Showing posts with label Proverbs 14:1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Proverbs 14:1. Show all posts

March 27, 2020

Being like God includes . . .


Exodus 38; Proverbs 14; John 17; Philippians 1

Hubby’s first words this morning:  My mouse isn’t working.”

Since I am the computer geek in this household, I went in my pjs to see what was wrong with it. Since it was the beginning of a new day, I didn’t want to be fixing his computer. My attitude began to slip. However, I discovered several devices said “driver failure” so reinstalled them including the mouse which fixed it, but my attitude didn’t get fixed.

Every time I am called upon to fix hubby’s PC my default setting seems to be frustration and even resentment. After preparations for today, I came to my Bible and read this: “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.” (Proverbs 14:1) Ouch. This annoyed attitude is not good for building a home.

To clarify, I looked up the meaning of “folly” and was even more convicted by the article in a dictionary of Hebrew words. Here is an edited and personalized version:
The word ʾĕwîl means fool or foolish and could be derived from an Arabic word meaning “be thick,” and therefore “thick-brained” or “stupid.” Ouch. I identify myself as foolish as soon as I open my mouth without thinking first. A fool does not avoid strife but has no restraint and will display her annoyance at once.
This word refers to what is sinful rather than to mental stupidity. It describes me having no respect for God’s wisdom and being impatient with discipline. A wise woman will accept godly instruction, but a boastful or babbling fool will get into trouble by the predicaments she makes for herself. Because a fool feels that her own way is without error, she does not seek counsel but will be overbearing in her attitude since she has all the answers. Ouch again; this is me when I’m doing my techie role.
This foolishness flouts responsibility as a godly wife and this attitude does not win friends! A good pounding will not fix this. I have forgotten or neglected the command of God to be a helper to my hubby and respect him instead of getting annoyed at his weaknesses with the innards of a computer. (This was not in the dictionary but clearly implied.)
The OT describes people whom God says are foolish:
“For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.” (Jeremiah 4:22)
Walking in the flesh means being stupid and without knowing what to do, even if I think I know what I am doing. The only solution to that is walking in the Spirit which requires confession, repentance and obedience.

APPLY: New attitude needed. I’m his helper, not his boss/instructor/slave or whatever is bringing out that annoyance, likely as simple as a selfish “don’t interrupt my plans for the day.” Being a helper is an elevated position, a gracious summon of God to serve my hubby but to serve God also. It is a term used many times to describe how God is my helper. I need to confess to God and apologize to my hubby, not just for today which wasn’t as severe as other days, but for those other days too, and ask Jesus to fill me with His Spirit, the Spirit of helpfulness.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” (John 14:16)

September 9, 2014

Education and rules do not protect me


In September and October, my devotional guide looks at the need to be alert to spiritual danger. The human idea of how to protect ourselves is through adequate knowledge (education) and having laws and rules to guide us. However, the most educated countries in the world and those with the most sophisticated legal systems are no better off regard crime and human misery than uneducated pagans with the primitive laws.

While many people make an idol out of education, British politician Lloyd George observed, “Education without God makes clever devils.” While many insist that better laws will fix the problems of crime and rebellion in society, but Bill Gothard, founder of Basic Life Principles, says that, “Our courts are now in confusion, with two opposing legal systems. One is based on biblical principles; the other on humanistic principles. This explains why court decisions are more and more unpredictable, inconsistent and even contradictory.”

I have observed that protecting my own life from spiritual danger means recognizing my problems are not about ignorance. I almost always know the difference between right and wrong. Neither will my protection come from more rules, for rules do not changed the rebellion that pops up from my own sinful heart. I can know something is not good for me (it might be as simple as another slice of chocolate cake), but the rules of healthy eating do not prevail against that sinful and dangerous attitude of, “I want what I want when I want it.”

The Bible offers hundreds of examples of the folly of humanity and its source. We are sinners. We resist God to our peril. Education and wisdom do not help us for, “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.” (Proverbs 14:1)

These days, common sense is not all that common, nor was it in the days of King Solomon. He observed, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.” (Proverbs 14:12–13) We humans tend to go for what looks good up front, what will make us happy, but so often those choices lead to sorrow and even death.

This attitude is common to humanity. Scripture repeated describes those in the days of the Judges in Israel when there was no king and “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6, etc.) This “I will do my own thing” produced chaos then just as it does now.

Our daughter often says, “You can’t fix stupid” and that also is a problem. I shake my head at stories in the news, or Facebook videos of people who acted without thinking and hurt themselves or someone else, but have to admit that I can be foolish too.

So what is the solution? How can I be protected from spiritual danger, even physical danger if education, laws and rules will not do it?

The quote from Lloyd George deserves a second look. He did not say education was a bad thing, but that education without God is a bigger problem than most people realize. The Bible says we can trust all sorts of things, but can any of our idols make promises like these . . . ?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5–7)

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent . . . put your trust in the Lord . . . In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:4–8)

Trusting God means that I will do what He says, not what “seems right in my own eyes.” If I really trust God, then I will be obedient, and He will be part of my decisions or actions. This never happens because of education or rules, but because God is changing my life. In grace, He has determined to love and care for me just as He promises in Psalm 91:14-16 . . .   

Because (she) holds fast to me in love, I will deliver (her); I will protect (her), because (she) knows my name. When (she) calls to me, I will answer (her); I will be with (her) in trouble; I will rescue (her) and honor (her). With long life I will satisfy (her) and show (her) my salvation.