Proverbs 15

by Ann

 

Scattered throughout Proverbs 15 are quite a few verses about the power of our speech for good or for evil.

 

When we as a church family only interact with one another on church days, it’s fairly easy to always know how to say the right words and interact the right ways to indicate that relationships are good.  But, it doesn’t take much digging to realize that in our family relationships we have taken on so much of the world that we do not know how to speak to one another with wisdom – we are fools in our interactions with our families. 

 

Parents’ words to their children are harsh, biting, and sarcastic.

 

Children respond to parents with sassiness and retorts rather than respect.

 

Husbands and wives pick at one another and endure their marriages, not realizing what their relationships could and should be.

 

Meanwhile, because we do not know how to speak to our loved ones, we also do not know how to speak to our church family.  So, we remain superficial.  We do not relate.  We do not mentor.  We do not freely learn from one another.  And, when tension arises the truth comes out and we begin to speak to others in our church family just as we speak to those in our nuclear family.

 

The results of a godly tongue are beautiful.  Verse four says, “A soothing tongue is a tree of life”.  May we begin to work on our tongues as a church family.  May we learn to do so in our households and then let it bleed over into our churches such that we begin to share with one another without fear of what might be said to or about us.  That we might deal with the tensions of church issues with godly responses.  That our habit becomes to give a gentle answer that will turn away wrath, spread knowledge and make it acceptable, and give beautiful answers.

Proverbs 15 by Doug

Proverbs 15:8 –>We are reminded here that what is in the heart is much more important than anything else.  Sacrifices are of no use if your heart is far from God.  Additionally, too often we're not very willing to make sacrifices that are truly valuable, and having a wicked heart lends itself to really cheating.  Wicked hearts will sacrifice the things that should not be sacrificed.  Meanwhile, we see that the upright need only pray.  Why?  Because their life is based in obedience, and so they will have sacrificed along the way.

 

Proverbs 15:16 –>What's more important to you?

 

Proverbs 15:17 –>RATATOUILLE!! Not just the movie, but the meal itself.  By the way, the film is worth the watching because it actually illustrates Proverbs 15:16-17.  Ratatouille, as a dish, is a meal of vegetables.  It's considered a "peasant dish" because, well, it's for poor people.  In the film, it's the center piece dish of changing the heart of the mean food critic.  Why?  Because he remembers that he grew up eating "poor" food, but surrounded by love.  Now, he's got the best of all food, but his life is empty.  The key characters learn the same things: great food isn't great without love and friendship.  Look up at Proverbs 15:15 that the cheerful heart has a continual feast.  Put it together.  It's great stuff.  Even with rats.

 

Proverbs 15:24 –> Is your life moving up?  There is no neutrality---either it's going up, or it's going the wrong way.

 

Proverbs 15:32 –>I'm learning this lesson.  The need to accept discipline, to instill it in my own life.  It's not an easy lesson.

Proverbs 12 by Doug

Proverbs 12:8 –>I think when you look at this, it doesn't preclude the perverse minded man being praised.  He just gets to add despised to his resume as well.  When you consider some of the men of history that we don't remember with fondness, we still praise their effectiveness.  It's hard to tell how Germany fell to what it did in 1935-1945 without realizing the skill of Hitler or to fail to note the effective brutality of the Roman Emperors.  The question for us is: will we use our insight well or be perverse with it?

 

Proverbs 12:16 –>Learn to hold back your anger.  Then, take it to the Lord and let Him revenge it.  By concealing it, you avoid dishonor.  I've got to learn this better myself.

 

Proverbs 12:24 –>Are you willing to work?  Why is it that we seem to think that attaining to leadership and greatness should entitle us to not work?  True, focus on what you alone can do, but the diligent will rule, not the slacker.

Proverbs 12

by Ann

 

Prov 12:4 (NASB) Wives, there is something we need to get through our heads – we have more power over our husbands than anyone else on the planet.  We may not think so, considering the number of times we complain about asking them to do something that they refuse to do.  But, in reality that proves the point.  Our nagging can turn them off to something quicker than anything else.  By contrast, our affirmation can build them up more than anything else can.

 

Women, we have a biblical responsibility to be our husbands’ crowns, but we as Christian women are much more frequently the rottenness in their bones.  One look at the state of marriages in America – both inside and outside the church – shows that sad truth with crystal clarity.

 

What will it take?  What do you need to do to be your husband’s crown today?  What do I need to do to be my husband’s crown today?  Need help?  There are numerous practical books out there to give guidance.  Grab one!  Use it!  Pray the prayers of The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian.  Commit to the daily activities of The Love Dare by Stephen and Alex Kendrick.  Simply go to Ephesians and read about wifely submission.  Whatever it may be, let’s make a commitment today to be our husband’s crowns instead of rottenness to their bones no matter how hard it is to take that action.  And the once today is over, let’s go to bed with the commitment that tomorrow we’ll do it all again until it becomes our habit!

Proverbs 11

Looking at Proverbs 11:8 today:

 

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead. Proverbs 11:8 (ESV)

I find this interesting to consider.  At first glance, this appears to tell us that righteous people won't have problems and the wicked people will get them instead.

Except that life shows us that this understanding isn't true.  This week alone, I've read of Christians being killed for their faith in 3 separate countries.  In Pakistan, 6 people were killed while at work with Compassion International, an organization that feeds starving children.  It's hard to doubt that the wicked walked away from trouble while the righteous went undelivered, like a UPS overgood.

However, if you throw in the Biblical definition of righteousness, we start to get a better understanding.  Take a look at Isaiah 53:6 :

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6 (ESV)

 

and again in Romans 3:10:

10 as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

Romans 3:10 (ESV)

 

So, even though we would account many people as being righteous, a Biblical standard does not.

 

Yet this hardly seems satisfactory.  How could we worship a God who deemed that everyone should receive nothing but trouble?

 

Here's the glory of the Lord in the answer: when we accept Christ, it is His righteousness that counts for us.  Take a read at Romans 5:1:

5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

 

That "justified" reflects a couple of things, but the most relevant right now is that followers of Christ as given credit, by the grace of God, for the righteousness that Christ has.  His right-standing in the Law of God counts for us.

 

In light of eternity, the righteous are those who have the righteousness of Christ credited for them who are delivered from trouble.  They are delivered from the wrath of God.  Which, all in all, is a good deliverance to have.

 

 

Proverbs 11

Prov 11:2 (NASB) Reading this verse is additionally powerful after reading Romans 2.  The wisdom does not come through our knowledge or some superior standing.  The wisdom comes through the humility of realizing that no work of the flesh brings about wisdom or purity – it is all bestowed to us as a result of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  When we begin to live with that mindset, oh how powerfully effective we will be!

 

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Proverbs like these speak much about the progress and success of a righteous man, and yet we do not view ourselves as righteous.  We know we are saved sinners, but how can we be so proud as to say we are righteous? 

 

We can be counted among the righteous not because of our own righteous behavior but because of the imputed righteousness of our Savior.  As we read verses like Prov 11:5-10, our mindset needs to change and we need to acknowledge Christ’s righteousness in us.  Then and only then can we truly begin to grow in righteousness and see the results outlined in Proverbs – the life we so greatly long to live!

Proverbs 10

by Ann

 

Prov 10:5 (NASB) Once upon a time, summer “vacation” was based on the fact that the children were needed to help on the farm at that specific time of year.  Now it has become a break time – a time to do all of those “fun” things that there seems to be no time for during the school year. 

 

Culture changes.  Needs change.  But, do we truly change our habits to match the changes in culture and needs? 

 

I don’t know that I’m saying summer break in inherently bad.  But, I wonder sometimes if we are using it as judiciously as we should.  There is a harvest out there for us as Christians, and it requires no specific season for us to work it.  There is always seed to sow.  There are always hearts to tend.  There is always harvest to reap.  And yet, we take breaks. 

 

I wonder if a mental shift is needed – a shift from the vacation idea to the change in work focus idea.  Sometimes we do need to redirect.  Sometimes we need a change.  But, let’s not make that change be to stop working.  Let it be just to make a shift in the type of work we do!

 

Prov 10:21 (NASB) Do we ever hold righteousness and the truth and wisdom that flows from it to be as critical to our survival as this?  Do we equate our need for it to our need for food?  We must learn!  We must grow!  Without the learning that proceeds from righteous wisdom we die, just as surely as if we were without food.