“Better Than” Conditions

“Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices and strife.” (Proverbs 15:16-17; 16:8, 19; 17:1. KJV)

Proverbs is very good at teaching us contrasts. The “Better than” verses cited for today are a good example of choosing the better way.

Take wealth: little is better than much with humility and gratitude, and earned honestly, than much secured dishonestly and in shady dealings. Add to that the fear of the Lord, for it is He who gives us incentive to work and earn in honorable ways.

Take everyday living, like the meals we enjoy. A dinner of vegetables served up with a good helping of love and harmony in the home is better than the best cuts of beef eaten amidst strife and disharmony. Or even a dry morsel, eaten with thanksgiving and quietness, than a whole houseful of such fare as might be offered as sacrifices to idols. That’s something to think about, because we don’t necessarily think of making sacrifices to idols nowadays. But the inclination is there for worship and sacrifice, and what we worship shapes who and what we are. We can even worship wealth. And how we pursue it, consider it, and use it all reflect our relationship (or lack of) with God. “Better to be “of an humble spirit” that to be filled with pride.

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right” (16:8). Ill-gotten gain harms those who get wealth dishonestly. Dishonesty in work and service also causes harm to the employer, business, or entity providing employment, as well as to the employee who does not give a full day’s work for his wages, or who finds a way to siphon off benefits without accountability. Rewards and wealth should not become our major concern in life. To choose “the better way” is the only way to operate, and the only way to find peace and happiness. Then, eating a meal or lying down at night, the person can rest in peace, at harmony with God and how “the better way” has been practiced. “The better way,”—God’s way—is richer than silver or gold.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Controlling the Tongue

“A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives reproof is prudent” (Proverbs 15:1-5, NKJV).

Words roll from our tongues like waves flowing in from high tide—that is, if we are not too shy to speak. Most of us are ready with words and sometimes we do not give adequate thought to what we say or how we say it. The sage who compiled the Proverbs and many wise persons before and since have taught us the importance of controlling the tongue. James, writing in the New Testament, recognizing that the toungue is “a small member” yet, untamed, can wreak havoc, stated: “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:8-10 NKJV). I find it interesting that in the context of teaching about the power of the tongue and the importance of a son receiving his father’s wise instruction, is the strong statement: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). I remember that I was taught as a child that God is every place observing what we say and what we do. My Sunday School teachers at my country church were strong on this point. So were my parents as they tried to bring me up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And they taught, too, that what I spoke and how I said my words made a great difference to those who heard me. Even with this good instruction, it was not always easy to control the tongue; nor is it, even now.

We hear so many words: television blares forth words; we listen or not, as we will. Leaders of our government make promises, sometimes without substance. We hear instruction at church from teachers and ministers; again we hear and heed, or we allow the instruction to pass unheeded. And we ourselves talk, sometimes without first thinking about what we say. Talk is cheap or it bears weight, whichever value we choose for the work of our tongue. Good communication is at the heart of good human relationships. Language communicates both our intellect and our emotions.

From the heart we speak, and the sage gave instruction about that, too: “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). For today, could we begin the practice of giving a soft answer, of speaking the truth in love, of controlling the tongue, that small member of our body with such weighty influence? It might be hard, but with God’s watchfulness over the tongue, it is possible to wield a good influence, even in what we speak.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones, Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The Way of Wisdom

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.” (Proverbs 9:9-12, NKJV). [Read Proverbs 9]

In chapter 9 of Proverbs the writer pictures two houses, each preparing for guests and welcoming them. One is Wisdom’s House, the other Folly’s House. The reception is vastly different and the results of visiting them likewise beneficial or devastating. Go into Wisdom’s House and live with delight; visit Folly’s House and you will find some temporary pleasures but these produce troubles and eventually early death.

In education, we learn about what we term a “predisposition toward learning.” This means that the one to be educated is ready for learning and has the mental capacity for it. Every effort should be made to use teachable moments to the learner’s advantage and the teacher’s delight. We see this taking place as parents teach children, as Sunday School teachers impart the love for God and teach His ways, as educators in the schools seek to instruct in the best and most effective manner. When these elements for gaining wisdom are operable “the wise will grow wiser…and the just will increase in learning.” The visit to Wisdom’s House pays rich dividends and results in understanding, the ability to not only know but to apply what is learned. It is interesting that in the Amplified Bible, Proverbs 9:11 is rendered in this way: “For by me [Wisdom from God], your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.”

We need to be reminded often that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Seeking after learning brings great rewards and kindles a desire for more learning. This is substantiated further along in Proverbs 15:14: “The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.”

Today, let us thank God for our “predisposition to learning,” our ability to seek wisdom. Pray that we will be able to pursue the ways of wisdom as long as we live.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, July 7, 2010