Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro

Feast or Famine Determined by Your Attitude - Proverbs 15:15

06/15/2011

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All the days of the afflicted are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

Your attitude often will make  all the difference in how you experience the events of your life.  For some, their mindset is that if anything bad can happen, it will.  For others, they take everything that comes to them - and somehow make even the worst of things beneficial.  Their mindset is to take the proverbial lemons and life and turn them into lemonade. 

We first read of the pessimist.  "All the days of the afflicted are bad."  This is the person who not only sees the glass as half empty - but who also figures that there are people who are working to make sure that it eventually empties further.  They consider themselves afflicted - CONSTANTLY!  They see themselves as "the afflicted" - which here is the word "aniy."  This word means to be poor, oppressed, miserable, in constant want and need.  It is a sad thing to watch someone like this because like the proverb states - they see every day as a bad day.  These are the constant complainers.  In church we would be tempted to ask them to lead in a word of complaint or criticism - rather than to ask for them to lead in prayer.  They always seem to have a sad story to share - a problem that seems overwhelming - a way that they have been treated horribly - or something they see wrong.  Don't misunderstand, there is a place for these things - and we do not need to squelch people's ability to share in difficult times.  But the "afflicted" here never ceases to have something like this.  To find them content and grateful for their lives - is next to impossible.  They are always ready to be the grand marshall in the bummer parade!

The second half of this proverb contrasts another person.  This is the one who has a "cheerful heart."  Hebrews called this a "good" heart.  It was someone who was happy, who was glad.  They often chose to be happy, glad, delightful, and pleased.  Their choice to be this way was a matter of their own heart.  This is the person who simply chooses to be happy in their lives.  They will look at difficulties and problems as opportunities to grow - or even better ways that God is working to conform them to His image.  They see every situation as a potential wonderful thing God is working in their lives.  They grasp that not eveything in life is going to be pleasant - but they take the same hard knocks that make the afflicted see every day as bad - and turn them into a reason to be thankful, grateful, and filled with joyeous expectation of what God is going to do to glorify Himself in every situation.  They truly do understand that, "all things work together for good to those who love the Lord, and who live according to His purposes." 

The Bible says that these folks - the cheerful ones - have a continual feast.  They tend to be happy no matter what happens to them.  They see God's providential hand in everything that happens to them.  They are thrilled to watch Him do what only He can do - and are willing to wait for Him to act - even if it means a prolonged period of difficulty and trial.  They take whatever God's sovereign hand gives them - and make it into a gourmet feast. 

To be a cheerful, grateful person is far better than to be one of the continually afflicted.  People want to be around the first person - and honestly - struggle with the second.  It is not hard to be around someone who genuinely needs encouragement because they are having a tough time, but when someone is always seeming to have a tough time it becomes hard to know what to say.  What often needs to be said is that the "afflicted" needs to see God as sovereign in all their affairs.  They need to hear that God does work these things out for good - if they will allow Him to conform them to the image of His Son.  They need to hear from the book of James that they are to consider it pure joy when they encounter various trials.  God wants us to be joyful people - not miserable ones.  Paul admonished the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord - and that to say that same thing to them was not a burden to him - but was indeed a protection to them.  Joy is part of the inheritance given to every believer.  This does not mean that we can never have hard times - but it does mean that if we see ourselves as the continually afflicted whose every day is bad - something is wrong with our perspective.  The Lord does not want us living on the scraps of misery - but wants us to enjoy His presence, His perspective, and the continual feast that comes by being in His presence.
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The Whisperer . . . Proverbs 26:20

02/26/2010

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For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. Proverbs 26:20

This is a proverb where something in nature is described, and then God compares it with a spiritual truth about life.  Here we find a fire described in practical terms no one can deny - but in the end this fire that is going out is compared to what the Bible calls "the whisperer."  Let's take a look at what we can learn here.

"For lack of wood the fire goes out."  Here is the practical truth that no one can deny.  When you have a fire, you have to continue putting wood on it if you want it to continue to burn.  No wood means no fire.  It will go out in a matter of hours.  Just like this is true, God wants us to grasp something about contention among people.  This contention is often due to someone called "a whisperer."  Who is this whisperer - and what does he or she do that helps to keep contention alive?

The whisperer is one who murmurs.  The Hebrew word is "ragan" and it means to murmur or to whisper.  The murmuring that is going on with the whisperer is that of grumbling, criticizing, complaining, and slandering.  Zhodiates says it refers to gossipping and complaining.  The word is used in Psalm 106:25 to describe how Israel murmured and complained in their tents against the Lord in the time of Moses.  Those who were the murmurers and whisperers were the trouble makers - the gossips - the ones who fomented rebellion in the hearts of the people of Israel.  Their murmuring helped to destroy an entire generation - who became infected with it.  This whispering here is what is causing problems - causing the contention that exists here.  There are serious relational problems developing because of the actions of the whisperer. 

Let me give a practical illustration.  The whisperer does not like something done by leadership in the church.  Instead of taking their problems to the leadership, which is the biblical way to deal with problems, they begin talking to a brother or sister about what they see and perceive.  Soon, there are two people who are upset with leadership - and their number grows as the whispering campaign continues to grow and flourish.  Soon small groups of whisperers get together from time to time and have roast pastor or elder - a delicacy that is loved by whisperers and gossips.  Before long the majority of the church is being infected with this gossip that begins to gain steam around the fellowship.  Until the whisperers are quieted and rebuked, there will be plenty of contention to go around.  Some may leave the fellowship - while others stick around for the eventual power play to usurp the authority of the pastor/elder and take over themselves.  There will be plenty of anger and frustration build as long as the whisperers ply their trade.  The only hope for the fellowship is that they are silenced.  When there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.  There is the truth to be learned.  Just like a fire without wood will die down - so a contention or church fight will die down if the whisperers can be silenced or removed. 

How about you?  Are you a whisperer?  Does there seem to be contention around you all the time?  If you whisper to others about the problems and the discontentment you have - don't be surprised if soon you have a circle of other malcontents who will aid and abet you in setting the church or friendship or marriage on fire.  For those who love ashes and destruction - this is almost impossible to resist - but oh how we should resist it.  No one ever gains by tearing something donwn and destroying it.  Instead of whispering to men - try interceding to God.  The difference in the result may shock you!  As long as their are whisperers - there will be no real, long-term growth and blessing in the church.  Next time you are tempted to become a whisperer - don't do it.  Stop yourself in your tracks and fall to your knees in prayer.  If you resist the destructive nature of gossip and whispering - you will find that the opposite of it is intercession and crying out to God.  One creates contention - the other creates peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  Which one will you choose?
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Ignore . . . then blame God. - Proverbs 19:3

12/19/2009

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The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the Lord. Proverbs 19:3

Do you find it interesting as I do that people who do not want to honor or follow God, suddenly want to blame Him for things when their lives fall apart?  I've run into people who have no use for God until they need someone to blame when problems come into their lives.  So, why should I be shocked when God's book or wisdom tells me the very same thing.

The foolishness of man is what ruins his way.  This word means to be silly and foolish - to be perverse.  The fool does not want wisdom or understanding - usually the fool wants a good time - regardless of the cost.  The fool wants to do his own thing, and if his own thing is contrary to God's will, that's too bad.  The rest of the proverbs tells us about the fool - he is quick-tempered, lacks sense, and deceitful.  He is naive and often repeats the same evil again and again, never learning from the experience.  You can easily see why the foolishness of the fool leads to the ruin of his way.  When you live and make decisions contrary to the Word of God, you will wind up with a mess in your life. 

It would be one thing for the fool to experience these things and learn from them, but if you remember correctly, the fool does not learn.  Here we read that the fool's heart rages aainst Jehovah when these things happen.  The word "rage" actually speaks of a storm raging.  What happens is that the fool has a storm raging on the inside of him - a storm that exhibits itself as rage to the outside world.  In the midst of experiencing the fruit of his way - the consequences of his actions, the fool has a hurricane building on the inside.  That raging storm manifests itself outwardly when the fool rages against God.  Besides, He is the One Who put such consequences into place.  He is the One Who made it where acting a certain way brings a certain result.  Or the fool rages against God's Law and commandments.  He rages that God has given such things - making them so intractable. 

It just blows my mind that all this rage explodes against God - and yet they don't acknowledge Him until that moment.  One would think it strange to ignore and deny the existance of Someone until the eternal nature of His law manifests itself in the myriad of consequences that are coming upon them.  But then again that is the MO of the fool.  He lives for his foolishness - never taking thought of God's Law or ways - until those ways come crashing down upon them as the consequences of their actions.
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When Whispering Causes an Upset Stomach

11/26/2009

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The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. Proverbs 26:22

Why is it that we can listen for hours to people talk finding it rather uninteresting, yet when someone lowers their voice to a whisper to pass along gossip, suddenly we come to rapt attention?  That is the situation this proverb addresses.

"If you want to get someone's attention, whisper."  These were the words of an old commercial.  They were advertising some perfume - but there is truth in that statement.  The Hebrew concept for the word "whisperer" is that of someone who is gossiping or complaining.  This person is someone who causes trouble as they seem to constantly be faultfinding or murmuring about others. 

It is dangerous to listen to a "whisperer."  The proverb tells us that their words are like dainty morsels.  Our fallen ears take to them like our appetites take to our favorite foods.  We savor them and it only leaves us hungry for more. 

A word of warning is given to us about listening to these kinds of words.  These kind of words will go down into the innermost parts of our bodies.  Here a fascinating Hebrew word offers us a great deal of instruction.  The word, "innermost" means "chambers of the belly."  To the Hebrew, the chambers of the belly were not the place of wisdom, but rather the seat of the emotions.  The place of wisdom is the heart and mind.  Often we see God warning us to think with and guard our hearts and minds - and - to beware of a life driven by the emotions.

Listening to complainers and gossips will often stoke the fires of our emotions.  The murmuring criticism of these folks will get us mad about what they're mad and soon complaining over their gripes.  Certain gossip will set a place on fire - with people becoming angry and resentful over things that are not even true.  The truly difficult thing about listening to a whisperer is that once their words go into the chambers of our belly - it's hard to get them out.  The other danger is that by listening, we can betray a friendship and offend greatly those who are the subject of such whispering.  We've all seen how much damage can come from just a little whisper taking root in someone's belly and firing their emotions.  It's kind of like finding one dandelion in your yard - it doesn't remain one for long. 

Next time someone wants to whisper their complaints and gossip in your ear - don't listen.  Don't let them put their dainty morsels in the chambers of your belly - because in the end - you'll wind up with far more than just an upset stomach.  You'll wind up with an upset life!
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