PROVERBS 6:1-5
My child, if you have put up security for a friend’s debt
or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger—
if you have trapped yourself by your agreement
and are caught by what you said—
follow my advice and save yourself,
for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy.
Now swallow your pride; go and beg to have your name erased.
Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do.
Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter,
like a bird fleeing from a net.

Wise generosity
Sounds like Solomon wrote from experience! Me too. While this is a proverb and, as such, not a hard and fast rule, it’s true enough times to expect pain if it’s neglected.

Loaning money to friends and family or agreeing to cosign on a loan places me on the path to strained or broken relationships. Sure there may be a happy side trail we two may walk, but beware. Even when loan payments are regularly made, the dynamic of the relationship changes.

When my heart feels the pain of a friend in a financial bind, we are both better off if I just give money rather than loan it. As important, I must consider whether or not a bail out is best for my friend. If financial binds are common and result from repeated poor decisions, my gift may be the last thing my friend needs! There’s something about hitting rock bottom that offers more hope to an unwise person than the perpetual bail out.

This proverb doesn’t discourage me from generosity. It pushes me to make hard choices that will most likely benefit friendships and family harmony in the long run. These words move me beyond feeling bad to acting wisely.

Father, continue to teach me how to be generous with wisdom. - Mike Leamon

PROVERBS 6:16-19
There are six things the LORD hates—
no, seven things he detests:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,
a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,
a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family.

Defiant attitudes
Raising children requires dealing with bad attitudes. Every child is defiant at some point and often it is at the worst possible moment for you, the adult in charge. It is not hard to tell when a child is pushing against the boundaries trying to see exactly where the line is going to be. Their eyes, mouth, posture, and general behavior all cry out, “I can do what I want and you can’t stop me.”

As parents, we are charged with helping our children learn good boundaries and relational skills. We are responsible to address this attitude of defiance, discord, and destruction with firmness and love.

God, our Heavenly Father, does no tolerate bad attitudes any more than a good parent does. He hates arrogance, pride, destructive behavior and deceitfulness. The seven things God hates are the same things every child has to be corrected in. As a child of God, I too must learn to put off these bad attitudes and actions in exchange for the fruit of the Spirit.

It is no wonder we find ourselves in “time out” so much spiritually when we so often sport attitudes and actions that God hates. God does not reward bad behavior any more than good parents reward bad behavior in children. Instead of being mad at God, a good self-examination followed by confession and repentance is in order.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for sporting a bad attitude when things do not go my way. My desire is not to be self-centered but Christ-centered. Help me to let go of every selfish attitude and action and replace it with the fruit of the Spirit. - Dan Jones

PROVERBS 5:21-23

For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

That Elusive Quality

This chapter can be summed up in a single modern proverb. “Think with your head and not your pants!” The sexual drive is all about choosing self-control. But then so is every physical drive that defines living in human skin.

Physical desire for food and water, touch and sex, warmth and air is as elemental and good (see Dan’s reflection below!) as the use of sight and hearing. One cannot be human and avoid the defining influence of such things. Unfortunately, the way I choose to interact with these influences often produces less human wholeness than more.

With a growing (pun intended) number of Americans I eat too much of some things – gimme more carbs! – and drink too much sugar and caffeine. I know this. And I continue. Solomon’s right. As long as I continue down this path I will “die for lack of self-control,” if by death we mean a shorter life span.

Self-control. Thou art an elusive and slippery quality. The moment I think I have you, you slip from my grasp.

Interestingly, the New Testament (Ephesians 5:22f) teaches that self-control is finally possessed as a result of giving up self control (note the lack of a hyphen!) to the Holy Spirit. The more he is in control the more I am able to control my physical drives and use them in ways that truly bring life.

I have been committed to a life of Holy Spirit filling and control. However, I need to invest more of my energy and time to the Holy Spirit’s influence if I am to possess this final and, perhaps, most precious gift.

Spirit of God, lead me to create more and better uninterruptible times each day, week, and month where I focus myself consciously on who you are and what you are all about. – Mike Leamon

PROVERBS 5:18-20

Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts satisfy you always.
May you always be captivated by her love.
Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,
or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?

Naked and unashamed

In Genesis we read the story of the Adam’s and Eve’s sins and the resulting shame that came when they realized they were naked. Prior to the apple debacle they were unashamedly comfortable with their nudity, but afterwards there was a conscious effort to shield their bodies from each other and God.

God’s plan for a man and wife is demonstrated in the pre-fall interactions of Adam and Eve. Naked and unashamed they enjoyed looking and touching each other’s bodies. There was enjoyment in the blessing of physical intimacy. God has created both men and women with a desire for the other. Physical beauty is appealing because made us to appreciate the body of the opposite sex.

Desire run wild reaches for satisfaction and pleasure wherever it is available. Controlled desire finds a greater blessing in being captivated by the shared body of one’s spouse. When Adam and Eve sought satisfaction in the fruit of the forbidden tree they experienced pain and shame. Seeking sexual satisfaction in anyone other than my spouse leads to shame and pain in my life.

God who created sex and beauty help me to always find my satisfaction in my wife. Help me to create an open atmosphere of comfort and joy with my wife that enables us to be captivated by the body of the other and find sexual fulfillment in our union together. Thank you for the beauty of my wife. - Dan Jones

PROVERBS 4:10-13

My child, listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.

Shoes

This time of year in New York requires certain shoes for safe maneuvering outside. I have a pair of wingtip dress shoes that are more like bowling shoes than anything else. They look fancy and are fun to wear at times, but when walking down our snow covered driveway, they become hazards to my health.

Picking out the right pair of shoes is a basic requirement for all of us. You don’t wear your work boots while dancing and you don’t wear your dress shoes when shoveling snow. The right footwear enables us to complete our responsibilities with safety and confidence.

Wisdom is like a pair of shoes. We can choose to put on wisdom or not, the choice is ours. However, neglecting wisdom is like putting on the wrong shoes. Your footing will be unstable and you will not be able to run or walk without falling. Isaiah describes the life of those that embrace wisdom in Isaiah 40:31. “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Jesus the path before me is full of different responsibilities and dangers. Help me today to embrace wisdom in all my decisions so that I will always have the right footwear to accomplish every task with humility and success through your power and guidance. - Dan Jones

PROVERBS 4:23

Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.

My Green Zone
Protecting the “Green Zone” in Baghdad has been critical to winning the war and the peace in Iraq. It’s the heart of the country, the one secure place were stable government was able to begin its long road to resurrection. What happens here has determined the direction that country takes.

The innermost part of myself, my deepest desires and loves, my sense of right and wrong, my beliefs and overarching understanding of life – this is my “Green Zone”. Solomon is correct. Everything about my life as I push the 50 year mark is defined by what I have done in this zone.

In the last couple of years a disturbing realization has hit me with force. I have watched and interacted with people closing in quickly on death’s portal. I’ve meet people who model for me how I want to arrive at that point and people who represent just the opposite of my hopes. I no longer have a lifetime ahead of me to make sure I arrive there with my hopes fulfilled. Truth is, I have a good bit less time ahead of me than behind me.

It’s time to evaluate what’s in the “Green Zone”. It’s time to make some changes. And it’s time to strengthen the guard at some checkpoints.

Lord of my life, grant me clarity as I evaluate what lies at the core of my being. Help me to see through your eyes. Help me to know what changes must take place. What battles must be fought. And the wisdom to go about all this in a way the honors you. - Mike Leamon

Beginning today, we'll select a proverb from one chapter of Proverbs each day for reflection. The selections each of us makes may or may not overlap, but they will be from the same chapter.

PROVERBS 3:17-18

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.

Genius

From time to time I do something that really works. To me it can even appear brilliant, and in a somewhat self-sarcastic/self-congratulatory way I will pump my arms in the air and shout, “Genius!” Karen is normally present when I do this and quickly pulls the plug on my inflated ego allowing the hot air to escape as she welcomes me back to reality.

I don’t think it is bad to accept appreciation or a pat on the back when we do something well, it is good to be affirmed. Too many people in my tradition of faith are all about demeaning themselves in a way that reeks of arrogant humility and attention grabbing pity. Accepting affirmation without becoming prideful is harder than pretending nothing you do is good. Saying “thank you” and then praising God for working through you is a better response.

It seems to me the writer of Proverbs pushes us to a healthy sense of self-esteem with a better understanding, everything we do right pales in comparison to God’s righteousness. Not being impressed with my own wisdom means not thinking I am the epiphany of wisdom. Instead, I am to recognize even my best falls short of God.

I praise God for granting me wisdom in making decisions. I also recognize the wisdom of God is what creation springs forth out of. The wisdom of God is my inspiration and source of wisdom. Instead of being impressed with the runoff, I will take inspiration from the stream of wisdom itself: Almighty God.

God of wisdom who gives healing and strength to all who tap into your stream of grace, grant that I may always be looking to you for my inspiration. Help me today to maintain a positive self-image in appreciation of your wisdom at work in me.

PROVERBS 3:11-12
My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
For the LORD corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Receiving Correction
I’m good at correcting others. After all, I’m a preacher. I teach the Bible and help people sort out truth from error. People come to me for counsel during which I often correct misperceptions and unhealthy relational ideas and practices. I feel pangs of frustration when people are so blind to wise counsel or biblical truth that they reject it.

I wonder if God ever feels frustrated with me? I know Jesus (God!) become frustrated with the dullness of the 12 Disciples. “How long do I have to be with you before you get it!” he barked one day (my paraphrase of Mark 9:19).

Discipline involves shaping a life like a sculptor shapes a piece of wood or rock. Chop, carve, chip, and cut! Ouch. But that’s what God does with me, only with more emotional pain involved. Not only is my life in a shape he doesn’t want, it’s in the wrong shape – a sinful shape. So discipline doesn’t result in change from one legitimate shape to another (as in a rock) but in correcting a bad shape.

So is this guy whom God has called to be an instrument of correction in others’ lives open to correction himself? I hope so. I intend so. I am committed to be so. But when push comes to shove, am I?

It’s all too common for people to become arrested in that know-it-all stage of adolescence. By God’s grace I didn’t. But it’s also easy to get ensnared by the acquisition of knowledge that one only sees the inconsistencies and exceptions in all corrective counsel, and so misses the wisdom in correction. This is my danger.

Father, I want you to shape my life and correct all that is wrong. This is my commitment. So this year grant me the ability to embrace correction, through whatever channel you use, with discernment but not sophistry and with humility but not gullibility. - Mike Leamon

PROVERBS 2:20-22

Follow the steps of good men instead,
and stay on the paths of the righteous.
For only the godly will live in the land,

and those with integrity will remain in it.
But the wicked will be removed from the land,
and the treacherous will be uprooted.

Beating the Odds

AIDS related deaths in Zambia has produced an epidemic of orphaned children and a plummeting life expectancy. Men who will not keep their pants zipped and a culture of male dominance has removed families from the land and re-rooted parents six feet into the earth in epic proportions. And all this in a nation that has officially proclaimed itself a “Christian” nation.

In another self-styled “Christian” nation, west and north, across the Atlantic, men and women unmarried to each other refuse to keep their pants zipped in similar percentages. Because of the accident of several cultural conditions, STD’s rather than AIDS runs amuck. So those who don’t follow Solomon’s sexual counsel in the previous verses remain in the land, only with some unpleasant realities added to their experience.

Does this mean Solomon’s observation in these verses only applies sometimes and in some places? Well, almost. A proverb, by definition, generalizes a basic rule of life. A less proverbial way of expressing the thought of these verses might be, “Taking into account broad human experience, multiple sexual partners increased the

likelihood of dying younger” contra the catchy proverb, “Only the good die young.”

I live in a culture that thinks it can beat the odds if it could just get every sexually active male, from puberty through the Viagra generation, to wear the magic prophylactic with every partner, every time. Good luck. I think Solomon’s counsel stands a better and broader chance of leading to long and satisfying life, “stay on the paths of the righteous.”

Wise God, grant me the discipline to reject ideas that would attempt to rewrite any aspect of your creation or flaunt both the specific and general ways you have designed life to be experienced. With your help, I will follow the steps of good men instead. - Mike Leamon

The path of the Righteous

The writer of Proverbs encourages his son to stay on the path of the righteous instead of following the path of the promiscuous woman, fool, or wicked. The only problem is the path of the righteous is hidden. The way of the wicked is obvious and easy to see, but the path of the godly is invisible. It is only revealed by faith. Paul tells us the righteous will live by faith (Romans 1:17). Hebrews 11 lists numerous people who lived by faith and were considered righteous.

So what are we to do? How do we follow that which can only be seen through eyes of faith? Psalm 119 helps me out. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) The righteous live according to the revealed will of God. The Bible seems archaic and superstitious to some, but through the eyes of faith, life and wisdom are easily found in its pages. Instead of disregarding God’s standard for the latest craze, live according to the ancient but reliable and true word of God. Good advice for us today too.

Revealer of the path of life and blessing, I ask that you would open my eyes to see your path for my life. Help me to avoid the pitfalls of deception that lie around me. Make my life an example to others of the way of the righteous. - Dan Jones