Proverbs 28.9
God detests the prayersof a person who ignores the law.

Ignoring the Rules

Children do not seem to understand the implications of disobedience. There have been several times when one of my grandkids was disobedient and they still kept asking for treats or special privileges. It goes without saying, I think, when you are in timeout or realizing a particular restriction you are not going to be given some other special treat. Asking for candy when you are disobedient is not acceptable. When the child obeys the rules then their pleas for a treat are much more palatable.

The principle seems so simple when I am the adult in charge of the children. Follow the rules and I will listen to your requests: ignore the rules and I will most likely ignore your request.

As I think about the simplicity of this concept I marvel at my own ineptness at following the same principle with God. Follow God’s rules and my prayers are heard. Certainly, this is not to say that unanswered prayers are always a result of sin in my life. However, my first response to unanswered prayer should not be to accuse God of not caring, but to search my own life for any disobedience. Thankfully, these searches are accomplished quickly through the voice of the Holy Spirit who is eager to point out any areas where I have ignored God’s law. Confession and repentance restores a healthy relationship.

Holy God of grace and mercy, I confess that I tend to ignore certain parts of your law more than others. I ask for your mercy and grace where I have fallen and strength to avoid falling again. Help me to walk wholly with you today. – Dan Jones

Proverbs 27:3
A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,

but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier.

Buckets of Rocks

We purchased a new home recently with a cistern in the basement. The wall of the cistern was approximately 12 inches thick and 48 inches tall. Behind the wall was 6 feet of good storage that was inaccessible except by a stepladder. One of the first projects I started was the demolition of the cistern wall. Breaking apart the concrete with a sledgehammer was tough work. Carrying the rocks and debris out of the basement in 5 gallon pails was heavy.

It took two days of exhaustive work to complete the demolition. I was tired both days. Weariness from hard work feels good; weariness from carrying emotional debris feels terrible. Emotional pain caused by resentment is just as heavy as the rocks in the cistern wall, but at the end of the day, you have accomplished nothing positive.

If I asked someone to hold a pail of rocks for a day, they would laugh at the ridiculous notion. If I ask someone to set down the rocks of the resentment they are holding, I get the same response. We seem to think holding onto resentment will make us feel better in the future. Some day we will have the chance to get even, so we hold onto our grudges and resentment until that day comes. In the meantime we ruin many a good day, only to realize when we do have the chance to get even; we do not feel any better inside. The pain is still there.

Proverbs points out the absurdity of holding rocks all day, be they literal or emotional. Setting our rocks down brings release and freedom from a heavy burden. What are you holding today? What am I holding?

God who liberated those in oppression and bondage, I pray you would help me to set down the emotional rocks I am carrying and experience the freedom that comes in Jesus Christ. – Dan Jones

Proverbs 26:18-19
Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon

is someone who lies to a friend

and then says, “I was only joking.”

Talking too fast

Justifying our bad attitudes and actions with “jokes” is more harmful than we realize. “I was only joking,” implies the other person should just “get over it” or not have been offended in the first place. Trying to excuse sassiness, lies, and deceitfulness with jokes is not only poor taste, it is wrong. In doing so, we illustrate a lack of respect for others and a refusal to be accountable for our own words.

We live in such a frantic and hurried society words fly off our lips with little to no filtering. Technology has only increased the ease with which we can communicate to others. You can instantly text, talk, and even send video messages to thousands of people “in the moment.” This last week we learned NBA players are increasingly updating their profiles electronically during games.

With immediate communication, we are less likely to think things through or consider the implications of our words before spewing them into the world. To cover up our blunders we increasingly refer to our words as “jokes”.

There is no quick remedy, except being willing to stop and think before speaking. In the same way, I am forced to think about how I respond to God. How do I talk to Him? Do I think about my prayers or just spew out my frustrations without taking time to think about His promises. Certainly God invites us to pray at all times and in a myriad of ways, yet how often do I try to cover up disrespect and ungratefulness with “jokes” and rationalizations about “stuffy prayer language” and formalities. Perhaps even in prayer a little more thought would produce a better conversation with God.

Father of grace and compassion, I am sorry for not taking time to think as I pray. I confess too many times I simply demand what I want instead of seeking out your thoughts on the situation. Help me to pray your will not mine, with sincerity, reverence and respect for who you are. Make my prayer times refreshing both emotionally and intellectually as you teach me your ways. – Dan Jones

Proverbs 25: 17

“Don’t visit your neighbors too often,

or you will wear out your welcome.”

Wasted Welcome

Social etiquette is more than behaving properly; it is the pathway to healthy relationships. Proverbs 25 is filled with advice about how to interact with others in a way that enhances relationship. Nagging wives, lawsuit happy neighbors, and those constantly underfoot soon wear out their welcome.

When we wear out our welcome, we lose the possibility of sharing God’s love with a person. Failing to develop good relationships with others is more than a personal decision; it is a spiritual decision as well. Christians are primarily ambassadors for Christ. Our first and foremost task is to represent Jesus to the world around us. If we alienate those around us with our bad behavior we are doing Christ a disservice.

Good neighborly practices are to be extended even to those who are not nice to us. In this same chapter, we read that being kind to “big meanies” brings conviction. Christians should be the best neighbors around, kind, considerate and not overbearing. By being a good neighbor we will have opportunity to share God’s love with our neighbors. Jesus said loving God and loving our neighbor sum up the law.

Jesus, I want to thank you for moving into our neighborhood and becoming our friend. You treated us lovingly and with grace even when we were rude to you. Help me to model your love and grace with my neighbors today. - Dan Jones

Proverbs 24:10

“If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.”

It does not take much common sense to recognize the validity of this verse of Scripture. Failure under pressure demonstrates a lack of strength. Even though this is so obvious, I continue to struggle with how I respond to my failures.

I treat failure with a renewed sense to try harder next time. I fall into the trap of thinking if I only work longer, try harder, and do more I will be successful next time. There is some wisdom in this approach, especially if my failing is due to a lack of preparation, but often trying harder just results in deeper depression when failure hits again.

I was reading in Romans last week. Paul states in 9:16 “So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.” (NLT) The NIV phrases it, “It does not therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” Obviously in the context of Romans 9 this is referring to salvation, but I think most of Christian life can be summed up in this philosophy.

Working longer, trying harder, and putting forth more effort will only take me so far. The real victory is totally dependent on God’s mercy. If I want to walk and not faint, run and not grow weary, and soar on the wings of eagles I will need to experience God’s mercy in continuous waves.

When I fail, it was spiritual strength that was too small. My own strength, even if super-human, is not enough. I need the strength of God to withstand temptation, overcome sin, and stand firm under pressure. My commitment should not be to try harder, but to pray for more of God’s mercy and strength.

Father of mercy and strength, I am slowly learning how dependent I really am on your strength. I desire to go further than my strength will take me and to stand up under pressure that would crush my own strength. I ask for your mercy to flood over me today and your strength to help me stand victoriously over every temptation and pressure I encounter. Thank you for your mercy which is new every morning. - Dan Jones

Proverbs 23:23 Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.

Hold

It is interesting to read the stock recommendations in the paper about different companies. As stocks tumbled consulting firms encouraged stockholders to sell and avoid increased losses on risky companies. Even though the value of the stock was less than what most people bought at, it was better to sell and get something than to hold and get nothing.

Investing in the stock market is a gamble. When the market is favorable, holding and buying are great. But a bear market leads to a big sell off as people pull their money from the market.

Many people treat religion the same way as they do stocks, buy when it increases my portfolio and sell when it becomes inconvenient. Scripture instructs us differently. Hold onto the truth, never sell it. Even when it appears that truth is going down, in the end it will always prove a worthy investment. The New Testament refers to Jesus as the Truth. Holding onto Jesus and never abandoning our relationship with Him is always good investing advice. Jesus is the one place we can invest and have a guaranteed return.

Jesus, I thank you for keeping every promise you every made to me. You are the author of truth and are Truth yourself. Help me never to doubt you are with me and have the best in store for me even when life makes you hard to see. -Dan Jones

Proverbs 22:3

A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

Ready or Not here I come

Playing Hide and Seek as a kid was always a fun time, especially when it was beginning to get dark and it turned into Hide and Scare. The seeker was required to utter those infamous words, “Ready or not, here I come!” before they could launch out in pursuit of those hiding. Most of the time, the issue was not so much the preparation of the one hiding, it was the one seeking who might not be prepared. Certainly there were times where a hider’s indecisiveness about where to hide caused them to be caught in the open when the seeker was through counting, but not too often.

Life is much like a game of Hide and Seek. Most people go through life seeking an elusive purpose. The prudent or wise person is prepared. The writer of Proverbs reminds us that those who are wise are the ones who fear God and obey His commandments. The simpleton or fool is the person who disregards God’s law and denies His existence.

Even those who are wise are surprised at times, however. We can take every possible precaution and still “get scared”. The biggest difference, I have noticed, between the wise and simple, is that when the wise encounter something scary they do not run, they stand in the power of God and keep going forward. The simple run away.

Father of strength and courage, I ask you to help me stand strong in the face of fear and the unknown. Enable me to see your path through any difficulties and dangers of life. Prepare me for what is coming in my future that I may stand with the wise and bring you glory. - Dan Jones