THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013
Judges 4:1–5:31
Luke 22:35–53
Psalm 94:1–23
Proverbs 14:3,4
Today, I would like to focus our attention on two proverbs, one from yesterday’s reading and one from today’s. As you may know, today marks Danielle’s birthday. As we were getting to know one another, God provided strong confirmation of her character through life-long love of Proverbs. Her heart for wisdom and living according to God’s design set her apart and deepened my love for her. Through our married life, she has consistently demonstrated this heart through challenging situations, as we have striven to honor the Lord Jesus. Thanks be to God for Danielle!
Proverbs 14:1
“The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
First of all, please do not become distracted by the apparent singling-out of women in this proverb. If you spend any time reading through the Proverbs, you will quickly note that the aphorisms reserve the majority of their correction for men. In this case, importantly, this concept applies equally well to both men and women.
In “building” her house, the wise woman lives out the wisdom of Proverbs 31, becoming a great blessing both to her family and her community. She apparently pursues this mission on a consistent basis:
“A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.” (31:11–13)
“She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.” (31:20)
“Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.” (31:23)
“She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.” (31:25–29)
As Jesus explained in Matthew 7:24–27, we must decide on which soil to build our lives: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Scripture testifies in multiple places that we must make conscious decisions on whom we will serve and on whose principles we will elect to build our lives. This concept of building a life, at its very core, suggests an intentionality and responsibility for preparation and continual improvement. Due to the nature of entropy, we must diligently reinforce our foundations daily in order to keep our “house” from becoming weak. Spending time in the Word and in communication with our Father serves as a key element in this intentional preparation.
Worldly wisdom proscribes acting more like a sponge, instead taking blessings for yourself, wherever possible, and enjoying this fruit until needing to move on to other pastures. It expects an inherent goodness of the self and a generosity of others. Its selfish core ultimately produces a shaky foundation that will not stand during trials.
On which foundations are you building your life? May you be richly strengthened to build your foundation on His principles, for His glory and honor.
Proverbs 14:4
“Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
But from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.”
On its face, this proverb speaks to the necessary costs and benefits of oxen in agricultural life. Their strength brings forth “an abundant harvest,” but their absence allows the farmer to avoid the loathsome task of mucking stalls. In a greater sense, we cannot expect to earn anything of profit without expecting a cost in return.
The Word applies this concept both to discipleship and relationships. In Luke 14:14–26, which we explored two weeks ago, we found the king measuring the strength of his army against the anticipated foe or the builder estimating the costs of completing his project. In a similar fashion, disciples of the Lord Jesus must consider at what cost they will pursue their walk with Him. In essence, it involves trading earthly gain for heavenly gain (Matthew 6:19–24), including time, talent, and treasure.
With regard to relationships, living as a “rock” or “island” may shield us from interpersonal drama, but it is clear that we will then be walking away from God’s createdness in us. In Genesis 2, we find God’s creation of Eve in order to provide a “suitable helper” to this first man. In a similar fashion, God has wired each of us for relationship – and, clearly, some to a greater extent than others – but we will miss the mark if we seek to isolate ourselves from others’ problems. Instead, we must choose to seek an others-mindedness that goes beyond mere pleasantries. We must become involved and look to serve the others’ “best interests” (Philippians 2:1–4). It begins with becoming better acquainted and growing in compassion and leads to action and words: edification, encouragement, and service. This framework translates well to friendships, work relationships, family relationships, and even marriage.
How may you look to the “abundant harvest” in order to pursue your walk with Christ and the relationships that He has given you today?
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