Posts Tagged: mechanical ways of reading proverbs
“Proverbs: More Subtle than I had Thought”
“Better is little with the fear of the LORD
than great treasure and trouble with it.”
(Proverbs 15:16 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version)
I am sometimes guilty of devaluing the biblical book of Proverbs. I have tended at times to think of proverbs as nice little sayings, although they are rather mechanical and obvious. I say this to my shame.
Over the past several years, I have come to realize that the Proverbs are much more subtle and subversive than I had previously realized. When I slow down enough to see what is really there, what is really there demonstrates a depth that has the capacity to deepen me.
Take Proverbs 15:16, for example. Many proverbs seem to link wisdom and righteousness with wealth. Often, the entire book of Proverbs is read precisely this way.
However, this proverb assaults us with a subversive thought: It is possible for the fear of the LORD (which is considered to be very, very good in the book of Proverbs) with having, not abundance, but little. And abundance (“great treasure”) can be accompanied with trouble or worry.
So, if I am doing well financially, I cannot automatically assume that I am fearing the LORD properly, and that the LORD is therefore blessing me. Nor can I assume that if I have only a little, the LORD is not blessing me. There is no one-to-one correlation between the fear of the LORD and material well-being.
Notice that this proverb does not say that material wealth is inherently bad. Poverty is not automatically a blessing. But neither is wealth. The crucial matter is the fear of the LORD.
Perhaps I, perhaps we all, need to go back for another look at the not-so-simplistic book of Proverbs.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
Recent Comments