Good Fear

For Friday, November 4, 2005
Proverbs 14:2

Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.

C. S. Lewis writes of this phenomenon in his Narnia Chronicles in the reaction of characters when they first meet Aslan. The good are drawn to him. As the horse Hwin said to him, "Please, you're so beautiful. You may eat me if you like. I'd sooner be eaten by you than fed by anyone else." That is the fear of the Lord. The wicked despise him. And so the witch of The Magician's Nephew throws a bar at him and runs away in a fearful hatred.

And then, there are the sinners who do not dread him, yet are uncomfortable, for the sight of him (and hearing his voice) removes the veil by which they considered themselves. Before Aslan, excuses fall away and sin is exposed. And yet, unlike the wicked who run away in hatred, the sinners find that what follows the painful exposure of sin is the peace of forgiveness and the blessedness of welcome into Aslan's fellowship.

So is the experience of those made righteous in Christ. To fear the Lord is to know one's sin and the Lord's holiness. It is to be made humble. And in that humility one finds grace. Pity the devious who only devises his own misery. Give thanks to the Lord for the grace of teaching you the fear of him.

Lord, may the fear of you be ever before me today. For through the fear of you, I learn truly the depth of your love and mercy. Through the fear of you, I am given strength to walk in uprightness and love for my neighbor. Amen.

Wise Building

For Thursday, November 3, 2005
Proverbs 14:1

The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.

Though the proverb may be contrasting two persons, one who is wise and another who is foolish, it can be describing a person who starts off wise and later turns foolish. Solomon himself is an example. By wisdom, he built Israel to its greatest height; and, yet, in foolishness he prepared its downfall. By wisdom, he honored God with the Temple and his own devotion; by foolishness he brought in idol worship through his many wives. By wisdom, he built cities and made Israel strong; by foolishness, he over taxed and over worked his people, leading to revolt after his death.

Many a woman and a man has achieved great deeds and built up wealth because of wise strategy and decision making. Yet, their very success led them astray to trusting too much in their ability and to wanting too much. If a person is not satisfied with God, nothing else will satisfy and eventually she will overstep her limited wisdom. Then the house she built will fall down.

Wisdom is the fear of God applied. Remove the fear of God, then wisdom becomes mere cleverness. And there is nothing like cleverness to pump ones pride, which then makes one blind. Then comes the downfall.

Lord, give to me true wisdom - to fear you and to live in that light. Grant me such wisdom today with the decisions I must make and the actions I must take. Amen.

Good Appetite

For Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Proverbs 13:25

The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

The righteous has enough because: 1) his lifestyle curbs immoral and unethical impulses that lead to trouble and loss; 2) he curbs his appetite so that it does not control him; 3) God blesses the righteous; 4) his appetite is for God and God satisfies such an appetite.

Like the person who craves only non-nourishing food, the wicked's belly always aches. He craves what does not satisfy. Furthermore, his appetite controls him; an uncontrolled appetite cannot be satisfied. The wicked's lifestyle causes him to waste his money, leads him into activities that harm his body and ruin relationships. His wickedness separates him from God, bringing wrath instead of blessing.

What do you want today? What will satisfy you today? Are you looking in the right direction? Is your craving for the blessing of God?

Lord, satisfy my appetite for you by ever increasing my desire for you. Let me take pleasure in you, but always desiring more. Amen.

Wise Discipline

For Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Proverbs 13:24

Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Understand the message here. It is that parents - because they love their children - will exercise appropriate discipline to correct them. They teach their children that sinful behavior brings punishment.

The message is NOT that parents must always use physical punishment for discipline. Wise parents will choose the appropriate means depending upon the offending behavior and depending upon the nature of the child, as well as upon the nature of the parent. A parent who struggles with anger must be all the more careful not let anger control how he disciplines. Discipline is necessary, but it must be coupled with wisdom and love to carry out God's intentions.

Which leads to the next application. Because God is wise and loves us, he disciplines us. He does not watch idly as we go astray, but will see that our sins bring correcting consequences. Many of the troubles we complain about are the results of our own sins. This does not mean that because I sin, God then causes a loved one to be ill. It means that God allows the natural consequences of sinful behavior to take place. As proverbs points out, if I choose to hang out with wicked friends, I will get into trouble. If I choose to lie and slander, it will turn on me.

By grace, God protects me from many consequences, the most important of which is my damnation. But by his grace, he lets many consequences fall on me so that I may turn from sin and to him through Christ.

Lord, discipline me as you will. For in your wisdom and love, your discipline is healing work. Amen.

Poverty and Injustice

For Monday, October 31, 2005
Proverbs 13:23

The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.

Here is a sobering observation, not to make us cynical but to make us compassionate and zealous for justice. It is a reminder that righteousness is not merely to be about personal holiness, but about how we care for others, particularly those who are poor and defenseless.

Somehow, evangelical Christianity has become known as the religion about morality and of little interest in justice. How did that happen, considering that the rise of evangelicalism corresponded with the societies formed in the 1800s to combat slavery, child and women oppression, and poverty? Jesus said that we would always have the poor with us, one reason being that we always have injustice with us. Do not be quick to explain poverty away on laziness. Scripture, God's Word, observes that the poor may be kept in poverty through injustice.

As you examine your life, what do you do to support the cause of justice and to help the poor?

Lord, open my eyes to the poor and the needy. I want to look away. Open my eyes and give me your compassion for the poor and your zeal for justice. Amen.