Prov. 23:4-5 Like chasing seagulls

⁴ Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
    do not trust your own cleverness.
⁵ Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
    for they will surely sprout wings
    and fly off to the sky like an eagle. 

It always made me smile to see kids at the beach when they first see a flock of gulls. Toddlers generally think that these are really nice birds and they want to get closer to them - maybe even pet them. After all, Fido is a nice dog, and he likes it when we pet him, right? The birds must be aching to be patted.
So they scamper up to the flock, only to see them rise and fly a few feet, then settle down again, further away.  Toddler pauses, surveys the situation, and takes off again. Over and over the scenario is repeated, and the only thing that is really happening is that the child is getting tired - wearing himself or herself out.

Solomon is cautioning his son about riches -- or rather, about the pursuit of them.  He's saying that you'll wear yourself out working to get rich . . . and the more you have, the more you will want. It will be as if the riches were birds, and they flew away, leaving you wanting more.

He's also saying that riches are temporary. In these days of unsettling economic news, you can be rich one moment, and lose it in the next moment. Just like those seagulls, your wealth can be a fleeting thing.

Is Solomon saying that we should not be wealthy? No. Is he saying that we should avoid making the getting of wealth our primary focus, and avoid wearing ourselves out striving for more? Yes!

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."  (Matt 6:33)
Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

Proverbs 23: 1-3, 6-8 Watching what you eat - not what they eat

1 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
3 Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.

6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
do not crave his delicacies;
7 for he is the kind of person
who is always thinking about the cost.
"Eat and drink," he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten
and will have wasted your compliments.

Sometimes we need to start with the context of a verse or section of verses. At first glance we see that as a king in ancient times, Solomon was advising his son on good behavior, or etiquette, when dining. We'll see later that it was more than just an etiquette lesson, but first let's look at the surface of these verses.

Anyone besides me remember the classic movie, Ben Hur? (I liked the book better, just sayin'!) Do you recall the scene where Judah is in the tent of the rich Bedouin, enjoying a sumptuous feast? My kiddos always rolled with laughter when Judah was expected to belch AGAIN. After all, one belch meant the meal was absolutely no good, and he didn't enjoy it - and his host would have been so insulted! (For those of you who haven't seen the movie, he was able to get out one more and avoid embarrassment.)
I think we can agree that some of the customs of that day seem strange to us, and there were probably other "rules" that were to be followed when dining with a king or an important man. So, on the surface, Solomon is reminding his son to "mind his P's and Q's" at dinner.

Since he is encouraging moderation and temperance in the sight of "dainties" I think that we can safely apply this to our lives as well . . . it's best for us to refrain from eating to excess, and it's also good to be aware of what we are putting into our bodies --- we're told that they are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and we need to keep them in good working order!

The second group of verses tells us about a host who is ungracious; perhaps he is a miser, and so to entertain others will use up his precious monies, and he, thinking only of the cost, begrudges them the dainties.  Solomon has already told us that it's better to have a simple meal of herbs -- than to dine where there is no true welcome, no loving companionship.

That brings me to my last point for today --- as Christians, perhaps we should give good attention to our own attitude: are we hospitable? Are we gracious and generous, when we invite others to partake of the blessings on our table?
I was talking to a friend about their church, and they told me of a conflict over this very issue.  Many of their members were whole-heartedly supporting  (with time and money) an effort to provide food and meals to families and individuals "within the shadow of the steeple." One or two members, however, were very vocal about their concern: that the meals might have been taken to someone who actually had money to purchase food, but may have squandered it on other things; even for illegal things.  I found myself agreeing with my friend, who remarked that the food did give them a chance to speak to, and witness to, these people --- they might not have any other way of reaching out to them, so why begrudge them the food?  It would seem to be a better choice to be gracious in giving, and to witness to them about our Father.
After all, Jesus told us that if we offered food or drink in His name, it is as if we did it for Him. (Matthew 25)

I think I will try to watch what I eat -- but not watch (keep track of) what "they" eat!

Prayer is so vital

I just really felt like the Lord was telling me to devote this day's study to prayer.  Here in the South, Wednesdays are often "prayer meeting" days for many of the churches. Folks meet and sing some hymns, and then there is a time that they can voice their requests for prayer.

Sometimes a request is shared, that has a name you can hang your hat on. A sickness, some grief, a decision that needs to be made.
Sometimes a request can be so personal - so much a matter between that person and God, that it is voiced simply as an "unspoken" request.

All of us are sisters in Christ, and can help to "bear one another's burdens" by seeking the Lord in prayer, and lifting up the requests that we are aware of. When Tonya started this study blog, she wrote a page called "How to Pray" that can be found on the list on the right-hand side of the main page. Click there and read her thoughts on prayer, and the guidelines that she listed --- the ACTS reminders for our prayer time.

I'd like to offer some verses about prayer. I'm sure they are familiar to you:
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing. in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

And as I alluded to earlier, in Galations 6:2, Paul reminds us to "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

We can learn from Christ's example: Luke tells us that Jesus went away to the mountain to spend all night in prayer.

I hope you will set aside a few moments today, perhaps now, perhaps later.  Clear your mind of all distractions, and begin by telling the Lord of your adoration of Him. Don't worry if you can't find just the right words --- Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us when we can't say what we want to say to Him.
Continue by confessing your sin -- your prayers can't be effective if you are holding on to some sin that would distance you from Jesus.
Thank Him for His mercy, His grace, and His love for you. Step out in faith, and thank Him for the answers that He will provide for you.
Then ask Him your specific requests. Pour out your heart to God, and let His peace fill you.  Claim the promise of I John 5: 14-15:
And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 

Please contact me by email if you have a request that you would like for us to pray for. Or leave me a comment asking me to follow up with you -- I will, and I will post your request on the Prayer page of this blog. Also check the Prayer Request page, and if a request is out of date, please let me know so that I can keep the page up to date for all of us.
Prayer is so vital. We can be prayer warriors, and be blessings to each other. We are most powerful on our knees. 

Proverbs 22:29 Do you take God with you to work?

²⁹ Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.

When I read this verse, some other verses about working and giving glory to God popped into my mind; I began to really study. 
Do you think that God really cares what kind of "workmen" we are?  Is our work really important to Him?  Should we act and react in any certain ways in our workplace, because we are Christians? Is this something that we should view as important, whether we work outside or inside the home?


Yes, yes, yes, and yes!  (To all four questions, I mean!)

Today I hope you will join me in opening the Bible and searching for some "proofs." It's important to know what we believe, and it is equally important to know why we believe it! You may want to include some of these in your journal if you keep one (and I hope you do!).


First of all, we are called to be excellent workers. It doesn't matter if we are working in our house raising children or grandchildren, making a home, or running a small business. It also doesn't matter if our work is outside the home, in any vocation. We are called.


Check out these verses:
Proverbs 6:6-11 
II Chronicles 31:20-21
Romans 12:11

Secondly, we are representatives of God and His kingdom. Somewhere, sometime, there is someone watching you --- it's up to you to be a good testimony to what God has done for you!
Here are your verses:
Matthew 5:16
Proverbs 10:26
I Thessalonians 4:11-12
I Corinthians 6:20

Lastly --- who are we working for? For God, not for man. Check these out to confirm this fact:
I Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 6:7-8
Colossians 3:17-25

I know that digging is hard work, but I think the results are great! You never know when one of these verses will come to mind and help you.
We have an awesome opportunity to elevate what we do, from drudgery or commonplace, to something that will glorify Him! He wants to work with us; He wants to bless the work of our hands; and He wants to allow us to bring glory to His name.
This reminds me to look at my work in a different way -- how about you?

Prov 22: 28 Old Fashioned

²⁸ Do not move an ancient boundary stone
    set up by your ancestors.

In Solomon's day, boundary stones, or large piles of stones, marked the boundaries of a person's land.  They were a dividing line, or a line that marked something extremely important. 

To move a boundary stone was, in effect, stealing someone else's land. And since God divided up the Promised Land for the children of Israel, it was a pretty big deal to start messing around with boundary lines that He set out.

As the generations were born, lived, and died, there may have been some in the land that thought those "old piles of rock" were not important any more.  Kind of reminds me of the way some folks think about Christian values and principles in our day.

I'm old fashioned. How about you? Do you feel that the old "boundary stones" are out of style? Or not?


How about the boundary stone called the Bible? Do we treasure it as the Word of God, and spend time studying it -- or do we feel it is it not as relevant as it needs to be, in this modern world? Do we utilize it to know right and wrong, and believe earnestly in its truths?

How about the boundary stone of our salvation, and faith in Christ? Are we as happy, and as "jazzed up" about His forgiving our sins as we once were? Do we realize that as Christians, we are to be different from the world? Do we make an effort to live lives that will point others to Him, and do we speak a word for Him when we are afforded an opportunity?  Or do we try to push that boundary stone a little further, so something that we want to do, will appear "OK"?


And how about the boundary stone of the God we serve . . . do we believe that He is, and always will be, here for us? Do we believe that He sees all that we do? There may be times that we emphasize the outward, instead of the inward, but most of the time, are we concerned most about pleasing God, or about pleasing men? 


Lastly, what about the boundary stone that Paul called our "hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:7)  Because our heavenly Father reconciled us to Himself through Jesus, how should we then live? Are we, as Jesus said, "laying up treasure" in heaven?  Are we like Paul, and living in this world, with our eyes "on the prize"?


I'm glad for the old-fashioned landmarks and boundary stones, aren't you?

Prov 22:26-27 Money matters

²⁶  Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge
    or puts up security for debts;
²⁷ if you lack the means to pay,
    your very bed will be snatched from under you. 

I've studied this and other verses that relate to it, and I believe that Solomon is cautioning his son (and us) against unwise financial decisions.  Notice that I didn't say that he is telling us all debt is sin. 


Quite frankly, I think that there are times in our lives when we simply must "sign on the dotted line" --- but that can't happen unless there has been a lot of researching and soul searching first!  


We've talked before about the need for good stewardship; we've discussed how we must first decide if a purchase is a "need" or a "want."  We've also discussed how it is wise to research the purchase, from all angles, and make an informed decision.  Lastly, we have discussed how important prayer is, when making a financial decision.


You see, one thing has been impressed upon me in my studies . . . debt is not the sin. It is allowing ourselves to be slaves to that debt that is sinful. In our world, people agonize over their credit scores, and believe that they must be able to continue to purchase and "get more stuff" to keep up with their neighbors. They've lost sight of the peace that comes from being content with what we have.


I once heard a very old country preacher who told a story about a grocer he knew in a small town. This grocer had customers from all walks of life, and from all occupations. Rich and poor, they all needed what he had, since his was the only mercantile for miles around.  The grocer confided in the preacher one day, saying, "I wish I had more customers like Mr. Finney there."  Since Mr. Finney was a notorious moonshiner, the preacher was surprised, and inquired why the grocer should want more customers like him. "Well, he pays me what I ask, and cheerful-like, too. The customers that talk all day about church, and about being Christians; they don't pay their bill till I ask 'em over and over again, and then they act mad when they pay up."


Paul exhorted the New Testament believers to conduct themselves in ways that would not bring reproach on the Gospel.  In Romans 13:7 he said, "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

Obviously Christians can make mistakes. In those cases, I think that our Lord expects them to simply do their best to pay their debts.  It makes me sad when I hear Christians talk "down" about someone who is struggling to pay their debts, and to do the right thing.  The first thing that enters my mind is that we all have a huge debt. Every one of us. And you know what? We can never, ever repay this one. You know what I mean . . .

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

That debt of grace. That's the one.  And that is what should bind us together in unity. We're all in this together.

Prov 22: 24-25 Choosing Carefully

²⁴ Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
    do not associate with one easily angered,
²⁵ or you may learn their ways
    and get yourself ensnared. 

What do you think of, when I say the word "friend"?

Does your mind go back to a childhood buddy that shared hours of mud-puddle fun with you? To a teen companion that weathered the turbulent years with you? To a person who is a vital part of your life today?
Friends add so much meaning to our lives. They can bring joy to us, share our problems, and add to our experiencing the world around us. What would we do if great things happened in our lives -- a child graduates, we get a new job, we are honored with an award -- and there was no one to share the news with?
In contrast, what can give you more relief in a time of grief or frustration than talking to a friend? Friends can be mirrors; they can be sounding boards, and they can even be guideposts.
Choosing a friend is not an easy task . . . it is vitally important to be careful when we choose the people who we will associate with. The Assyrians were a nation that Solomon was familiar with, and they repeated an old proverb that said, "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are." Later on in Proverbs (27:17) we'll see that just as "iron sharpens iron," so our friends shape who we are.
Sometimes I wonder as I read certain verses if Solomon was speaking from personal experience. Perhaps he knew someone who was "hot-tempered" and easily angered. Perhaps he had needed to take care, so that he, Solomon, was not greatly influenced by that person, and did not become trapped by that type of behavior.
What can happen to a person easily angered? How can they be "ensnared"? Well, one thing that can happen is that they lash out in their anger and say or do something to hurt other people --- even people that they love. In the moment that their anger is white-hot, they may not even realize what they say, or how they say it. When the tempest subsides, they will need to make amends - if they can.  Secondly, a hot-tempered person can damage their own health. Jumping to conclusions and getting angry raises the blood pressure and sets off chemical reactions within the body. It takes time to repair those damages, too.
It's a fine line that we walk, as Christians. We want to help others, and assist them in discovering Christ and living for Him. At the same time, we need to insure that our friends -- the people we spend the most time with, and the people that we bare our hearts to -- are friends that encourage us to reveal the best within us, not ones that influence us to "learn their ways" and become ensnared in sin.  Good advice from an ancient king.