Bringing Glory To God

Hello Friends,

We have left Solomon behind and now embark onto the final two chapter of Proverbs. This chapter is from Agur. I have broken it down to several sections of thought. We will be meditating on this for a few days as we uncover what God has for us in this very interesting delivery. I have put in a few first impressions.

Agur pleads to God for two things: 1) To be pure in heart for truth and 2) to have just enough wealth to take care of himself.
7-9
      “Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die:  Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

What is the goal of Agur? To have truth and just enough of this world so as to not bring dishonor to God. In another way; Agur wants what will bring honor or glory to God. We see that:

Ecclesiastes 12:13,14  Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.   For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

and

Matthew 22:36-40  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”   Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

and

Romans 12:1-5  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.   Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.   For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.   Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,   so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

and

1John 1:5-10  This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.   If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.   But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.   If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.   If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

We are here to glorify God. Sin dishonors God. We all fall short of glorifying Him. Sin is based in lies. Agur prays to have all falsehood and lies to be kept from him. He wants sins effects and sin out of his life. And he wants of this world’s goods to be just enough to sustain him but not take away from his focus on what is important; bringing glory to God.

As with our beginning of yesterday; humility or a fear of God begins the process where we realize that this is not our place of habitation, but our place to trust in God. Our focus while we trust in him is to bring glory to God. As we proceed in our study there are some things that do not bring that glory, but when we do them right, they do. It does make a difference.

Friends, Take care and choose well.

Knowledge And Humility Shake Hands In Agreement

Hello Friends,

Two things strike me about this section of chapter 30 of Proverbs. 1) The proclaimed ignorance followed by the balance of the chapter or oracle as it is called and the reminder of Job in the questions of verses 2-6.

Proverbs 30

2-6 NIV
“I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man’s understanding.  I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.  Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!  “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. 

Agur claims ignorance, no understanding of man, that he has not learned wisdom and he does not have knowledge of the Holy One. This could be viewed as an attempt to show humility. Being ignorant, unlearned, he asks some good questions and makes some bold statements later on in the oracle. His claim of not having man’s understanding may be that he does not rely on human understanding, but God”s which is wholly different from man’s. The statement of not being learned in wisdom could be of man’s for man’s is again different from that of God’s wisdom.

1Co 1:19-25  For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”   Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?   For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.   Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,   but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,   but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.   For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

And finally, Agur claims to have no knowledge of the Holy One. This could be referencing the possible fact that he has not met God face to face. He has not had a personal interaction of first hand knowledge. All of this seems to point to one large conclusion; humility. And in light of the balance of the oracle; this seems highly plausible; for the questions and statements to follow are very thought-provoking and truthful. All of which can be learned from the reading and meditation of God’s word.

Proverbs 30: 2-6

Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!  “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

What are the answers to these most important questions?  Can anyone argue with God and win the argument?

Deu 30:12-14  It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”   Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”   No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Isa 40:12  Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?

Eph 4:8  This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”

Job 28:12-28  “But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?   Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.   The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’   It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver.   It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires.   Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.   Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.   The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.   “Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?   It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air.   Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.’   God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,   for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.   When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,   when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,   then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.   And he said to man, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’”

Words that the inspired’s use: unsearchable, unfathomable, rich, depth; they all speak to one thing. We are but dust, a vapor in the grand plan of God’s making. Humility before Him and one another is most appropriate, even when we think that we have some knowledge.

Friends, Take care and choose well.

Pleas, Confusions and Observations

Hello Friends,

We have left Solomon behind and now embark onto the final two chapter of Proverbs. This chapter is from Agur. I have broken it down to several sections of thought. We will be meditating on this for a few days as we uncover what God has for us in this very interesting delivery. I have put in a few first impressions.

Pro 30:1  The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle: This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:

Claiming ignorance, no understanding, unlearned in wisdom and no knowledge of God; Agur asks some big questions and challenges the reader to tell him who it is that is the answer.

He lets us know of God’s word, protection and dedication to God’s own words

2-6
“I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man’s understanding.  I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. (clean, clean or sacred; probably best rendered sacred, sacred or sanctified, set apart; refering to God by context in this passage.) Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!  “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.  

Agur pleads to God for two things: 1) To be pure in heart for truth and 2) to have just enough wealth to take care of himself.
7-9
      “Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die:  Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Slandering of parents and other’s servants is done by the high-minded and sinful.
10-14
“Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will pay for it.  “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;  those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth;  those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful;  those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind.  

Disrespect of parents eats everything of self.
15-17
“The leech has two daughters. “Give! Give!’ they cry. “There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:  the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’  “The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.

Breaking covenant is wrong.
18-20
  “There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:  the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.  “This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’  

The earth shakes when a servant replaces the wife.
21-23
“Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:  a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food,  an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.

Wisdom found in ants for their stewardship; Coneys for their ability to make homes in odd places; locusts for their leaderless advances; and spiders/lizard though catchable are still in kings’ palaces. Stewardship, contentment, driven hunger, persistence.
24-28
  “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:  Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;  coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;  locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;  a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

The first three are animals and they stand alone against the world they live in. The last, a man must have his army in order to be stately, pride.
29-31
      “There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing:  a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing;  a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king with his army around him.

Am I causing anger? Then I may be playing the fool. I may be exalting myself. I may be planning evil.
32-33
“If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth!  For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”

Friends, Take care and choose well.

World Hatred, Christ’s Love

Hello Friends,

Proverbs 29:20-27

20    Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21      If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief in the end.

22      An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

23      A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

24     The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy; he is put under oath and dare not testify.

25     Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

26     Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

27     The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.

Well friends this is our last look at Proverbs from Solomon and he seems to offer us eight parting statements. I don’t see them as necessarily as a summation, but rather an exclamation. For in them are some strong messages. Lets take a look at them through the eyes of Jesus and his apostles.

Proverbs 29:20-27

27     The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.

(LITV)  An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and the upright of way are an abomination to the wicked.

Philippians 2:14-16  Do everything without complaining or arguing,   so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

The more we are set apart; the more we will shine Christ from ourselves.

2 Timothy 2:19-22  Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”   In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.   If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.   Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Are we setting ourselves apart from the world and towards Godliness? Are we as individuals and collectively reaching for wards to complete submission to God’s will so that we can be of noble use?

Titus 1:10-16  For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.   They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.   Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”   This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith   and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.   To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

A belief in God with out truth is corrupted. A belief with truth will be known by the person’s actions.

Titus 3:14  Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.

The more that I study; the more I realize the simplicity of which the early Christians lived. They seem to have lived for the day only. They did not concern themselves with gaining anything but a greater love for one another and sharing in why they did so.  I pulled this passage from Titus 3 to show just how simple of a life that I think they lived. It sums up in one verse the way in which they lived.

James 1:23-27  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror   and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.   But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.   If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.   Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

What should we be doing? Read the word of God and do it. James tells us the bottom line of what our actions should look like.

1 John 3:11-16  This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.   Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.   Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.   We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.   Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.   This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

And that right there is the absolute bottom line. Love one another just as he loved us; pure sacrificial love.

When I have meditated on 1 Cor. 13, the love chapter, I came up with a simple conclusion: Love is a one way street of self-sacrifice with no expectation of return, only a hope of one, just as Jesus did.

The world will hate us if we are doing what is right, if we are standing for what is right. That stand is not brash, but gentle. It still stands yet in a humble way. The way of the Lord just states the truth. It doesn’t beat on a point much; it just states it and lets it sit there on the hearers ears. When we offer up God’s word for correction and edification; we need to just let it stand on its own. I think that is what Jesus did.

He lived his life humbly teaching truth after showing love for his fellow-man. Love one another.

When some one sought an answer; he gave it. Seek and you shall find.

He explained things when asked. Ask and it shall be granted.

He opened doors when they got knocked on. Knock and the door shall be opened.

Mat 7:12-14  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

These last five points I think we need to take some quality time to meditate on and take them to heart and into our lives. Maybe we will cause less friction with others of faith and more faithful that may come from the world. We still will be hated by people who have no love for the truth, but maybe, just maybe, those who have a love for truth and God will come to repentance and a full knowledge and devotion to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior of all.

Friends, Take care and choose well.

Authorities And The Lord

Hello Friends,

Proverbs 29:20-27

20    Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21      If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief in the end.

22      An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

23      A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

24     The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy; he is put under oath and dare not testify.

25     Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

26     Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

27     The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.

Well friends this is our last look at Proverbs from Solomon and he seems to offer us eight parting statements. I don’t see them as necessarily as a summation, but rather an exclamation. For in them are some strong messages. Lets take a look at them through the eyes of Jesus and his apostles.

Proverbs 29:20-27

26     Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

Luk 10:25-37  On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”  He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Are we justified by our cleanliness or our love?

Luk 16:14-17  The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.   He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.  “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. (Continue through vs. 31 the story of the rich man and Lazarus.)

Are we justified by our status in life or by our care of our fellow-man?

Luk 18:9-14  To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:   “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’  “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Are we justified by our pride of accomplishments in comparison to others or by our humility?

Rom 3:21-26  But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.   This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,   for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,   and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Are we justified by keeping God’s law perfectly or by relying on the sacrifice on the cross?

Rom 5:6-11  You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.   Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.   But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.   Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!   For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!   Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Is there any pride? Is there any judgment by us upon another? Is there any thing that we have done that we can claim superiority? Is there any authority of man who can give us what God has done?

1Co 4:1-5  So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.   Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.   I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.  My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Who of us can tell one of faith he fails?

Jas 4:11,12  Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

So, how do we respond to all of this:

Php 2:1-11  If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,   then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.   Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:   Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!   Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,   that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,   and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Humility of personal status and trust in the Lord; two very important aspects in Christianity. We can not justify ourselves nor can any person justify us. Only God himself can say that we are right before him and that is a matter of faith between God and the individual. We can but encourage one anther to keep pressing on towards the goal. The fruits of the Spirit in our lives will tell us how we are doing. For the Spirit does not lie. Love one another; the final word.

Friends, Take care and choose well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fear Man Vs. Trust God

Hello Friends,

Proverbs 29:20-27

20    Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21      If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief in the end.

22      An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

23      A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

24     The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy; he is put under oath and dare not testify.

25     Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

26     Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

27     The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.

Well friends this is our last look at Proverbs from Solomon and he seems to offer us eight parting statements. I don’t see them as necessarily as a summation, but rather an exclamation. For in them are some strong messages. Lets take a look at them through the eyes of Jesus and his apostles.

Proverbs 29:20-27

25     Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Luke 12:1-12  Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.  “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

Jesus knew about persecution. He saw it coming. He warns his disciples of the problems that will also come to them and us when we stand for truth. It is inevitable.

John 12:37-50  Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.  This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”  For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: “He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”  Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.  Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.  Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.   “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Fear of man and loss of position is an awe-full guide to our righteousness. Fearing God and keeping His commands is righteousness.

Rom 8:12-17  Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

God help us in our self-control. Help us put to death the misdeeds of the physical.

1Pe 1:10-21  Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.  Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;  for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Prepared minds for action, self-controlled, hope set on grace to be given upon Christ’s revealing, obedient, not conforming to evil desires; for God is set apart and we are to be set apart. We are strangers here and we should seem to be strangers. Our faith and hope is in God.

1John 4:16-18  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Love is defining. Loving our neighbor, loving God; in love we have confidence on the day of judgment.

2Timothy 1:6-10  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Man may kill and persecute. God is the one who has the power over our soul and spirit. “Fear God and keep his commands; If you love me you will keep my commands; Love your neighbor as yourself; For God so loved the world that he sent his only son that who so ever would believe in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Friends, Take care and choose well.

 

Truth Is To Be Loved

Hello Friends,

Proverbs 29:20-27

20    Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21      If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief in the end.

22      An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

23      A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

24     The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy; he is put under oath and dare not testify.

25     Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

26     Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

27     The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.

Well friends this is our last look at Proverbs from Solomon and he seems to offer us eight parting statements. I don’t see them as necessarily as a summation, but rather an exclamation. For in them are some strong messages. Lets take a look at them through the eyes of Jesus and his apostles.

Proverbs 29:20-27

24    (LITV)  He who shares with a thief hates his soul; he hears a curse, but does not tell it.

John 8:44  You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

1John 4:20  If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Isa 59:815  The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace. So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away. For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the LORD, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

2Th 2:9-12  The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

1Timothy 2:1-6  I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

1Co 13:6  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Reflections: Truth is found in Christ Jesus our Lord. It produces in us a life that is obedient to Him. Lies go against truth. They point away from Christ. One in Christ will point to Christ more and more as they grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior. He says, “Know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” That freedom is from sin and its consequences. May we continue to add to our faith the seven pillars of wisdom as Peter tells us to do so that we will not fall. Love triumphs over evil.

Friends, Take care and choose well.