The Strong Silent Type

Proverbs 28:25-26

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2028%3A25-26&version=NIV;NKJV

 

 

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, the most popular genre for TV shows and movies was a Western. The shows were literally littered with leading men who all had the same characteristic… the strong silent type. John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Gary Cooper and Randolph Scott, to name a few, were self-made men who forged their way to survive against the bad guys in the western frontier.

 

However, the strong silent type, is just as popular today as it was then. Consider Arnold Schwarzenegger, Matt Damon, Ryan Gosling, James Gandolfini, Denzell Washington, and Liam Neeson. Even in comedy the role has been popular. Ed Asner in The Mary Tyler Moore Show fit the role perfectly.

 

So you might ask, what’s wrong with being a strong silent type? Absolutely nothing! But it does make you wonder, what the fascination with that character role is. I would suggest that, to some extent, it has to do with human pride and the desire to control our lives.

 

Simon and Garfunkel sang a song called “I am a Rock”. They would seem to confirm this

reason.

 

I've built walls.
A fortress deep and mighty. That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock. I am an island.

 

“I don’t need your help, thank you very much. I can take care of myself”. In one form or another, we have all said this to others, to ourselves and to God. “Thanks for the offer God, but I’ve got it”. That is, until we end up in a jam.

 

If you’re a parent, you spend your whole life raising your children to become independent; to live on their own; to learn how to be responsible. Those are important skills and attributes for all of us to develop. But human nature goes wild, and we lose track of who we are, whose we are and whom we serve.

 

Solomon gives us wise advice in these two verses. Here are two different translations that give two unique perspectives. Read them; meditate on them; and let God’s Spirit speak to your heart and change you through them.

 

²⁵ The greedy stir up conflict,
    but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

²⁶ Those who trust in themselves are fools,
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.            NIV

 

²⁵ He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

²⁶ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.    NKJV

 

 

 

 

Run to God!

Proverbs 3:5-10 (MSG)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
    give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
    your wine vats will brim over.

Run to God!  I love the Message version of this Proverb. I have even marked my Bible to read this in the Message. I don't think I can top this thought with anything I might say. I just know that when I follow these words, life is good.

Run to God! I have learned through experience that I should not try to figure everything out on my own. That is called 'control' and we all know where that gets us. Listening for God's voice is the best advice we can give and practice. In everything we encounter, God knew before hand and He knows the best way to deal with all encounters.

Run to God! We don't know it all, we only think we do. Turn to God each morning and each evening. It will change how your feel and how you act. Give God the best of yourself each and every day. You can't go wrong.  Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.

Run to God!

The Giving Tree

 (Righteous will flourish)

Proverbs 11:24-31

  

In the 1996 movie, Jerry Maguire, a slick sports agent has a crisis of conscience which results in him getting fired and starting his own agency. Desperate to salvage the only client/athlete that he has left, the agent shouts over the phone, “Show me the money!” to show his client just how committed he is to him.

In the world, this is what it comes down to a lot of the time. Somebody somewhere is shouting, “Show me the money! As believers though, we’re to have a different view towards money; a different perspective for its use. Proverbs has this to say about it.

 ²⁸ A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump;

    a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.           Proverbs 11 MSG

This verse paints a picture that reminds me of the children’s book written by Shel Silverstein titled “The Giving Tree”. It’s a story about a boy and a tree.

During his childhood, the boy enjoyed playing with the tree; climbing her trunk, swinging from her branches, and eating her apples. However, as he gets older he begins to use the tree for his own selfish pleasure; selling her apples, building a house from her branches and cutting her trunk to make a boat.

The tree gave and gave and gave of herself until all that was left was “a stump”. This is an interesting twist on verse 28. In “The Giving Tree”, the stump actually became “a flourishing tree”.

Every time that the tree gave another part of herself to the boy, the narrative states, “And the tree was happy”. This is similar to what Proverbs has to tell us about giving.

 ²⁴ The world of the generous gets larger and larger;

    the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

²⁵ The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.       Proverbs 11 MSG

 THE Giving Tree of the Bible, gave and gave and gave of Himself to the point of sacrificing His one and only son whom He loved. Likewise, God calls us to invest ourselves in the lives of those around us; not just with our treasure, but also with our time and talents. If we do this, the result will be “a flourishing tree”.

Know God

John 17:1-5

Someone drops a name and you say, “Oh sure, I know him.” I’ve done that many times, but what I really mean is “I know of him,” or “I know who he is.”

The Encarta Dictionary has a multitude of definitions for the word know, including words and phrases like; acquainted, become aware of, familiar with, recognize and have information in the mind. The one closest to what knowing God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit means is: to have a thorough understanding of something through experience or study

Though we cannot experience our Lord in the flesh, we can absorb His spirit and become what he wants us to be through consistently striving to grow in Him.

We have been offered the framework for doing just that, through His Word;

 “Be still, and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.” Proverbs 8:17

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep an my sheep know me." John 10:14

Getting to truly know and understand someone can be life changing. For example, if you

keep your distance from your superior in the workplace, speculate about his character, 

and talk with others who do the same it leads to distance and mistrust. On the contrary, if 

you pursue a relationship with him, take time to talk with him and try to understand who he 

really is and why he does what he does, you may become a key employee, instrumental in 

carrying out the company’s mission.

With God as well, the key is understanding. It’s all GRACE, yet we cannot understand Him 

unless we consistently attempt to understand just what Grace is and learn God’s nature and 

character as revealed in His works and word.

When we make time to listen to what the Bible has to tell us and humbly open our hearts to 

receive it, the Holy Spirit will assist us with applying it to our lives, offering us peace and 

wisdom to carry on. And one day be glorified in His presence.

Read/Listen to John 17:1-5

Mark 12:28-34

Love God with Your Soul

This Sunday we revisit a scripture reading. Revisiting suggests it must be extremely important. You decide.

When Jesus was asked the question in Mark 12 regarding the most important commandment, his response was this: 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” 

Let’s focus on the soul for a time.

Thinking deeply about what “the soul” feels is personal. Our soul is known to no one but our Lord. It’s like a concept rather than a thing. Something that is with us and guides us, yet we have no visual reference for it.

Our heart pumps to maintain our earthly life, and though we refer to having a broken heart when we experience emotional trials, is it not truly our soul that is affected. Then perhaps it is our soul that guides our heart to continue pumping or to give in, during our last moments.

Dictionary.com defines the soul as follows: noun: the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separate in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.

Might it be, that our true heart (not physical heart), and our soul are one in the same?

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

May we closely guard our heart/soul and praise God in all seasons.

“Bless the Lord O my soul, O, O, O my soul. Worship His Holy name. Sing like never before, O, my soul. Worship His Holy name.”

Listen to Matt Redman: 
10,000 Reasons

Destination: Wisdom

“The proverbs of Solomon ... for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young ... “  Proverbs 1:1-5

Two travelers set out for a place called, Wisdom.  The first to arrive emerged from his car a bit road-weary, but relaxed and in good spirits; he’d used his navigation system and made the journey in pretty good time, even after stopping to rest a few times along the way.  Having set out at the same hour, however, the second traveler reached Wisdom years later, understandably disheveled, exhausted and at least a little irritated.  Both reached their destination, taking different routes to get there.

For there are two roads to Wisdom.  The direct route, “instruction,” is smooth and quiet and clear, like new pavement of black asphalt, freshly marked with bright lines and clear signage.  And like the one who arrived first, those who cruise-control along this freeway gain knowledge and good judgment by taking the wise at their word and by observing the decisions and consequences of others.  They trust sound directions and the people who draw them up ... those who have “been there.”

The other way, “experience,” is really a labyrinth.  Known for its sharp turns,  potholes, and slippery surfaces, this back road is considered, “the hard way” (or, more charitably, “the scenic route”).  There are no shortages of orange barrels and stop-and-go traffic for travelers who go this way.  And several of its bridges are out, which means more detours, of course.  Make no mistake, “experience” does lead to Wisdom, but it’s a tougher journey with a few more wrecks.  Its travelers are a bit more ... jostled.

The fact of the matter is, we all take the experience road to some extent; it’s unavoidable.  Truth be told, some stretches of our experience are helpful, instructive and rewarding, and the lessons we learn there can be shared with others on the same journey.  And many who have traveled the road of experience to Wisdom arrive there with a deep appreciation for the God who never abandoned them during their harrowing journey, but faithfully and lovingly saw them through life’s twists and turns.

Still, instruction is clearly the smoother route and we do well to travel it as much as we can.  So to that end, Solomon hands us his atlas of proverbs and bids us farewell on our trip to Wisdom with this sage advice: Travel the freeway of instruction ... you’ll know it when you see it ... it’s the path that begins with the fear of the Lord.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."  Proverbs 1:7

[To see the daily reading, Proverbs 1:1-7, click here.]

Proverbs 16:9 and Psalm 37: 5-6

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, and the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

These words do not say our journey will be filled with sunshine and happiness, or that our ways and beliefs will be readily accepted by those around us as our life evolves into a series of joyous events.

What these verses do communicate, is that when we truly commit to living as the Lord commands, our righteousness (being “in the right” in relation to God) will be what is most important, and what makes us stand out among men in the eyes of God.

“Commit your way…” “Trust in Him…” 

This “shining” may never look or feel like a bright, beautiful experience to us because of the earthly burdens we bear. We might never reap the benefits of our labors directly. The one who matters most however, will be well aware of our heart’s intentions and the steps we have taken to follow HIS course. To live our lives daily, for His glory. As we were reminded last Sunday:

“The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” Galatians 5:22-23

amen

Read/listen to Proverbs 16:9

Read/listen to Psalm 37:5-6

Wisdom in the abundance of counsel

For a lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.  Proverbs 11:14
Plans fall for a lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.  Proverbs 15:22
Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.  Proverbs 20:18
A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance and for victory many advisers.  Proverbs 24:5-6

A group of recent college graduates, now early into their careers, asked me, “What did you learn in your 50s that you wish you had learned in your 20s?”

[Wow!  Where do I start?]

“The true value of ‘team,’” I replied.  “I always appreciated team members, but I didn’t truly understand ‘team’ until later in my career.  I wish I had ‘gotten that’ at a much younger age.”

But there were, in the wiring of my soul, three natural resistors that got in my way.  Creative visioning was fun for me and I’d not shared it as completely as I should have.  Also, my natural tendency was to do things myself because I knew they would get done to my liking.  Finally, with a distaste for lording things over people, I felt bad asking them to do things for me.  Not a flattering picture, but an accurate one.

Over time, God showed me not only the value of “team,” but to understand it as his design.  One day, three of my direct reports came to me and said, “Paul, people really want to do things for you.  You need to let them.”  It was a humbling moment.  I felt like a once-inflated snowman at the end of the Holiday Season, now lying flat in the front yard, face down.  Their gentle rebuke was well made and I began to relinquish things to these big-hearted people.  Also, over time, I came to realize that every person does at least one thing better than I can; I needed to respect that – rejoice in it, actually – and rely on the collection of talents innate in each individual.

Finally, I read Tim Keller’s, “Every Good Endeavor” – something of a theology of work, and a very good read!  Early in the book, he explained how God had invited Adam to carry on the creation process.  Having already named day, night, sky, land, sea and so forth, God then delegated to Adam the naming of the animals.  Keller went on to note that God has inspired in each one of us a desire to create, to accomplish something good.  Holding back on asking others for help, I had actually deprived them of “good endeavors.”

I will never forget the integrity of the managers who came to me with much needed advice.  Their guidance was not only for my good, but also for the good of our Division, the team.  And I’ll always be grateful for Tim Keller’s book, for it contained its own great advice: leadership is far nobler than orchestrating others toward an end; it is establishing and safeguarding an environment where people can thrive in their God-given gifts, talents and desires and, through them, create and accomplish something good.

It is a principle without limit: be it work, family or mission, we need guidance.

Lord, open our hearts to the advisers you send us, and bless us all to hear your voice and discern your truth.  Together.

Matthew 28: 20

                “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

What a beautiful thing. We are never alone. Even if the broken road we are on is not what we had planned, we do not journey on our own. Though at times we may feel lonely because our loved ones are far away, or have gone home to be with the Lord, we can always share moments with our God. That place of peace amidst this hectic and corrupt world awaits us. This quiet, tranquil place lies within us. It is not a specific location, it is anywhere, for whatever is happening in our life, we can talk with Him, cry with Him, share a beautiful sunset with Him, walk through the snow with Him, drive to work with Him, have lunch with Him, cry out to him in pain, share our grief with Him, love and laugh with Him. He has told us time and again; “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The bible reminds us of God’s presence in our lives in multiple places, and in different ways. Why then, do we seem to forget?

John 8: 12: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.

Psalm 23:1-6; A Psalm of David; The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows….

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.

Let us be reminded of His unfailing love, and simply “be with Him” throughout our day. It’s so comforting to have a friend by our side.

Listen to/Read Matthew 28:20