Category Archives: Proverbs

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

Proverbs 29:25

Dear God, the interesting thing about Proverbs is that the verses within the chapters seem to be so disjointed. It’s almost like dividing the book into chapters does it a disservice. I wonder if would be better as just one long chapter with different verse numbers. For example, the verse above is verse 25. Verse 26 says, “Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.” Then verse 27 says, “The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.” Frankly, I would love to have sunk my teeth into verse 27 this morning because there are plenty of dishonest people about whom I would like to tell you how much I detest them, but 1.) the verse of the day for Bible Gateway is verse 25 and 2.) I should probably be more worried about myself being detestable than worrying about those I detest (see Disney Princess Theology).

So lets talk about fear of many proving to be a snare. It’s just the truth. So in what ways to I fear man?

• I am afraid of people not liking me
• I am afraid of people not donating to our nonprofit
• I am afraid of what the powers and principalities of this world can do to me and others in the world
• I am afraid of rejection by those I love

And those are just the things that I fear from other people. That doesn’t count all of the other fears in my life. But those things–the fear of those things–can lead me to made bad decisions. They can lead me to be a “pleaser” (which I am). They can lead me to compromise my values sometimes (which I do). They can lead me to talk harshly about others (which I love to do). All of these things are wrapped up together.

I wish I were the type of person who really just floated above all of the cares of this world and rose above them all. I’ve known probably one person I would put in that category. He had such a childlike attitude and faith. Your love poured out of him to everyone he met. With some of the conflicts in my life right now, I wonder how those relationships would be different if I were the personification of his relationship with you instead of mine.

Father, I know I still have so much to learn. I have so much growing to do. I’m feeling very repentant  this morning. Help me to be a man of mercy. Help me to not be defensive, but to be completely filled and overflowing with the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
Proverbs 22:6

Dear God, this reminds me of the line in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie when Elizabeth Swan keeps talking about the pirate code and Captain Barbosa eventually says that it’s really more of a “guideline.” That’s how I feel about this passage. It’s really more of a guideline than a rule. I suppose most of the proverbs are.

One really only had to look at biblical characters (including the author of this proverb) to see that this is a nice thought, but not a hard and fast rule. Starting with Cain and then moving throughout history, the Bible is full of stories where people tried to do the right thing by their children, but the children did not walk with you (I’m looking at you, Parents of Samson). Things happen. Life happens. Free will happens. What I’m left with is hoping that the work I did as a parent (and it was far from perfect) established some sort of a tether between my children and me so that if they wander from the path they will at least know that they are never not loved.

Father, I took this verse much more seriously 20 years ago, when my children were one and four years old. Now I have let go of it and I look to other verses about dying to myself and living by faith and not by sight to guide me. Of course we should do our best to raise up our children in the way they should go. That’s part of the deal. But this verse isn’t your promise. I’ve decided it’s just a guideline. I hope that’s not heretical to say, but it’s the best I know to say given my life experience. Guide me in who you need me to be for my two adult children today.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.
Proverbs 15:22

Dear God, this is a great reminder for me during board meeting week. I have two committee meetings today and will have a board meeting in the morning. This is especially appropriate since we are finalizing to 2020 budget. There are going to be a lot of thoughts and ideas over the next couple of days and there will be a lot to sift through.

My problem tends to be that I tend to lean more conservative and controlled. I like to build something that will kind of run on its own and just have to be maintained and tinkered with rather than look at pushing out and breaking through the edges of the envelope. I suppose that push/pull will always be there with any organization. I just need to learn to open my heart and mind, and then listen for your still, small voice to guide me.

Father, give me great discernment today. Give it to all of us. Help me to embrace the ideas brought to the table and celebrate the fact that so many are interested in the work we do. Help me to also be a part of bringing your joy to all of those involved through their participation in loving our clients through our work.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
Proverbs 1:8-9

Dear God, I really hope I did right by my kids. I hope I made a difference. I think a lot of parents have doubts and regrets after their children are grown. I certainly have mine. I would hate to have let them (or you) down in this area.

I wonder what Solomon felt like he learned from Bathsheba and David. My assumption would be that he didn’t get a lot from David and his mother was more of the day to day presence. David was probably an example from afar as opposed to a direct instructor. Then I wonder what kind of father Solomon was. We don’t get much here except that the son who succeeded him was cruel. Huh. I guess it’s easier to give advice and talk the talk than it is to live it and walk the walk.

Father, teach me to still learn from my parents, who are both still living, and to know what my adult children need from me so I can give it to them. I love them so much.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.
Proverbs 19:20

Dear God, my ego is an interesting thing. I was in a meeting with some board members of the nonprofit where I work and the topic of continuing education for me came up. It was suggested that, at this stage of my career and given our nonprofit’s current state of development, I could use some training so we need to put money into the budget for that. On the one hand, I completely agree. I could use some outside advice to help us through this next phase of development. On the other hand, however, I’ll confess that my ego shouts out at me that I shouldn’t need this and I can figure it out on my own. I really hate that ego part of myself.

I’d love to sit and try to psychoanalyze myself through this, but it’s really pretty simple. It’s pride. It’s ego. It’s making myself my own god instead of heeding Solomon’s advice here: “Get all the advice and instruction you can…”

Father, I’m always praying about me decreasing and you increasing, but then I see how I react to things like this and I’m faced with how far I have to go. I’m sorry. Help me to accept all of the advice and instruction that is from you that I can. I don’t want to just take things from others without being discerning, but I certainly want to be “wise the rest of [my] life.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring. Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—-a stranger, not your own lips.
Proverbs 27:1-2

Dear God, oh, how I struggle with being casual about cool things that are happening to me. An exciting vacation coming up. Some cool new gadget I’ve bought. I’m sure it annoys the heck out of people around me. Not that I’m bragging about how great I am, but o do like to talk about things that are exciting to me.

In terms of leaving it to utter people to talk about me, I also confess to you that I hunger for it. I took a personality test one time and part of the summary said that I’m confident, but I need compliments. I felt like that pretty much nailed me. I told my wife I could translate that to say, “Arrogant, but it needs fed.”

Father, help me to learn to live humbly and play to just an audience of one–you. Thank you for a wife that is patient with me. Thank you for being patient with me. I am grateful.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself. You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify. Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety. Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the Lord. The righteous despise the unjust; the wicked despise the godly.
Proverbs 29:24-27

Dear God, I wonder how early on Solomon wrote these things. I would say that it’s safe to say that he probably wouldn’t have thought to say such things later in his life. But I’ve spent enough time talking about the fall of Solomon. Let me focus on what he actually said here.

What kind of safety do you offer. I think a lot of us misinterpret this word in this context. We want to think it means that you will put a hedge of physical or even monetary protection around us.

But I learned a couple of years ago that you don’t work that way. And I suppose if I am the kind of person who is loving you with all of my strength and loving my neighbor as myself then that won’t be my goal. In fact, I’d like to say that I want it for my children–and, to be sure, I have wanted your protection for my children–but I’ve come to learn that you use the struggles in my life to grow me into the man you need me to be and I am learning to trust (there’s that word again) that you are doing the same for my children.

Father, I trust you to make all of this go the way you want it it go. The way you need it to go. I’ve prayed a lot the part of the Lord’s Prayer that says, “Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Use me however you need to to make that happen. I will trust you with the results.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. A king rejoices in wise servants but is angry with those who disgrace him.
Proverbs 14:34-35

Dear God, some day I need to sit down and die a deep dive on Solomon. As I read this proverb, I had two initial thoughts. First, even though we are always told as children that there are things more important than money, that one issue seems to pretty much drive every election (at least the ones I’ve voted in since 1988). The second is I wonder at what point Solomon went off the rails. By the end of his life, he had a serious problem with women and was a cruel king and slave owner. When did he write this proverb? Did he recognize the sin in his life?

Of course, that leads me to myself. Do I recognize the sin in my own life? Do I have the self awareness I need to be able to hear the Holy Spirit when he tries to convict me? Do I recognize what you consider to be sin? Have I become watered down by society? Have I become “tolerant” in a negative way that hurts your kingdom?

Father, give me ears to hear and eyes to see. Help me to learn from Solomon. Granted, it’s not that I’m in a position of wealth and power like he was, but I am just as susceptible to hubris and arrogance. Help me to give the Holy Spirit enough room to really work in my heart and my life.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen