Of Few Words

For Thursday, June 8, 2006
Proverbs 17:27

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

How is being few with words connected with being knowledgeable? First of all, the person of knowledge and understanding knows that his value is not found in making others see how knowledgeable he is. He is not compelled to speak louder, quicker, and more often than others. His self-esteem is not wrapped up in being thought smart by others.

His understanding is seen in his cool spirit that keeps him from aggravating problems and calming others. By his cool spirit he can act with wisdom and apply his knowledge productively. He controls his anger because it is the wise thing to do.

He restrains his words, knowing when and to whom to speak, and thus not wasting words or having his words used against him or being misunderstood.

This restraint actually raises him in the estimation of others. He may not be recognized for his wisdom early on, but time will provide the occasion and prove his understanding. Whereas, the quick talker will eventually prove how little he really knows.

But note: the man of knowledge and understanding is not praised for keeping his knowledge and wisdom to himself, but rather knowing how to impart them effectively by restraining his urges. A quiet person does not necessarily know more than the talker. The key is having control over one's urges and especially one's tongue.

Not Good

For Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Proverbs 17:26

To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

Injustice occurs in two ways: not punishing the guilty and punishing the law abiding. It is one thing to be lax about prosecuting the guilty; but it is more grievous to take action against the person who is upright. Indeed, this proverb presents not merely a person who is innocent of a crime, but who consciously lives an upright life and promotes justice.

Understand that the writer is not merely shaking his head at injustice. His moral stance is based on God's law, and God will enforce his law. In essence, he is pronouncing doom on the judge who imposes injustice. To do what "is not good" is to incur the wrath of God, and God will not be mocked. All the more, he will mete out his justice against those in authority abusing their offices. The ruler who is a tyrant; the judge who is unjust; the boss who takes advantage of his power over others - such persons take warning that what they do "is not good," and God will avenge his law, especially when injustice is carried against the upright.

Pray that the unjust will receive their due punishment in this life, not simply so that you can see it happen, but that in this life they still have time to repent. Final judgment will take place when there will be no chance of repentance. For God is just and he will see that final justice is delivered.

Grief of a Fool

For Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Proverbs 17:25

A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.

Fools annoy others; they make others angry. Others enjoy fools, finding them to be entertainment. But fools grieve their parents who are filled with shame by the public disgrace and filled with sorrow for the path their children are following. They may also be angry, but their anger is stirred by disappointment and the loss of hope for their children.

It is a wondrous feeling to hold one's own newborn, to know that this is not just a baby but one's own child. There is no question for a parent at that moment that he or she will do anything to protect him and to do what is best for him. And no parent cannot but help to invest happiness and hopes in the child.

And thus the reason why parents can seem to be more reasonable with other children than their own. Just as we do not lose sleep over the investment of others, but are anxious about our own, so parents are anxious for their own children. Your hope for your children and for yourselves is to entrust them to God. You have responsibility to raise your children in the path of righteousness, but you cannot control their hearts, nor be with them everywhere. And you must remember that they ultimately belong to God. You can do nothing better than to hold them up before your Lord in prayer. Certainly there is much you can do to learn how to raise your children and relate to them, but always be faithful in prayer. God grieves also for his wayward children. You do not love your children more than he. And so you can share your grief with one who understands. (For after all, you are his child and he has had plenty experience dealing with your foolish ways.)

Setting One's Face

For Monday, June 5, 2006
Proverbs 17:24

The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

The contrast here is betweent the discerning who keeps focused on wisdom and the fool who chases after each fad that pops up from everywhere. Today he would be the one fascinated with the "new discoveries" of the "Da Vinci Code." His home library is an archive of each year's most popular self-help and new thinking books. He's taken all the newly discovered ancient Asian exercises and meditation practices. He's dabbled in Indian Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. He's got the latest book by the Dai Lama. And there is his collection of crystals and other New Age paraphernalia.

But the discerning "sets his face toward wisdom." He does not lose focus; he does not waver from the one true source of wisdom - Scripture. He does not lose sight of his one true hope - the redemption of Jesus Christ. He does not waver in his faith in the one true God. Like Christ when tempted by Satan, he does not waste time with fruitless debate about what is right or wrong for him but merely cites the teaching of Scripture. And like Christ, his trials do not discourage him, for keeps his eyes on the joy set before him.

For Christ is his wisdom. In Christ wisdom becomes simple and profound. To abide in Christ is all that he needs.