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the wisdom of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young." (Proverbs 1:1-5). A common musical term found in the book of Psalms is "selah" which means to pause and contemplate what has just been said or sung. "Selah"can be appropriately advised concerning Proverbs 1 and especially these first 5 verses in that if you're not careful you'll miss the point.
I know I did for so many years of reading Proverbs. In the past whenever I would read the book of Proverbs, I would just skim through this chapter, dismissing it as just the preliminaries leading up to the really "important stuff." I mean who actually reads all of the minute details of a college course syllabus or the missions statement of a company you are applying for? (Okay so maybe you do) Now admittedly, I am NOT the most detail oriented person although I was moreso in my younger years. But somehow the addition of years, increased responsibility, deadlines, and the busyness of life have shortened my attention span, and I have by default become more of a "bottom line" person (except in my writing). Plus in this high tech age we have gotten spoiled by instant everything, from drive through windows to instant communication. As a result, taking time to read and understand the details can become tedious.
And yet these first few verses of Proverbs are not only the mission statement of the entire book but also a call for self examination in light of God's wisdom and discipline. So now as I read these same words I am less likely to say, "Okay wisdom, check, discipline, check, knowledge check, yada, yada yada. Okay I got this" and have learned to respond instead, "You know what? I don't have it altogether. There is always room for more Godly wisdom so maybe I need to pay attention. How do I measure up to the wisdom and discipline of God and how do these verses speak to me? " And so I began to see that these so called "preliminaries" ARE the "important stuff"and are not to be taken lightly.
Many of us who are adults do not see ourselves in verses 10-19 at this point in our lives though we may use these verses to exhort our children, grandchildren, younger siblings, nieces, nephews, or students to obey their parents, resist temptation, and not to hang out with thugs and hoodlums. But what about us? We may no longer live under our parents' rule; however, how many times do we routinely break traffic laws. And peer pressure does not stop at adulthood. While we may not be enticed to ambush and kill someone to get their loot, how many times have we been tempted to fit in with the crowd in murdering someone's reputation by engaging in harmful gossip because it makes for interesting discussion and somehow makes us feel better about our own warts and flaws. Such behavior left unchecked never ends well.
But God in his mercy reaches out his hand of wisdom in the next few verses calling us to come to him so that he can share his heart with us and make us wise. God calls. We answer. End of story... right? Not exactly. Unfortunately, although God is calling, too often we are not listening... and those who refuse to listen are called simpleminded, fools, and mockers. It is not that we are necessarily bad people. Mostly preoccupied, distracted by earthly life, busy, self sufficient, fill in the blank_______. We believe in God yet we trudge through everyday life as if he does not exist. We take care of family, career, school, social activities, and may even go to church regularly, living nice neat clean lives but in the most intimate recesses of our heart, God still seems to come in last place.
There is nothing like a crisis to rock our world, get our attention, and wake us up from our complacency. This is the essence of verses 20-33. It is a fact, that many of us do not listen and will not change until all things we thought we knew and could trust in start falling apart and we are left with nothing else to do but call on God and cry out for his wisdom. I know I have been around this mountain many times. Got the tee shirt, the hat and the banner. The good news is that when we finally let go of what we think we need so much and cannot live without, God gives us something so much better.
As a personal example, when the man I was engaged to before I met my husband, broke off the engagement four months before the wedding, my heart was shattered. In my heart of hearts I knew he was not God's best for me, there were many red flags (which I tried to ignore) and many people tried to warn me, but it was still hard to let go and I literally thought I would never love again. I let go of the engagement outwardly but letting go in my heart took much longer. But I finally surrendered and decided to trust God to bring me the right person. Now that I am married to my husband, I am so glad that God did not let me compromise for less than his best and I cannot even remember what I saw in that other person. And I have seem this happen in different situations time after time in my life. One of these days I will learn to trust God on the front end instead of waiting until a crisis hits. Can I get a witness?
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Welcome
Welcome to Woman Sense from Proverbs! If you are female of any age, race, or marital status and desire God's best for your life, to grow in wisdom, and to be all that he has destined to be, then this blog is for you.. as well as for me. As I am typing this I realize that this is a tall order to fill and a little voice in the back of my is head whispering "How are you going to do that?" The short answer is, I am not. The purpose of this blog is to allow the principles of the book of Proverbs speak to us directly and guide us through this journey. I will simply be the facilitator and it is my hope that you will be too as it is not only okay to comment and discuss these principles but also to disagree. All I ask is that you are respectful in your comments and disagreement. Now, I already know what some of you are thinking. As a married woman, you may be rolling your eyes thinking, "Uh oh. Another study of the Proverbs 31 woman. She was that chick who had it all together at home and still had time for gathering food from afar, purchasing real estate, gardening, running a business, creating a stunning wardrobe for herself and her family, and still managed to have her children not only appreciate but bless her. In addition she also had servants. I cannot possibly live up to that." At the same time many of my single sisters have already tuned out (as I often did when I was single), thinking, "Uh oh, another Proverbs 31 woman study. Not applicable to me since I am single." So the question begs to be answered, is this a study of the Proverbs 31 woman so many of us love to hate? Yes and no. Yes, we will get there eventually, but no not yet. All I can say is that there is so much more in this 31 chapter book that speaks to us as women in our daily lives than just the last chapter... more than I myself ever imagined. My hope and prayer is that exploring the book of Proverbs together, chapter by chapter, we will gain valuable insights and applicable wisdom that will add a certain richness and sweetness to our daily lives, even now in the 21st century. And who knows... by the time we get to Proverbs 31 perhaps this woman will not seem so intimidating and we might even learn to love her and see a little bit more of ourselves in her.
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