Month: October 2011

A Wise Man

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:7

The book of Proverbs can give us some wise instruction if we will receive it. Following is a summary and notation of many of the Proverbs with regard to a wise person. Please look them up as you read this article.

It should not surprise us that the book begins by saying that a wise person is one who is teachable and actively seeking understanding of that which is true (1:5, 6). “To hear” means not just audible hearing but to take it to heart and live it out.

In a similar vein as this, one who is wise in his own eyes is not teachable (3:7; 26:12) and will not reverence the Lord as the One from whom he/she will seek knowledge (10:14; 18:15; 19:20; 22:17-21) and understanding (8:33). Being teachable and being humble are conjoined twins; they cannot be separated.

The activities of a wise person come from within. He need not be driven like a reluctant mule but is industrious and thrives on work (6:6-11; 14:1; 30:24-28). He /she will have nothing to do with evil (14:16) and will be able to pour “cold water” on “flames” of anger dampening the violence of the unwise (29:8).

The natural man hates rebuke and correction but a characteristic of the wise is that they gladly receive both (9:8, 9; 15:31; 17:10; 21:11; 25:12). They will love the one who rebukes them in love and truth, and learn from the one who corrects their error (12:15; 13:20).

Any parent rejoices when their child acts wisely and so say the Proverbs (10:1, 5; 13:1; 15:20; 23:15, 19-21; 23:24; 27:11; 28:11). A part of this is training a child to have respect to authority and demonstrate that by obeying those in authority (10:8; 22:6).

“The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity” writes James (3:6) so we are not surprised that the proverbs tell us that a wise man knows when to keep quiet and is able to do so (10:19; 12:18; 15:2, 7). His renewed heart controls what he says (16:23) and does. The wise person will not indulge in any thing mind altering such as alcohol (20:1; 23:19-21). The wise person has control of their words and actions (29:11). James reminds us that this is not possible in our fallen state but only by the Holy Spirit (James 3:8).

The wise in the context of Proverbs have a destiny and an inheritance beyond value; the glory of God (3:35; 15:24) and his desire is that others also enter that glory (11:30). Of course the Bible elaborates much more on this subject but this a good basic start.

Sand Castles

“Lord, you are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.” Acts 4:24

When I was a young lad we often went to the beach during the summer for the whole day. We loved the water and spent as much time as possible swimming and trying to surf the small waves. The only time we were out of the water was when we were too cold or had just had lunch.

The time out of the water dragged but we occupied ourselves building sand castles. This was the opportunity for mischief. After a number of squabbles, arguments and tears an agreement was reached and we were all required to adhere to it.

If I wanted to destroy a sand castle it would have to be my own. We were not to destroy what a sibling or anyone else had created. I could only destroy what I had created myself. To our family that seemed reasonable and right in regard to sandcastles.

The same logic applies concerning the Creation of God and is what the Bible reveals. Our God and Creator is Holy, a God of love and righteousness. Since He created all that is, He owns it. Since He created all that is for His own pleasure, surely He has the legal and moral right to destroy it if it doesn’t meet His pleasure and fulfil His purpose? Does the clay tell the potter what vessel he is to make of it? Does the potter have the right to break his clay and remake a vessel if it doesn’t suit his purpose?

Before we begin to judge God and His doings in the world we had better make sure we know who the “Potter” is and who is the “clay.”

There are many accounts in Scripture of God destroying people and nations because they had set their hearts against Him and worshipped idols. Remember an idol is anything that takes the place of God. It isn’t necessarily a wooden or stone object. “This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

Why the Delay?

“For the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it … that you may believe.” John 11:4, 15

Lazarus was lying in his bed becoming sicker with each passing day. The wisdom of the medicos of the day informed his much loved sisters that his illness was fatal and his death was only a few days away. They knew Jesus could heal Lazarus if He was there so they sent for Him in the hope He could get there in time.

The disciples were with Jesus when the message came. They knew that Jesus had a special love for Lazarus, Mary and Martha but they understood the dilemma. The Jews inJerusalemwanted to stone Jesus and Lazarus’ home was only a half hour’s walk fromJerusalem.

Lazarus was suffering the last stage of bodily death; his sisters were agonising with him unable to help. He died and his sisters agonised further in grieving and mourning. What a shame Jesus didn’t make it in time; the pain, agony and suffering that could have been avoided.

What a shock it must have been to the disciples when, after two days of hearing of Lazarus’ plight, Jesus announced His determination to go toJudea. They foresaw only more death, this time for Jesus and maybe themselves.

Thomas resigned himself to Jesus’ death and that of himself and the other disciples. He was in a state of despair and could see no hope in the future.

When Jesus and the disciples arrived Lazarus had been dead four days. Mary and Martha would have been past the shock of their brother’s death and coming to grips with the reality of life without him.

When news of His coming reached Mary and Martha, Martha rushed to Jesus to share her grief with Him. She knew He could have healed Lazarus and expressed that fact but Jesus wanted to teach her more than she already knew of Him. Later, when Mary was alone with Jesus they had a similar experience. The sisters knew Jesus could heal the sick but He was infinitely more.

They looked for Jesus for what He could do for them but He wanted to reveal Himself. The experience of Lazarus, Mary, Martha and the disciples was very real and very painful, especially for the three siblings yet it was all in the will of God. We have this strange notion that the Christian life should be free from pain and suffering but that is totally false and foreign to the Bible.

If the Lord tarries we will all pass through the door of bodily death and we will all suffer the agony of watching a loved one die at least once. It was because of the pain, suffering and grief that Lazarus, Mary and Martha came to a more full understanding of who Jesus is. Whatever you are finding painful today is an opportunity to discover more of your Saviour. Lazarus’ death was “For the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it … that you may believe.”

All Our Ways

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Like many proverbs this is another that has been committed to memory and given some measure of acceptance and application in the lives of Christians. Anyone who meditates on it and considers the ramifications of such a proverb will of necessity be greatly shaken.

The very nature of the proverb informs us that we will not believe the proverb. After all, our human logic and reason always appears right to us so we will act in accordance with what seems right. “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes” (Proverbs 16:2) and “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes” (21:2). This may be why most people, if asked if they are a good or bad person, will respond by saying they are good. It is because they generally live according to their own conscience of what they believe is right and wrong. These proverbs affirm that they are not deliberately lying. This was evident in the history of Israel and is revealed in the book of Judges (17:6; 21:25).

Those of us who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ probably think these proverbs don’t have as much application to us but that would be a huge error. How often do we go ahead and do what seems right to us without ever checking with the Lord or His word? We do this far more often than we realise or are willing to admit. We are inclined to go to Him only when we are unsure or we consider it a “big” matter instead of in all our ways (3:6)

“The way of death” is not bodily death but death to our intimate fellowship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In view of the magnitude of the two opposing ways, death or life, we would profit greatly by honest reflection on what is the prime influence in our lives with regard to the things we say and do.

Another proverb says, “A fool rages and is self-confident” (v 16) showing the folly of one who ignores his fallen state and corrupt logic and reason. There are many who brandish this attitude in our world today and reject the verdict of the only One who is able to search the hearts of people and He Himself is the measure.

Without a source of understanding and wisdom we have no measure. We are not left without resource. There is another proverb that includes these words, “in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6). God and His word are the only resource that will reveal the right way. Anything that comes from man without confidence and dependence in God and His word will lead to death and not life.

Beyond the Law

“Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal” Leviticus 24:18

Our world society has many conflicting views and opinions on almost every matter. One of these is the appropriateness of sentences being handed down by our courts. On the one hand people are claiming the sentences do not match the crime and on the other there are those that claim that sentences are for the purpose of revenge and are therefore wrong. The latter frequently misuse the phrase from Moses’ writings, “an eye for an eye.”

This phrase appears three times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament spoken by Jesus to correct the misunderstanding that people had in His time. Many people still have a wrong understanding. On the three occasions the phrase is used in the Old Testament it is used:

  • in regard to justice and punishment – i.e. the sentence matching the crime (Exodus 21:24);
  • in regard to restitution when a person causes loss to another – i.e. if a man kills his neighbour’s dog, he will give him another dog (Leviticus 24:20); and
  • in regard to those who give false testimony in court – i.e. if a person gives false testimony of a theft, then he should receive the same penalty  as the accused would have received had he been guilty of theft (Deuteronomy 19:21).

It would appear that Jesus picked up on the false understanding which was that this phrase meant revenge. The original meaning of the phrase in the Old Testament still stands but the Jews’ application of it was wrong in Jesus’ day – just as it is in the general population’s understanding these days – that it means revenge. It never meant that and still doesn’t.

In Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus said that revenge is always, and was always, wrong. He says that we should not be concerned with receiving justice but in ensuring that those we have wronged receive, as a minimum even compensation. If someone wants to justifiably sue us then we should give beyond what justice and the law demands (v 40).

“An eye for an eye” is one of many Bible phrases that have been abused by people to try and give credibility to the concept of revenge or to discredit the Bible by revealing what they believe is an inconsistency.

The world is not afraid to interpret the Bible but we would do well not to accept that interpretation. Only one who is spiritual is able to understand that which is spiritual. So being born of God is a prerequisite.  It is a sad thing when a Christian accepts an interpretation of God’s Word that comes from the world who, “professing to be wise, became fools” (Romans 1:22).