Saturday, September 28, 2024

No Reason For Envy

 

Proverb of the Week

Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, 

for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. 

                                                                  - Proverbs 24:19-20 (ESV)

 

David’s words of Psalm 37 are echoed here in this proverb, from which we might surmise that he too was subject to the temptation to not only fear those who do wicked things but to look on their wealth or accomplishments or fame with envy. Why we should avoid seeking after such worldly things is answered right here in the proverb: the evil man has no enduring future.

But how to avoid such worry and envy is answered in Psalm 37 where we are told that we are to trust in the LORD, delight in the LORD, commit ourselves to the LORD, and to rest in the LORD.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

A Warning to the Wicked

 

Proverb of the Week

Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. - Proverbs 24:15-16 (ESV)

Given that Paul quotes a Psalm which points out that ““none is righteous, no, not one” we can understand that the righteous man spoken of here is one who is trusting Christ’s imputed righteousness rather than his own right actions.  

In this proverb we see a warning to the wicked that their efforts to cause the righteous to stumble will ultimately be unsuccessful, because they will persevere in their faith and their purposes which God has ordained. The wicked, on the other hand, are liable to fall and not recover from their fall into calamity or as it may also be translated, fall into adversity or evil.

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Buying Some Truth

 

Proverb of the Week

Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.                -  Proverbs 23:23 (ESV)

Jesus is the very embodiment of truth. Jesus said of himself that he is the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, except by him. (John 14:6)

Remember that “buying the truth” is a metaphor. Neither Jesus or the salvation that he brings have a price tag. They are a gift. But to use the metaphor, there is a price involved in growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I would suggest the price you pay to receive a full measure of knowing Jesus is the spending of your time; reading the Bible, listening to sermons, communing with God’s people, and contemplating what you have read, heard and seen. That is how you purchase truth. Wisdom, instruction and understanding are all things that are good and important, and are purchased in much the same way, but without first having the truth that is in found in Jesus Christ they are not obtainable in any concrete form.