In Whom Do We Trust?

For Friday, August 12, 2005
Proverbs 11:28

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

In _____ we trust. In whom? In what do you trust your welfare? Is it in your bank account? Perhaps your trust is in your skill or training. Perhaps it is in your insurance policy. Perhaps your trust is in your ability to call the shots. God has a way of shaking our trust when placed in anything else other than him.

We will be shaken in something. We may have control of our jobs and find our family relations shaken. We may be secure in our relationships and lose our jobs or drop out of school. The truth of the matter is that we cannot control everything which touches us. Our "control" is an illusion, for we may lose anything and everything, except for...

Except for the righteousness given to us in Jesus Christ. The inheritance of salvation is promised to us; it is kept in heaven for us and cannot be stolen or destroyed. We are kept safe in Christ through faith. Jesus said that we are in the Father's hands and no one can snatch us out. He said that all whom the Father has given him will receive eternal life and will not perish. The result is that the one thing that we cannot lose is the one thing that is eternal.

In God may we trust, so that whatever may befall us in this life cannot shake us, because we know that in him we cannot fall.

Finding Favor

For Thursday, August 11, 2005
Proverbs 11:27

Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.

Do yourself a favor; try to be good. The world's proverb is wrong: good guys finish last. They may think they have moved into first place, but they will only prove Jesus' proverb: the first shall be the last. The "good guys" who live for God, who place others before themselves will find the favor of God who gives more generously than we can even ask. For, as if the many blessings in this life are not enough, he gives us the reward of everlasting life, indeed, everlasting glory. Paul, who had a glimpse of this glory, could write about his harsh, continuous sufferings, "For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

But the "bad boys" who look for evil will find it and its reward. They will find it turn on them so that they have lost control of themselves, becoming addicted to "bad" habits and entangled in the troubles that evil will cause for them. Worse, they will receive their eternal weight of disgrace beyond all comparison.

Apply this proverb to Christ and Satan. The Son diligently sought obedience and won the favor of the Father; as a result he now sits in glory and reigns over God's kingdom. But evil has come to Satan, who because he sought to rebel against God and to harm his Son, is doomed forever to suffer in the lake of fire. Thanks be to God, that the good of the Son has brought immeasurable good to us.

Providing a Chance

For Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Proverbs 11:26

The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

The crime here is not merely that one is a miser, but that he withholds what is needed for survival. He is not even being asked to give, but to sell. Instead he hordes the grain, perhaps to run up the price, perhaps he is fearful of not having enough for himself. His one concern is for himself, and he is willing for others to suffer. The one who sells is blessed for giving others fair opportunity to buy or earn what is needed. He is a good neighbor, a businessman who cares about his community.

We too should strive to be fair, to give others a fair chance of earning their way. Sometimes someone just needs a helping hand, sometimes a second chance to prove himself, and we have the means to help. As with the previous proverbs, we are called to be persons who do not hold back what we have to give and to bless others.

Think also of our Lord's generosity:

"Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food" (Isaiah 55:1-2).

The Blessed Giver

For Tuesday, August 9, 2005
Proverbs 11:25

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.

"They bless me more than I bless them."
"I get a whole lot more than what I give."

These are the kind of statements that are common to hear from those who go on mission trips, do acts of mercy, and get involved in ministry. They know the truth of another proverb – it is better to give than to receive; for giving brings a more satisfying pleasure. There is the joy of seeing the joy in others who are blessed; and there is the satisfaction of feeling useful.

Two statuses make us depressed and feeling empty. One is to feel that we are not loved; another is to feel that we serve no purpose. To bring blessing cures both; for to perform acts of love will draw out love from others, and makes us useful. Our presence makes a difference.

Are you feeling down? Then do an act of kindness. Jesus said that even a cup of cold water will bring reward. What matters is not the cost nor degree of skill, but that you give out of love for your neighbor and for God. It is God who touches the giving and makes it a blessing; and it is God who waters the one giving water. Just as no sin slips by his watchful eyes, so no good deed. What will you do today to bring blessing? What watering will you do?

The Free Giver

For Monday, August 8, 2005
Proverbs 11:24

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

The one who gives freely already is ahead because he is free from the control of money and possessions. His security and self-esteem is not bound to possessions; rather, his joy is in blessing others and in furthering the work of God's kingdom. To put it another way, it is bearing fruit that gives him delight. The "Scrooge," however, is a slave to money and possessions, always fearful of losing them. Even if he may be compelled to give some small amount away, he loses because his focus is on his loss, not on the blessing he imparts.

The irony that the proverb notes is that the generous giver typically ends up richer than the money-keeper. I'm reminded of a fundraisers' seminar I attended. The speaker noted the difference between those who inherit wealth and those who earned their wealth. The former, when considering if and how much to give, think in terms of subtracting from their wealth. (If I have 10 million and give 1 million, I will have 9 million left over.) The latter, on the other hand, believes he will be able to replace what he has given.

But the proverb's point is not that givers know how to earn money better than nongivers, but that God who sees all and controls all will bless the person who is like him in giving. For God is a generous giver. And he especially delights in giving to real need, in giving cheerfully, in giving generously, and in giving to please God.

God gave his Son freely and with delight. The Son gave freely of himself. The Father and the Son give freely the Holy Spirit. Just have we have been freed from bondage of sin to live righteously, so we have been made wealthy in Christ so that we may give freely. What will you give today? Will it be money? A gift? A possession? An act of friendship? The gospel? Pray that today you will give generously.