Category: Submission

Who and What are You Working For? Proverbs 27:18

10/9/2012

He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored.
Proverbs 27:18

Today's proverb will instruct us on how to be blessed by your master or your employer. For those who lived as slaves in the day in which this proverb was written, it applied to those who cared for their masters. In our day, when slavery is not practiced as it was in Biblical days, it refers to our relationship with our employers - of for that matter - anyone under whose authority we find oursevles.

The picture used here is that of someone who is tending a fig tree. The one who does this task will get to eat from the fruit of the fig tree. There may be an encouragment here to serve over a long period of time, due to the fact that a fig tree is a tree that lives a long time. It is also one that matures rather slowly. A great reminder for us who have been conditioned to think a certain way in our "fast-food" society. We think if we serve a week, or month, or even a year or two, we should be rewarded richly. The use of the fig tree should point us to faithful service over the long haul - not just a few weeks, months, or years. When we serve faithfully over a long period of time - our master or employer will consider us worthy to be honored. This is especially the case with wise employers.

The word used for "cares" in the second part of this verse is the Hebrew word "samar." This is a word that means to watch over, keep, preserve, or guard. The idea is not of grudging service. It points to a careful watchfulness. IT refers to those who pay closer attention to what their master needs. It also reminds us that this kind of "care" is not done with a bitter, resentful heart. It is done with a loving watchcare.

There is another reason to live this way towards those in authority over us. When we do this, we are leaving the sweet savory aroma of Christ with them. They watch how we love and serve them - and wonder at what it is that motivates us to live as we do. There will most likely be some kind of reward or blessing for that hard work - but there will be something far more valuable than silver, gold, or awards. There will be the questions that we can answer as they ask, "Why do you work harder than anyone else? Why is it that you work this way without complaining? Why do you live this way - with such a different work ethic as well as a desire to honor me as your employer?" These are the questions that they should be asking as we work as unto God in their business. When they do ask, our reply will be first to give glory to God for our work ethic - and then to turn to the gospel whereby our hearts were transformed to be different than the rest of the world. You see, our work ethic - our willingness to work as unto God - our desire to care for our master/employer with love and hard work - are all for the purpose of glorifying God and the gospel of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. So . . . let me ask you in closing - through your work ethic have you glorified God today? Has how you worked made a way for the gospel that has changed your heart? You see, we do not work to bless our master for the reward of his favor alone. We work for our Lord and Master first and foremost for the glory of His grace and mercy. The fact that our earthly master notices and rewards us are just perks that come as we live to make much of our Heavenly Master.

1 Comment

Bone-Crushing Gentleness? - Proverbs 25:15

8/27/2012

4 Comments

By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone. Proverbs 25:15

Today's proverb has to do with the power of persuasion - especially when the one who is to be persuaded is someone in authority, like a ruler or a king. How is it that we persuade someone so high in office? The answer might shock you, because the Lord says that it is not the forceful man that will win the day. Patience and gentleness have much greater power to persuade than a blustery, arrogant person.

Forbearance is what is needed, according to our proverb. The Hebrew word here is "orek" and it means something long or lengthy. It describes physical measurements. The word used to describe the length of Noah's ark as well as to describe things like large land measurements. But what is measured as long in this passage is the patience and willingness to stick with one's cause before someone in authority. The idea is that a person forbears the fact that the ruler has a different opinion - and seeks to bring the powers of persuasion to bear on him over time. Most rulers are not given to quick swings in opinion - and when they do - it has the danger of not lasing long. The influence of the wise man is applied to a decision over a long period of time. That is one reason he is effective in getting the ruler to think and reason as he does. William Wilberforce spent his entire lifetime forbearing with those who differed with him on the issue of slavery. Yet he held to his views and continued to persuade men by holding them no matter what the outcome of votes within Parliment. In the end, his willingness to remain in the fight and stay there for years won the day for him and his cause.

There is a second tool that a wise man uses in persuading a ruler. We are instructed that a soft or gentle tongue can break a bone. What a powerful picture that is for us - and yet how contrary to the way that many of us are wired to think. It is not boisterousness and bravado that win the day with the ruler. It is the wise, soft spoken and gentle man who can eventually persuade the king on a matter. Consider Daniel for a moment on this matter. He was a very wise man who had tremendous influence on the king. Yet we do not have a single passage where Daniel speaks impassioned words to the king. Joseph was the same way. He was a man of controlled passions when it came to his dealings with Pharaoh. This kind of strength under control allies great power. The king and the Pharaoh came to have great confidence in these godly men. Their words - though gentle in their presentation - were powerful and could accomplish much.

Of those who led with forbearance and gentle words, Jesus stands more significant among all. He was patient with His disciples - and submitted Himself to God and even to others when He Himself had once sat at the right hand of God Himself. He spoke in ways that made men marvel - and commanded even the elements to submit to His will. When standing before a corrupt pseudo-court of man - Jesus was able to be quiet - even amazing His captors with His behavior. And when it came to raw displays of power - His simple words, "I am He," in the garden caused a wicked mob to stagger backwards and fall to the ground on their backs. Gentleness bearing great power - Jesus was the epitome of it in life.

Too many in our day think that to be influential you have to be a jerk. They see power as something wielded with an iron fist. You don't take anything from anybody - even someone in a position of authority. Such behavior may get you a temporary rung higher on the corporate ladder, but it will NOT bode well for you long into the future. The "gentle-tongued" man does not make the kind of enemies that the man with the macho attitude. He does not leave a trail of crushed egos and smashed careers along the way. The man who triumphs with power and a lack of gentleness will have many who will cheer for his fall. The gentle man learns to break a bone with the gentle and controlled way that he quietly and consistently speaks for his principles. Thus he comes to the point of persuasioin without all the baggage of his blustery counterparts.

Learn to influence others wisely. Learn to stand in positions of principle steadfastly. Learn to persuade others with soft, gentle, bone-crushing power. The power you access in the process will not be that of the fleshly elite of this world, whose kingdoms are passing away. The power you access will be that of the Son of God - Who remained silent as a lamb before His shearers - and yet who crushed death and hell under the weight of His godly obedience to His Father. There, dear saints, is power!

4 Comments

Four in the Animal Kingdom From Which to Learn Wisdom, part 3 - The Locust - Proverbs 30:27

8/1/2011

1 Comment

The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ranks; Proverbs 30:27

Locusts are interesting insects. They do not have a leader - and yet as they come up over the earth and destroy everything in their path, they march in ranks - each staying to a path that seems as if determined from a central planner. Because of this aspect of cooperation with one another, they can cause untold destruction to crops and trees. We do not have the kind of locust infestations that the Middle East does so in some ways we cannot imagine the destruction these cooperating, yet unled insects can cause.

What is the lesson for us in their "exceedingly wise" behavior? It is the lesson of cooperation with one another. There is so much that we can accomplish if we simply take the attitude of fulfilling our role and cooperating with others around us. Some of the greatest problems we face is when there are too many chiefs and not enough indians. That is a southernism for having too many who want to lead - and hardly anyone who wants to follow or cooperate. I've watched churches and other organizations implode because of this kind of "everyone wants to be king" attitude. We should learn from the locust and his great wisdom and know that by simply having a cooperative attitude and heart we will get so much more done and will accomplish great things.

There is one other thing that the locust can teach us. He does what he does because he is ultimately responding to his Creator and the instincts that God has given him. Much can be accomplished in our lives by following that example. Once we learn what the Word of God tells us we should be doing - we should go about doing it. The unseen Holy Spirit will empower us to accomplish that task - as He will anyone else in the body of Christ. Would it not be a glorious thing to see God's people cooperating as they share the gospel, disciple new converts, and encourage them to do the same as they live their lives. What a mighty army the church would be if they would only cooperate under the unseen hand of God and His Word working in their hearts. Whereas the locust our teacher uses such instincts for destruction, the body of Christ could use this lesson for the advancement of God's kingdom all over the world.

1 Comment

To Listen or Not to Listen, That is the Question . . . Proverbs 10:8

1/10/2010

0 Comments

The wise of heart will receive commands, But a babbling fool will be ruined. Proverbs 10:8

There is great wisdom in learning to listen. The art of listening is for the most part a lost art. I remember ministering to a young man at the University of Memphis. Even though he did not know Christ, he did know how to listen. As we ministered to him again and again he sought to take in every single word that was spoken to him. He did not want to defend himself or put in his two cents worth unless the one speaking to him had finished what they were saying. No interruptions happened when you spoke to him - and he was the picture of good manners and politeness. I also remember asking him after a couple of visits if he had always been this way. His answer was that he had not - but at a point in his life he knew he would learn much more if he would learn to listen well. Thus he made it his ambition to listen as well as he possibly could. There were struggles - he said the worst was having his own mind run after what he wanted to say next rather than actually hearing what the other person was saying. This was one situation where a lost person was used by God to bring amazing conviction to me - because I am what is called a verbal processor - therefore I have a bad tendency to talk to much - or to chomp at the bit to put my two cents into every conversation.

Solomon spoke very wisely when he said that the wise of heart will receive commands. The wise man is the one who desires to listen - and to listen well. He is definitely this way when he hears those giving him commands. A businessman will tell you that too much time is spent in business dealing with those who don't listen well to commands. They don't listen to the actual words being spoken to them and as a result get things wrong. In business - and believe it or not in all of life - this is costly. If the person would take the time to receive the command and do so with great precision - much good would come of it. This is a matter of spiritual life and death when it comes to listening to the commandments of God. Oh, how we need to tune our ears to what God is saying and has said in His Word. That one skill and practice will save us much grief - and much pain.

Why don't we listen well? The proverb instructs us in this by saying that we don't listen well because we are too eager to talk. "A babbling fool will be ruined." The fool spoken of here is one who hates wisdom and morality - and who walks instead in his own folly. This man babbles when he speaks. He does not want to listen to commands - he wants to give them - or at least mock them. This is the one who immediately interrupts when someone speaks of the Lord and begins babbling about his hatred of the Lord. He may take the direction of science or philosophy - but behind it is a disdain for the things of the Lord.

The problem with this babbling fool is that he never does hear God's commandments - at least not hearing with the intent to obey. Because of this the Word says that the direction of this person's life is toward "ruin." He will experience "labat" - which is to be thrust down or torn down and ruined. This word is used three times in the Old Testament and all three times it speaks of those without wisdom and understanding. All three times is speaks of the ruin that comes to them because of the disregard for the Word of the Lord. This one wants to thrown down the commandments of God - but in the end, he himself will be the one who is thrown down.

Wisdom is learning how to listen - how to receive commands. This will help us spiritually forever - but it will also help us daily. The fact is that all throughout life we will be receiving commands and requests to do things. If we learn to listen to them well and carry them out diligently - there will be great blessing!

0 Comments

Proverb A DAy

Who and What are You Working For? Proverbs 27:18

Bone-Crushing Gentleness? - Proverbs 25:15

Four in the Animal Kingdom From Which to Learn Wisdom, part 3 - The Locust - Proverbs 30:27

To Listen or Not to Listen, That is the Question . . . Proverbs 10:8

Proverb a Day

Archives

​Proverb A DAy

Who and What are You Working For? Proverbs 27:18

Bone-Crushing Gentleness? - Proverbs 25:15

Four in the Animal Kingdom From Which to Learn Wisdom, part 3 - The Locust - Proverbs 30:27

To Listen or Not to Listen, That is the Question . . . Proverbs 10:8

Proverb a Day

Archives

Proverb A DAy