Proverbs 31:30

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30 NAS)

We have reached Proverbs 31, the very last chapter on the very last day of August. It has been enjoyable and challenging. There were a few days earlier in the month where I slipped up when our PC fell ill, and proved to be a convenient excuse to miss a few days. To be honest, I thought of throwing in the towel, but I remembered my commitment to Steve and Frank. As they stayed the course, I was encouraged to begin again, and I am glad to say I was able to complete the remainder of the month. This really is a milestone for me. I give praise unto the Lord of Lords for His great wisdom that He has chosen to share with us in the Book of Proverbs. I've been greatly blessed by this experience and I trust my fellow "Proverbers" and readers have also.

The final twenty-one verses of Proverbs 31 deal with the blessedness of a wife who is a wise woman. The words are not Solomon's, but King Lemuel's. Perhaps it is fitting since Solomon had so many wives- and concubines also.

In Proverbs 31:30, we find some excellent things to consider. A woman who is charming and beautiful would seem to be most desireable. These qualities are very appealing, but also very superficial. Indeed, charm is deceitful and one who is unwise can really be taken by a woman who seems to say all the right things, has an enticing smile and so forth. Likewise, beauty can also be misleading if we are using it as the very highest of criteria in determining what makes a great wife. As the old addage goes, beauty is only skin deep. Sure, physical beauty and attraction are significant, but not nearly so as having reverence for the Lord.

Such a woman is praised because she walks uprightly. She loves and honors her husband, respecting his authority as ordained by Almighty God. Likewise, she loves and therefore tends to the needs of her children. She is a woman who is productive with her time and has a heart to reach out to those in need. Proverbs 31:10-29 reveal to us the character of a woman who "fears the Lord". The final verse of the chapter calls for her to be praised, and of course, rightfully so!

I am thankful to "have found a good thing" in my wife, Denise, who embodies so very many of the qualities mentioned in this passage. I really feel like I married "up", as they say. May I give her the loving praise she truly deserves, and may all of you husbands do the same for your wives. True, none of us have it all together, and it does take work to make a marriage strong and fruitful. Let us men do our parts to love and honor our wives in the way in which the Apostle Paul, and therefore the Lord Himself, says we should (Ephesians 5:25, 28-33).

Proverbs 30:24-28

24 Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:

25 The ants are not a strong folk,
But they prepare their food in the summer;

26 The badgers are not a mighty folk,
Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

27 The locusts have no king,
Yet all of them go in ranks;

28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands,
Yet it is in kings' palaces.
(Proverbs 24-28 NAS)

As our daily reading, prayer, meditation and writing on The Book of Proverbs is coming to a close, with tomorrow being the 31st day of August, I would like to express a few words of thanks. Thanks to my brothers Frank Ramsey and Steve Gwilt who agreed to embark on this journey and invited me to participate. Also, thanks to my sister Rose Beaudry who joined in also. And, last but certainly not least, thanks to Jeff Ramsey who has also journied with us and made such a significant contribution. To all of you: I have enjoyed and been blessed greatly by your expounding of the word, by your questions, and also by your sharing of how it is has impacted your life. Further, I've been encouraged by your comments to me along the way. This has truly been an enriching and rewarding experience for me. Also, thanks to all of you who've been reading what we've been able to share, and hopefully, more importantly, what Almighty God Himself is saying through His word. I hope you've all been blessed with a greater grasp of His wisdom and a deeper appreciation and love for Him as a result.

Proverbs 30 is unique in that it is attributed to an author other than Solomon; so is Proverbs 31, for that matter. Authorship is ascribed to one Agur ben Jakeh, or Agur son of Jakeh. Aside from this, his writing style is distinctly different from that of Solomon. Where Solomon tends to convey wisdom in one or two-verse nuggets (for the most part), Agur's mode of expression is mostly through passages of several verses. It is interesting that YHWH chose to use this obscure fellow to convey his wisdom and truth, allowing him to sort of rub elbows with the wisest man who ever walked the earth, save for Jesus Himself.

Today's passage encourages and challenges me to "take time to stop and smell the roses", or get down on all fours and take a close look at the ants. Our God has chosen to use ants, badgers, locusts and lizards as teachers by example. In fact, Proverbs 30:24 says they are exceedingly wise!

I believe in this age of great technological advancement, especially in terms of communication, distance learning and the like, we've largely lost touch with this earth from which the Lord God made us. In a sense, maybe we need to get back to our roots- literally. Wouldn't we do well to perhaps shut off our computers, televisions, mp3 players and mobile phones for a bit and get out into His natural creation? There is a treasury of wisdom to be revealed through even the simplest and lowliest of creatures, if only we're willing to stop, look and listen.

I won't tear apart and examine this passage, rather I encourage each of you to consider the ants, badgers, locusts and lizards since they are described as exceedingly wise. And, of course, give thought and prayer to the verses themselves. (Incidentally, Proverbs 30:29-31 describes three other creatures "stately in their march".) If you can, get out into nature and check them out- or at least one of them. You may not be able to easily study the latter three in such a way, so for those you might have to do a bit of reading, research or even video-viewing. (I know, I know. I suggested getting outdoors. Sigh.) How about also looking at other creatures, be they birds, deer, squirrels, insects or others, depending on where you live? There is something to be gleaned in careful examination of creatures and all living things. At the very least, they all bring glory to their Creator in their own unique and mysterious ways.

Proverbs 29:13

"The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of both." (Proverbs 29:13 NAS)

You might read this proverb and think to yourself, "Yeah, and that's about all they share in common." Doesn't it seem the poor and the oppressor would be worlds apart? In many ways they certainly are. The oppressor has great power and uses it to intimidate and control others. He has neither regard nor compassion for them, with his only goal to increase his power and influence. The poor, on the other hand, has very little power, at least in the earthly sense. He is the victim of the oppressor and his very poverty may indeed be the result of having the adversary's foot squarely and firmly against his neck. The poor has control over nothing, but perhaps his own thoughts and actions.

With two individuals at such polar opposites, is it not interesting that YHWH, through the writing of Solomon, chooses to express a commonality? He tells us they have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of both. We know nothing about the spiritual condition of "the poor" in this verse, so it would be purely speculation to assume he has a right standing with Almighty God. We can know the oppressor absolutely does not, merely by who we're told he is.

In addition to being recipients of the Lord's provision of light for their seeing, there are some other things they would share in common. In the song, "Coming in From the Cold", Bob Marley sings:

Well, the biggest man you ever did see, once was just a baby

Have you ever thought about that? The biggest, richest, most powerful- and even the most wicked, was once just a baby. Even Adolf Hitler, at one time, needed his diapers changed, needed to be fed and bathed and otherwise depended on others to care for him. It is hard for us to imagine someone so cruel at one time being so helpless. And so, the oppressor and the poor are also bound together in that both were at one time infants in need of the very same things. But there is more.

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:45 KJV)

Though the poor may be good and just while the oppressor is certainly neither, the Father provides the rising sun and falling rain for each of them. The sun shining on you, wherever you are, is the same sun shining on me.

What I take today from the message in this proverb is that all of humanity are recipients of the grace of Almighty God. He is the one who gives natural sight and spiritual sight. All of creation, including the light-giving sun, bears witness of His creative power. Likewise, the light of Christ, the Light of the World, is available to the poor and the oppressor alike. As a result, each of them, should they become regenerated through Christ, would one day share the greatest of all commonalities: eternal life with Him!

Proverbs 28:13

"He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion." (Proverbs 28:13 NAS)

I have a great degree of respect for someone who is open and honest. To keep one's stumblings under lock and key is so prevalent, that to find a soul who has the courage to confess is downright refreshing and encouraging. It is rare indeed. When we violate God's commands, there is often the tendency to do what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden- hide. But just like them, we know we can't hide from Him. As followers of Christ, we not only have the written commands of the Holy Bible, we also have the indwelling Holy Spirit who has the uncanny ability of revealing our sins to us.

What a joy it is to know that when we confess and forsake (repent or turn away from) our sins that we have a loving heavenly Father who will show us compassion. Knowing this should make all of the difference in the world in how we deal with our sins.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9 NAS)

How wonderful this is! I love how John writes "confess our sins" and "forgive us our sins", saying "sins" twice, perhaps to make sure we get it. It's sort of like a math equation:

OUR CONFESSION OF SIN + GOD'S FORGIVENESS OF SIN = 0

When it comes to sin, He is the neutralizer. He wipes the slate clean. And more than a judge who grants a pardon, our God shows compassion. But we have a part to play and that is to go to Him when we mess up, rather than try and hide or run away.

Many of us would probably feel more comfortable if the confession of sin was only between us and the Lord. That way, in many cases, no one else would have to know. But that's not His plan; He's chosen to get others involved, but as we'll see it's for our good- and theirs.

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (James 5:16 NAS)

When we confess our sins to one another it can bring healing. It can take a whole heap of stress off of us and become the very medicine needed to mend broken relationships and maybe even broken bodies. When we confess our sins to our brothers and sisters (and we need to use discernment here) we can experience the compassion of those who love us even when we blow it. So we get a double dose (or double blessing!) of compassion.

But Proverbs 28:13 tells us it is not enough to confess our transgressions; we must also forsake them. To forsake our sins is to abandon them. This won't happen if we truly don't want to stop, for though we may confess with our mouths it is ultimately our actions which speak for us. Therefore, we must leave or move away from sin if we are to truly enjoy the compassion of the Lord and His people.

If we conceal our sins, we may appear to some as righteous, though we're not likely to fool everyone and, as stated earlier, we'll never fool God. Proverbs 28:13 says that if we conceal our sins we will not prosper. And I certainly take this to mean spiritual riches more than earthly ones, though both can apply. We'll never be able to store up abundant treasures in heaven because we'll be spiritually short-circuited by the effects of covered up sin. How can we effectively reach others for Christ when we're really trying to hide or keep secrets from Him?

Let us be reminded and comforted by the compassion our heavenly Father has for us, even when we sin. Let us be deeply grateful for one another, that we have others with whom we can be accountable, and they with us. May you have a blessed day or evening.

A great product for an achey pet

This is a first for my blog, but I'm going to recommend a product which has been a big help to our beloved Maxley. It's a liquid compound from Newton Homeopathics For Pets which simply says, "Rheumatic Pain" on the label of the one ounce dropper bottle (shown above).

The ol' pup, who used to race me up our thirteen steps until about a year ago, was increasingly having trouble with what I assumed was arthritis or rheumatism. It had reached the point where I had to go from coaxing and gently pulling to having to carry his 75lb. carcass up the stairs.

I've known of folks giving their dogs baby aspirin with a vet's approval and even one guy who told me he crushed up a glucosamine and condroitin pill once a day for his dog and he said it worked. I haven't tried either of those two things so I can't comment on how effective they are.

I found this product at Back to Earth, a health store here in Torrington, CT. Its goes for $14 (the same price as ordering direct) and is to be administered orally in six-drop doses as needed. We started with six drops per day but didn't see any improvement. After the first week we increased the dosage to six drops two times per day- and what a difference it has made! Max is now getting up the stairs without any help from me after about three weeks. Actually, I would say we started seeing results in about two weeks with the increased dosage.

I would highly recommend this product for your dog who may be struggling with any sort of joint pain or stiffness. What a blessing it has been to us and our fine furry friend.

Proverbs 27: 9

"Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel." (Proverbs 27:9 KJV)

In our modern culture we tend not to associate the use of ointment with a cause for rejoicing. Perhaps our first thought of this stuff is of some greasy or creamy medicine squeezed out of a tube and put on cuts, sores, burns or insect bites. And usually it doesn't smell all that great. Well, this is apparently not the same substance Mary used to anoint the feet (or pour on the head) of Jesus in a genuine and humble of expression of her love for Him. There are accounts of these acts recorded in all four gospels, while Mark 14:3 and John 12:3 specifically tell us the ointment was made of spikenard (or pure nard) and was very costly. I've never smelled spikenard, but evidently the preparation from it had a wonderfully aromatic fragrance as Mark 14:3 tells us it "filled the house". Mary, as recorded in scripture, tells us she was saving it for her burial. This ointment must have produced a strong and pleasant smell to counter the odor of death.

To sum up, when Solomon is writing about "ointment and perfume" here, he is talking about preparations made with pure, natural ingredients. Proverbs 27:9 tells us they "rejoice the heart". To get a good whiff must be most pleasing and refreshing. And the ointment also has the effect of soothing.

The sweetness of a man's friend, as experienced through hearty counsel, is the same way, Solomon tells us. How good and pleasant it is to be blessed with wise words, words that are life-giving and life-affirming. This quality of counsel is of the biblically spiritual, Christ-centered sort and is the opposite of the ungodly counsel mentioned in Psalm 1:1. Indeed, it is a great blessing to have such a friend or friends to advise, encourage and even correct us when need be! Let us strive to cultivate the quality of relationships in which we can share in the blessing of hearty counsel.

Proverbs 26:12, 16

"Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him." (Proverbs 26:12 KJV)

"The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason." (Proverbs 26:14 KJV)

To be wise in your own conceit is to be wise in your own eyes and puffed up with foolish pride. I believe the reason why there is so little hope for one wise in his own conceit is there is neither humility nor willingness to listen to someone who is wiser. When you know it all, why should you have to listen to anyone else? In fact, there is no need to even listen to seven people who are right, when you think you are smarter than they are. I can remember having some discussions when I was younger where even though I knew I was wrong, I wouldn't back down. That's a really bad attitude to have.

Conceit is dangerous because it makes a person unteachable and uncorrectable. It is a roadblock set up across the path to wisdom and understanding. Have you ever met someone who told lots of stories about his accomplishments that just didn't seem to add up? Have you ever embellished things to make yourself look more impressive to others? These are symptomatic of the disease of conceit, as Bob Dylan calls it.

Rather than be wise in our own conceit, we need to be wise in the eyes of the Lord. We need to understand the way He sees things and use His standard as our measuring tool, rather than our own yardstick. We need to understand that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself in the sight of the Lord will be lifted up.

The Disease of Conceit (Bob Dylan)

Since I first heard it some years ago, I've really liked the song "Disease of Conceit" by Bob Dylan off of Oh Mercy from 1989. Since today's two verses from Proverbs both deal with conceit, I thought it appropriate to post a youtube "video" for it here. Unfortunately there is no actual video, just a shot of the album cover. There's lots of wisdom in it, so if you haven't given it a listen, what are you waiting for?

Proverbs 25:28

"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls." (Proverbs 25:28 NKJV)

Having rule over one's spirit is about having self-control (Galatians 5:23). When we lack it we leave ourselves vulnerable to attack from the enemy. If we don't have self-control when it comes to food, he will exploit that weakness to where eating becomes an escape from dealing with issues. As a by-product of this faltering, we jeopardize our health also.

If a man lacks self-control when it comes to the opposite sex, he can get into all kinds of trouble. Lust is an issue for many of us, and it's one I've had to contend with in my life. The problem is for years, rather than starve that sinful appetite, I fed it. Not with pornography, but with fantasizing. While keeping my struggle a secret to others, I tried to find justification for my behavior. By the way, if you're looking to justify something you know is wrong, you'll always be able to find ungodly counsel to support it. On the outside I probably seemed fine, but on the inside I was bound, and in fact, an adulterer in the way Jesus defines it. I had practically given the enemy keys to the city. It wasn't until I genuinely came clean and repented, that I experienced true deliverance.

There are any number of things that can become compulsive; some need to be moderated and others should be avoided altogether. If we apply ourselves to the word of Almighty God, completely open our lives to Him and be filled and refilled with His Holy Spirit, self-control can be made manifest and we can experience victory. Further, we need deep relationships with others with whom we can share our struggles in confidence, and they with us. In other words, we need mutual accountability.

Proverbs 24:30-34

³⁰ I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
³¹ And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
³² When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
³³ A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
³⁴ So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.

(Proverbs 24:30-34 NKJV)

Laziness is one of those things which might seem the most benign of offenses. I mean when you put it up against cheating, stealing, slandering or assaulting it really doesn't look so bad at all. But it is bad. This passage depicts a man who is lazy and without understanding. This is someone who does not comprehend the deeper reasons for his existence. He takes no heed to wisdom because he has never pursued it in the first place. We see the picture of someone who is both a mental and physical sluggard.

I must confess: I am not one of those guys with a neatly manicured lawn accented by lovely flower beds and perfectly trimmed hedges. Well, we don't have hedges, but you get the point. You're not likely to ever see our yard in the pages of Better Homes and Gardens. (Don't get me wrong, our property is not on the blight list either.) There are a few reasons for this. For one, yard work is just not a passion of mine. I do it more by necessity than anything else. Secondly, most folks who have those lush, green lawns pay a pretty penny to have them so. Thirdly, in the scheme of things I just don't see it as worth that much of my time. And there's the rub. Because I don't particularly enjoy it, I tend to place it toward the bottom of my priority list. But there is great wisdom for me in this passage from Proverbs.

My yard says something about me; it is a public display which can either indicate that I take pride in how it looks or I don't really give a hoot. My yard is my responsibility, whether I like it or not. There may be extenuating circumstances which prevent me from attending to it at times, but the bottom line is that no one else is going to do it for me. The condition of my yard and the exterior of my home may also say something about my neighborliness. A nice yard and kept up home can be an expression of hospitality and respect. If done with right motives, yard work can be something we do unto the Lord and because we care about our neighbors. How I spend my time, in general, tells a lot about what is important to me.

The above passage challenges me in the area of using my time wisely. It's interesting that Jesus, in the parable of the sower, spoke of a seed that was choked out by thorns. The seed, he tells us, is the word of YHWH, while the thorns represent the cares of this world. Sometimes my spiritual life can be neglected when I allow worldly concerns to consume too much of my time. What a waste of a field if I allow it to be overgrown with thorns and nettles, rather than abundant with crops that will provide not only for my family, but others in need. What a waste of life if I fail to set priorites and fritter away the precious time the Lord gives me. Poor planning and poor use of time will eventually lead to being poor. One who is lazy not only fails to consider the well-being of his family and their future, but also fails to store up treasure in heaven.

May each of us be diligent and use our time wisely that we may live productive lives that bear fruit for the blessing of others and to the glory of the Lord of the Harvest.

Proverbs 23:24-25

"The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your mother and your father be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice." (Proverbs 23:24-25 NKJV)

Though I'm not yet a father, this verse brings me great joy when I reflect on it. I have a vision of a mom and dad (maybe my wife and I), beaming with pride and gratitude, not for a child who was necessarily the brightest academically, or who excelled on the athletic field or even who was a boy scout or girl scout. No. These smiles are the result of having a son or daughter who walks in integrity, choosing to live by God's standards rather than the world's. A child who becomes an example for Christ, rather than caving into peer pressure which would pull him or her in the opposite direction. This is a child who has gained wisdom and exercises it, loving the Lord first and then his neighbour as himself.

Does all of this sound more than a little idealistic rather than realistic? I think in many ways we've given up on raising children who are righteous and wise, believing it's not really possible anyway. We're inclined to believe that it's ridiculous to think kids won't experiment with drinking and drugs and premarital sex, therefore we concede in these area. We seem to be content with raising a child who got decent grades, earned at least a bachelor's degree, didn't get in too much trouble and is now gainfully employed and making a good salary. Perhaps he's even met a nice young lady and they've married and are now raising children of their own. Sounds sort of like the American dream, doesn't it?

The thing is, it's really all built on a weak foundation if it is not built on Yeshua. It's the proverbial house of cards. And even if it should last, it's only success by the world's standards. Let me just say this: even if your child has already gone off track in some areas, it's never too late to live righteously. It's never to late to aquire and apply the wisdom of the Father. And, obviously, the methods of parenting have everything to do with achieving such results. It must come from parents who lead by example, stay in the word, and pray. It comes from parents who are proactive in addressing the needs and concerns of their child, rather than trying to clean up messes afterward. By the way, I do understand that doing the right things as a parent does not always mean the child will follow suit, but it sure does greatly increase the percentages.

Lastly, I think there's another element to this. When we follow His commands and do what pleases Him, our heavenly Father rejoices too!

Proverbs 22:3

"A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished." (Proverbs 22:3 NKJV)

The truth of this proverb is far reaching. To be prudent means to exercise good judgment, common sense and caution. Such a one who can see a coming storm that will bring great destruction will take necessary precautions to avoid calamity. The idea of forseeing is emphasized by Jesus Himself when He told his disciples to watch and pray (Matt. 26:41, Mark 13:33 and Mark 14:38). Watching in the sense He is referring to means to be alert and vigilant, to have an awareness of what's going on. If we were able to foresee a hurricane coming, wouldn't it be best to take appropriate measures to protect ourselves?

Sadly, some choose to ride the storm out while ignoring the danger. In the same way, those in the time of Noah were unconcerned with the warnings of a coming flood which would bring total destruction. So it is today, that many who are told of hell and eternal damnation for those apart from Christ refuse to consider His claims. Just like those scoffers who perished in the great flood, there are many today who think it's a bunch of nonsense and they live accordingly at their own peril. They just pass on by, going about their business as time is ticking away while death and the second coming of Christ both draw near. Some of them equate hiding with weakness, but when it comes to evil it is not so!

David, who was certainly no coward, saw things this way:

"You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7 NAS)

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1 NAS)

YHWH is our hiding place in times of trouble, in evil times. We need to exercise prudence and forsesight to know when evil is approaching so that we can prepare ourselves, so that we'll know to run to Him rather than keep going forward while ignoring all of the danger signs. At the same time, we also have a responsibility to sound the alarm and let others know what is coming. There is no guarantee they will take heed, and it is up to each person to decide for himself. I am so thankful we have Almighty God, our Deliverer as One who will shelter and protect us in times of evil.

the ol' pup is under the weather

Max, Maxley, Max, Maximillian, Mr. Baxter. Whatever you'd like to call him, our dog isn't feeling so well. It seems he may have bladder cancer. The doctor told us it's inoperable because of where in particular it's located. I've done a bit of research and have found some homeopathic remedies containing milk thistle, mistletoe and other natural ingredients that may help. We've been blessed to have him for as many years as we have and if we have any say in it we'd like him to stick around a little longer. I've had him since he was about one year old and he's sixteen now. Denise and I have been married for just about five years and she's really become attached to him as you might imagine. And this is a woman who was born and raised on an island where pets were always kept outside!

"Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; thy judgements are a great deep: thou, O Lord, preservest both man and beast." (Psalm 36:6 KJV)

Proverbs 21:13

"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he shall also cry himself, but shall not be heard." (Proverbs 21:13 KJV)

Yeshua said we would always have the poor with us (Matthew 26:11). Much to the chagrin of the elite and those more concerned with preserving an image than in having compassion, they just won't go away. Whether it's seeing a television ad from a charitable organization, reading the world news headlines or even driving into a particular area- maybe on the other side of town, the reminders are constant. We have choices in how we deal with the plight of the poor. Are they annoyances who we wish would just go away? Are they making a bad impression on tourists and visitors? Are we concerned they are perhaps lowering property values?

Standing in line, marking time,
Waiting for the welfare dime
'Cause they can't find a job.
A man in a silk suit hurries by
As he catches the poor old lady's eye.
Just for fun he says, "Get a job."

(lyrics from "The Way It Is" (B.R. Hornsby & J. Hornsby))

If we're to be about the Father's business, we are not to be on the side of ridiculing those who are poor. We're also not to go about with blinders on and our hands over our ears, pretending not to see and hear. Ignorance is not bliss for those who have been called by His name and have chosen to follow Him. Today's verse says if we do, we too will end up crying and there will be no consolation. By our actions, others will see us as selfish and without compassion, therefore will not tend to run to our aid. Perhaps a time will come and the tables will turn where those who we once looked past or stepped over to get where we were going will be the same ones looking past us. More importantly, to ignore and stop our ears to the cries of the poor displeases our Father in heaven.

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:27 NAS)

Orphans and widows did, and still do, make up a great percentage of the poor. If we want our religious experience to be a spiritual experience, and not just window dressing, we must be concerned with helping those in poverty. This help, patterned by our Lord, consists of addressing physical and spiritual needs as we are able. At the very least, we can pray. And prayer is no little thing if it is all we can do. Better, we can pray and give too. While visiting a brother in Birmingham, UK a couple of years ago I was able to participate in a multi-church street ministry which primarily consisted of feeding folks in need. I was told that hearing a sermon was not a requisite for receiving a meal, but that if people were willing to talk with me then I was certainly free to oblige. I've been able to do that here in my hometown also. What an eye-opener it is to hear the stories of the poor, their hurts, their sorrows and joys too. Many suffer from mental illness and the effects of drug addiction, while others are just people fallen from hardships. Let's open our ears to the poor rather than block them. I'm not saying it won't be a bit uncomfortable, but in moving from your comfort zone and doing so for Christ, you'll end up a changed person and so might they.

Proverbs 20:23

"Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord, and a false scale is not good." (Proverbs 20:23 NAS)

Investors being bilked out of billions, employees' 401k funds being drained, executives taking bonuses while their workers end up jobless, governments in monumental debt simply printing more money to try and prime the pump. The examples of differing weights and false balances are plenty and a cursory scan of the news headlines bears this out. And it doesn't stop there. These things that are not good and an abomination to the Lord come in the way of fudged tax returns, insurance fraud, illegal file sharing, pirated copies of music recordings and tapping into the neighbor's electricity. The ways which man has found to steal from and cheat one another are almost endless.

In an agrarian society such as that of ancient Israel, tweaking the scales a bit could bring a substantial increase to those selling their produce. In the new testament of the Holy Bible, we see the Lord Yeshua snapping whips and turning over tables, angry at merchants and moneychangers who had turned the house of prayer into a den of thieves. Suffice to say, tipping the scales in one's favor angers Almighty God. Yet, despite what the bible says and what history has revealed in deceivers and thieves being shamed and disgraced, the practices continue. Some feel their company or the government owes them. Others reason that customers won't miss a bit of the promised amount being skimmed off or won't know the difference from the higher quality being offered and the lesser quality being sold.

There are many ways of attempting to justify stealing, but none of them hold up before the great Judge. Besides, it's only a matter before we're found out. And when we do get caught, the penalties always exceed any gain we had hoped to make. Abraham Lincoln once said, "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time." And we can never, ever fool Yahweh. By being people of integrity, people who do what's right even when no one else is watching, we have an opportunity to shine for Him. Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good name is to be more desired than great wealth..." Let's make certain to establish good names by being fair, just and equitable in all areas. Perhaps those around us will see the difference and wonder why.

Proverbs 19:20

"Listen to counsel and and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days." (Proverbs 19:20 NAS)

Part of us would love to take this verse, put it in front of the faces of your youth, jab our index finger at it and say "See, see, see! Read this!" And it's true that wise, godly counsel and discipline are essential for the intellectual, spiritual (and therefore character) development of our children. What is sown today will be reaped later on down the line. Sadly, it is my observation that too many parents in our society seem to place academic disciplines at a higher standard than spiritual ones. I wish I could say this pertains only to those outside the church, but the fact is there are far too many youth being left alone on Sunday mornings and during the week while Mom and/or Dad are participating in service or bible study. On top of this, there may not even be a family altar or devotional time in the home requiring their attendance. For some, it's a matter of avoiding confrontation. If the child is not interested and will put up a fuss, the thought is that it's better to keep the peace, perhaps praying that Johnny or Suzie will eventually come around. The thing is this peace is really a false peace. It's the same kind of peace we might experience while tip-toeing gingerly past a ferocious pit bull who is snoozing. The truth is we're on edge because we know the so-called peace is very frail and therefore try our best not to upset it. This is not the peace that the Prince of Peace promises to those who love and follow Him.

We do a great disservice to our youth by not making the unpopular choices and insisting on their adherence to things they might not be thrilled about. When we let them decide for themselves, in a sense we're allowing the devil free reign to exude his influence. Think how silly it would sound if your child declared on Monday morning, "Mom, I don't feel like going to school." Without a moment's thought you would say, "You are going to school." There would not be any negotiations. Isn't it funny and tragic that we don't place the same, or even greater degree of importance on their coming to know the Lord Yeshua, getting to develop a relationship with Him and relationships with others within the body of Christ? We've been conditioned by society to believe academics are the very highest pursuit. When we do this, we're setting our youth up for worldly success and moral and spiritual failure.

Let us remember, before we jab that index finger a little too firmly or self-righteously, we need to set the example. We need to demonstrate the disciplined life, the life of one who is in submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Not just saying, but doing, not excluding one for the other.

Proverbs 18:21

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21 NAS)

It's seems pretty plain doesn't it? We can either speak death or life. We can build someone up with words of appreciation and encouragement or we can tear them down with criticism and discouragement. Much of Proverbs deals with the tongue. Incidentally, the third chapter in the epistle of James has a great deal to say about it also. How a person speaks says a lot about who that person is. It reveals what's in the heart. Sure, anyone can put up a front for a little while but it's only a matter of time before the facade begins to crumble. Speaking, or even writing for that matter, allow us the opportunity to ascribe value to people. On the flip side, saying the wrong things or failing to say the right things can inflict wounds that last a lifetime. How do you suppose it is we can remember words said to us decades ago? There is great power in the tongue. You've heard the saying, "Loose lips sink ships"? How about, "The pen is mightier than the sword"?

We must make up our minds to wisely use this great power our Almighty God has entrusted us with. As I said above, sometimes not saying the right things (such as, "I love you" or "I'm sorry") are just as damaging as saying wrong things. Let's choose to speak life, even when it's more popular to denigrate people. Let us be conscious of the words that come forth from our lips and let them be pleasing unto the Lord. This is one of the reasons it is so important to be filled with the words of the Holy Bible, to read and meditate on them and let them saturate our minds. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14 NAS)

Proverbs 17:1

"Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting and strife." (Proverbs 17:1 NAS)

I find this verse to have a settling and centering quality, and quite encouraging as well. The theme is echoed in Proverbs 15:17, though with a slightly different emphasis. What also comes to mind is the account of Daniel 1 where Daniel (and friends), having been enlisted by the king for his personal service after first completing three years of royal academic schooling, chooses not to eat of King Nebuchadnezzar's choice food. Instead he chooses a diet of water and vegetables. And you have to wonder what his companions Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah thought about this drastic menu change. Verse 8 states that it was Daniel who made up his mind that he (and therefore his friends also) would not defile himself with the king's choice food or wine. Maybe the four of them discussed it and were immediately on one accord with the decision, then again it may have taken some convincing. Or perhaps they didn't reach a consensus. We really don't know. Can you imagine having the finest cuisine available to you on a daily basis, from a five star restaurant or even the White House, only to choose vegetables and water? It turns out that after ten days Daniel and his pals end up looking healthier and stronger on this meager, simple diet than those who feasted on the most sumptuous of foods.

Health reasons aside, the problem with eating the rich royal diet is there are strings attached. Proverbs 17:1 lays out more than just a choice of foods, but the atmosphere that goes along with each choice. We should always be aware of our surroundings and consider the consequences of our decisions. Sure, a smorgasbord sounds great, but what is the cost for partaking of it? What compromises must we make? Just imagine the aromas of the delicious royal foods wafting their way out of the king's kitchen and into Daniel's living quarters. I don't know whether that happened, but if it did it sure would have made it tempting to put the kibosh on the vegetables and water.

I remember a few years ago reading of a couple who left high-paying jobs in Manhattan for a much simpler, spartan existence as farmers in upstate New York. They had decided the six-figure salaries weren't worth all of the toil, stress and just plain busyness of the lifestyle that came with them. As a result, though they had a lot less money and material things, they were much happier. Indeed, it is far better to choose the simpler, quieter life (even if it means less money) , than to go for the fast track with it's quarreling, division and confusion.

Proverbs 16:32

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his own spirit than he who takes a city." (Proverbs 16:32 NKJV)

I admit it. I have a tendency to be impatient. When things aren't going as quickly or smoothly as I'd like them, I let out a sigh or I "blow off" (steam?), as my wife calls it. I don't scream and yell or throw things, and if she didn't know me so well (darn!) she may not even notice. But she does. When she asks me, often times from another room, why I'm "blowing off" I sometimes say I'm not "blowing off". But, in fact, I am. And it's often over small things like trying to fix something that isn't cooperating with my master mechanic hands. Yes, that is a joke! Other times it might be when my wife asks, during an inconvenient time for me, for help with a school assignment she's working on. I imagine my late mother's own legendary impatience is an influence. Come to think of it, my dad was not the most patient person around either. Whatever the reasons, it's a characteristic of my behavior that I am certainly not proud of and I know needs changing. And I must take responsibility. Otherwise, just think of what will happen when our little son or daughter needs help with homework, tying a shoe or whatever else. And what kind of example will I set for them?

I heard someone say recently on a radio talk show that "repressed rage is not peace". And it's so true. Though it may go unnoticed by all but those closest to me, the perceived calmness and mellowness of my personality are really poor masks for my reality. We know God is patient and slow to anger and that as we mature and progress in this journey, as He refines us, we are to become more like Him and in the image of His Son. I've come to the realization that my impatience will not disappear on it's own over time. I've also found that when I'm "prayed up" and have the word of Christ dwelling richly within me, my patience meter goes up! I praise the Lord that being connected with Him reconditions my reactions. When I get into trouble is when I allow His words to drift from my mind and I'm not expressing to Him the love, adoration and praise He deserves, and when I'm not humbling myself before Him and otherwise conversing with Him as I ought to. So, I know what works and therefore really have no excuse. By the way, I'm not yet a dad but I understand raising children does a require just a teeny bit of patience in itself.
As a result, I know God is using this time to help prepare me for what's ahead. It's just that I have to be willing to work with him and allow Him to work in me.

Proverbs 25:28 says, "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls". (NKJV) It's really about self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). And this links with the second part of Proverbs 16:32 and ties in perfectly with the first half as well. If I allow myself to get upset (and I'm not talking about holy discontentment) I lose self-control. My prayer is for more of the very things many of us seem to say we need: more time in the Bible and in prayer. And I'll add another; more time fasting. My natural reaction ability to certain things may not be the same as someone else. What I need, and what we all need are supernaturally influenced and empowered reaction abilities. There is no magic pill for me, or anyone else for that matter. However, I fully believe the Lord will condition and recondition us as we become more intimate with Him.

Proverbs 15:15

"All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But he who is of a merry heart has
a continual feast." (Proverbs 15:15 NKJV)

I recently picked up a copy of Rolling Stone magazine that was lying on one of the tables in the cafeteria at my workplace. What caught my eye was that the issue had a featured article on renowned rock/jazz/world beat drummer Ginger Baker. Several years ago I bought a copy of a jazz album he recorded along with guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Charlie Haden and found it to be an enjoyable listen. Being a musician, I've always had an interest in what makes musicians tick, how they got started and what inspires their creativity. Further, it's always a hope that a musician whose art I enjoy will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ if he hasn't yet. To read such a testimony would bring me joy that would far surpass any that I may have experienced listening to their recordings over the years. Sadly, this is apparently not the case with the 69-year old Baker who suffers from a number of ailments and must take morphine several times a day for pain.

In the very first line of the article, the drummer is quoted as uttering a cranky expletive at the South African sunrise, something the author says is a morning ritual. Further, Baker is later quoted as saying, (I'm paraphrasing here because I don't have the magazine) "God is punishing me for all the wicked things I've done by keeping me alive and in as much pain as possible." How sad. That's the reason Ginger Baker believes he is still alive. He is alive because the God who created him loves him and desires that he not perish. He is alive because the Father is being patient and merciful, giving him time to come to repentance and to be saved from the coming wrath by accepting His offer of salvation. Sadly, the article paints the picture of a man who is suffering from the excessive lifestyle of his younger years, though apparently he still manages to play the drums quite well once he gets settled in behind the kit and also plays a mean game of polo.

What I gather from reading the article is not that Ginger Baker has a merry heart, but that he sees himself as being the victim both of his own bad choices and mistreatment at the hands of others. What he fails to see and what, at one time, we've all failed to see is apart from having a relationship with our Creator we have nothing. Though Baker is in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, though he's recorded with some of the most innovative musicians in rock, jazz and African music and has sold millions of recordings, these things don't bring him joy. Past drug abuse, failed marriages, friends who have died from overdoses and problems with tax evasion have made him bitter and angry. I believe if Ginger Baker came to know Yeshua Ha' Mashiach and had His Spirit living inside of him, he would have peace and joy. All of his hit records and trophies would be counted as loss and worthless. What he would have though, is the joy of experiencing the royal spread the Lord has laid out for his children, even in the presence of their enemies (Psalm 23).

This is not "Pick On Ginger Baker Day", rather it's a moment where I'm seeing the life of a man whom God Almighty loves and sent His only Son to die for that he may not perish, but have everlasting life. My prayer is that before he breathes his last on this earth, that he will see that God is not punishing him for his sins, rather that Jesus took his punishment so he could be spared eternal death and damnation and experience no more sorrow, no more pain. That he may experience peace and joy everlasting. That is my prayer this evening for all of the Ginger Bakers out there.

Proverbs 11:24

"There is one who scatters, yet
increases more;
And there is one who witholds
more than is right,
But it leads to poverty." (Proverbs 11:24 NKJV)

It doesn't seem to make sense. Are we to believe that the person who gives will yield increase whilst the one who hoards will actually lose, eventually coming to poverty? In short, yes. This sort of wisdom seems foolish according to the world's economic standards, but we're talking God's economy here. And scripture is hardly silent on this topic. There are many references such as Malachi 3:10 and 2 Corinthians 9:6 which seem to reinforce the same point made in the above verse from Proverbs.

I must say, in giving unto the Lord, whether to the local church, an individual or organization in His name and for His purposes to be fulfilled, I have never regretted it. Yes, I've had instances where I was decieved by people whom I thought I was helping, yet had bad intentions. But even in those cases, the Lord always provided for me. And the provision wasn't just in the physical sense, but in lessons learned in being more discrete.

When I look at Proverbs 11:24 some lyrics from an old song come to mind:

Live for yourself and you will live in vain,
Live for others and you will live again

("Pass It On", Bob Marley and The Wailers)

Regardless of what Bob Marley and the crew may have believed at that particular point in time, these words seem to hold some truth. I don't know whether they were suggesting living for and therefore giving to others will earn you eternal life. Obviously, I don't believe that. But I do believe living for Lord and esteeming others higher than ourselves are essentials in this journey if we are to live His way. When we live and give to and for Him, we are promised great reward, particularly on the other side of eternity. When we live selfishly and are determined to keep what we feel is rightfully ours (even though it really isn't), we will end up losing everything, including our very souls. This is the most desperate poverty there is.

I also believe this scripture can and does apply in the earthly sense too. When we are good caretakers of what God provides, then He can entrust us with being responsible for more. When we are involved in planting and sowing into the lives of others on His behalf, I believe it is something dear to His heart. By His nature, God is a giver and it so happens He has chosen to entrust us with being agents of giving and scattering. In His economy, the more we give the more we get.

Proverbs 10

Last Thursday on my radio show I mentioned that our computer at home was out of commission, comparing the situation to not having a refrigerator. I'm not sure it was the greatest comparison, but the ol' PC has certainly become a vital tool and resource within our home for a myriad of reasons. Needless to say, I'm back. I've been catching up on some of the thoughts of other "Proverbers" (or is it Proverbists?) in our group such as Frank, Steve and Rose. I decided to pick up with my comments starting with chapter 10 rather than backtracking, though I have been reading. Not surprisingly, I've found it a challenge to be consistent with this but today is a new day and here I am!

Proverbs 10
⁴ He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
⁵ He who gathers in summer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

As I read these, a few thoughts came to mind. For me, it is possible to be very busy and get little or nothing done. I am good at coming up with ideas and perhaps even fair at recieving them from the Holy Spirit. When they're coming from Him we sometimes refer to them as promptings. At any rate, I would venture to say that anything that is truly good, ideas or otherwise, can be traced back to God Himself. In other words, He ought to get the credit for the inspiration or the ability to be imaginative and creative.

Does it seem funny for me to say I can be busy and still get little or nothing done? I have a feeling many of you know exactly what I'm talking about. I believe the hand of the diligent (v.4) speaks to one who works intentionally and efficiently. We know that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6). The problem is that far too often my seeking is not very diligent. My willingness and power to seek Him have a tendency to be sapped of energy as my attention is drawn to other things. As a result my seeking, well-meaning as it may be, is rather divided and distracted. I would certainly apply this to my daily devotional time with the Lord.
Deep down I desire to focus my energies and affection on the Lord, to make Him my utmost priority every day. When I don't, I falter big time. My attitude deteriorates, my words can begin to be unpleasant and my productivity for Him all but dries up. Certainly I want to be rich, bearing fruit and storing up great treasure in heaven. Shouldn't we all desire such?

I realize a busy hand can still be a slack hand if it is not being used properly or efficiently. My desire is to use my time better, doing the things I'm supposed to be doing. Quite frankly, I can spend a lot of time surfing the web, reading articles on practically everything under the sun from sports to politics to nature and spiritual topics. Even when I sit in a chair (not the computer one) to open my bible I have a tendency to get distracted and end up reaching for a magazine, newspaper, CD or whatever. Maybe I need to set up a room with nothing but a chair in it!

I want to be wise, busy gathering when it's time to gather, when the fields are beginning to yield a harvest. Jesus told His disciples the fields were already white, or ripe, for harvest. He tells us we are to be laborers and beyond that, to pray for more laborers for the harvest is great and the laborers are few.

I'll sum up with a verse from Psalm 90 that I think ties things up quite nicely:

¹² So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

It's all about redeeming our allotted time. It's about using it wisely. This is my meditation for today.

Proverbs 2

My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, [And] apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, [And] lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as [for] hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5, NKJV)

It may have been said that "if" is the grammatical giant of two letter-words. And if it hasn't been said, I'm saying it now. It's kind of like a pebble-sized boulder. When we see the word "if" we can pretty well ascertain that there are conditions being stipulated (i.e. If my people, who are called by name will humble themselves...II Chronicles 7:14). You get the picture; there is God's end of the bargain and then there is ours.

The above passage from Proverbs 2 contains some strong ifs.

"...if you receive my words..." (v.1)

"...if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding,..." (v.3)

"If you seek her as silver..." (v.4)

After these ifs (our end of the bargain) we naturally would like to know, "Alright, Lord. If I do these things then what do I receive in return?" Well there's tons we receive! We become recipients of the understanding of the fear of the Lord (remember, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7)) and, therefore, we find the knowledge of God. Wow! Can you imagine getting to know the secrets of the most brilliant scientist or physicist- if we could even understand what in the world they were talking about! We might well be blown away by their genius. Well, the Creator of the universe offers to share His knowledge with us. As a result of Him knocking our socks off, we cultivate a reverance for Him, for His Majesty, for His Holiness, for His Otherness, for who He is.

This speaks to me because there is a tendency to reduce YHWH down to a sort of friend Whom we can chat with anytime about anything. While this is true, I don't want to lose sight of His utter awesomeness and supremacy over all beings and things. May it be our passion to receive His words, cry out for discernment, to lift up our voices for understanding and to seek it as it were precious silver, and discovering veins of silver was what put bread and butter on our tables. Solomon writes here that if we do these things, then we will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Those are two pretty incredible possessions to have if you ask me.

Thoughts on Proverbs 1

Hello! A couple of friends (Frank and Steve) and myself have embarked on a journey through the book of Proverbs; a chapter a day for 31 days. Each day I'll try and record my thoughts as to what speaks to me in particular. Because the Proverbs are so rich in nuggets of wisdom and not neccesarily in lengthy passages, there seems to be lots of stuff that you can grasp on to. However, for the purpose of this journey, I'll try and discern those things the Lord is emphasizing to me most and highlight those here.

Let's get started with Proverbs 1.

Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. (Proverbs 1:23)

By nature, I don't particularly enjoy being wrong. If there's one thing I like even less than being wrong it's being told I'm wrong. I've come to realize at heart this is really a pride issue. Being wrong means you don't have it right. And in our carnality, being wrong is a sign of inferiority. It's funny because I can remember back in school there were classmates who made a big stink about getting a 96 on an exam when I was happy to just get a decent passing grade. But let's stay on track here. Being wrong may mean you lack knowledge and it may also mean you've made a bad (or incorrect) choice.

As usual, Almighty God sees things a bit differently. To shrug off His rebuke or correction doesn't preserve my dignity, it makes me foolish. It becomes an obstruction to His making His words known to me. It also puts a lid on His desire to pour out His Spirit upon me. Let's remember one of the blessings of having the Holy Spirit in our lives is that He convicts us. In almost every case, we don't need someone to point out when we're wrong because He's already revealed it. But if someone does call us out on something, hopefully speaking the truth in love, we ought to regard it as a blessing rather than an injury to our pride or ego. My desire is for a more correctable spirit and the eyes to see the blessing in the One who chastens whom He loves.