Worthless Pursuits

For Friday, January 25, 2008
Proverbs 28:19

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits
will have plenty of poverty.

Whoever goes to work each day and labors diligently will see the produce from his labors. Whether he be the farmer who works his land or the office worker who manages his projects, if he works conscientiously he can expect fruit from his labor.

What of the one who "follows worthless pursuits"? He also may expect a return for his labors - poverty. Why? The primary reason is that he has shifted his energies from productive work to fruitless labor. The hours that could have been devoted to productivity are wasted in the other pursuit. Furthermore, what he pursues is likely to cause him to lose what he has. He invests money in pursuits that not only fail but create greater debt.

What are these worthless pursuits? They are pursuits that seem worthwhile. They may be get-rich schemes that promised quick returns. They typically promise good income with minimal labor. They promise to be fail-proof. They promise to work for anyone. They make the same pitch that Satan made to Jesus - gain the world without the cross. Gain wealth without the labor.

Jesus did not distain the world. Indeed, he did gain the world but did so the right way. He labored, even suffered, to gain his rule. Likewise, the proverbs do not distain wealth, just the means by which we go for it, such as through worthless pursuits or unjust means. Wealth should be the byproduct of a productive life, not the goal for which we live. Or we should have a broader understanding of wealth, which rests not so much in possessions as in quality of life - a life blessed with a good name, that is respected and experiences love, that blesses others. That is true wealth which can only be gained by worthwhile pursuits.

Of Integrity and Crookedness

For Thursday, January 24, 2008
Proverbs 28:18

Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

This is a common lesson in proverbs. Walking in integrity/righteousness carries with it the protection of the Lord who watches over those who fear him. The crooked/wicked will fall suddenly, disastrously because the Lord will bring judgment.

More often than not, this is played out in one's lifetime. The wicked are setting their own traps because of creating enemies, associating with like-minded evil-doers who are quick to turn against their own, raising the opposition of the righteous who will bring justice, being blinded by pride and greed, and so on. The righteous, on the other hand, create friends, associate with like-minded individuals who respect one another, win the support of the community, and grow in wisdom.

But the main matter is as previously stated - the righteous who walk in integrity have the blessing of the Lord; the wicked who are crooked in their ways have his wrath. Whatever one receives in this lifetime, what really matters in the life after, where one receives either eternal blessing or an eternal curse. The latter is a sudden fall than never ends.

No Interference

For Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Proverbs 28:17

If one is burdened with the blood of another,
he will be a fugitve until death;
let no one help him.

Let no one interfere with the hand of God in bringing just retribution to a murderer. As we are told to leave vengence to the Lord, so we are not to interfere with his vengence. The burden placed on the murderer is from God and used by God to drive him to "the pit," translated here as death. Such an end may very well be his sentence, though it could include any form of retribution, whether it be in this life or afterwards. The point is that he must bear the consequence of taking innocent life. Justice cannot be denied.

And if there is to be any hope for the murderer, justice must be rendered. It is in facing the consequences of one's wickedness that the wicked is most likely to come to grips with his sin, and if he does not, then all the more reason justice needs to be fulfilled.

This is a sobering proverb, especially because of the last line. How can we say not to help? We can do so when we learn to trust God more than ourselves. Too often our help is nothing more than interference. We interfere with justice, even with grace. For grace shines best when justice is rendered. When a sinner bears consequence for his sin; when he accepts the consequence; it is then he sees clearly the grace that is shown him. No man turns to Christ while he feels no conviction for sin. It is conviction and consequence that will drive him to his knees. It is experiencing the pit of punishment and despair that is likely to turn him from the eternal pit.

Prolonged Days

For Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Proverbs 28:16

A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

The contrast here is between lacking understanding and hating unjust gain. It seems that what the ruler lacks understanding about is the privilege of rule. He regards power primarily as a means to advance his interests. And so he uses his position to gain more wealth and power by oppressing those unable to stand up against him. The righteous rules understands that the position of ruler is one of privilege, granted to him to advance the interests of his people. He is measured by how well he protects and promotes the welfare of those under his rule.

It is such righteous rule that is blessed by the Lord who rules over life and death, and thus possesses to power to prolong or shorten our days. From human experience, such rule often does result in a prolonged reign, because the ruler wins the support of his people who in turn protect him and willingly serve him, thus promoting his welfare.

Perhaps this is the fundamental misunderstanding of the wicked ruler. He believes the key to staying in power is to ruthlessly grab more and just as ruthlessly protect it. Thus, he is always creating enemies and forfeits the support of his people. There is a reason why it is common for ruthless rulers is to be violently removed from their position.

The same holds true in the workplace. We may not conduct violent coups, but it is common for leader who flexes his muscle to find himself being pushed out by the muscles of others and often to the support of those working under him. To seek any position for the sake of wielding power and grabbing more wealth is likely to lead to a shortening of days. But to use one's position to promote the good of the company and the welfare of the employees is likely to lead to a prolonging of days.