Monday
Proverbs 17.16 & 18.2 “A man of understanding sets his face towards wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing an opinion.”
I know. Facebook, Instagram, smart-phones and keyboards didn’t exist when these words were written. But the deficit of wisdom in high places remains. Everyone has an opinion, but understanding? Not so much. Wisdom is knowing how to live well, and the Book of Proverbs gathers in one place the wisdom of learning from experience, not making the same mistake twice, and giving God his place.
Tuesday
Proverbs 3.5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.”
This is not as daft as it sounds. Don’t rely on your own understanding doesn’t mean stop thinking for yourself. It means think rightly, wisely, with God on the horizon. To acknowledge God is about obedience; to use a well-used phrase, wisdom is about “doing the right thing”. Proverbs is full of warnings about lies, indifference to the poor, stabbing in the back, being a bad neighbour. We acknowledge and trust God when we live in ways that don’t embarrass God!
Wednesday
Proverbs 19.17 & 22.9 “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and he will repay him for his deed. He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.”
“Lord grant me a bountiful eye.” Not sure I’ve ever heard that particular prayer! Compassion leads to kindness and generosity is kindness in practice. A bountiful eye is a way of seeing others that makes us act for their good. If you do that something happens you’d never believe, but it’s true – “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.” Imagine that! Out of our giving to others, God is in our debt – but God is no one’s debtor, and anything we could ever give to God, is nothing compared to all that God has already given to us.
Thursday
Proverbs 25.21-22 “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
Hatred based on grievances eventually leads to violence – verbal, psychological, physical. One of the ways to defuse enmity is to act kindly to those who are hostile. Coals of fire refer to the conscience; we talk about burning with shame. To return good for evil is to give the enemy a chance, and to give peace a chance. The reward will be turning an enemy into a friend, and if not, knowing God’s yes to our actions.
Friday
Proverbs 22.24-25 “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
Anger isn’t always wrong. Sometimes it is anger at injustice that properly channelled, creates the energy, imagination and determination to work for change. But there’s a lot of anger about; not righteous anger, but self-righteous anger. I’m right. You’re wrong. I’m offended. You’re to blame. My life isn’t working. It’s anybody’s fault but mine. Social media has been described as an anger factory. So, am I, are you, in danger of being a man or woman given to anger, habitually negative, eager to retaliate in words whether spoken or typed? If so, stop it. Now.
Saturday
Proverbs 10.19 “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.”
Have you ever counted how many words you speak in a day? Supposing there was a word counter app, same as for steps? These proverbs were first written for people in public life – so today, in the office, school, coffee shops, church, supermarket, pubs. Small talk is important and often innocent. When it veers into gossip, score-settling, talking that inflicts damage on others, then the fewer words the better. As Jesus said, we will answer for every word spoken on the day of judgement – I wonder how many of us actually believe that? Really (Check out Matthew 12.36)
Sunday
Proverbs 3.3 “Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them about your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Two words that sum up the best in human relationships – loyalty and faithfulness. Oh, I know, we want to know where love comes in. But love cannot survive without loyalty and faithfulness, and at the heart of both these words is trust. To keep our promises, to be there for someone no matter what, to persist in kindness, to not give up on someone – that’s to have their name, alongside those words loyalty and faithfulness, written on the heart. Trust works both ways, and when it does, we stay faithful and loyal. Love is then what we feel, what we think, and how we behave.
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