Enticement

For Friday, April 21, 2006
Proverbs 16:29

A man of violence entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.

First the violent man must entice his neighbor. Somehow he must win his neighbor over, pretending to offer something pleasurable. How does he do that? The neighbor must either be completely deceived into thinking that he offering something honorably good; or his sinful desires must be stirred. Thus, we must be doubly guarded. There is the enticement of the magazine covers as we walk by the stands appealing to our lust. We must be on our guard not to yield to such temptation. There is also the enticement to help someone who seems to be in need yet really is taking advantage of our kindness to take from us or assist him in doing wrong.

Once the enticement works, the second part of leading in the wrong way becomes relatively easy. If our sinful desires are being fulfilled we will follow with no resistance and even keep following when we come under conviction. Shame or desperation may keep us following the violent man who has taken advantage of us. What then may we do? Throw ourselves at the feet of Jesus Christ. Call out for mercy. Turn to his people, especially his shepherds, for help. Do what you must. For the way of the violent man leads to destruction. It is not good for the soul, nor is it good for happiness and a meaningful life. It wrecks homes and relationships. It can lead to public shame as well as private shame and despair.

Turn to your Savior and confess to others who will come alongside you in the name of Christ to help back to the path of the Way.

Dishonesty

For Thursday, April 20, 2006
Proverbs 16:28

A dishonest man spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.

"Did you hear about Joe?"
"I know I probably shouldn't be saying this, but I thought you had a right to know."
"What's going on between that couple? I bet it has to do with..."

And so the poison works in creating doubt, suspicion, resentment. All it takes is a remark supposedly in innocence, even under the guise of concern. And we need to examine ourselves. The truth is that I can be the dishonest man spreading strife because it is easy to be dishonest with myself. I can convince myself that I am speaking what is needed (and not because I am angry or jealous or hurt). It is easy for me to think that others are being oversensitive or spiteful or hypocritical in their response to my words. They are the real problem.

We must be careful of dishonest people and gossips. They can cause real harm. But today, I want you to be more alert to how dishonesty and hurtful words can come out of your mouth. It can happen. Remember, the heart is "deceitful above all things" (Jeremiah 17:9). Even our redeemed hearts have vestiges of the old nature remaining, and we can be blind to our sinful motive and behavior.

Pray that the Lord will prevent dishonesty and "whispering" from flowing out of your heart today. Be alert to the opportunities that will come your way to speak out of hurt and jealousy. Pray that you may have the discernment to look even into your own heart.

THE Bad Character

For Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Proverbs 16:27

A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Literally, the worthless man digs up evil. Like an archeologist diligently digging for precious artifacts, he labors to come up with something evil to do. Talk about bad breath, his is like scorching fire. He uses speech for wicked ends, to do harm. This is the first of three proverbs that speak of the "bad character" - the worthless man, the dishonest man, and the man of violence.

There are some people who stumble into sin through errors in judgment and yielding to temptations. But there are others who have bad characters and who delight in doing mischief. (Oddly enough, these are the characters who are glamorized in TV and the movies. We know they are bad, but we are fascinated by them and admire their boldness.) More can be said later, but today think about THE bad character - Satan.

Satan plots evil, and he plots against you. If you are in Christ, he cannot touch your soul but he will still work to render you ineffective for Christ's service. He will use whatever means he can to turn you away from the path of righteousness - temptation, self-righteousness, false humility, pride - whatever works to distant you from Christ.

Know your enemy. He is like a roaring lion prowling about trying to devour you (1 Peter 5:8). Be on guard against him today. There are bad characters out there, and perhaps you will encounter someone today. But you will encounter THE bad character everyday. Don't be like Peter who trusted in himself. Pray even now for the Lord's protection and be alert.

Good Appetite

For Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Proverbs 16:26

A worker’s appetite works for him;
his mouth urges him on.

Our appetite motivates us to produce. Hunger will drive even the laziest of persons to work to satisfy his hunger pain. How can you get a stubborn mule to walk? Hold an apple in front of him. It is a basic principle that success is predicated on hunger. It has become a sports cliché. Who will be the winner depends on who wants to win the most, who is the hungriest.

If appetite is a powerful motivator to work, then the control of one’s appetite is important. The degree of the appetite and the direction of the appetite must be considered. An appetite for food is essential for getting the proper nutrients for our bodies. A person with a poor appetite is likely to be malnourished. However, too strong of an appetite can lead to overeating with the health problems it brings. Likewise, a poor appetite for what makes a comfortable and secure life can lead to poor work habits, leaving individuals and their families in poor conditions, and too great an appetite for wealth and luxury can lead to out-of-whack work practices and the breakup of relationships. Too little an appetite and too much of one each brings their share of troubles, whatever the appetite is for. We should desire the appetite expressed in Proverbs 30:7-9:

Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

In the same manner, the direction of the appetite is significant. An appetite for financial security produces one pattern of behavior; an appetite for a happy family produces another. An appetite for a comfortable life produces certain behavior, while an appetite for serving God’s kingdom yet another. For which are you hungrier – a pleasant, comfortable life or a productive, meaningful life? These things are not necessarily opposed to each other, but the appetite for one over the other will determine how you live.

Likewise, your appetite for God will affect how well you know and serve him. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). If you find the taste of the Lord good, then your appetite will spur you on to know him better. "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103). If that is your experience with God’s Word, then your appetite for his Word will lead you to read and study it. Try as much as you will to worship and serve God out of duty, you will never do a good job. An individual is spurred on by his appetite.

My Way

For Monday, April 17, 2006
Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.

With apologies to Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, let me read a famous song that this proverb addresses so well.

My Way

And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full.
I've traveled each and ev'ry highway;
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
"No, oh no not me,I did it my way".

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

When the author of the song faces the final curtain and states his case of which he is certain, do you think he really will be certain as he stands before God the Judge? Often there is a way that seems right but ends in trouble and even death. All the more reason we need to go beyond what seems right to us and look for better guidance. For the scripture writers that means going to God’s Law or Word. Psalm 119:105 sums it up well: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Sometimes God’s Word may not be specific enough for a decision we must make. In such a case, Proverbs would have us seek counsel: Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed (15:22).

The point is this. We’ve got to take into account that we are creatures of the Fall. We live in a fallen world and are ourselves “bent,” as we would be described in C. S. Lewis’ world of Malacandra. What seems right may very well be the course that leads to death, because the world itself is out of kilter and sets up illusions for us as to what is important, as our song demonstrates. Furthermore, our hearts are tainted with corruption so that, in contrast to what our culture teaches us is the one thing we can trust – viz., the heart – is what we must be most careful to examine to see if it is trustworthy. And then there is Satan and his forces who are clever and seek through subtle means to lead us astray.

Christians, as we face the final curtain, may it be said of us that he turned from his own way to follow the one who is the Way. May our song be, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).