Making Plans?

If you are making plans, consider these Proverbs:

“Desire without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.”
Proverbs 19:2

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21

“Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.”
Proverbs 20:18

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

Avoid Worthless Pursuits

I spoke with a friend this morning about this challenging Proverb, so I am reposting this entry from April 1 of this year.

“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.”
Prov 12:11

What a great standard for the activities we choose for ourselves and our children! First is the priority of work. Our provision should come from our own work. We cannot train our children or allow adults to expect others to provide for them. Everyone works!

Second, not that everything we do must be work, but everything we do must have worth; it must have value and benefit. We are an entertainment driven culture and many of our activities qualify as worthless pursuits. Entertainment is not inherently bad since it is a form of relaxation that we all need. However, there are so many spiritually and intellectually nourishing forms of relaxation and entertainment! Instead of justifying our entertainment habits as “relaxation we all need,” we can raise the standard and engage in activities that qualify as “worthy pursuits.”

Feeding the Flesh

“A companion of gluttons shames his father”
Prov 28:7

The struggle between flesh and Spirit is becoming more clear to me. They are diametrically opposed. Flesh leads to death; Spirit leads to life and peace (Rom 8:5-8). But unlike the Buddhist philosophy, flesh does not refer to all that is physical from which one must strive to be detached. Flesh is the sinful nature, the tendency to make oneself god and his or her pleasure the ultimate end of all. I’m afraid that I still subtly serve my flesh.

As in this proverb, it can be as natural as eating, but it becomes gluttony. This is a perfect example of the distinction that must be made between flesh and the physical. There is nothing wrong with eating (physical), but we can make it an end and enjoyment above God (flesh). There is nothing wrong with the enjoying the pleasure of eating either. And while it seems ridiculous that a person could place it above God, it is quite possible. It is not a conscious choice of worship. It is the longing and drive of the heart. Anything that we live for that is not God is idolatry.

My own concern is not that something like eating motivates my life. My concern, though, is in exercising a certain level of carelessness in eating, such as eating too much of anything and especially that which is not good for me. Not only does this carelessness have definite physical consequences, but it also feeds my flesh. When we take the good things that God gives us and use them outside of the purpose and limits for which he has given them to us, then we are serving the flesh.

Strive Against the Wicked

“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law strive against them.”
Prov 28:4

Once again, the righteous do not simply mind their own business carrying out righteousness in their own lives. Righteousness includes striving against the wicked around us. But what exactly does this mean? Stopping them from harming others? Not allowing it to spread by exposing its wickedness? Trying to get them to stop? On what basis does a righteous person do this? Does he use law and government? Personal persuasion? Community pressure? Prayer? Does he attempt to convert the wicked? I suppose a righteous person would strive against wickedness by any righteous means available. I am reminded of Gao Zhisheng, the lawyer in China who was working against the oppressive Chinese government and is now in prison, probably being tortured (because he already has been several times). The bottom line is that the righteous do not stand by while the wicked work their evil unchecked.