Thursday, July 13, 2017
Daily reading assignment – Proverbs 10
The following study is taken in part from my devotional commentary post on the Book of Proverbs dated December 10, 2014.
Today’s study in proverbs features what I will call three “stand alone proverbs” – three proverbial statements of “Uncommon Common Sense” communicating three distinct observations.
Proverbs 10:15 – “The rich man’s wealth [property; possessions; savings] is his strong city [a fortified city]: the destruction [ruin; dismay; terror] of the poor [needy; helpless] is their poverty.”
“You didn’t build that!”, was an adage employed by liberal politicians in the 2012 election cycle in the United States. Hoping to stir up class envy, the statement taunted the successful while dismissing the sacrifices and risks taken by employers and business owners. I accept the statement if the intent is to acknowledge divine providence; however, an ideology that taunts hardworking entrepreneurs, spawns an expansive welfare state, inevitably makes citizens debtors and slaves of big government. How tragic! While excoriating the successful, the poor are left weak, dependent and one crisis from destitution!
Proverbs 10:15 is a statement of fact—a rich man finds comfort and security in his wealth. In the same way citizens of a medieval city found refuge behind the walls of a city, a rich man finds security in riches providentially provided to him by God. By contrast, the working poor are often a crisis away from desperation (an incentive to be a “saver” and not a “spender” or “debtor”).
Proverbs 10:16 – “The labour [wages; reward] of the righteous [just; law-abiding] tendeth to life [strength; satisfaction]: the fruit [result; reaping] of the wicked [ungodly; guilty] to sin [punishment; i.e. leads to greater sin].”
Though the curse of sin left man laboring for food by the sweat of his brow (Genesis 3:19), the reward of an honest day’s labor brings its own satisfaction. I am not sure who to credit with the quote, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”; however, there is a lot of truth in that statement. The prevalence of depression in our society is, I believe, directly related to the gross amount of leisure time we enjoy as a society. Too few of us come to the end of a day and enjoy the reward of having accomplished anything that is lasting!
Proverbs 10:17 – “He is in the way [path] of life that keepeth [heeds] instruction: but he that refuseth reproof [refuses to hear and heed correction] erreth.”
Solomon continues a common theme in verse 17—God blesses a man who heeds correction and rebuke; however, a rebel will inevitably follow a path to his own destruction.
As Solomon challenged his son to take the path of righteousness, it is the duty and responsibility of parents and spiritual leaders to challenge men and women with the same enduring truths from God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:2)!
Two questions to ponder: What path are you taking? Is your heart open to correction?
Copyright 2017 – Travis D. Smith