"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion.
Proverbs 8:12

How gullible are you?  Here is a verse in Proverbs that tells us that being wise and godly are actually the opposite of being gullible.  If that has whet your appetite for more - read on.

In chapter 8 of Proverbs we have a picture painted for us where wisdom is personified.  She speaks to us and tells us about herself.  The more we learn of her - the more we are to desire her.  In the midst of this description we have wisdom saying to us that there is a companion that she dwells with.  Her companion's name is "prudence."  If we will stay with these two, wisdom and prudence. we will be influenced in such a way that we will also find knowledge and discretion.  Let's take a closer look at this friend of wisdom.

Prudence is the Hebrew word, "ormah."  This word means to be crafty or prudent.  We're pretty much OK with the second of these two words, but crafty presents an interesting picture.  We don't usually view someone who is crafty as a positive thing, but here it is used in a positive way.  The idea here is that of someone who is crafty with wisdom and with seeing things from God's perspective.  Whereas the wicked would use craftiness to trick someone and gain an unfair advantage of them, God is using it to speak of the inability to be caught by someone's trickery.  It is a wisdom and cautiousness that keeps us from being gullible.  We are not speaking of someone who is always thinking the worst of people - but we are speaking of someone who knows men.  It was said of Jesus that he did not entrust himself to men - because He knew what was in a man. 

Let me use a biblical illustration to make this clearer.  Joshua was tricked into making a treaty in the book of Joshua chapter 9.  The Gibeonites used trickery to make it look like they were from a far away country.  They put on worn-out clothes and sandals, took worn-out sacks, and dry and crumbled provisions to make Israel think they were not Canaanites.  Israel was snookered by all this - only because her leaders did not walk according to wisdom.  The Scriptures tell us that their failure was in not seeking and asking God about their situation.  They took everything at face value - and believed their eyes.  They did not seek the Lord and submit themselves to Him.  In the end - their lack of prudence led to their being too gullible. 

Wisdom dwells with prudence.  Wisdom is found with those who do not make "snap" judgments and decisions.  They stand back from things long enough to ask questions - and more importantly - to ask God about what their eyes see and what their minds seem to be comprehending.  Thus, when we walk with this wise cautiousness - we are led to find knowledge.  We are led to find out things that a "once-over" mindset and choice will never find.  You don't judge a book by its cover - you open it and read a little.  You don't make wise decisions by reacting to the outside only - you take time to investigate things, people, and situations.  When we walk in this wisdom - prudence will also help us to find discretion.  We remember discretion from earlier verses in Proverbs.  Discretion is being able to differentiate things.  It is seeing two things that may look alike at first, but are not.  Closer examination reveals the difference.  And the difference often makes all the difference. 

Being gullible is not something we have to hold onto in life.  It is something that reveals a tendency to not turn to God and to Scripture to obtain wisdom - i.e. God's perspective on things.  You do not have to suffer from terminal gullibility though.  You can learn to step back and examine things closer in the light of God's presence and Word.  This will help you to build purdence, knowledge, and the ability to discriminate between that which is good and that which is evil or even not so good.  You will find out that gullible is not written on the ceiling.  What you will find is that God's Word and Spirit will help you see the difference between your will, the will and way of the world, and God's will.   

He who keeps the law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. Proverbs 28:7

Here is an interesting proverb for us.  In it we find comments about discernment, the Law, gluttons, and the way we represent our families, our fathers in particular.  Yet, all of it boils down to how we maintain a relationship with the Word of God. 

The entire proverb hinges on the first statement.  Here we see a son who "keeps the law."  What is it that this son is doing?  The word for keep is the Hebrew "natsar" and it means that he guards the Word in his life.  He does this by living a life that seeks to obey the Word.  He also is seeking to preserve the Word and its effects in his life.  He does this by hiding the Word in his heart - keeping it in his mind - and realizing that the Word (here the law) is entrusted to him.  Thus he wants to "maintain" a relationship with God's Word.  This is more than just a casual relationship that this son wants to maintain with the Word.  He is longing to protect the way that the Word impacts his life - desiring to maximize it as well!  Because of this - the Word says that this son is discerning.  When we have this kind of ongoing relationship with God's Word - we are putting ourselves in line to being someone with a fair amount of discernment from God.  But why is this the case? 

There is an inherent blessing that comes to us when we "keep the Word" in our lives.  Think about the practices that this involves.  We have a mindset that wants to guard obedience to the Word and what God has said to us today.  We take the time to memorize and meditate on the Word each day.  In the end the Word begins to fill our minds and our thoughts.  We find our thinking processes being transformed by what God says - and we consider what He says as worth guarding and protecting in our lives.  As a result when things happen in this young man's life - he filters it through the Word.  He asks fascinating questions like, "Will this please God," or "Am I glorifying God while doing this?"  He wants to see all of his actions and attitudes agree with what the law says.  He sees it not just as a "have to" situation - but because his heart has worked to keep the law near - it becomes a "want to" one as well. 

This young man will experience the blessing of discernment.  He will have that ability to look at two things that differ - and see the difference in light of the law of God.  He will be able to discern what pleases God and what displeases Him - what delights His heart and what breaks it.  What is even better is that he learns to choose what delihts the heart of his Father!

The contrary of this thought is really interesting.  The opposite is a son who humiliates his father by being a companion of gluttons.  OK - didn't see that one coming when I read the first part of this - but let's take a few moments to break it down and discern wisdom. 

First something indirect we should notice.  If this young man's activities an companionship humiliates his father - it must mean that the father was actively seeking to teach him differently.  Dad was wanting his son to have the law as a guidepost for his son.  He was teaching and training his son to be a young man who could discern God's will through His law.  Thus we come to an interesting question for fathers.  Are you training your sons to be discerning young men who approach all in this world with the Word of God as a filter and a guide?  That is not the main point here - but it is one that is implied.

The main point here though is that the son who is a companion of gluttons will humiliate his father.  A couple of things that a wise man knows.  First he knows that those whom he chooses to be his companions matters.  If he makes the wrong choices about those who are his friends - he will be harmed by it.  Bad company corrupts good morals.  Godless companions will bring about a godless lifestyle in the end.  Minister to the godless - but let your companions be those who honor God and who desire to obey His Word.

Who are these "gluttons?"  The Hebrew word is "zalal" which means to be vile, frivilous, gluttonous, or worthless.  The word was used in Deuteronomy 21:20 to describe a son who is worthless in his character and gluttonous.  A similar word was used to those who drank too much.  It is the opposite of what is useful, valuable, or precious.  This is the word used to describe the foolish son's friends and companions.  They are definitely bad characters - whose character is bad.  They give themselves to excess (thus the word gluttony) and the excess that they embrace is an excess of godlessness and worthless things.  Since this word is set over against the son who watches and keeps God's law - the companions of the foolish son are overindulgent in their appetites for evil.  They are godless - and they take their godlessness to the extreme.

The son who keeps company with such men will humiliate his father.  He will live the life of a profligate - giving himself to the same excess of the flesh and the world that they do.  He will embrace the godlessness - and in so doing will break the heart of his father. 

There is good news in all this though.  Jesus spoke of a son who embraced these kind of companions - and who demanded his inheritance so that he could pay for all the wickedness that money could buy.  His father allowed him to walk away - rich yet very stupid.  His father, I'm sure, was humiliated by his son's godless conduct.  But in this story - the prodigal son wound up wishing he could eat the food that he was feeding to the pigs.  He decided that his godless lifestyle had brought him little joy - and much sorrow and disgrace.  As he returned home to beg forgiveness - and offer himself as a slave to his father - he experienced an astounding thing.  His father had been praying and waiting for his return.  When the father saw this prodigal son, he ran to him and embraced him.  What we learn from this is that even a foolish son who shames his father - is loved by the Father.  He is watching ahd waiting for his return.  Though his actions shamed Him - the Father still loved his son - and rejoiced when he returned.  Wisdom tells us to steer clear of godless companions.  But even though many of us ignore this and walk headlong into sin and wickedness - the Father still waits and watches.  He works so as to bring His wayward sons home.  Those who come and see the radical difference living for Christ makes - embrace the wisdom of turning to God and finding grace and mercy ready to run to them when they arrive in repentance toward God.  So, even if you have been a fool with your companions - and have been corrupted as a result - know that God loves you and is willing to forgive and restore!

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. Proverbs 19:8

How does the Bible teach us to love ourselves?  Here is an interesting question because there are some who think that before we can ever love someone else, we have to love ourselves.  Personally, I find that kind of teaching to be contrary to sound wisdom.  The reason I feel this way is because those who are taught such things spend all their time going deeper inward to determine if they love themselves enough.  The problem with this kind of psycho-babble is that happiness comes when we are no longer consumed with ourselves and learn to give our lives for others and for the glory of God.  A person who constantly goes inward to determine if they love themselves properly will have precious little time to love others.  It is usually a downward spiral that can lead to a person being consumed by a desire for their own happiness.  Jesus said that if we love our lives we will lose them - but if we lose our lives for Him and for His kingdom's sake, we will gain them for all eternity.  But this passage in Proverbs genuinely speaks of loving our own soul.  So what exactly is God teaching us here?

The translation here reads, "He who gets wisdom . . . " yet the actual word translated wisdom is the Hebrew word, "leb" which refers to the heart.  What Solomon was seeking to say is that the one who gets a heart - the right kind of heart - loves his own soul.  Here is where we need to grasp what the Bible says about our hearts.  We learn from the whole counsel of Scripture some very interesting things about the human heart. 

First, we learn that our hearts are messed up due to the fall of man into sin.  Jeremiah tells us that the heart is wicked and desperately evil, and is impossible to understand with our own wisdom.  (Jeremiah 17:9)  To plumb the depths of our hearts - without grasping the wickedness of sinful man - will get you no where.  That is why secular psychology will yield very little in dealing with the true human condition.  None of the major psychological constructs admits that man is a sinner - and that the real problem with humanity is a sin problem - a rebellion against God.  The next thing we learn is that God Almighty can understand the heart - and has done what is necessary to change it and transform it.  The change for the heart is available by faith in Jesus Christ.  God takes out of us our heart of stone, that does not respond to God's Word or commandments.  In its place God miraculously puts a heart of flesh that has the very commandments of God written upon it.  Thus we are regenerated in Christ with a new heart and a desire to do what He commands.  The other lesson that God teaches us in His Word is that once we are saved, our hearts and minds need to be renewed by the Word and the work of His Spirit.  While we are here on earth, we will face temptation and a constant battle with the three enemies of our soul, the world-system, the flesh, and the devil.  Because of the way that these three things want to influence our minds toward sin, it is imperative that we renew our minds with the truth - which is God's Word.  Actually, this is the way we "get heart."

We "get heart" when we begin to understand God's wisdom and God's ways.  We no longer try in our own strength to deal with the myriad of temptations and trials that come to our hearts.  We know that such an endeavor is doomed to be fruitless.  Instead, we embrace what God has done in Jesus Christ.  We embrace godly wisdom and understanding.  As we do this we are actively loving our own soul!  Remember that Jesus said that if we want to save our "fleshly" lives in this world - we will lose them.  But the one who chooses to lose his soul - who dies to self - and who embraces a regenerated heart - that man loves himself in the end.  He embraces an understanding of life that has conversion and regeneration at its core.  As he does this - he finds good!  He learns to die to himself - and die to the desires of the flesh.  He learns that when his heart is drawn by temptation to a worldly point of view that he needs to reject it.  He chooses instead to "not love the world or the things of the world."  He goes to the Word of God to renew his mind so that he proves that the will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect.  He faces the lies and deceit of the devil and learns to expose them for what they are.  He chooses instead a life instructed by the Scriptures.  He spends time in the Word so that he is walking with "understanding" at all times. 

The two words "keeps understanding" are very beneficial to know here.  He "keeps" understanding points to the fact that he watches over it - guards it - and is constantly on the lookout for anything that would detract from God's ways and will in his life.  He keeps "understanding" points to the fact that he desires a discernment from God on all things.  The word "understanding" is the Hebrew "tebunah" which means to discern or understand how things differ.  He looks at every choice wanting to discern the difference between his flesh and the Spirit of God.  He wants to discern the difference between the kingdoms of this world vs. the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.  He longs to discern the difference between his own desires and those given by the Lord.  He yearns to grasp the difference between sin and righteousness - between glorifying self and glorifying God. 

This is the way to love yourself.  You love your own soul by protecting and guarding it from the tyranny of self.  You choose instead to embrace God's wisdom in the heart.  You decide that you will guard and protect yourself from anything that turns you even slightly from a life lived for the glory of God - from a life lived for the kingdom of God - and a life lived by the Spirit of God as He teaches and leads you by the Word of God.  Want to love yourself?  That is the way to do it!

A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers. Proverbs 17:8

Bribes are interesting things in the world around us.  I remember going on a trip to Mexico and experiencing the power of a bribe.  I watched as our group was slowed to a halt at the border.  It was very apparent that we were going to be held up for a long amount of time unless a bribe was paid.  Fortunately for us (because the border guards were talking hours before they would let us through - if even allowing us at all) the people who took us knew of these shady dealings and had money actually budgeted for bribes if they were necessary.  Once the money was paid, the wheels were greased and we were taken through customs (where we knew we had every passport and visa in order) and were on our way to minister to those for whom we had come to minister. 

A bribe is like a charm in the sight of its owner.  That charm often takes a situation where you are stalled or opposed and turns it around.  Suddenly you are moved from a stalled status - to a faorable one.  You are afforded favor where once there was no favor.  Now realize that Solomon is not saying that this is something wonderful - for elsewhere in the Scriptures we read where those who will receive bribes are those who pervert justice in doing so.  But as with some of the Proverbs - this book was written to speak of the basic behavior of men - and the blessing of knowing this behaior in advance. 

There is something that needs to be said about bribes though.  We read where Solomon speaks of how a bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner.  The "briber" here is thinking that his bribe will get him whatever he wants.  There are two instances where this will not be the case.  In fact, in these two cases a bribe will be seen as offensive and degrading.  The first place is with a just and righteous man.  To him a bribe says two things.  First it says that the men with whom he is dealing is not an honorable man.  He is not willing to let his character and works stand on their own.  He feels the need to help things along with money.  The second case is at the throne of God.  There is no payment that is enough to bribe God.  He is holy and cannot be bribed or misled by some payment.  Bribes can work like charms and prosper a man when used on the ungodly.  But remember that just as the man thinks he can charm a cobra and make it do what he wants - so also that situation - that cobra can turn on him.  If a man will receive a bribe from you - he will receive a larger one from someone else.  It is better to allow your character to speak and be the reason you prosper.  To do otherwise may gain you prosperity on earth - but will never bless you in the sight of God. 

Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is good will. Proverbs 14:9

How a person views and deals with sin determines whether they are wise or they are foolish.  Here we have Solomon teaching us the important lesson that how a man views the whole concept and reality of sin is vitally important.  If we miss this - and decide how a person sees sin is not really important to us - we will find ourselves in the company of those who are fools.  We will find ourselves allowing those who think sin does not even exist - be those who counsel us as to how we should have a sound mind. 

 The fact that we are bypassing this issue - especially when it comes to our worldview - is wreaking havoc on the church.  Let me explain for a moment, because this issue is absolutely vital to us today.  How a man views sin will ultimately either bless or corrupt everything he does.  Most philosophies actually reject the idea of sin.  They see our problem as a lack of education - or a lack of opportunity for people.  Some even see the problem as believing that there is truth upon which we define and state whether actions and choices are sinful or not.  They reject the very idea of sin - and consider guilt as a root problem for all people.  The way they deal with this is to make truth an issue of individuality.  Your truth is your truth - and you are free to live however you want based on what you consider to be true.  Thus, if your truth states that there is no sin - that guilt is a bad thing - then that is true for you.  This denial of sin goes further because it asserts that no one has the right to call your truth falsehood.  You can imagine the problems this makes for a society in which everyone is a free agent, determining what is right or wrong for themselves.  Actually it is not much different from the book of Judges where there was no God and every man did what was right in his own eyes.  In this kind of society rules are constantly shifting like blowing sand.  The end of this is a state in which a growing ungodliness and lawlessness begins to take root.  By the way - this eventually leads to a culture of corruption and violence that is out of control.  The people begin calling for someone to rise up and restore order - which in turn gives rise to a dictator who then re-establishes "order" according to "his rules."  If you would like to know when this has happened in history, take a look at the Weimar Republic - which gave rise to Hitler's Germany.  It has also happened in numerous examples of dictatorships of every stripe. 

Mankind is best ruled by God's law established in their hearts by the work of His grace.  But until men come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ - it is so necessary for a Law to be established because of the wickedness of man's fallen heart.  Here we see why it is so important to define sin - and define it according to God's Word.  If God has revealed Himself in the Bible, then we know how to define righteousness - truth - and what is and what is not sin.  This becomes the bedrock of laws that are established in a nation.  But the best thing - which our founders realized - is that men's hearts be ruled according to God's law.  Our founders knew this - and thus were pinning their hopes on a heart initially ruled by God's 10 commandments.  This set of God's laws would restrain so much sin and ungodly behavior - that then a society could be ruled by fewer laws.  But where there is no law - there is no sin.  Since our nation has rejected the 10 commandments as an illegal document by which to rule our nation, then we are left to the shifting sands of public opinion and man's evil heart to govern us.  Is it any wonder that our laws continue to degrade - allowing just about any conduct to be considered legal - but not just legal - acceptable.  In the end the Bible tells us where this will go - as men call good evil and evil good.  Watch closely, dear saints, as more and more Biblical positions will be considered illegal by those who mock at sin.  But there is even a greater evil that is foisted upon us by mocking at sin.

When sin is mocked - when the whole idea of guilt is abandoned - then there is no real reason for a Savior.  The second half of this proverb states that among the upright there is "good will."  The word used here for "good will" means "the favor of God."  When the concept of sin is rejected by the philosophies of this present world - then there is no need for any kind of redemption from it.  If we are not guilty of anything before God, then it seems pretty arrogant of God to call for the death of His only Son to pay for . . . "nothing."  Follow where your philosophy ultimately leads you.  If you mock at and deny guilt and sin - and this is where it leads.  That is why we have modern day preachers in the church calling the death of Christ, "divine child abuse." 

Without sin and guilt - there is actually no wrong behavior.  But a corollary to this doctrine is that without wrong behavior - neither is there any real "upright" behavior either.  All things become neutral - and the matter of individual hearts.  You have no business in that society stating your view on anything.  To do so is to risk the danger of being called "judgmental."  The problem is that there IS WRONG BEHAVIOR!  We all know it in our conscience.  The only way to rid ourselves of this is to sear our conscience as with a hot iron. 

The fact is that there is sin - whether men mock it or not.  There is a guilt that comes with breaking God's Law.  That guilt and that offense is real - and it poses a serious problem.  According to God's Word, sin and guilt require accountability and punishment.  There is an earthly punishment meted out by men in the governmental sphere (Romans 13) - but the real problem is the divine retribution for rebellion and sin.  The good will - i.e. grace - that the upright know is one given not by works, but by grace through faith.  God has provided the way through Jesus Christ - His death, burial, and resurrection.  That is given as a gift to those who respond when God grants knowledge and conviction of sin, repentance, and faith to the sinner through the gospel.  When we look at the amazing thing God has done for us - and His infinite mercy in granting it to us - we have to come to the same conclusion that our proverb states to us today.  Only a fool would disdain this grace . . . only a fool would disregard the wonderful work of God's conviction by the Spirit . . . and mock sin.  By doing so, he also mocks the grace that is freely given to those made upright by it.  He mocks the gospel.

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. Proverbs 1:10

Here we are given an inside seat to a spectacle that takes place every day.  This event is when a fool or group of fools approach a person to entice him to join with them in their ungodly schemes.  This is something we need to see because as Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes, there really is nothing new under the son.  Men have tried to get others to join with their gang to do mischief for numerous generations.  The lies are pretty much unchanged - and yet they are good to know ahead of time so that we are not taken in by the offers of fools whose only true promise is to get us into serious trouble before everything is over.  How young people need to read these words and profit from rejecting them ahead of time.

Here a father speaks to his son to warn him against such foolish company - and against their foolish offers to "cut him in on the action."  His first instructive comment is to refer to those who do such things as "sinners."  What is instructive about this word is the comment made by Zhodiates that this word is used, "to describe those who, by their actions, are under the wrath and judgment of God and face ultimate destruction."  In Psalm 104:35 we are told that these folks will be consumed from the earth - and in Isaiah 1:28 that they will be crushed and will come to their end by the hand of God. 

The father warns that these people will come to "entice" them.  They will come with words to try to allure, persuade, and deceive.  They want to convince this young man to join with them as they plan to do their evil deeds.  This may sound all melodramatic to some who read this - but that is only because the world has done a good job of mocking this kind of talk.  They do so by overdramatizing the father or the spiritual guide - making him sound stupid when he warns of such things.  Their effectiveness has only dulled the minds of our children to those who truly will come to them with such wicked counsel.  In the end they only make it easier for the criminal and harder for the parent or mentor.  This father is doing a good thing in warning his son about this kind of interview.  His advice to his son is not to consent.  In the end the boy is going to have to make a decision on his own.  Eventually every child will leave the home and will face temptation to do evil.  If we do not instruct them - they will face this without godly counsel on their side.  This father does an admirable job of letting his son hear the enticing words ahead of time.  But the father does so with additional commentary explaining to his son just where such counsel will lead. 

Hey dad, let me ask you a question.  Are you preparing your son to face these things?  Are you taking the time to let him hear the kind of things he is going to be told - and then put them into the context of where they will take him?  There is a kind of Christian parenting that is going on today that does not think kids should be exposed to anything that is remotely wrong.  I agree with this when it comes to exposing them to such things and encouraging them to do them.  But what this godly father is doing is exposing his son to the reality of what wicked men will say to him one day.  He is letting his son know the arguments - the offers - the lies that will be told to him.  Then he is taking those statements and dismantling them before his son.  He does so by showing his son where such lies will lead him.  The warning his boy receives is a wise one - and one that we would do well to teach to our own children as well.  When we think that placing them into a world without any form of tempation of proposed evil will protect them - we may be deceiving ourselves.  One day they won't be with us - and an evil man will approach with his slick lies.  What will they do then?  Will they know how to stand and resist the lies?  Maybe . . . maybe not.  The only way we can prepare them for such a day is to teach them by exposing them to what will be said - as well as the sure judgment and destruction that comes with the lifestyle that will result.

Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all the unfortunate.  Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9

Today there is a form of theology that emphasizes social justice as its core value.  This is somewhat confusing to those who desire to walk with God on the basis of grace because it tends to make concern for the physical poor and needy the primary cause of Christianity.  As a guy who is quickly approaching the age of 50 I can tell you what the "social justice" movement is going to end up becoming.  It will eventually follow in the footsteps of the social gospel of the 60's and 70's - and every other time when the emphasis of those teaching the Scriptures moved away from the gospel of Jesus Christ and the teaching that man needs salvation from his sins.  I say this with a little hitch in my heart - because if we had just followed the teaching of the Word of God in the first place - we would not have needed an "emphasis" on social justice.

Solomon's mom tells us straight up that the godly king - and for that matter any other godly man regardless of authority and position - stands up for those who cannot defend themselves against the powerful.  Unfortunately the church from time to time forgets that when the gospel was clarified in the book of Acts the leaders also asked that as we preach the gospel we would remember the poor.  There it is - not a social justice emphasis - or a gospel of social works that needs to be taught as a substitute for the real one - but a gospel that teaches salvation by grace from our sins against God and His law.  As we go about preaching that gospel - we should also remember the poor - and minister to them accordingly.  But at no time do the leaders in Acts condone a gospel that replaces the true one with mere gracious acts to raise the social level of a man without dealing with his fallen spiritual condition.  To lifte a man socially without dealing with his core corruption of sin is to prepare a man for hell by making him enjoy earth better before he goes there. 

We are commanded to open our mouths for the mute.  The word here refers to the physical condition of being unable to speak - but the idea is metaphorical.  There are those who need an advocate.  They are mute not because of a physical disability, but due to a social one.  The unborn cannot speak for themselves - thus we must speak for them.  If they could speak they would fill the world with their screams and cries of pain and anguish as they are slaughtered by the millions within their mother's womb.  They cannot speak - therefore we MUST!  In the 60's and 70's the plight of the black man in America was thrust before the church.  Shamefully, we did not speak up for their rights - and by our silence (and too often unbiblical teaching supporting racism) we all but lost the black community to a political gospel.  When we refuse to speak out for the mute and for the rights of the unfortunate - we are setting up disaster for ourselves in future generations. 

As much as I love our nation - we made a tremendous mistake in our founding in not abolishing the practice of slavery.  We had an opportunity but did not do the right thing.  That set up the disaster of the 1860's when our nation fought a bloody war over that issue.  I know as a historian that many will complain that the war was fought over states rights, and in one way I would agree with them.  But anyone wanting to be historically and morally honest knows that the rights that the state wanted were the rights to continue an odious practice of slavery that had horrific effects on the black man in America. 

We are to open our mouths and judge righteously.  We cannot allow social mores to guide us - we must be guided by God's righteousness.  That is why the plight of the homosexual is not the same as the plight of the black man and racism.  Homosexuality is a choice - a moral choice.  It is called sin in both the Old and New Testaments.  It is not the unforgiveable sin, but it is one that Christ died to set us free from nevertheless.  Therefore whereas we can speak against those who target homosexuals for violence and hatred, we cannot say that this should be accepted as a normal lifestyle and also should be taught to our children as an acceptable ssexual choice. 

We are to defend the rights of those afflicted and needy.  In Jewish culture of that day this meant speaking out for the poor.  It meant standing up for widows and orphans who had no voice in the gate or in a judicial setting.  Money was not to speak in the place of justice, righteousness was.  When we allow our judicial system to fundamentally treat the rich different than the poor - we must speak out against that kind of abuse.  God expects it - no - God commands it.  Maybe if the church in generations past HAD spoken up for the poor, the needy, and the afflicted - we would not have to see emphases that detract from the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Although we can do little more than humbly apologize for those past oversights - we can offer hope to those who were affected by speaking out against present day abuses.  When it comes to the issues of our day we need to ask the question, "Are you speaking out - or have you suddenly lost your voice?"

 

Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die . . . Proverbs 30:7

I love people who can simplify life for me.  It is actually not difficult to make things difficult - people do it all the time.  They have a gift for taking something that should be simple - and making it incredibly complicated and hard to understand.  Then they charge you money to do what they have made difficult - since now you think there is no way that you can do it yourself.  If you are wanting the simple made difficult, this is not a proverb for you.  God has this proverb written to help us understand important life principles - and do so in two easy concepts.  In future posts I deal with the actual request - but this post I want to deal with the writer and his heart in making the request.

The writer here asks two things from God.  He has learned the blessing of economy in his relationship with God.  There are times for us to expand things out and look at multiple aspects of a live lived for God's glory.  and these two things are two principles we should remember to live a happy life and one that is founded on sound biblical footing.  This request is vital because the writer says here that these two things are things he does not want God to refuse him before he dies.  That is the last thing we can learn from this man - he is passionate about his request.

"Do not refuse me before I die!"  This is the way the writer expresses the intensity of his desire.  Lord, there are definitely two things I have to have.  I must have them before I die!  There is a passion here that often is missing in ordinary Christians.  This guy does not want to end his life without knowing and having walked out two things.  We later learn that these two things are to walk in the truth always - and to experience contentment.  As he seeks the Lord for these things, he does so with a hunger that is inspiring.  Too often in our lives we're not really sure what we're really going after and we are thinking about being committed to getting it - at least we're pretty sure that we are.  That is not what we see here.  We see a man that knows the importance of walking in truth - and walking with a contentment in what God has given him.  He knows one thing - that falsehood does not lead to a good end in life - and that running after this world does not either.  He is chasing after something much different and much more satisfying.  We learn by verse 9 that what he truly desires is to please and honor God.  He wants to live a life that acknowledges God and that will be pleasing to Him in the end. 

We so desperately need to embrace what this writer is expressing in our lives.  Do you know and can you enumerate a few things - no more than three that you absolutely have to have in life?  Is there a higher purpose for living in your life than just making it through life?  Are you bored - unchallenged by life and the goal for which you are living, or the lack thereof?  Make the time to get alone with God and hash out what really matters in your life.  Find in Him and in His purposes a reason to live!  Than, rather than just having life go by as you watch confused as to its purpose, you can go out every day and agressively give yourself to a purpose that goes far beyond life itself - it goes gloriously into eternity!

 

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich. Proverbs 28:6

Integrity and honor are character traits that are of high value in the kingdom of God.  They make a person very wealthy even though at the time they may not have a fantastic financial bottom line.  When someone is varying between two stances - which is what this passage called being "crooked," they can have all the money in the world and still be seen as far less successful than the poor man who lives a godly life.  God's way of valuing things and people is far different than that of the world.

The word "crooked" is very interesting.  The literal Hebrew means, "perverse in two ways."  What this describes is someone who is going back and forth between two opinions and two views.  According to the Theological Wordbook of the OT this term refers to the twisted and perverting nature of sin.  The word was also used to describe how a woman twists her hair for the purpose of putting it in braids.  Thus the word came to mean the way that people twist their ways and choices contrary to what God commands and desires.  The word is used to describe the way rulers "twist everything that is straight" (Micah 3:9).  In a similar Proverb about the need for integrity, this same word is used to describe how fools are perverse in their speech. 

Too often the rich think they are beyond the law - or above it because of the influence their money buys in this world.  I have several friends who are police officers who have told me again and again that they have far more trouble out of rich people they pull over for speeding than from any other group.  They are told that they should give the rich person a warning or nothing at all because of all the people they know in City Hall.  They try to throw their influence around to intimidate my friends in law enforcement into ignoring the law - or might we say perverting it.  They want my friends to act crookedly.  These guys write them tickets seeking to enforce the law - only to have them ignored by those in power when they come to court.  Too many of the rich make the mistake of placing their hope in riches and what they provide in this world - rather than in God and the hope of His reward in eternity.  I say this not to absolve the poor of integrity issues - because the problem is not money - it is the love of money.  I've seen the love of money in every financial category there is.  The warning here is to run after integrity and honor - and not allow money to make us think that these things don't matter as long as you are well off financially. 

Just an aside here for our mutual benefit.  I've heard a saying again and again that grieves my heart.  Here is the saying, "Money may not be able to make you happy, but it makes your misery much more bearable."  Those who say that are truly deceived.  They think that a few years of less miserable riches are worth trading for all of eternity.  God does not countenance such foolishness.  They are truly deceived because they do not understand that their momentary happiness in their wealth and stuff will actually make their judgment more severe.  The Scriptures tell us, "To whom much is given, much is required."  Whatever brief comfort they find in their things and their wealth will be infinitely offset by the searing judgment that awaits them for loving the world and therefore not having the love of the Father in them.  Again - that was for free - because I'm tired of fools sounding wise to this world when they are only multiplying their foolishness for a judgment that awaits them at the throne of God.  True wisdom is seeing the end, in this case eternity, and making sound decisions with God's ways in view.

The poor man walks differently here because he walks in his integrity.  The word "walk" is the Hebrew word "halak" which means to come and go, or to walk about.  It was a word that was used to describe a flowing river, the blowing of the wind, and the movement of animals of all kinds.  It was therefore used to metaphorically speak of the pathways of one's life - and came to mean the lifestyle that one chooses.  This poor, wise man has chosen to walk out his life using God's wisdom as his guide.  The best way to describe this integrity that the poor, wise man chooses is to walk with all of our heart in the things of the Lord.  The word here for integrity was used to describe the way that men like David and Job spoke of walking with a perfect heart.  This did not mean these men were sinless - just that they did not want to waver between two opinions and two ways of living.  They wanted to live for the Lord with all their heart - all the time. 

There is something that God values greatly in this world.  But what God values and what men value are two entirely different things.  This world does not value living for God and His ways with a whole heart.  They might give an honorable mention to the occasional religious person who they admire for a few moments because of their devotion to God, but they do not see this as a way of living for all men.  They live for the things of the world - and chase after them with all their heart.  But what is highly valued by men of this world is despised by the Lord.  He is looking for men whose heart is completely given to Him.  How much better it is to be one of these men - regardless of their financial bottom line.  It is far better to be that kind of a man and poor - than to be the richest man on earth and only enjoy it for the mere length of a breath - which is how God describes this life in comparison with eternity. 

Like a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home. Proverbs 27:8

Birds begin every spring by gathering what is needed to construct a nest.  Usually they select a place that they believe will give them protection and shelter.  This becomes the location where they then lay eggs and work to build a family.  The nest serves as the location of safety and of security.  For a bird to leave the nest is dangerous.  Note that the term used for this leaving is the word wander.  The bird is not flying from the nest for the purpose of hunting or finding food for itself and its young.  This bird is just following its own curiosity wandering away from the nest to see what he can see.  This indicates that we are probably speaking of the young - because an adult bird knows better than to wander from the nest.  There is a word for birds who wander from their nests - prey!  They become prey for those who are watching to see if they leave the protection and cover of the nest.  They are sitting ducks as they go out from the nest just wandering wherever they go.  It is a very dangerous thing to just go wandering away.

The picture of a bird wandering from its nest is compared to a man who wanders from his home.  Here again is God's wisdom.  God establishes the home as the central unit of society.  It is also the place where God intends for children to be reared to maturity.  There God provides for the child two loving parents who are focused on selflessly giving themselves for this child's good.  As long as the child stays within the home (meaning its influence and protection) that child is safe.  When the child wanders from that place - he is in danger.  But what we have said to us here is not about a child - it is about a man.  The man who wanders from his home is like the bird wandering from his nest. 

What would cause a man to wander from his home?  There are many things actually that work toward guiding a man toward this disaster.  First is another woman.  Many men wander from their home and wind up being involved with a woman who is not their wife.  They wander away from their commitment - away from their vows to God and to their bride - and much like the bird wandering from his nest - this man is caught . . . trapped . . . hunted and captured.  Sexual immorality and adultery are both strong traps that have destroyed many a man who wandered from the nest of his home and marriage.  Another thing that causes men to wander is outside interests that begin to dominate their lives.  Please understand I'm not against a man having outside interests like hunting, fishing, sports, cars, motorcyles, or whatever else a guy chooses to pursue.  What I warn men against is having pursuits that take them away from the home far too often.  Our commitment as a husband and father is to our wives and our children.  Anything that takes us away from them - and hinders us from being there for them as we should - is not good.  It is another way men "wander" from the nest - and leave themselves (and their families) unprotected.  There is more to this than just the damage done to the man who wanders away.  When he is in this "wandering" state, his family is left unprotected.  His sons are untaught in the things of the Lord - and undirected into God's way by watching and participating with their father in vastly important ways.  His daughters are left unprotected - and grow up with a sense that they have to take care of themselves.  They face dealing with boys on their own - and since dad has been off acting like a boy - they don't know what a real man looks like.  Too often this leads to disaster as sons grow up being boys perennially as they follow the footsteps of a father who leads them there by not growing up himself.  Daughters grow up unprotected and wind up going out with and marrying the wrong kind of man.  There are truly multiple disasters that come from a man wandering from his home. 

Men . . . God wants you to be MEN!  That means leaving behind boyhood and choosing to be the man God wants you to be in your home.  The church and our world desperately needs men like this.  We need guys who choose to die to themselves and see more and more as they grow older that life is not about them.  They grow up and realize that shirking serious responsibilities in the home and in the church is creating a horrific society and a broken nation.  We cannot continue on the course we are on - because to do so is to embrace destruction on a national scale.  I realize that this is not just a problem for us - it has been a multi-generational problem in our nation.  Many of us are like we are - because we have had fathers who wandered from the home - either physically, emotionally, spiritually, or all the above.  But we cannot continue on this path - it surely leads to disaster!  May God move in our hearts and in our homes to fulfill His promise in Malachi 4:5-6.  There the Lord spoke of a day when he would send us "Elijah the prophet" before the great and terrible day of the LORD.  His purpose and ministry would be to, ". . . restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers . . ."  God's promise here was so that He would not have to come and smite the land with a curse.  I think we see all the marks of that curse on our land today.  To be honest, the vast majority of the responsibility for that curse lies on the fathers of today and yesterday - for wandering from home.  May the work of revival and reformation bring fathers back home - first back to the Lord Himself, then back to their wives and children.  Basically - back to the nest - a place they never should have wandered from in the first place.