The Ruler's Responsibility

For Friday, February 29, 2008
Proverbs 29:12

If a ruler listens to falsehood,
all his officials will be wicked.

If a ruler listens to falsehood, then he is listening to wicked counselors. And if he cannot distinguish the false from the true, then the wicked will rise and multiply. Much depends on the ruler's ability to discern.

Much also rests on the ruler's commitment to the truth. He should not be willing to listen to falsehood. It is one thing to listen to opposing points of view; it is another to listen to those who are wicked and who lie. A ruler should not test himself against such persons. He should ban them from his presence. Much also rests on the ruler's righteousness. His discernment will only be as great as his inner integrity. Likewise, he will be as committed to the truth according to how much he is committed to righteousness.

Much rests on a ruler. As he goes, so does the sphere that is under his control. If he becomes corrupt, so will those who serve him. If he is negligent, even though he may desire righteousness, it will be injustice that prevails through those serving under him. To whom much is given, much is expected because much rests on his shoulders.

Venting

For Thursday, February 28, 2008
Proverbs 29:11

A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.

This is not a distinction between being demonstrative and reserved, as though the one who expresses emotions is foolish and the one who expresses little is wise. Rather it is a distinction between one who does not exercise discernment and the one who does.

The characteristic trait of the fool is that he does not think; he merely reacts to his circumstances like a knee-jerk response to the tap of a hammer. He is like the infant who laughs when happy and cries when discomforted with no thought given to anyone else. Unlike the infant, the fool, when questioned, will reflect that his reactions are quite appropriate. How so? Because he is expressing what he truly feels.

The wise man quietly holds back his inner feeling as he assesses the situation. He knows there is a time for everything, including giving full vent to his spirit, but the key is in understanding the time. Jesus, at times, gave full vent to his spirit, including anger (overturning tables at the temple), grief (before Lazarus' tomb), and even fear (in Gethsemane). But as a wise man, he discerned the right time.

Are you a knee-jerk reactor, who gives full vent to your spirit at anytime or are you a discerner who holds back and give full vent according to the appropriate time?

Bloodthirsty Men

For Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Proverbs 29:10

Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless
And seek the life of the upright.

Why such hatred? Because the blameless reveal the depravity of the wicked’s souls. Simeon said of Jesus that he would be a “sign that is opposed…so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-5). This is why the bloodthirsty men of Jesus’ day put him to death. He exposed and pronounced judgment against their hypocrisy and cruelty. His own blameless life shamed their pretensions. His purposeful life showed up their fruitless lives. They hated him for being what they were not.

They hate because hatred is in their nature passed down from their father, the devil. Listen to what could be considered Jesus’ commentary on this verse:

“If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God” (John 8:42-47).

Foolish Argument

For Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Proverbs 29:9

If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
The fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

The fool has no interest in wisdom. He may enjoy words, but only as toys in which to enjoy foolishness. When a person tries to reason with him, the fool treats the effort as nothing more than a game of words which he believes he always wins. And he does. For if the purpose of an argument is to win over the other, the man of reason always loses against the fool. The fool is not only unconverted but believes he has out-done the wise man, for it is the wise man who always gives up first in frustration.

That is why other proverbs recommend discipline as the only effective means in controlling the folly of a fool. Corrective discipline, rather than corrective reasoning, is what can quiet the fool. And that is at least one credit for the fool. Unlike the wicked, his heart is not bent on evil. He is merely foolish in his thinking, and if he cannot comprehend what is reasonable, at least he will avoid what is painful.

Wisdom understands this principle. The wise man may first try argument, i.e. use rational thought with the fool. But when the raging and laughing come, the wise man will turn away if he has no authority in the matter or use appropriate discipline. In a similar manner, God so uses reason or discipline with us. As much as we like to think we are rational, the truth is that corrective discipline is needed to deal with our foolish ways.

Dousing Scoffers

For Monday, February 25, 2008
Proverbs 29:8

Scoffers set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath.

Like a pyromaniac, scoffers like to stir up trouble. They get their kicks out of causing a commotion. It is fun to them to see a city aflame with angry words, gossip, and slander. Somehow their ego is stroked to think that they started it all. They are the perverted image of the artist and the builder who delight in what they construct. Scoffers delight in what they destroy.

The answer to the scoffers is the wise person. To fight back against a scoffer is to play his game. People who call in or write-in to talk show hosts, for instance, thinking that they can reason with or even make scoffers feel bad, merely serve as kindling wood for scoffers. The wise understand this, and so they think through carefully how to bring the scoffers' flames under control. They use discernment, rather than anger, to guide their actions. They are able to use discernment because they keep their goal before them, which is to bring peace.

Do you let scoffers set you aflame? Are you frustrated by your inability to "turn away wrath" or to put a scoffer in his place? Remember the goal of the wise, to bring peace. Turn to discernment rather than anger. You will be surprised at how easily discernment can come if you remember your goal.