Screaming in the Streets_Proverbs

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Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
– Proverbs 22:29

Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.
– Proverbs 27:18

We’re all experts at quality control. Whether we’re aware of it or not, we evaluate everything we see to determine whether it’s worth our time or our money. Mass media combined with the free market has made us efficient at rating quality. Plus, we’re regularly exposed to outstanding music, art, athletics, dance, communication, design, and products. Excellence is important to us, and deep down inside we all want to be excellent at something. We have observed the truth of Proverbs 22:29. We all want to stand above the crowd in some area of life.

If I’m honest, I have a messy relationship with the idea of excellence. At what point do the things I produce cross the invisible line of excellence? Maybe a more personal question, when am I good enough to be valuable to the worshipers of my craft? Questions like these lurk in me whether I like it or not. But, Proverbs 27:18 hints at some answers. The sweetness of what we produce is in the effort we put into tending to it.

The satisfaction of excellence is not found in achieving a defined measure of quality but found in the effort to grow ourselves. Summiting a pike is more satisfying when you’ve hiked to it then when you drive to it. Michael Zigarelli says, “it’s wiser to think of excellence as a direction, a disposition … toward continuous improvement. In that way, the focus is not on the product of our efforts but on the process of pleasing God by stewarding the talents and resources he’s entrusted to us.” In this way, joy is found in the effort of improvement rather than reaching a destination. And, God is honored as we transform from one degree of glory to the next.

Today, listen to the song I wrote about work and surrendering my results to the Lord. My prayers is for God to multiply my efforts of excellence rather than fighting for perfect advancement. Consider for yourself how it might feel like if you committed to a life of growth and laid all the results of your work surrendered before the Lord.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]

By Aaron Bjorklund  

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The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
    but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
– Proverbs 21:5

Diligence. The wisdom of this word does not always land easy on the ears or on the heart because it reminds us of another word – responsibility. Sometimes just thinking about our current responsibilities sends cramps of anxiety through our stomachs and adds weighed pressure on our shoulders – especially when we feel exhausted, spent, and dried up from the hard work of diligence already. We may blame diligence for causing this kind of exhaustion and resist carrying it with us into another day.

Perhaps this is how the sluggard feels in the book of Proverbs. He feels justified in his rest and inactivity because he’s exhausted with no more energy to spend toward his responsibilities that day. Have you ever been there? But, consider what the author says about the future of the sluggard. “The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing” (Proverbs 20:4). “Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep and an idle person will suffer hunger” (Proverbs 19:15). “He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame” (Proverbs 10:5). When this person looks back on their disregard for responsibility, they’re left with no harvest, no provisions, only shame.

So, how do we feel better about the word diligence and get out of bed with it by our side? Let’s first realize diligence takes intentional effort and persistence, but it’s not over-functioning. We often want a get-rich-quick scheme or we want to stock up our hard work in our youth so we can let go of diligence in the future. Sadly, that’s not how we’re created to function. Simply put, diligence is faithfully doing the next thing to progress to your goal for your entire life. It encompasses the big picture of your life, but also the small incremental moments as well. This means diligence requires developing healthy rhythms to maintain sustainable progress – rhythms of work and rest, seasons of hard work and seasons of waiting, paces for longevity not paces of instant success.

We get the privilege of working with God on this earth and it’s a gift. Our faithfulness and diligence in carrying out the responsibilities we’ve been entrusted with becomes a blessing, not only for ourselves, but for the sake of our families, our communities, and our society. And every act of diligence starts one step at a time. Consider what one step of diligence you can take today for the building up of God’s world through the work he’s entrusted to you.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]

By Yvonne Biel  

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The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”
As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.
– Proverbs 26:13-16

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
– Proverbs 14:23

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
– Proverbs 13:4

 

Every time I see children sitting behind their own lemonade stand, I stop my car, get out, and go buy a glass of their lemonade. Their choice to earn money is a value I want to reward.  I always ask what they’re going to do with the money and I wish them the best in their efforts to earn money. I never had a lemonade stand when I was a kid, but I worked for the goals I wanted to achieve.  I practiced musical instruments to be in all city orchestras, state bands, and for scholarships, and I studied for academic honors, even worked evenings at a burger stand to earn college tuition.

Proverbs is a book about probabilities and rewards for working is one of them. Several times it mentions examples of the benefits of working diligently.  Solomon describes reaping what you sow (Proverbs 11:18), patiently waiting for the fruit of your work (Proverbs 12:14), and the cause and effect principle of effort and reward (Proverbs 27:18). The Proverbs also include exaggerated and humorous word pictures about disregarding work. Solomon compares making excuses with saying things like “there’s a lion in the street” (Proverbs 26:13), laziness with “turning in your sleep like a door on its hinges” (Proverbs 26:14), and prideful delusion with “the sluggard seeing himself as wise” (Proverbs 26:12). Solomon’s many warnings to the sluggard are a call to action, to work hard, and to honor God with their lives.

Excuses are easy to make and doing the difficult is hard. It’s easier to talk and make excuses for not working, than to do the actual work.  It’s also easier to complain and grumble about work, which probably takes more energy than actually working. In these verses from the Apostle Paul, the word “all” becomes significant. Paul says, “Do all things without grumbling and disputing” (Philippians 2:14). “Do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). “Let all things be done for building up” (1 Corinthians 14:26b). The wisdom of Solomon’s proverbs also give encouragement in the battle to do what’s responsible. Solomon says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established“ (Proverbs 16:3).  “Do you see a man skillful in his work?  He will stand before kings “(Proverbs 22:29).  Vocation and Christian character take work. We’re called to bear the image of God faithfully by our life and work, our being and doing, our walk and our talk. Commit to being Christlike and doing your best wherever God has placed you.

 

Today, write your own version of the serenity prayer
dedicating yourself to executing not giving way to excuses in your work and walk with Jesus.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

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By Donna Burns  

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The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.

Work. We all do it. It’s an integral part of life. It occupies at least 40 hours each week for most people. However, for many, those 40 hours are dreaded. They’re the least satisfying and most lamented part of the week. Friday is anticipated like a good meal or like seeing an old friend. There are a number of reasons we have a complicated relationship with work. The main reason may be that we have lost touch with God’s design for work – and when we lose touch for with God’s design for work, we remove ourselves from God’s blessing over work.

The biblical narrative begins with a human being in a garden. One of the first things God does, is give Adam a job (that his wife will soon join him in). Genesis 2:15 states, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Before sin enters into the world and before the fall, there is work. In fact, work is designed by God – he was first boss. Work is not a necessary evil, but rather a designed blessing. Many people work jobs where that is hard to believe, but that doesn’t make it any less true.

Work carries a blessing in two primary ways. First, it’s through work that we get to provide for our needs and the needs of our family and friends. In Proverbs 12:11, Solomon wrote, “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” Solomon claimed that one of the rewards of work was that there is plenty of bread. Now, there are certainly outliers to this assertion, but Solomon is making a statement that is generally true – if you work, you eat. The second blessing of work is that we get to contribute to the common good. Regardless of what job you have, there is some way you are adding value to the lives of people around you. Martin Luther made that point poignantly when he recounted: when we pray, ‘Lord, give us today or daily bread…’ God answers that prayer in a very complex way. There was a farmer who planted seeds, God sent the rain, someone came and harvested the field, someone bought the grain, another person baked the bread, someone came and picked up the bread and took it to the store, another person stocked the bread on the self, and someone sold you the bread. There are many human hands involved in God answering the prayer for daily bread. And so it is with nearly every job.

To our detriment, we have made a division between sacred and secular jobs. In her wonderful essay, Why Work, Dorothy Sayers wrote, “It is the business of the Church to recognize that the secular vocation, as such, is sacred. Christian people, and particularly perhaps the Christian clergy, must get it firmly into their heads that when a man or woman is called to a particular job of secular work, that is as true a vocation as though he or she were called to specifically religious work.” She is right. What you for those 40 hours each week, is a holy calling. It’s not just a job, it’s a vocation. Take a few moments today and think about how your work provides and contributes. Understanding these two things will help you better embrace God’s blessing in your work.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]

By Ryan Paulson  

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Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

We’ve all gone to the workplace or been in a situation and had our job performance evaluated.  Sometimes it turns out great- with a raise in pay, or sometimes not so great- being let go.  Often a report is written up. It’s about how you can improve, and goals for the next year or next evaluation or next job!  It’s a challenge to press on and embrace the process year after year.  So, it is with iron.  It dulls with constant use. It needs to be repeatedly sharpened to be continually productive.

Solomon illustrates his point using a common occurrence people would’ve been familiar with in his day.  The sharpening of a tool took persistent intense striking by another tool.  No electric whetstones or sharpening devices were available.  Not only would a sword or knife have to be sharpened once but many times if it was to be useful.  Giving a tool the desired sharpness took time, involving a process, just like persistent, long term relationships can result in a personal and spiritual growth process for its members.  Perhaps the reason Solomon writes, “iron sharpening iron,” is because one man is like another man and it makes mutual sharpening possible and desirable.  In Solomon’s day, a soldier might sharpen the face of his sword against a sharpening iron to make it ready for battle, so a faithful friend can equip his friend for success by constructive criticism.  A faithful friend, loyal over time to offer advice, does not give up or leave the first time his friend does not heed his advice.

If we do not have any such friends of “iron” in our lives, we should be looking for them.   Think of who might be on the Board of Directors for your spiritual life.  Imagine what they would be saying to you to sharpen your walk. Balance, focus, steps toward life goals, financial and moral accountability in your life can benefit from “iron sharpening iron” relationships. A proverb tells us what usually happens, and Solomon’s suggesting we become our best through the interaction in personal relationships.  Rededicate yourself to the Lord today and his process of sharpening you through your relationships.   We should also ask the Lord to make us the kind of “iron” who can persist in love in our relationships and offer helpful criticism towards others personal and spiritual growth.

 

A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
– Proverbs 18:24

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By Donna Burns  

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Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20

Relationships shape our lives. We actually become different people because of the relationships we form. Daniel G. Amen in his book Change Your Brain Change Your Life sites research that shows people become more angry or more positive when they are in the presence of others who have those emotions. When I say, “relationships shape us,” I mean that in the most literal way. Our brains are actually changed by others. So, the question is: how are we shaping those around us? Yes, we want to consider the people we surround ourselves with, but remember you have the ability to change someone forever by the way you interact with someone else.

The human experience is far more complex than we often like to admit. There are subtle agents in our world, both physically and spiritually, that effect who we become. This may be a shift for some of us to think about, but when we do, we must also remember that we are one of those shaping agents for people around us. When we speak words of encouragement to someone, we shape them. When we leak frustration and complaints, we also shape them. One of the best ways to prepare yourself to influence others positively is to be shaped well yourself. Your relationship with Jesus can actually shape you if you give attention to him. Let his words shape you. Interact with God relationally. Let him speak to you both through is word and through prayer. As he rubs off on you, you can shape those around you positively.

There is a hit song on the radio right now that speaks to the shaping power of friendship. It’s not a Christian song by any stretch, but it does a great job of reflecting on the powerful emotions we associate with those around us. Listen to the song “Castle On The Hill” by Ed Sheeran. Yes, he speaks of drinking and smoking, but ultimately it’s the people who, “raised him” that caused him to feel a strong draw to go home. The song sparks a feeling of nostalgia for me even though I didn’t have a childhood anything like Ed’s. I think that’s because I had good friendships I, too, can reflect on. Good friends are hard to come by, so why not learn to be one for those who are seeking one. What deep lifelong joys can you shape into your friendships?

 

Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
    nor go with a wrathful man,
lest you learn his ways
    and entangle yourself in a snare.

Proverbs 22:24-25

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By Aaron Bjorklund  

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What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. Proverbs 19:22

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

Solomon says, “What is desired in a man is steadfast love” (Proverbs 17:17). Deep within every human soul, we desire to love and to be loved – steadfastly, unconditionally, always. Yet, we know love doesn’t come easy. For those of us who’ve experienced the blessing of a real and lasting relationship, we’ve had to weather the storms of life. We’ve had to enter the heat of conflict and carry the burden of tough seasons together. Inevitably, life creates storms and the dependability of our friendships are tested when the heat of life turns up.

When storms in friendships come, we have a choice. We can either stay or bail. We can persevere in the heat or leave the friendship out to dry. We can grow stronger together or walk away alone. In John 15, Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends… no longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends” (John 15:13-15). Jesus demonstrated a surprising love. When the heat of anger and animosity turned against him, he moved toward his friends to communicate love through action. Jesus sacrificed his life, something we may never do for our friends, but in this, we see something remarkable in Jesus’ character. Jesus moves toward his friends, willing to forgive, and desiring reconciliation.

Love, in any relationship, requires something of us. When friendships get hard and the heat turns up, what we do next says something about our character. Are we the type of friend who moves toward the heat, ready to forgive, and desiring reconciliation? Are we the type of friend who is marked by steadfastness and unconditional love? Are we the type of friend we want in our friends? Think about your closest friends and the love you’ve demonstrated through actions recently. Consider what your friends would say about your friendship. Then, ask the Lord how you might grow into an even better friend.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text 0=””]

By Yvonne Biel  

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Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:5-6

Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips. Proverbs 24:26

In the process of sharpening iron, there’s a moment of friction. Solomon says the same thing is true with people, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” When befriending others, there are moments of contact, but with contact comes friction. Some of us like friction. We appreciate different opinions, perspectives, and preferences, and we don’t mind sharing our own even when there’s disagreement. Yet, some of us hate friction. We avoid relationships that ruffle our feathers, drive us up the wall, or get all up in our grill, and we tend to keep peaceful acquaintances.

Solomon has more to say on these types of relationships. He says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6). He recognizes that friction in friendship has the potential to leave wounds. Whenever we invest in others and make ourselves vulnerable, we risk getting hurt. That’s why life-on-life friendships get messy. Friendships entangle our hearts with others increasing the potential for disappointments, offenses, and heart-aches. Yet, Solomon repeatedly commends friendship, and more specifically, consistent honesty in friendship. He says, “better is open rebuke than hidden love” (Proverbs 27:5) and “whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips” (Proverbs 24:26).

The imagery in both verses is the ‘kiss,’ which beautifully connects the type of friendships we have with the words we speak within them. Honesty is one source of friction but is necessary for strengthening and sharpening a relationship. The wisdom of Proverbs seems to imply that failing to speak the truth only keeps acquaintances, whereas honesty builds friendships. Think about your past and current friendships. Do you tend to befriend peace-keepers and conflict-avoiders to ensure your relationships remain pleasant, or do you befriend those who intentionally challenge you with honest words to strengthen your character? Today, think of the honest person in your life. Consider how that person’s honesty, though it may have hurt, helped you grow. Send that person a quick text or a note describing how their honesty has helped you. Don’t wait. Thank them today.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text 0=””]

By Yvonne Biel  

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Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

-Proverbs 18:1

Nearly every person can remember their first friend, can you? Maybe it was the first person you connected with on a heart level. Maybe it was the first person who chose to play with you on the playground or who stood up for you when others attacked. Maybe it was the first person who you shared a secret with or the first person who invited you over to their house. It’s not a coincidence we can remember these people. Relationships are part of the fundamental building blocks of what it means to be human, so friends make a deep and abiding impact on us. In Proverbs, Solomon wrote a great deal about friendship. In one of the most prolific passages in Proverbs 27:17, he wrote, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” It’s a great picture of friendship; two pieces of iron sharpening each other and both getting better because of their interaction. But, this picture also points out that friendship requires contact, and this type of contact never happens by accident. It always demands two things: intentionality and vulnerability.

However, both intentionality and vulnerability are difficult. Vulnerability puts us in the position to be hurt by another. It puts us in the place where our heart is exposed because we share the deep places of our soul – our joy and our pain. C. S. Lewis drew out the tension of vulnerability in his book The Four Loves when he wrote, “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” Unfortunately, many people choose to live a life free from vulnerability. We believe that this choice prevents us from getting hurt by other people, and in large part, we’re correct. But, it also means we’re free from the love our soul needs to flourish. When we choose to cut ourselves off connection with others, we prevent both our deepest pain and our deepest joy.

The scriptures teach us to fight against the tendency we all have to isolate ourselves. In Proverbs 18:1, Solomon wrote, “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” Solomon is explaining one of the main downfalls of isolation – we retreat into our own little world and are unable to see reality. We don’t get the benefit of being challenged by others. We don’t grasp the blessing of receiving love from others. Our “judgement” is fractured because we’re disconnected from the very thing that makes us fully human – relationships with others. Take 12 minutes today and watch this excellent TED Talk that illustrates the power relationships and think about the people God has placed in your life as friends.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text 0=””]

By Ryan Paulson

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My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them. And healing to all their flesh. – Proverbs 3:20-22

God’s designed us as holistic people. This means every aspect of our being is connected. How we feel emotionally, mentally, relationally, and physically are fundamentally linked. Doctors, counselors, personal trainers, and even massage therapeutics would agree. Perhaps you notice this when stress at the office makes your head pound or your breathing irregular, when hunger fuels your impatience, when fear of what others might think makes you sweat, when relational tension tightens up your stomach muscles, when dwelling on worry keeps you up at night, when heart-break gives you heartburn, and when un-forgiveness, resentment, or bitterness leaves a sourness inside.

Our bodies are one of the loudest instruments to help us recognize what’s going on inside our souls. Like instruments, our bodies become out-of-tune and we must pay attention to when they need maintenance. Unlike instruments, we must address the problem in a holistic manner because we’re dealing with a holistic problem, connected to our heart and soul. This means when our bodies tell us something’s wrong, there’s not always a quick and easy fix. It requires intentional listening and asking God to reveal the root of the problem (i.e. jealousy, un-forgiveness, pride, idolatry, etc.). It also requires applying daily doses of proactive care over a long period of time (i.e. eating healthy, exercising, being honest, doing what is right).

According to Proverbs, holistic healing comes from inclining our ears to God’s wisdom and living in alignment with it. Walking in wisdom is a life-long journey as well as a daily one. Take some time to listen to God by paying attention to your physical signs today. Just please note, not all physical trouble is caused by foolishness. We live in a world affected by a curse. But because our souls are connected to our physical bodies, we can be mindful of how they’re related. As you think through how your body is feeling, ask yourself: How am I sleeping at night? Am I more tense than usual? Do I have stress-related aches?” What’s my body trying to tell me? Then, talk with the Lord about the source of these physical indicators.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text 0=””]

By Yvonne Biel  

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