On the Way to Wonder

Proverbs 17

“A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;

they think success will come at every turn.”

Bribery is not a topic we think of as being particularly Biblical.  I was surprised to find Exodus 23:8. “You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the officials, and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.” Bribery was included as part of the law coming through Moses, centuries ago! Merriam-Webster defines a bribe as “money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust.”  We think of “dirty cops” as ones who accept money to turn their eyes the other way about a crime.  We might have a heated discussion about how money influences political campaigns or how our representatives work in our legal centers.  We even say, “Everyone has their price!”  Many believe at some level that money or favors can make life work the way they want it to.  All of us would probably like to think we are above bribery.

         So how does this verse apply to me down where my rubber meets my road?  I suppose an obvious application is when in great distress I “bargain” with God and promise to do whatever if only God will make life go the way I want it to.  When disease hurts loved ones I might plead and beg with God.  When disaster strikes I also am tempted to bargain.  Could it be that we loose sight of the heart of God that loves us when we become ugly, old, poor or whatever?  We change our focus from a good God to figuring out how we can make a situation work in our favor.

         Perhaps one of the most famous Biblical bribery stories is Judas Iscariot being paid 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus.  We have debated the motives of all involved but we do know that Judas received money, and agreed to lead people to Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane on Maunday Thursday and that resulted in the arrest of Jesus and his eventual crucifixion.  Judas regretted his actions and hung himself.  Bribes have charm and lure people into trouble with a promise for a hopeful future but usually the promises are deceptive. 

         So perhaps the challenge facing us today is to reflect on our relationship with God and those niggling thoughts that if only we prayed more, gave more, did more good deeds that somehow God would love us more.  But, in truth, we need only go to him.  God may have a different solution than we want but God has our back because God can be trusted and he cares.  Blessings.

“Gracious words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs 16:23)”

“More to be desired are they (the words of God) than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey,

and drippings of the honeycomb.(Psalm 19:10)”

Honeycomb “is a mass of hexagonal wax cells built by honey bees in their nests to contain their larvae and stores of honey and pollen.”  In Kenya, women would come to the door with buckets full of honey that included the honeycomb and a fair share of dead bees floating in the mix.  We would strain the honey into jars but we would save the honeycomb to chew when sick.  There were no local shops selling chewing gum so honeycomb was also used as a kind of chewing gum.  Honey has a host of curative value.  It can be put on burns, given at bedtime to prevent bedwetting, and swallowed to help breathing when your child has a cold.

         The writer of Proverbs compares “gracious words” to honeycomb.  Gracious words are words full of grace.  Grace is when we receive a gift that we know we do not deserve and are so surprised to be blessed by.  Children are taught at church that grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense or in other words, we are blessed not because we are so very good and deserving but because God, the giver, is kind and generous and loves to bless his creation with surprises.  A no-good, very-bad day can be turned around by the unexpected visit of a friend who spreads sunshine on us and just enjoys being with us.   Words heal.  “I’m sorry.”  “I forgive you.”  “Please” and “thank you” are magic words.

         Likewise, gold cannot buy true happiness or joy but a small thing like a smile or a kind word has the power to bless.  “I do!” changes our destiny and our identity.  So again today we reflect on how we use our words.  Are they like honey, sweetening the rough times in someone’s life, and are they like honeycomb, bringing healing and health?  Try to bless at least three people today with a surprise complement.  Pay it forward!

Proverbs 15

“Words Words Words
I’m so sick of words
I get words all day through
First from him, now from you
Is that all you blighters can do”

Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady

Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady is transformed by linguist Henry Higgins through the reformation of her language, the way she speaks.  I may not admire the male chauvinism in that film and age but the importance of words and how we use them is focused on in several verses in Chapter 15 of Proverbs.

v. 1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.”

v. 4 “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

v.7 “The lips of the wise spread knowledge…”

v. 8 “…the prayer of the righteous please him (God).”

v.23 “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply – “

Eliza bemoans the use of words without actions.  Proverbs implies that our words should be congruent with our actions and not manipulation to get our own way deceitfully by lying nor violent and abusive.  Our words are to bring life and healing to others and are to cool angry hearts.

         As we go about our daily routine today, may we focus on how we use our words.  Are we building and encouraging those with whom we interact and giving life or are we gossiping and destroying?  I took my husband out to breakfast yesterday morning after lab tests to a small little shop where we could get a waffle and a cup of coffee.  Little ole couples and friends were pouring in, laughing as they were merrily greeted and welcomed and obviously “seen and known” as some of the regulars.  I could not help but realize that I would come back when I could afford the calories again…or maybe sooner. The waiters had no chaplaincy degree but they were building everyone that came through their door.  May we use our words to invest in lives today!

Proverbs 14:4

“Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,

but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.”

Trying to write a devotional during Super Bowl is very difficult and the TV very distracting!  This verse that stood out to me as different from the advice to choose wisdom and avoid folly.  I first note that the proverb starts with “oxen.”  That is plural.  It made me think of the teamwork of the teams competing tonight.  The pass without the receiver in place was heart breaking.  The punt that went to the holder of the attempt at a field goal was off center and the win hung in the balance going into the second half.  All the talent of one man may not amount to much if the other members are not doing their part.  There were two major injuries in the first minutes and important players had to be pulled, even sent to the hospital, but others stepped in and got to play.

         One of the pictures Paul gives of Christianity is that we are like a body and we each play our part.  The body is not the eye alone or the ear alone.  We work together. 

         So perhaps the part about “the manger is empty” refers to the futility of feeding and encouraging someone who is not a team player.  Certainly there may be talent but talent or strength for selfish purposes is ultimately defeating and not worth feeding.  The strength of the ox when harnessed brings abundant harvests.

         We might reflect today on the teams that we play on.  Maybe we aren’t in the Super Bowl, being watched by lots of people, but we are each important and play a part within the circles we circulate.  The point is not to be the winner but to play our part with the strength and talent we are given. 1 Corinthians 12:22 -23 says “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.  And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty.”  We may not be as strong as an ox but we each have a God designed role to play.  May God bless you as you play your part.  And Happy Valentine’s to the arm pits as well as the eyes!

Proverbs 12:9

“Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant

than pretend to be somebody and have no food.”

What is the kernel of truth in this little nugget?  Is Solomon talking about our desire to be liked and look important or is he focusing on the decisions we make about investing the resources we have?  It reminds me of a parable Jesus told in Luke 12:16-21:

         ¹⁶ “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. ¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down   my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for     many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

As an expatriate in Kenya, it was assumed that I as an Anglo had resources and would hire help for work that needed to be done.  It would be selfish to do otherwise.  We might think of having a “servant” as in this proverb was an act of flaunting our wealth and an act of power and prestige.  In fact it can also be seen as a way of helping the poor. 

         So perhaps the pivotal word in the proverb is “pretend.” Are we pretending to be someone we are not to impress others and in the process forgetting that all we have comes from God or are we managing our resources to help others.

         Perhaps this proverb challenges us to take a moment and reflect on whether there are ways that we pretend to be more than we are and forget to credit God and show appreciation to him?  It is better to be a nobody who is using our gifts to help others than look like somebody with a bankrupt heart!

Proverbs 11

“The Lord detests dishonest scales,

but accurate weights find favor with him. (v.1)”

“Detest” is a very strong word.  If God detests something, I would guess the person doing the deed is on the wrong side of the coin!  King David made a serious mistake reported in 2 Samuel 24.  King David sent Joab out to count the number of fighting men available to enlist.  David took his eyes off depending on God and was counting on the size of his army.  God sent Gad, David’s prophet, to him and David was told to choose one of three possible punishments for his mistake.  David responded in v. 14, “I am in deep distress.  Let us fall into the hands of the Lord for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”  God did stop the plague that was killing people when David pleaded for mercy!

     So what upsets the Lord in Proverbs 11?  Dishonest scales.  To us that might mean a watered down jar of honey or false advertising about a product.  It could be buying a car and discovering it is a “lemon.”  A new house with major problems is a heart breaker.  The picture that comes to mind for me is going to the market in Kenya.  Women lined up selling ground corn meal maize by the gunnysack.  An old tin can was used for measuring.  As I watched the sellers I realized that they would pour out a can of ground corn from a height to attract attention but then fill the can by taking a handful of corn meal and rubbing it between their hands, letting it fall into the can until there was a little mountain looking like the can was overfull. In reality they were fluffing up the meal and inflating the looks but if I shook the can to let it settle, it would be less than a can.  Or the measuring can was so beaten in that the real amount of corn was less. False measures.  Sellers were taking advantage of the needy to increase their profit.

         I doubt that God wants us to starve and a fair profit is alright.  But I do believe God is not happy with deceit that takes advantage of people and is deceptive.  Maybe we are not sellers but may it be possible that stories are related slanting truth towards the teller to make the teller look good.  Maybe we make promises that sound so good, “I’ll pray for you!” and then we immediately forget.  We are all guilty of making a good story better or fudging a little bit.  God wants our “yes” to be “yes” and our “no” to be “no.”

         This verse in Proverbs encourages us to be people of integrity and honesty.  Lord, as our economic lives become more and more difficult, help us to look to you and to be honest and kind in our relationships. Have mercy on those living with starvation!

Proverbs 10

“The wise in heart accept commands,

but a chattering fool comes to ruin. (v.8)”

The NIV, New International Version of the Bible translates verse 8 above.  Another version uses “babbling” instead of chattering.  The Living Bible puts it this way. 

The wise man is glad to be instructed,

but a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face. (Living Bible)

The word “chattering” caught my attention so I looked at a newer version and pondered.  In chapter 10 of Proverbs we shift from long discourse by Solomon to short proverbs.  Sometimes it is difficult to see the thread of thought in a chapter so some writers will find verses that support a topic they are interested in.  Other writers plow through looking for similarities within chapters.  I like to read a chapter a day and focus on an interesting verse.

         A wise heart stands in contrast to a chattering fool.  Accepting commands seems to imply listening to the advise of others as opposed to chattering that implies someone focused on monopolizing a conversation, perhaps self centered, and not focused on learning but talking.  One Internet writer defines chattering as “talk rapidly or incessantly about trivial matters” or it can refer to our teeth clicking together because of the cold.

         The proverb makes me think of the parable Jesus told of two men building a house.  The wise man built his house upon a rock while the foolish man built his house upon the sand.  When the rains came down the house on the rock stood firm and the house on the sand collapsed.  How and on what are we building the houses of our lives?  Can you name three solid foundational things or principles you are building your life on, things that will help you stand firm during the storms of life?  My parents drilled me on the importance of integrity.  How about you?  Now think of someone that you have heard of whose life collapsed.  What was the mistake that person made?

         Lord, help us to build our lives on solid principles, to be willing to listen to instruction so that we can weather the storms of life with your help.  Thank you that you are stronger than the worse storms, closer than the nearest aid worker, and more available than faithful friends.  Guard me from chattering foolishly about trivia and protect me from the cold times when my teeth chatter!

Proverbs 9

“Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.

She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,

Calling out to those who pass by who go straight on their way,

‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’

‘Stolen water is sweet, food eaten in secret is delicious! (v.13-17)’”

The first nine chapters of Proverbs sets and prepares us for the teachings of the rest of the book.  Solomon is pleading with his son to seek Lady Wisdom and not Lady Folly.  The difference is obvious at the end of chapter nine.  Lady Folly calls to people from the city gates applauding stolen goods and secret plans.  Yesterday we saw Lady Wisdom at the city gate helping a people like Boaz for Ruth to make decisions that are insightful, knowledgeable, and life giving.  Decisions with her help lead to understanding the fear of God and create long lives.  We might also characterize it as the easy way out is often foolish while the “school of hard knocks” will help us learn the lessons we need to mature.  The momentary pleasure of the adulteress while enjoyable cannot be compared to the hard work of marriage that we pray will end in contentment and support as we learn to live with each others strengths and weaknesses. 

         The athletes competing in the Olympics right now did not get to their level of perfection without a lot of work and effort.  They had talent but they had to develop it and train it.  And they put themselves under good mentors to help them be their better selves.  We may not all be Olympians but we all play a part in the body of Christ, a part in this world, and we all have a gift to develop and share.  Ethel Waters, an African American Entertainer, devout Roman Catholic and iconic vocalist is known for saying, “God don’t make no junk.”  Likewise Lady Wisdom leads to eternal life while Lady Folly leads to death and destruction.

      One way of making decisions is to draw a line down a paper and on one side write the pros and on the other the cons.  Might I suggest the instead of pros, we might write, Wisdom points to…the long term benefits.  Instead of cons, we might write, Folly promises self pleasing and deception but there are hidden costs to the decision.

     Both women call to us at the point of decision, at the cross roads of life.  Let us pray that we will choose wisely.  Joshua who followed Moses in leadership and led the people of Israel into the Promised land died at the age of 110.  In his farewell he challenged the people,

         ¹⁴ “Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in   faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the your ancestors served in the region beyond the     River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as or me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

May we choose wisely and listen to Lady Wisdom!