Bribes

For Friday, June 2, 2006
Proverbs 17:23

The wicked accepts a bribe in secret
to pervert the ways of justice.

Truly there is nothing new under the sun. The giving of bribes has a long history. Bribes are given to sway judges' rulings; to fix betting events; to obtain advantage over business competitors; to gain money and power. It is wicked to give such bribes, but as this proverb points out, it is also wicked to accept bribes. For the one giving bribes in one sense is not the one perverting justice; rather, he is giving a bribe to one who has the power to pervert justice. The very reason he must give a bribe is that he lacks such power.

Thus, we see the danger of power. Many "good" persons have taken positions of power in the courts and in government with the desire to enforce justice, only to be corrupted by the lure of money or other form of bribery. And we are all susceptible to bribery in our own small spheres of influence. The teacher is tempted to award "pets" in the class; the parent to favor the "nice" child of the family; the boss to favor the employee who brings snacks to work. We don't need thousands of dollars to influence the favors we bestow on others; we merely need to be made to feel special.

We are all susceptible to bribery, however great or small the bride or our power. Thanks be to God that he, the Great Judge, is swayed by nothing other than his own just character; and all praise to God that he is moved by his own mercy. Our God will always do what is right; he will always do what is for our good. We may consider that there is one "bribe" that he always accepts - the intercession of his Son who is our High Priest. He will never turn down his Son who ever pleas for us.

Good Medicine

For Thursday, June 1, 2006
Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Centuries before the advent of scientific medicine, this proverb recognized a key element of good health and even for curing illness - a joyful heart. This of how this applies to you. Being happy is not a cure-all, of course, but it does play a significant role in reducing the ill effects caused by stress, depression, anger, self-pity, and resentment. Perhaps this was how the apostle Paul was able to deal with all his sufferings, including some kind of chronic physical ailment. He said, "Rejoice in the Lord always: agian I will say, Rejoice....do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:4,6). You may not be able to rejoice in being ill or going through a trial, but you can always rejoice in your salvation, in the grace and mercy of God, in his steadfast love, in his promise of eternal glory, and on and on.

Paul goes on to say, "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (4:8). You cannot keep bad things from happening, but you do have a choice as to letting such things dominate your mind and spirit or not. What are you thinking about today - your trials or your blessings? Are you counting what you wish you had or what all God has blessed you with?

And by the way, are you being medicine for someone today? Are you passing on a good word, a kind act that will refresh someone's spirit? Let the blessings which God has poured out on you in Christ Jesus be passed on to others.

A Fool's Father

For Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Proverbs 17:21

He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.

Too many parents can nod their heads to this proverb. Others may laugh at a fool, shake their heads in disdain or pity. The parent (father or mother) weeps. The father hangs his head in shame and the mother in sorrow. They had hopes for their child; their delight was in the pleasure he would bring. And especially in ancient times, they looked to him to provide for them in their old age. But the fool becomes their thorn in the side. When they see children devoted to their parents, they ache. When they see children grow up to be mature men and women, they cannot help but contrast their foolish child. The fool robs his parents of joy.

The fool does not think about this. He thinks only of himself, and if he thinks of his parents, he blames them for all his calamities which are many. If they had given him what he wanted...

How can we meditate on this proverb without thinking of our heavenly Father who must put up with our foolish ways? For though he has saved us and adopted us, though his Spirit dwells within us, we continue to act foolishly. Do we not cause him shame? Does he not grieve over us for whom he paid such a great price?

No? What is this? "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God" (Romans 5:8-9). Is this our Father running to meet us from a distance? Is this the Father seeking after us after wandering away from his flock? Is this our Father loving us with a steadfast love that cannot be deterred, not even by our foolishness, because it is in Christ Jesus our Lord? Perhaps our greatest folly is to doubt what he has done for us in adopting us as his children. The more our confidence is founded in the work of God for us, and not our work for him, then the less folly we will fall into. God has sired no fools.

Crooked Heart

For Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Proverbs 17:20

A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

The problem for such a man above is not bad luck, as he would think is the cause. Nor is the problem one of circumstances - if only he had money, a good job, a job without a boss, neighbors who appreciated him, etc. Jesus stated clearly his problem: it is his heart. "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts..." (Mark 7:21).

If only we "good" people could understand this principle; then we would not be perplexed about the sins of others, nor the bad things that happen to us. We wonder how "bad" people can keep behaving badly. Bad behavior is the mark of a crooked heart. It neither seeks good, nor (should it be under the illusion that it is seeking good) can it find it. And the dishonest tongue is dishonest because of the heart that is crooked. Thus, if you link up with an ungodly neighbor, understand that your neighbor will expose you to, and try to lead you in to, sin.

Understand more that much of our own calamities are the result of our own sin. Christians will often ask if their suffering is the result of sin. Even then they are following the wrong trail, for they try to connect their suffering with sin that is not a direct cause. "I am having a hard time at work becauseI must learn to trust God more...I need more faith...I need to be more disciplined..." Often our hard times are the result of direct sin - speaking rudely to our neighbor, showing dishonor to our supervisor, complaining, doing poor work. Indeed, where many times we credit suffering to being "bold witnesses for Christ," the real truth is that we have been arrogant and obnoxious.

Check the heart. It is the hardest work to do, but the most necessary.