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I haven't been doing this in a while. I was doing real good before Jacob came along. It's time to restart my daily "quiet time".
Passage I studied: Proverbs 6
Thoughts
In general, I was struck by the powerful images used in Proverbs 6. The words used seem to be the strongest possible descriptions for the calamities that are the consequences of disregarding wisdom.
v 1-5: Financial agreements are a snare, particularly those where you are guaranteeing a debt for a third party to a stranger. You need to free yourself from this in whatever way possible. Right now. Fortunately, I am not in that particular situation but I do have quite a bit of debt (normal stuff - student loans, mortgage, car payment) that I should seek to get out from under as quickly as possible.
v 6-11: Financial responsibility is not hard. Even mindless ants can do it. Be diligent, and save for the future. Reap your harvest at harvest time, so that you will be provided for during the winter. I am blessed to still have a well paying job, and should take advantage of it to prepare for the possibility that my situation could change.
v 12-19: Just these 8 verses are so challenging that if I were to spend my entire life attempting to do nothing other than obey them, I'd still fail miserably. I was struck by the fact that pride, lying, mischief, and sowing discord are condemned as strongly as shedding innocent blood.
v 20-23: Wisdom will lead you, and you should follow it. It's not simply something like a map to pull out when you get lost and need it. It will lead you day by day. It's pictured as talking to you as you go throughout your day. The Bible provides continual guidance. It lights our way and keeps us on the right path. It will protect us from all kinds of trouble.
v. 24-35: The following things are true of adultery.
There is no surviving it. "[T]he adulteress will hunt for the precious life".
There is no escaping the consequences, any more than you can escape the consequences of holding fire.
There is no justification for it. Stealing might be justified in times of need, but adultery never is.
There is no salvaging you life afterwards. It destroys your very soul. (This is probably not a soteriological statement).
There is no recovering from it. Your wound, dishonor, and reproach will never go away.
There is no mercy for it. Her husband will not spare you.
There can be no compensation for it. No amount of money will satisfy an angry husband.
My Prayer
God, protect me from financial bondage. Give me the responsibility and diligence to provide for my family while I have a great job. Thank You for my job. I grumble about it, but it's from You and ultimately it's for You. Please give me the character to always put forth my best effort and glorify You.
Teach me integrity, so that there is never a disconnect between what I say and what I mean or what I say and what the truth is. Teach me to be a peacemaker and not a troublemaker that devises wickedness, runs to mischief, or sows discord.
Thank You for the Bible, which will continually lead me and guide me. Help me to look to it constantly and be led by it.
Protect me from adultery and the devastating consequences that will follow it. Remind me of those consequences if I'm ever tempted.
Keep Your law on my mind constantly. Forgive me for my many sins.
Amen.
Posted by Robert at August 14, 2002 12:13 PM | TrackBack