Fulfilled Desires

For Friday, October 14, 2005
Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Remember this proverb on motivation. If you desire a person to work hard towards a goal (produce more, win a competition, be nice to you, etc.), then see that desires are fulfilled along the way. Provide rewards. Positive motivation is more effective than negative motivation.

What are desires that can be fulfilled? Receiving encouragement is important. The laborer is more likely to produce 20 gadgets a day, if he is praised for raising his production from 5 to 10. But if he receives no encouragement, then his production is likely to decline. In my counseling, I've noticed that this is a common problem in marriages. Wives will focus on what their husbands are failing to do, baffled that their husbands will not change. ("How many times do I have to remind him?") Husbands are frustrated that their wives have to keep being told that their loved. ("Doesn't she know that by now?") We all need rewards and encouragement to motivate us to press on. A fullfilled desire is life renewing and gives us the strength to move forward.

That is what God does for us. Our greatest hope - glorification at Christ's return - has remained a long-awaiting hope. But we press on for the desires that are fulfilled now - the joys of salvation, of Christian fellowship, of spiritual sanctification. We are given the Lord's Supper to give us tastes of the heavenly banquet and be comforted. We are given earthly blessings of family, friends, productive work, and so on.

God knows how weak and sinful we are, and so he grants us fulfilled desires that we will keep the real hope before us. Let us do the same for one another. Make it your business today to encourage your neighbor, your spouse, your family - whomever God places in your path.

Accumulating Wealth

For Thursday, October 13, 2005
Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

This is a proverb we don't like. We all dream of being surprised by a large inheritance from an unknown relative or winning the lottery (from a ticket someone else bought for us). If only I could get rich now! But this proverb teaches that wealth gained quickly without effort is likely to dwindle easily. For it is those who through diligence and wisdom build wealth who will more likely use the same diligence and wisdom to maintain it.

Wealth is dangerous to those immature to handle it, and immaturity is normally related to lack of experience. Thus, if we have little experience handling money, a sudden rush of it into our hands can be our downfall rather than our salvation.

But are you accumulating wealth even little by little? Are you budgeting how you earn and spend your money? I am presently working on stewardship materials to present to the church as we enter into our budgeting season. Most Christians do not tithe. I'm convinced that most would like to tithe, but they are unable to because they do not know how to budget their money. They do not know how to money aside and save little by little. Tithing is not about how we spend 10% of our money, but what we do with all of our money.

I am reminded of an illustration from one of Dr. Boice's sermons. He spoke of a retired minister who sought financial counsel from Ron Blue, a Christian money advisor. Though he had served only in small churches all his life, he had accumulated one million dollars. When asked how, he replied that he spent less than he earned and steadily laid money aside. Blue told him not to seek advice from anybody!

How are you accumulating your wealth?

Receiving Advice

For Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Proverbs 13:10

By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.

This is insolence of pride. The insolent person rudely rebuffs help and counsel, especially from others whom he deems below himself. He believes it is beneath his dignity or a sign of weakness or a giving in of his authority. Thus the insolent professional does not need advice, especially from a nonprofessional. The person in authority will not take counsel from those under him.

Christians fall under this same spell through spiritualizing the same attitude. Church officers, citing that they are responsible to God for the use of their authority, may be resistent to seek the counsel of their flock. A husband, intent on being the "head" of the family, may not listen to the counsel of his wife and children.

But it is true wisdom to receive and consider good advice, from whomever it comes. The wise person is wise precisely because he knows his limitations and because he desires wisdom and knowledge above reputation. The one who seeks to protect his reputation often loses it because such a goal will lead to foolish decisions. But the one who prizes wisdom will rise in the estimation of others, even those who differ with him.

Seek wisdom today. Listen to whatever advice is given. Indeed, listen more carefully to the advice of those you least respect. God may be speaking to you through them. In his wisdom, he may very well choose the foolish and the weak to deliver his wise message to us.

Joyful Light

For Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Proverbs 13:9

The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Note the contrast between the light of the righteous and of the wicked. It is not merely that the light of the righteous will continue to shine and the wicked's will end, but that the righteous' light "burns merrily." Righteousness is not merely about living right but about living well. The wicked don't understand this. They pursue wickedness and immorality, thinking that those things bring happiness. They scorn the righteous whom they presume must be unhappy and uptight. They consider themselves happy - see, they party and laugh; they have "fun." And yet it is a desperate fun that they must manufacture each day.

True joy - true fun - is delighting in what is good and what produces blessing and peace, what flows out of love. And what greater joy is there than delighting in the light of Jesus Christ, who reconciles us to God, makes our lives fruitful and meaningful, and who leads us in the dance of redemption.

Let your light shine today. Let your flame burn merrily as you give thanks throughout this day for the light of Christ in your life.

True Peace

For Monday, October 10, 2005
Proverbs 13:8

The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
but a poor man hears no threat.

The wealthy person is more likely to be kidnapped for ransom. His wealth becomes both his danger and his ransom from danger. The wealth he accumulates for pleasure must also be used for protection. But the poor man hears no threat since he has nothing worth taking and no wealth for a ransom.

Wealth can be both blessing and curse. The wealthy person can pay for more expensive pleasures; his wealth can provide financial security; but he also must pay more for protection; there is more to lose. His wealth makes him a target, especially if he is also well known. He must buy an expensive home not merely for pleasure but for security - security gate, perhaps guards, alarms systems. He must keep alert for all kinds of attempts to rob and to take advantage of him. He has to hire professionals to watch over his possessions and finances. The greater the wealth, the more to lose and more opportunities to lose it. The poor person can have less anxiety. Indeed, the poor tend to be more generous, precisely because they have little to lose.

And we would do well to learn from this principle. We spend too much time wishing we had wealth. "If only I had a million dollars..." We would pay off our debt; we would put money away for security; we would take that vacation we always wanted; buy that car; get that second home; give to our favorite ministry; buy lots of gifts for others; go to the Super Bowl; move into our dream house... And the list goes on. Indeed, it easily gets out of hand. And then we forget the taxes; we don't think of the many requests from family, friends, charitable groups, etc. And the more popular we become because of our money, the more demand on our time. And again, now we must be more concerned for security.

The key to happiness is not in accumulating wealth, nor, for that matter, in making ourselves poor. The proverb is not exalting poverty; it is merely pointing out that wealth is not all that it is made out to be. The key to happiness is peace. For as great as the peace of mind we have, then will be the level of happiness. And the ultimate peace is that which Christ gives.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27).