June 30th – Proverbs 30: His Word is Flawless

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

The Word of God is an amazing gift we have been given by God. As it claims of itself, “Every Word of God is flawless”. It is without error or flaw. The Word of God has an amazing ability to protect and become a refuge for any who would hide themselves in it. Just about any Christian home in America has several copies of it. Multiplied millions of Christians around the world claim allegiance to its precepts. Thousands of books have been written in study of it and millions of sermons have been preached on it. I dare say that millions of Christians would die to protect the integrity of it. I have heard it said, “I can find 1,000 men who would die for the Word of God for every 1 man that will actually read it!” Yet for all of our claimed allegiance to it, for all of our bluster, few really read it (and obey it) as it is.

So the question needs to be asked, “If the word of God is so amazing, why don’t we obey it?” Also, “If the Bible is so wonderful, why do we feel the need to add to it?” Now, I obviously don’t have a problem with digging into scriptures and pouring through them, unlocking their meaning and how it applies to our lives. But what I do have a problem with (and God does too) is adding to what God has already said. Many churches and ministries, even ministry and bible schools have a set of core values that in many cases supersede the Word of God in priority. They are defined not by what the Word of God says about them, but by what they say about the Word of God.

“Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” – Proverbs 30:6

We are in an age of increased knowledge (Daniel 12:4) and these days, among the wise and learned in Christendom, there is a belief that in addition to the scriptures you need a “special” revelation of the scriptures to live the life that God intended. This is the basis of Gnosticism and was prevalent in the early church. It’s a destructive heresy that takes the emphasis off of the Word of God and onto our understanding of the Word of God. Maybe people don’t want to be defined by the Bible because the Word of God is serious business!

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12,13

LIFE LESSON:

Let us not get our identity from our understanding of the Bible, but FROM the Bible.

June 29th – Proverbs 29: DIRTY HIPPIES!

“The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.” Proverbs 29:15

Dirty hippies are everywhere. They have even invaded the church of God! They should be run out of town on a rail by people who love and believe the BIBLE, but instead they are celebrated and empty headed, ignorant masses follow them, unknowing that the road they are on leads to destruction! From the beginning, God has given us SPECIFIC instructions on how to discipline and raise our children, yet dirty hippies everywhere rage and scoff against the clear dictates of scripture! These days, if you discipline your kids, you are a Cro-Magnon, unenlightened dolt. Well, call me what you will, but I am responsible for my children’s salvation until they reach the age of accountability. I won’t stand by and let Dr. Spock, Dr. Phil and Oprah tell me what is best for my children. I certainly won’t let some left coast pastor who has embraced the spirit of this age and writes nice shiny books on the subject tell me that corporal punishment is tantamount to violence! I will love my kids “on purpose” AND Discipline them! God has weighed in on the subject and I will listen to Him!

The self-help mantra of dirty hippies everywhere basically teaches us that children, deep down, know what’s best for themselves and are capable of making good decisions on their own. How wrong can you possibly be and still breathe?! To leave a child to themselves will ultimately lead to disgrace. And that is one of the many things that I love about life. In the end, time will tell. Time ALWAYS tells. You can argue while you are under construction, but when the building is done, EVERYONE will see what you created! If you have neglected the discipline of your children and opted to manipulate their every little decision, at best they will grow up to be master manipulators, at worst, I will visit them for you on Saturday nights when I go to the prison. Mom, it’s going to be real difficult to smugly assert your “enlightenment” when your evil, undisciplined MONSTER grows up and embarrasses your family name.

LIFE LESSON:

To avoid egg on your face TOMORROW, discipline your children TODAY.

June 28th – Proverbs 28: Trusting in Yourself

“He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.” Proverbs 28:26

The man that trusts in himself, even in his own experience, knowledge or learning, is a fool. This proverb is important because many who seek wisdom sometimes start to think they have arrived. They think that because they have sought wisdom in the past, there is no need to seek out and search for wisdom in their present or future. All throughout the word of God, especially here in Proverbs, Wisdom is always standing outside of us, calling to us:

“Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;” – Proverbs 1:20

We don’t see and aren’t encouraged to look for wisdom from within, but from without. She calls to us and we answer her call. As we dialogue with her and give ourselves to understanding, we begin to receive the wisdom we need. But the minute we shut ourselves off from outside influence and begin to think that we have everything we need in and of ourselves, we’re in trouble.

Mature Christians are dependent people. We are called to be utterly dependent on the Lord. Many in the Western church are trained almost from birth to esteem self-sufficiency. Even in the “enlightened” Charismatic church, we teach people o live for God without God’s help! But I hate to tell you, the Christian life is a co-dependent relationship. We lean HEAVILY in the Lord; we trust utterly in the voice of the Spirit of God and build our lives around His words. Once we do this we do become possessors of divine power, insight and revelation, but it’s important to remember where it came from. Even Jesus recognized this fact:

“Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” – John 5:19

Just in case you think that’s a typo:

“By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” – John 5:30

I think we get the idea that God fills us with His Spirit and with His Word and then leaves us out there, naked, cold and alone. NO WAY! He offers Himself freely, but we are to live every day in recognition of who is in us and working through us. Jesus told us to live the same way as He did:

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

LIFE LESSON:

Trust in yourself and you will fall, walk with Wisdom and you’ll be safe!

June 27th, Proverb 27: Role Reversal

“He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.” – Proverbs 27:18

This proverb highlights an important principle in the Kingdom of God. If we will give ourselves to doing the job we were created to do, God will make it His priority to care for our needs. In the same way that the man who looks after and tends to the fig tree has the right to eat of its fruit, we have access to the provision of God when we give ourselves to doing His will.

“So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:31-33

God’s promise to us is that if we will give ourselves to seek FIRST His Kingdom and righteousness, He will make it His business to provide for all that we need! Then why is it that so many Christians let their ENTIRE lives be consumed with the procurement of their personal needs? And we wonder why we have so little evidence of the Kingdom in our lives! Maybe it’s because instead of seeking the Kingdom, we are seeking our own personal needs? We are doing God’s job (providing for our needs) and asking God to do our job (seeking the Kingdom). The order in the Kingdom is this Seek First the Kingdom & Righteousness, then God will provide! I can’t tell you how many times that I have heard believers say that if they can JUST provide for their needs, THEN they could seek the Kingdom! That’s worldly wisdom, not the Kingdom!

This proverb tells us that if we look after our master, we will be honored. That word for honor there is the Hebrew word “Kabod” and it is the word in the Bible used to describe the Glory of God! We are told that if we will care for our Master we will receive honor. Isn’t that what we are here for? We are called to worship the Lord and serve Him with our lives! As we do, we will be filled with His glory and receive honor and praise from where it counts, HIM! But most Christians neglect their Master (Jesus) and seek their own honor. We’ve got it backwards!

LIFE LESSON:

Seek your own honor and you get dishonor. Seek HIS honor and you’ll be honored. Seek your own provision and you neglect the Kingdom. Seek His Kingdom and HE will GIVE you His provision!

June 24th – Proverbs 24: Saved to Save!

“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” – Proverbs 24:11

We are called to rescue those being led away to death and those staggering towards slaughter. There is simply no other reason that Jesus would save our souls here on earth and then leave us here until He comes back or we go to see Him! We who have been saved are called to save the lost. Salvation is not a personal thing, it’s a global thing. Selfish believers are ones that keep the glorious grace of the Gospel to themselves and don’t share it with the lost and dying around them. This Gospel only works as we pass it on. What we have been given, we are to give!

“As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” – Matthew 10:7,8

We have been freely given the Gospel, to NOT freely give it away is madness! I have heard Atheists exclaim, “If I believed in an eternal hell, how much would I have to hate someone to not give my life to warn them from impending disaster?!” It’s true, our apathy concerning the Gospel is proof to the world that either we don’t really believe in an eternal Heaven/Hell or love the world enough to tell them about it! It’s one thing to share the Gospel and be rejected. It’s another thing entirely to neglect the sharing of the Gospel for fear of rejection. We as believers need to overcome our fear of men and embrace the fear of God. It’s way scarier to me to deal with the Face of God in eternity than to deal with the face of men here in this temporal world.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

This constant recognition that God is watching our lives and knowing our motives and that ultimately we will be held accountable for what we do (or don’t do) is called the Fear of God… and it’s a good thing! The rest of this Proverb tells us precisely that:

“If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?” – Proverbs 24:12

LIFE LESSON:

You can fool yourself and pretend that it doesn’t matter what you do in this life, but deep down, we know the truth… don’t we??

June 23rd – Proverbs 23: The Marriage Stone

“Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.” – Proverbs 23:10,11

This Proverb encourages us to not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless. We’re told that their Defender is mighty and he will take up their cause against us. So what does this mean and how do we apply it today?

In ancient times, when lands and properties were granted or territories were divided, they would set out stones to mark the boundaries of the land. These stones were large and heavy; they were difficult to move and stood the test of time. Generations would pass and the boundary stones would remain as a quiet reminder of the boundaries set generations ago. To “move an ancient boundary stone” is both literally and metaphorically speaking to us. Today, the application would primarily be metaphorically. The Proverb is telling us to not attempt to change an ancient boundary, law or principle.

Take marriage for example. From the very beginning in the Garden of Eden, God instituted marriage between a man and woman. It was established this way before we walked the earth. For many generations, thousands of years in fact, the institution of marriage has been celebrated, respected and honored. But in our generation, many think they have become “enlightened”. They think that if a man loves a man or a woman loves a woman, they should be able to marry. Right now it’s actually being seriously considered in many states to allow gay (homosexual/sodomite) marriage! This is concerning because if this happens, as a nation we are allowing an ancient boundary stone to be moved. You can guarantee that the Defender (Redeemer) of this ancient way will be taking up the case against our nation!

The “fields of the fatherless” speaks of the property and possessions of those that can’t defend themselves, orphans, widows and the like. To overpower them simply because they are disadvantaged and do not have the power to fight back is demonic. This happens every day as greedy corporations or city governments’ walk all over the rights of the widows, orphans and the poor. I have watched the “beautification” of Atlanta over the last 15 years and am appalled at our city’s treatment of the poor and the homeless/fatherless. It’s true, they can’t defend themselves so they make an easy adversary in court, but they DO have a Defender: His name is Jesus! You mess with them and He will mess with you! This reality should cause us to think very carefully before taking advantage of the poor and disenfranchised. Just because we CAN doesn’t mean we SHOULD. This applies corporately, in businesses, governments and even personally.

LIFE LESSON:

Gay marriage is an abomination to God and a blatant relocation of an ANCIENT boundary stone. You can quote me on that.

June 22nd – Proverbs 22: The Simple Keep Going and Going and Going…

“A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” – Proverbs 22:3

The simple or foolish are a lot like the Energizer bunny; they keep going and going and going. Even when the road ahead is clearly fraught with danger and destruction, they press in and press on their foolish course. It’s not that they don’t know which direction they are headed, they just keep going! I believe that many of us in our foolish idealism feel that “if only they knew” they would do something differently. Think of the political climate today. Our lawmakers honestly believe that if they give the American people more knowledge, they will stop doing stupid stuff like smoking, drinking to excess and having unprotected sex.

NOT TRUE!

The nature of sin is illogical. Think of Adam and the woman (she wasn’t given the name Eve until AFTER they had sinned), they had this idyllic environment and very few restrictions. In fact, they only had one “Don’t eat of the tree in the middle of the garden”. Having knowledge that eating the tree would lead to death, they still ate! Why? Because sin is deceptive! It’s confusing and it blinds us to simple truth:

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” – Hebrews 3:13

In our culture, we worship knowledge. We believe that knowledge is power. In truth, having knowledge is much better than not having knowledge, but as this scripture describes, it’s not ignorance that leads the simple to destruction. They know that the road is dangerous but they don’t change course.

The prudent man on the other hand sees the danger ahead on the path he is taking and CHANGES COURSE. He does a little course correction and takes refuge from the impending disaster. This is his salvation. The wise application of knowledge is infinitely more powerful and effective than the gathering of knowledge. I would rather have one guy with a small amount of applied knowledge than an “expert” who has never applied one thing he learned! The church is fool/full of these kinds of people today! We have adopted so many of our wicked and depraved culture’s values that we truly exalt knowledge above action.

LIFE LESSON:

What we know is only as effective as what we do with what we know.