Proverbs 23:19-22

Proverbs 23:19-22

There is for us in this section, a fascinating contrast that would be well-heeded by those in leadership positions. It is a contrast that might actually surprise us. It is the contrast between self-indulgence and family life. We might expect a contrast between self-indulgence and self-discipline. Or  a contrast between family life and social or business life. But this contrast actually goes to the root of good governance or leadership.

In verses 19 to 21, those who would serve are warned against the life of self-indulgence in food and wine. Followed by an admonition to be faithful to one's parents. In verses 26 and following, there is the warning of self-indulgence again, but it is in this case the matter of sexual gratification. This chapter concludes with another warning about self-indulgence and the use of alcohol.

It is worth noting that a man who is self-indulgent with wine, women, and food is very likely going to be incompetent as a leader at home. But the man who is a quality leader at home will inevitably be a quality leader in any organization or nation.

“Lord, give us leaders who are truly focused on what is good for the family and not their own self-indulgence. AMEN." 

Proverbs 23:1-18

Proverbs 23:1-18

If the 30 sayings of Proverbs 22:17–24:22 are an orientation to life in the royal court, we see something that is missing in much of American political life. To serve in the court of Solomon, a man was trained in both statecraft and personal moral character. In America, from both the left and the right, we have heard the argument that a leader’s character doesn't matter as long as he does a good job with policy. What we see in these sayings is the character does matter, both in personal life and public policy. Here are two examples. First, self-discipline in private life is foundational for leadership in the public eye. Self-control in the pursuit of short-term personal advantages, such as currying favor with a powerful political ruler over a meal (vs. 1-3), is put on par with leading well at home (vs. 13-14). Another example is he temptation to use positions of power to expand wealth, which runs amok in the US Congress and Senate, is warned against in verses 10-11 and is in contrast to the wisdom of verse 12. In any place where we would lead or look for leaders, there must be character and competence. If there isn't both, you don't have a leader.

“Lord, raise up leaders with both skill and moral strength. AMEN”

Proverbs 22:17-29

Proverbs 22:17-29

The break between verse 16 and 17 is more significant than we might first notice. Beginning in verse 17, there is a series of 30 sayings that will conclude near the end of chapter 24. Sometimes these sayings are a single verse, some are a few verses long. Verses 17 to 21 seem to be an introduction to the section of sayings. These sayings are, in a way, a summary of the Proverbs which began in chapter 10.

As we look at this section, we see what might be called, in our terms, an orientation for someone who would be serving in the court of the king. What we see in this orientation is, not so much a list of rules, but rather the inner character of a good worker whose inner life is being expressed in specific behaviors. Generally the pattern we see is the description of a specific behavior, followed by a supporting truth or principle. For example, in verses 22 to 23, the behavior is ‘don't take advantage of the poor’. Followed by the principle, “the Lord will take up their cause”.

“Lord, help me to shape my life by godly principles so that on every occasion I will understand how to serve You. AMEN."

Proverbs 22:1-16

Proverbs 22:1-16

So many of our societal issues would be resolved if we could or would apply the wisdom of this proverb. The issues of racism, poverty, and social inequity have been a battleground for our nation for generations. But after years of effort by the left and right political systems, we haven't made much or any progress. But there are four verses in this passage that have the potential to resolve much of our strife. The equality of all men is rooted in their creation by God. There is no place for racism or superiority and certainly no place for pride if we are all created in God’s image. Equality is not man-ordered or court-established; it is God-given. As such, it is an absolute. 

To the wealthy verse 9 explains that generosity is the enviable way to live; that is what "blessed" means. The accumulation of wealth gives us an enviable life when we are generous. This is not the same as confiscation by the government but the result of a heart shaped by what we see in verse 2. 

To the poor, there is a lesson about hard work. If poverty is the result of laziness, it is an indication of weak character and is shameful. Verse 13 tells us that lazy people will always have a lame excuse for why they can't get out and work. Lions and the wilderness are a possibility; lions in the street are a useless person's excuse. In verse 16 we see the dangers of making money as the objective of life. In contrast to the enviable life of the generous man, the one who plans to be a social climber by stepping on the poor and schmoozing with the rich will end up ruined.

Sadly, we train our children in the two vices of greed and laziness. In verse 6 we see the positive possibility. To teach children the enviable life, but it is rarely taught in a full-spectrum measure kind of way. Instead we train our children to be cranks and verbal pugilists. We see this happening and reflected in verse 10. We are a contentious society because we are allowing the scoffers from each side to be the primary voices. Until our conversations and society are shaped by people of good conscience, it will only get worse.

“Lord, help me to shape the society to come by shaping children today. AMEN."

Proverbs 21:16-31

Proverbs 21:16-31

Charlie Brown comes to Snoopy at his doghouse with two bowls of food, telling him one is for today and the other is for tomorrow. Snoopy eats both, thinking to himself, “I would hate myself if tomorrow never came." Like Snoopy, we all have the capacity to be shortsighted in our planning. Much of this passage is a warning of the dangers of shortsightedness.

Not planning for eternity is the most perfect and, at the same time, the most dangerous example of shortsightedness. Verse 16 warns that there is only one end for the shortsighted spiritual plan. In verse 17 consumption and living for pleasure are shortsighted. There is always more opportunity to spend than resources available. In verse 19 one needs to ask, “Why marry such a woman?” Perhaps she became a vexing woman after marriage, but that is not generally the case. Marriage makes us more of what we already are. Could it be that prior to marriage the young man was so enraptured by her beauty that the short-term excitement caused him to overlook her disposition? To say “love is blind” is not a compliment.

In the short term we want to rest and to find the easy way, but in the long term hard work now pays off later. That is the point of verses 25-26.

The short view of worship is seen in verse 27. Too many times the modern church has prostituted its worship for the short-term advantages. Great attendance and slick productions may please our clientele, but in the long run they are not pleasing to the One we came to worship. The most egregious example of short-term planning is the thinking that is found in verse 30. From false religions to heretical Christianity to atheism to agnosticism (which often is the plea and hope that we can ignore God out of existence), nothing is a worse plan than to try to make a plan against God. Such plans may in the short term achieve their goals. But in A Thousand Years their stupidity will be evident.

“Lord, help me to always plan for the long term. AMEN." 

Proverbs 21:1-15

Proverbs 21:1-15

There are always unintended consequences for our actions. We set out on a course of action toward a desired goal, and along the way we experience events or realities that were not part of our plan. They were the byproducts or secondary effects of what we were doing. They were wholly unintended, but they were not entirely unexpected. This passage gives several examples.

In verse 3 the person who is focused on doing what is right and fair may not have expected that it would be a time of worship, but God sees it this way. The burning lamp in verse 4 was indicative of prosperity and wealth, as olive oil was expensive. The person in pride and arrogance who has an ostentatious display of their wealth might not think that these very symbols of wealth are sinful, but it is an unintended consequence of their action.

Consider the actions of the conscientious and thoughtful person who is motivated by doing a good job and the right thing. The byproduct they experience is advantage. Notice Solomon doesn't limit it to strictly financial gain; the advantage might be something else entirely. In contrast to diligence is the person who tries the shortcut. The unintended but not unexpected opposite of diligence is poverty.

When a person attempts to get rich by deception, they expect to make substantial gains to be enjoyed. It never occurs to them that this wealth is like a fog, always there but also forever out of reach. Rather than a substantial life, they only get death for their efforts.

We cannot know with certainty all the second- or third-level effects of our decisions and actions, but we can know that they will be there. We can know the generalities of our actions. If we walk through a spring meadow, we may not know the specific flowers we will find, but we know there will be at least one there. The same is true if we walk in a garbage dump

“Lord, help me to walk circumspectly and anticipate unintended consequences. AMEN."

Proverbs 20:16-30

Proverbs 20:16-30

The moral of the story is found in verse 16. We do not know the original story, but the theme is repeated over and over in human history. One example is the subprime mortgage crisis of the mid-2000s. Banks lent money to people who had no business borrowing. Building a house of cards, massive amounts of debt were incurred, and those who couldn't pay defaulted, and the house of cards fell. It was a massive financial crisis hurting almost everyone. The judgments handed down were painful. In verse 16 we see that the one who makes loans to unworthy persons will have even their garments taken from them to cover their losses. Lending is generally frowned on in the Bible, especially lending with interest. It is especially condemned as a means of becoming rich at the expense of the poor. There is no pity for the person lending for that purpose. When the house of cards falls, they will lose all they have without pity. Since our entire economic system is based on lending and interest, one is wise to wonder about our supposed security. 

An even harsher judgment is expressed in verse 17. We often consider our course of actions with a very short vision. We imagine what we gain immediately as the only consequence of our choices. By dishonest or false means we gain what we desire but fail to consider the long-term effects. The thrill of porn, the profit of dishonest investment, and the delight of empty calories are all examples. At the moment we tend not to consider the addiction, the arrest, or the morbid obesity. Instead of eating a pastry, we find we are breaking our teeth on stones. While this principle and proverb applies to every circumstance, the context and proximity to verse 16 need to be taken into account. When the allure of easy financial gain of a dishonest nature is presented to us, we need to remember human economic theory falls apart before Divine justice.

"Lord, help me be scrupulously honest in all of my financial dealings. AMEN."