Doing Right
Proverbs 28-30
Boy, there are so many proverbs I’d like to comment on today! It doesn’t look like I’m going to stay on just one but let’s see how it goes. I was reminded of the world of politics today as I read the following proverb.
Proverbs 28:5
“Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.”
We hear so much out of Washington about “justice”; that this, that, or the other is unfair and must be redressed by legislation that punishes one group to the benefit of another. Now I don’t wish to paint with too wide a brush here but I worry that we don’t have enough people “who see the Lord” in elected office. I am sure there are some but it’s getting pretty hard to identify them. All we see any more are backroom deals for special interests that feed the personal interests of our elected officials. They tell us they are going to “take care of us”, “make things fair”, “solve our problems”, all the while they are doing anything but and lining their pockets along the way.
I have got to tell you that the last thing I want is a bunch of lying, self-seeking, good for nothing politicians and bureaucratic nincompoops taking care of me or solving my problems. They know nothing about me and I believe I am far more capable of taking care of me than they are. More importantly, these folks don’t “understand justice”. Man is unjust because he seeks after himself. To be just one must seek after God and we have far too little of that in our society today. Those who seek God understand justice completely which is why there is no justice coming out of Washington.
Proverbs 28:9
“If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer is an abomination.”
Have you ever heard the saying “There are no atheists in fox holes”? I know a man who claims that there is no such thing as God. I also know that he has confessed that in his darkest hour he has been known to pray to God for help. The Bible in general, and Proverbs specifically, tell us that one who rejects God’s Word is a fool. Can you really reject God’s Word and then expect Him to hear your prayers in a favorable light? After 9/11 there were people rushing into church and praying. People that hadn’t been to church in years, who only prayed when they wanted something, suddenly started calling on the Lord.
Such momentary outbreaks of piety show that they have turned their ear from hearing the law. They do not understand the context in which God answers prayer. To them, God is simply the Great Blessing Bestower in the sky just waiting to serve up whatever you request the moment you are ready to put Him to work. My friends, if that is your approach to prayer understand that your prayers are an abomination. They aren’t simply ignored, they are an abomination. Do you know the definition of that word? An abomination is a “cause of abhorrence and disgust”. I had to look up “abhorrence” as well which means “a feeling of repugnance or loathing”. Whoa! God views the prayers of those who turn their ear away from His law with repugnance, loathing, and disgust! Praying from such a place is not just a waste time it evokes a pretty strong negative reaction from God! It is heartbreaking to see the futile flailing of the lost. They have no hope unless they reject themselves and accept Christ.
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”
This stood out to me because we so often forget that there is more to accepting Christ than simply accepting His sacrifice. We must not only confess our sins but “forsake” our sins to obtain mercy. Just so we are clear, forsake means to “give up, renounce, leave all together, abandon”. We must do all of that with our sin to gain mercy, forgiveness, eternal life. How many have walked the aisle, prayed for forgiveness, been baptized and yet have not abandoned their sin? As Christ said there will be those in the last days who call on the name of the Lord to whom He will say “I do not know you.”
Luke 13:24-28
“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’”
Proverbs 28:26
“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
Just yesterday I was trying to explain to my daughter the difference between knowledge and wisdom. We covered this very topic a few days ago in this blog. One can have all the knowledge in the world and be a fool. Knowledge is simply information; it is not of value in and of itself. I’m reminded of Dave Ramsey saying that money is no different from a brick; it can be used for good or bad, to break a window or build a hospital. This is true of knowledge. Wisdom is the rightful use of knowledge. If I don’t know that I should eat right and exercise, well I don’t have knowledge or wisdom. If I know that I should eat right and exercise but don’t, I simply do not have wisdom.
There are those who know a lot and think they know more than they do. They can be very intelligent people but intelligence and knowledge are not wisdom. The Bible is clear, if you have all the knowledge and intelligence in the world but do not walk in the way of the Lord you have not wisdom; you are not wise. If you wish to be delivered be wise and walk in Christ!
Proverbs 29:1-2
“He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
How do you respond to correction? Do you shoot the messenger that says you are not doing right? God will reprove you. He will send people and circumstances to correct you. If you willfully oppose His correction you will be broken beyond healing. Pharaoh comes to mind.
Finally, I look at our nation and I hear the people groan; the wicked rule. If we want to see a revived and joyful nation then we must start calling each other, as well as the lost, to righteousness. It is the only way.
Have a righteous day!
Your brother and servant in Christ,
Bill
