July 18 - Proverbs 16-18: Taking Life Seriously

The theme for Proverbs 16:10 - 33 is interesting to me, "It Pays to Take Life Seriously."  As someone who is often considered too serious, I get a little satisfaction out of this.  The verses of this section focus on good leaders, the humble, the wise, and the impact of our words.   As usual, it all boils down to those to two commands:  Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.  Love others as yourself.  These proverbs give us more insight into what that love actually looks like in real life and what it's not.

We are all leaders in some area of our lives - as moms, as bosses, as disciple-makers, as team leaders, as Christians in a dark world.  In the role of leadership, we have such potential to motivate (v. 10), to live honestly (v. 11), to cultivate honest speech (v. 13), and to invigorate lives (v. 15).  What a privilege!  What a responsibility.  These proverbs demonstrate how we can be "like spring rain and sunshine" (v. 15) in someone's life and what it can look like when we're being "calloused climbers" (v. 29).

How disappointing and how destructive it is when leaders choose to mislead, exploit (v. 10), overlook wrongdoing (v. 12), or ignore truth-telling advisors (v. 13).  I just spent some time with a precious friend who has lived and is living in the difficulties of a life lived for Christ.  She has lived on the other side of the world from me and yet we share some similar history in serving under leaders who "wreak havoc in lives" (v. 14).  Looking back, I wish that I had been wise enough to get past my misplaced sense of loyalty and to overlook my desire to not be seen as a "quitter."  I wish someone would have shared the wisdom to  "stay clear of someone like that" (v. 14).

However, the conclusion that my friend and I both came to, was that it was in the difficulties of these situations that we came to no longer trust in ourselves, in our own plans, or in man.  Through living with the effects of others' dysfunction and sin on our lives, we came to a deeper hunger, a greater dependence, a freer love for God.

It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God. (v. 20)

"Let the wisdom of Solomon guide you to the narrow road that will expose your foolishness, crush your arrogance, whet your appetite for holiness, release your love, and fill you with hope." (66LL)