May 31st – Proverbs 31: More Than Rubies

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” – Proverbs 31:10

Lots of single guys I know are looking for a stunning beauty to marry. It seems for some guys that the ONLY requirement for the women they are looking for is that she look great in a bikini. It is true, if a woman does not take care of herself and look her personal best, she may never get noticed by Mr. Right. In our culture, we are conditioned to recognize physical beauty above all things. Now, I am NOT one of those people that say physical beauty is unimportant, that’s just silly. Of course, physical beauty is important, but it being the sole requirement for a relationship is madness! A woman of great beauty is not difficult to find, especially in the south. But according to the scriptures, a woman of noble character is a rare discovery and worth FAR more than precious stones. If we had that kind of respect and admiration for character over looks there would be a lot less divorce and broken hearts.

I always encourage men to look at the heart (after noticing outward, physical beauty). If the chick they are interested in doesn’t love Jesus and isn’t totally committed to the Lord, WALK AWAY. There will be nothing but heartache if you pursue a woman that is worldly and carnal. Sure, she might look great in that miniskirt, but without character, what you gain having her as arm candy you will lose in confidence.

“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.” – Proverbs 31:11

My wife is beautiful. I have no problem admitting it, it’s the first thing I noticed about her and one of the first things I recognize about her every day. But early on in our relationship, as I got to know her, what really attracted me to her was her hunger and passion for Jesus. Her commitment to the Lord is expressed to me in keeping her covenant. Because she fears the Lord, she’s a wonderful, faithful wife and I have never doubted her integrity for a moment. Now, that is priceless. I have known men married to total stunners without character that wonder every day if their wife will come home pregnant. What torture! Yes she’s beautiful, but without integrity, you aren’t sure she is all yours. YUCK!

Of course, overzealous Christians have all but made a rule saying that a woman who looks good is unfaithful, which is totally ridiculous. I was under this delusion when I first got saved. As I graduated high school I was looking for a wife and wanted to get married. After reading scriptures like this, I overreacted. I thought that the woman the Lord had for me would be a troll, with noble character. I found a young lady with whom I had NO physical attraction to who loved the Lord and determined she MUST be God’s choice for me. How silly. Thankfully, the Lord showed me that the woman He had for me would be drop dead gorgeous AND love Him completely.

LIFE LESSON:

“Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.” – Proverbs 11:22

May 30th – Proverbs 30: The WORD

"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” – Proverbs 30:5

God’s word is absolutely amazing. Only God’s words could have power in them thousands of years after they were spoken. The bible is the most amazing piece of literature ever produced. Consistently, it’s been a bestseller as long as we’ve had the printing press. The lives of countless millions, including some of the wisest and most influential people of our time, have been guided by its message. Critics say that the Bible was written by men and they are right! But the Bible’s origin was not in the heart of men, but directly from the Spirit of God. The word of God says about itself:

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” - II Peter 1:20,21

Even in the church today we have an almost anti-word movement. These folks emphasize a relationship with the Holy Spirit apart from a living connection with the word of God. Many believers think that allegiance to the scriptures is somehow high treason against the Holy Spirit. But what they forget is that the Holy Spirit is the one that wrote the book! Our relationship is guided by the word of God. But even more than that, we must realize that the scriptures are not JUST a book. They are a person.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1

This is why at times the scriptures seem to “jump off the page” and it seems as if the Bible was written just for us. He (the Word) is trying to reveal Himself to us. I am sure; there are many that reject a relationship with the Author of the Word (the Holy Spirit) for knowledge of the Bible. There are also some that reject knowledge of the scriptures for a relationship with the Holy Spirit. But we don’t ever have to make such a choice, we can have both!

If we will take refuge in the Word of God we will experience His protection like a shield. Remember, the Word isn’t just words on a page, it’s a person! We’re not hiding away in a book, but abiding in the shadow of the Almighty!

LIFE LESSON:

The Word is a person, not a book. By rejecting the book, you neglect the person.

May 27th – Proverbs 27: MAN Talk

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

This is probably one of the most over used Proverbs in the world. I am loathe to even speak of it since there are literally THOUSANDS of men’s groups called, “Iron Sharpens Iron”. Seriously, look it up online, it’s nauseating. Yes, I am no excited to say anything about it, but speak of it I must. I have no doubt that iron sharpens iron. There is also doubt that when iron sharpens iron, sparks fly. What I seriously doubt and see so very precious of is one man sharpening another. That’s because for the most part, Men are solitary creatures. You can be a in a group of guys and it’s rare that any of them will be honest about what they are feeing and how they are really doing. We have such a twisted view of what true biblical masculinity is all about and things seem to swing from one extreme to the next.

One extreme is the John Wayne persona. Many guys want to be like “The Duke”; tough as nails, no emotions and can be counted on in a firefight. Yes, many men want to be like him, but very few actually are. Here is what normally happens to the guy that isn’t honest about his feelings; maybe he becomes embittered against his wife or his boss. Instead of saving the day, he ruins it by sleeping with some whore or losing his life in a bottle. Part of the reason for that is because “The Duck” reuses to open himself to another brother and never hears a hearty rebuke or word of correction! Listen cowboy, even the lone Ranger had Tonto.

The other extreme that has really gained traction in the last couple decades is something I call the “Effeminate Male”. This guy is SO in touch with his feelings that you can’t count on him to do anything… but cry. These Nancy boys are the Kryptonite to their wives libido and the essence of all that is wrong in our society. They are little boys stuck on a man’s body and the opposite of stable. They give real men a bad name and I despise them and the electric car they came in on. This guy would end up being a solid guy if he would take a little toughening up from another brother. Notice it doesn’t say that one man is sharpened by his MOM.

Neither of these personas is the person men are called to be. We have been called to look, act and BECOME like the Lord Jesus. And Jesus says that one man sharpens another!

LIFE LESSON:

Man up and let your brother sharpen your dull behind!

May 26th – Proverbs 26: You Hate What You Hurt

“A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” – Proverbs 26:28

God tells us the truth and sometimes it hurts, but the truth will set you free! This is one of those passages of scripture that tells us the truth and doesn’t mince words: “A lying tongue HATES those it hurts”.

I can’t tell you how many times, after being caught in a lie, the liar claims the lie and deception was intended to protect the lied to. This is our reasoning many times; we don’t want to tell someone the truth because it will hurt their feelings! But think about it, since when did lying to someone actually help them? We want to sound like these merciful benefactors, “I won’t tell them the truth because I CARE so much about their feelings.” But if we truly care for someone we will tell them the truth. A lie never helped anyone. Delayed the inevitable? Maybe. But truly helped? NEVER.

If we are going to get real, we don’t tell the truth because it makes US uncomfortable. We want desperately to avoid a situation where we and the person we confront are uncomfortable. Cowardice parades itself as merciful compassion, but it’s really this ugly, selfish thing that is totally self-absorbed. Lies never helped anyone because deception is the very nature of the enemy:

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” – John 8:44

We tell ourselves the same lies when we flatter someone, “I just want them to be happy” or “I just want them to feel good about themselves”. Flattery may seem benign to us, but in the end it works to ruin the person we flatter! Flattery is defined as: Lavish insincere praise and compliments upon (someone), esp. to further one's own interests. It’s totally selfish and self-serving and does the opposite of help.

But probably the biggest reason we shouldn’t employ flattery or lies is because it’s contrary to the nature of the Lord Jesus. Jesus made an amazing declaration:

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

To tell the truth is to walk in the nature and character of the one we claim as our King and Lord. To walk in deception is to speak the language of the devil. One leads to life, the other to death!

LIFE LESSON:

You HATE those you lie to & you RUIN those you flatter.

May 25th – Proverbs 25: A Heaping Plateful of Moderation

“If you find honey, eat just enough— too much of it, and you will vomit.” – Proverbs 25:16

This proverb isn’t just about honey, although honey IS delicious. Honey was a decadent treat in biblical times and a symbol of something pleasurable. In fact the Amplified version translates this scripture:

“Have you found [pleasure sweet like] honey? Eat only as much as is sufficient for you, lest, being filled with it, you vomit it.” – Proverbs 25:16 - AMPLIFIED

Moderation is a central theme of scripture. So many people want to twist the scriptures to fit their cultural or experiential bias, but the Bible is curiously silent on many matters. People desperately WANT the Bible to forbid actions and activities that could be potentially harmful, but it doesn’t! Forbidding what God permits and permitting what God forbids is NOT a good idea.

Take alcohol for example: there is not one scripture in the Bible that says drinking alcohol is a sin, yet millions of believers across the world have imposed this extra biblical standard on themselves and others. Why is this? Well, for one thing it’s easier to forbid something outright than to do something with moderation and self-control. It’s funny, there are millions of Christians that wouldn’t think of touching a glass of wine, but have absolutely NO problem with stuffing their fat face at the buffet every Sunday after church! This is a great example of our Western cultural bias that we have superimposed on our religion. In American church culture, a 600 lb. fatty that eats 15,000 calories a day can see a 180 lb. guy drinking a beer with lunch and judge him in his heart as a good for nothing DRUNK. Worse of all, the church will applaud him!

"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” – I Corinthians 6:12,13

As a fat guy, this has been a personal struggle of mine and a fight I am committed to win. I discovered years ago that I was good at feasting and good at fasting. I can feast with the best of them! When it’s time to eat, I’m your guy. I can eat a lot and I can eat fast! I’m also pretty good at fasting. I’ve dropped 20, 30 and 40 days at a time without so much as a crumb of food entering my mouth. I can diet too and have done 6, 8 and 12 week programs where I strongly limited my caloric intake and dropped 30-40 pounds in a month no problem! The thing that has been a problem for me is a LIFESTYLE of moderation.

True spirituality expressed in my life is NOT going to be about not eating refined sugar, bacon or shrimp but eating just a little!

LIFE LESSON:

If you see me stuffing my FAT FACE, remind me of this scripture… just say, “Ryan, Proverbs 25:16!”

May 24th – Proverbs 24: The Righteous Man Falls, the Wicked Are Brought DOWN

“Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house, do not raid his dwelling place; for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.” Proverbs 24:15,16

The purpose of hanging out in Proverbs and learning all we can from the wisdom found here is to keep righteous people from making common mistakes and falling into sin, making huge errors that cost us years of our lives and tons of turmoil. But the fact is that good, righteous people make mistakes and even sin. Ultimately, we’re pressing in to be like the Lord:

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48

But righteous people sometimes sin and miss the mark. Our goal is perfection, but it sometimes eludes us. This scripture shows us the difference between the wicked and the righteous. Righteous people may stumble and they may fall, but they get back up! I’ve never claimed before unbelievers (or believers for that matter!) to be perfect and without sin. I’m striving for perfection, but miss the mark on occasion. But I do something the wicked don’t do, I GET BACK UP!

A truly righteous person will get back up. They will acknowledge their sin, repent of it and make it right. Wicked people don’t do this. They go on and on in their sin, it multiplies and grows until it defines them. A righteous person isn’t defined by their sin. Yes, they are capable of sinning, but they aren’t good at it anymore! The Bible talks about those that PRACTICE sin:

“Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who judges; for in that in which you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judge do the same things. But know that the judgment of God is according to truth on those who practice such things.” Romans 2:1,2

There is a HUGE difference between those that sin on occasion and those that PRACTICE wickedness. Practicing sin is talking about a habitual, ritualistic commitment to doing wrong. Wicked people PRACTICE sin, the righteous may sin, but quickly dissociates himself from the practice, repenting of their wicked behavior. The mercy and grace of God is there to pick up the righteous person, but not so the wicked! The wicked ultimately fall into calamity, never to get up again.

LIFE LESSON:

Walking in righteousness is much more forgiving than practicing wickedness.

May 23rd – Proverbs 23: Give Your Heart, Keep Your Eyes

“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways” – Proverbs 23:26

I love the opening line of this discourse in Proverbs 23: “My son, GIVE me your heart”. This is the call of wisdom and understanding; we must GIVE our hearts to the discovery and application of wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Casual observers don’t get the benefits of wisdom and understanding, only serious seekers.

But the second part is incredibly important and often overlooked. In addition to a diligent heart seeking of wisdom and understanding there is one more critical component, “Let your eyes keep to my ways.” Keeping your eyes speaks of focus. You can KNOW the right things all day long, but what we focus on and look to is important to our development. One major theme in scripture is, “You become what you behold”. Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in II Corinthians:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” – II Corinthians 3:17,18

This scripture tells us something simple, yet profound. It’s as we look to the glory of the Lord, that we are changed into that very same image! Many people seek the Lord with all their heart but allow their focus to drift off of Him and onto the things of this world. In this scripture, the gaze drifts onto the prostitute or wayward wife. I can’t tell you how many believers I have encountered who seek God with their heart but allow their focus to “linger” on things of this world, like lust.

But look at what is waiting for the man who lets his gaze linger:

“For a prostitute is a deep pit and a wayward wife is a narrow well. Like a bandit she lies in wait, and multiplies the unfaithful among men.” – Proverbs 23:27,28

The unfaithful woman waits like a bandit for the man whose gaze is off focus. Her “goal” is to multiply the unfaithful among men. Sin never seems that bad until it grows up:

“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” – James 1:15

LIFE LESSON:

GIVE the Lord your heart, but KEEP your eyes fastened on Him!