Rich or Poor

For Friday, October 7, 2005
Proverbs 13:7

One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

One can take this proverb negatively or positively. We look down on the person who pretends to be what he is not. We consider him foolish who pretends to have wealth he does not possess by spending himself in debt or going to great length to look like he has wealth. And we find the wealthy person a bore who pretends to be poor by complaining about costs and how little he has.

On the other hand, it is admirable not to let poverty get you down, but instead to live with the attitude of being rich by enjoying each day and using wisely what you have. And it is proper not to flaunt your wealth, living simply with the knowledge that wealth is fleeting.

To apply this proverb in the latter manner, what we really need is to be rich in Christ and poor in spirit. We need to own and rejoice in the riches that we have in Jesus Christ, for truly as such we are wealthy beyond all earthly means. And if we are poor in spirit; i.e. if we are humble about our own personal abilities and wealth, then all the more we will more freely exercise and enjoy Christ's riches. In Christ we are indeed rich, though we may have no earthly wealth; and without Christ we are indeed impoverished, though we may have all the wealth in the world.

Righteous Guard

For Thursday, October 6, 2005
Proverbs 13:6

Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.

Righteousness is not only a standard to meet, but armor to wear and protect us from the enemy who would destroy our souls. A garment of sin not only doesn't protect us from the evils of life, but strengthens the power of evil to harm us.

The Christian has failed already, who, thinking it necessary to survive in the world, compromises Christian ethics. God will not honor such thinking and behavior, and thus the Christian sacrifices his one true Guard. All the more likely then will he be overthrown.

Is your job threatened? Are you in danger of losing what seems necessary for living? Are you in danger of losing someone you love? Then for your sake, do what is right in the eyes of the Lord only. Do what Scripture teaches is right. It certainly is simpler to follow the clear teaching of Scripture than to figure out alone what is the cleverest action to take. And what can be safer than to walk along the path of the Lord under his protection?

But always remember that it is not our righteousness that provides security, but Christ's. Here is the proverb in the light of Christ: The righteousness of Christ guards him who follows his Lord, but to remain under the bondage of sin is our downfall.

A Lying Shame

For Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Proverbs 13:5

The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame and disgrace

Often, we create lies and shade the truth in order to save ourselves from dishonor and embarrassment. If we can hide our mistakes and sins from others, then we can be well regarded and honored.

But compounding a sin with untruthfulness about it will bring an even greater shame to the one who is exposed. And God will expose all wickedness in our hearts, as it will be necessary for just judgment.

Wisdom always reminds us of our task, as sons and daughters of the Great Wise King, to judge righteous judgment. To do this, we must be lovers of the truth, first in ourselves, and secondly in the wider world. For lies will always pervert judgment among those who cannot see the hearts of men and women.

Sloth and the Soul

For Tuesday October 4, 2005
Proverbs 13:4

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied

Sloth is never simply a physical problem, but one that affects the whole person, body and soul. The sluggard thinks he or she is trading off difficulty now for immediate ease, but this proves not to be the case. What he or she puts off, will come back again and cause even greater trouble.

The trouble will not just be the task that was avoided, even as it has likely grown to greater proportions, but a poverty of spirit that brings frustration and misery. It is hard to admit to yourself that your own sloth is the root of your failure, but its still 'known' at one level increasing bitterness within.

We know the feeling we get when we have accomplished a task in advance of the problem. This reward helps motivate us to continue on the wise path of diligence and preparation. We see God's wisdom working in a world of consequences that encourage us toward maturity, while frustrating us when we depart from wisdom.

What have you been putting off?

Bite Your Tongue

For Monday October 3, 2005
Proverbs 13:3

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

The image here of a guarded mouth comes from the world of warfare, and defense against an enemy. One usually guards the weak point, or the valuable position or place. One guards it against invading enemies.

The mouth is the entry point for food and drink, but it is "what comes out of a man that defiles him," not what goes into him. We must guard the mouth, not against invaders coming in, but against our own sin emerging.

Knowing the time to speak and the time to refrain from speaking requires wisdom of course. There is a time when words must be spoken, and that is the fitting time. That is when whatever pearls we have been granted will be valued and treasured, instead of squandered in a wrong moment of time.

How often we say and wish "I'd like to take that back!" But when the guard has dropped, the enemy has already done its work, and ruin is close at hand.

What do you find is the thing you must guard against? Is it intemperate speech when you feel attacked? Know Christ uttered not a word when accused. Is it coarse joking? Know that our unlovely parts are covered, giving them special honor. Is it careless words that bring hurt to others? Know that God can restore that which is broken, by speaking words that declare forgiveness.