Proverbs 23: 19-28 A wise lifestyle, part I

<sup>UPDATE:  We've had an urgent prayer request added to our prayer page (scroll down to the comment), and I would encourage all of our readers to go and read it, and lift up Linda and her husband in prayer, as they travel to a specialized facility to seek treatment for him. It's an honor and a privilege to pray for each other's needs -- please join her in prayer and leave a comment here to encourage her heart. Thank you.


19</sup> Listen, my son, and be wise,
    and set your heart on the right path:
²⁰ Do not join those who drink too much wine
    or gorge themselves on meat,
²¹ for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
    and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

²² Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.
²³ Buy the truth and do not sell it—
    wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
²⁴ The father of a righteous child has great joy;
    a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
²⁵ May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!

²⁶ My son, give me your heart
    and let your eyes delight in my ways,
²⁷ for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
    and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
²⁸ Like a bandit she lies in wait
    and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

We hear a lot today about "wellness."  There are resorts and cruises that offer to train you in healthy activities, magazine articles that trumpet healthy recipes and tips for living, and oh-so-many commercials and ads for the latest exercise routine or exercise product. They all make extravagant promises --- it's enough to make your head swim!

In fact, if you are a person trying to implement a new routine, or a new diet, or some other instructions that promise you a "healthy new you" or that promise increased over-all wellness, you just might feel like that gerbil up there . . .
Solomon gives a pretty good "wellness" handbook in these verses: he says that we should implement a wise lifestyle -- a Spirit-filled life. We need to evaluate several things:

•    What we eat and drink (he advises against drunkeness and gluttony)
•    Whom we listen to (he says listen to our father)
•    How we live (live a life of truth, wisdom and discipline)
•    What we think about (give me your heart)
•    What we look at (let your eyes delight in my ways)

Aren't these things that we've heard from our heavenly Father in other Scriptures? Perhaps if you have time today, you can search for some verses that illustrate each of these five points. Let's compare notes tomorrow . . .
              

Praxis - rolling up our sleeves

I'm interested many times in words and their origins and meanings....I admit it; I'm a bit of a word nerd. I love to read, and raised three kiddos that love it, too. I have even seen one of them reading a dictionary.  Does that make some of you sad? (Grin)
Recently I heard the term "praxis" used.  Praxis usually refers to the process of putting theoretical or philosophical knowledge into practice. Hmmm, that sounds a lot like what we do in our Christian lives, to me!

Our “praxis” is the practical application and use of what is given to us by our Father. Paul says in Corinthians that the gifts are given to be used "for the common good," not just collected, admired, buried or envied. Not one of us, as a believer, lives to herself or dies to herself. A hallmark of a genuine member of Christ's body is that we are active members.
The kind of "roll up your sleeves" activity that we are talking about, is much more than just showing up at a worship service.  It is taking part; it is ministering your gift to the needs of others in the body of Christ, and outside of that body, too.

Paul gave a perfect illustration of this in his letter to the Corinthians: he used the analogy of the human body.
The eye may be attached, but if it doesn't see, what good is it? The foot may still be connected, but if it can't bear weight to walk, what use is it? Your heart may still be present in your chest, but if it’s not beating, it’s no use to you. The reason for its existence is to beat—to pump blood to the body.
There is a huge diversity in the gifts that are given to believers; we are all to be active. We are each part of the whole; we need to serve others in love.
Perhaps this is something that you can write in your journal:

• What are your gifts?
• What can you do to help others?
• What do you care about?
• What are you alert to?
• What do others appreciate most about you?

After you consider those questions, and come up with your own answers, then you can determine if you are actively using your gifts.  Try to honestly decide: are you strengthening others, and helping them serve the Lord?
Paul listed some of the Spirit's gifts: preaching, serving, teaching, exhorting, comforting, contributing, leading, showing mercy, and more. (I Cor. 12:28-30)

Personally, I don't know what gifts you may have. That is between you and the Lord. But I do know the gifts that I have been given, and one of mine is teaching; another is exhorting. I am sure that some of my family and friends wish I'd been spooned out some more tactfulness, but I do the best that I can. (Grin)
So, that is why I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to talk to all of you (and myself, in good measure) on this blog. I've rolled up my sleeves and I'm trying my best to improve myself and to serve all of you.
I feel very honored to have all of you along for the journey. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Proverbs 23:17-18 A certainty, not just a hope

¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
¹⁸ There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off. 

These verses made me think of an old hymn, that speaks about what we hope for, as Christians. And yet, it is not just a hope -- it is a certainty that we can cling to, and we can depend upon.

Paul wrote this in Romans:

Romans 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

How wonderful it will be when our hope becomes a reality!
 

Love divine, so great and wondrous,
Deep and mighty, pure, sublime;
Coming from the heart of Jesus—
Just the same thro’ tests of time.

 He the pearly gates will open,
So that I may enter in;
For He purchased my redemption
And forgave me all my sin.

Like a sparrow hunted, frightened,
Weak and helpless— such was I;
Wounded, fallen, yet He healed me—
He will heed the sinner’s cry.

Love divine, so great and wondrous!
All my sins He then forgave;
I will sing His praise forever,
For His blood, His pow’r to save.

In life’s eventide, at twilight,
At His door I’ll knock and wait;
By the precious love of Jesus
I shall enter heaven’s gate.

Wishing you God's blessings and peace, this weekend!

Proverbs 23:12-16 3 tips for parents

12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. 
14 Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death. 
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; 
16 my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

I really like how Matthew Henry's commentary groups these verses together -- it makes a lot of sense to me.  He says that in these verses we find:
                         1. A parent instructing a child
                         2. A parent correcting a child
                         3. A parent encouraging a child
Our children and our grandchildren need to have God's Word placed in their hearts, in their minds and on their lips daily.  Why? For instruction and correction, and for the Spirit to utilize to help them in the future. The rod of correction won't hurt him or her, if done in a loving manner, not in anger, but the Bible is key even in that situation:
Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
If we keep the nurturing and the attitude of being an example to our children uppermost in our mind, I think it will be hard to go wrong. If we avoid doing things because of our own opinion, or our friend's opinion, or our boss's opinion --- and instead rely on God's Word, we will stay on the right path.
When I read these verses I feel that Solomon is saying that after instruction and correction, it is vitally important to encourage our children. We need to make certain that they know when we notice they did something right. We need to point out and praise the good, the honest, and the caring things they do and say.  We've had people say, laughing, that our family is the "hugging-est" family they've seen -- and I am not embarrassed about that; I'm happy! Hugs can comfort, encourage, and love someone through a rough spot!
As parents, we are joyful when a child chooses wisdom and righteousness, just as Solomon said in verse 15 --- and when that child speaks wisely, how glad the parent is! We also feel relief and gladness when, having chosen to do wrong, our child turns away from the wrong - and does what is right.
Just imagine God’s joy when we trust in Christ or when a Christian turns from sin!
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.

Freedom is not free!

Here in the United States, we are celebrating the Fourth of July! What does that conjure up in your mind? Flags? Fireworks? Picnics? The Declaration of Independence?
July 4, 1776 was the date that our "founding fathers" signed the Declaration, having made a resolution to separate from Britain two days earlier. Listen to what John Adams, who would later succeed George Washington as president, wrote to his wife, Abigail:

. . . I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

The story goes that a woman approached Benjamin Franklin as he left the Convention, and asked him, "Well, Dr. (Franklin) what do we have, a republic, or a monarchy?" He replied, "A republic, madam, if you can keep it."

And it's the keeping of it that has been so costly. Brave men and women since then have fought, prayed, lived and died, to keep this republic free. Ronald Reagan put it so well:

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

Freedom is not free.

There is another kind of freedom that was also bought with an enormous price -- when Christ paid our debt, to purchase forgiveness and freedom from sin for all of us.

John 8: 32, 36: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Christ's sacrifice on the cross set us free from the Law, and from the "sin that does so easily beset us."

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Jesus paid the ultimate price --- His sinless life, death, and resurrection take away our sin. 

Freedom isn't free.  Let's celebrate with thankful hearts!

Proverbs 23: 10-11 He doesn't miss a thing

¹⁰ Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
¹¹ for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.

Remember the old gospel song, "His Eye is on the Sparrow"?  I always enjoyed (I know I am dating myself here; I heard it as a child) hearing Ethel Waters sing this song as a part of the Billy Graham crusades on television, but I could not find as good a quality version of her singing as I'd hoped, to share with you. But, if you've not heard it before, here she is: 



Wasn't she precious?  Did you know that in His word, God made special provisions for the fatherless, and for those truly destitute? You need to first understand a little of the culture of the ancient Mid East . .  .

When a woman of that era lost her husband, she was a bit of a "non-person" after that. It seems harsh now when we consider it, but that is the way it was. Soon the creditors would come knocking, and bills would need to be paid. Without her husband/bread winner, she would be truly alone, a "widow indeed,"and it wouldn't be long before the property (farmland, vineyards, workshop) that had provided for her and any children, would have to be sold. God's Word made plans for any who was related to the widow, to come forward and be a "kinsman redeemer," to pay the debt. (In Leviticus chapter 25 we see the process where the redeemer could preserve the property for a man in debt, or for a widow. Boaz did this for Naomi, in the book of Ruth.)

So, here you have a picture of a person, or people, who are helpless. And you see, too, that there is someone who is involved, and caring, and mighty to save. I hope you have time to look up these verses, either now or later:
Deuteronomy 10:18
Psalm 10:14
Psalm 146:9
Not only should this remind us to keep a special place in our hearts for the fatherless, and to help them when we our blessings will allow it --- but doesn't it remind us of our great Redeemer? The One who gave His all to save us? And just as the song says, He doesn't miss a thing.

"His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."
He truly cares for you.

Proverbs 23:9 What we should do with those pearls . . .

I thought the NIV gave us the most easily understood translation today:

⁹ Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.

At first glance, this verse would seem to go against some of what we've talked about in the past. We have discussed how to get wisdom, and how to then guide others with that instruction. We've been encouraged to help others, to speak good counsel to them, and to assist them in finding wisdom.

But this verse seems to be saying "don't bother!"  What gives?

I began to understand it more completely when I studied the roots and meanings of the words. The word here carries the meaning of one who "hates wisdom and despises morality," even "casting off the fear of God," and then "committing evil, while making fun of sin and God's instruction."  Wow.  Pretty strong words, no?

So, we are not talking about someone who, when confronted with his mistakes, is open to correction. Oh, no. This is someone who will make sport of discipline, and throw off any correction like a sailor casting off a line.

This is the type of person that we are warned to not "cast our pearls before" because they are virtually unchangeable. But there is one thing that we can do for them --- and it's not a waste of time. Pray for them!  The Spirit can change their hearts, and then change their lives. 


Do you know someone like this? Have you tried to witness to them with your life, and with your words? Then let's be sure to pray for them - they are beloved of the Father, and He wants them to come to Him.