Proverbs 25:25-28

verse 28: “Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.”

Among the comic books in my collection is an issue of The Brave and The Bold, featuring a team-up between Batman and Flash. 2 of their villains, Dr. Double-X and the Rainbow Raider, were used in a plan to take on the other’s arch-nemeses…Dr. Double-X would face Flash, while the Raider took on Batman. In the final battle between these four, while Flash found a way to overcome the electrical powers of Dr. Double-X’s double, the Rainbow Raider used his prisma-goggles to try and force overwhelming emotion on Batman (using yellow for cowardice, blue for sadness, red for anger). Batman just determinedly kept marching toward his foe; the Raider was perplexed, because even Flash had fallen to the power of his emotion rays. Batman (in that criminal-chilling voice of his) informed the Rainbow Raider that such rays were useless against a foe who had mastered controlling his emotions. He then proceeded to deck the Raider with one punch!

In the verse above, one’s spirit refers to one’s emotions. The Holman Concordance on Proverbs mentions in its passage on this verse that a man who has no control over his emotions will be vulnerable to an enemy who can control his (Chapter 17, page 198). It’s the same as trying to defend a city whose fortifications are in ruins; you have no protection. The devil loves to play havoc with our emotions (I saw that in the stands of a recent football game…it’s sad when students are behaving better than adults!) Remember, among the many fruits of the Spirit is self-control…and a very important fruit it is too!

Something to think about.

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

Proverbs 25:21-24

verses 21-22: “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you.”

I was watching an old episode of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, a Filmation cartoon I enjoyed in my younger days. Like a lot of these type of cartoons, this one had good moral messages it would convey to the viewer. During the plot of this episode, He-Man and Battle Cat were aiding Orko on his home planet of Trolla against one of Skeletor’s minions. The evil henchman was trying to knock He-Man into a cyclonic bottomless hole by throwing boulders at him (which He-Man of course smashed each one to bits). Seeing an opening, the henchman grabbed a vine-covered boulder and threw it, not realizing he was tangled in the vines. He wound up being snagged on an outcropping in the cliff, just inches from going into the hole. He-Man risked his life and rescued him; once safe, the henchman was confused that He-Man would save him…he wouldn’t have done that for He-Man. “That’s where we are different”, said He-Man, “you see me as your enemy…but I don’t see you as mine.”

This is a proverb that doesn’t make sense to the world. I’m speaking here of a world that believes “look out for number 1”, “what’s in it for me”, and “let’s do it to them before they do it to us”. Jesus Christ doesn’t see us as enemies; make no mistake, He hates sin…but He loves us. He took our place on a cruel cross and sacrificed all to save us. When we know and accept Him as Lord and Savior of our lives, He wants us to do the same….not only loving our family and friends, but loving our enemies. Remember, He showed His love to a committed Christian killer on the road to Damascus…and that man Saul became Paul, one of the greatest missionaries ever to walk the earth. As you walk the earth today, remember fellow Christian…that’s why we are different.

Have a blessed day in the Lord. Happy Thanksgiving!

Read Full Post »

Proverbs 25:17-20

verse 17: “Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you.”

The annoying neighbor…almost sounds like a book, doesn’t it? If you remember old sitcom television, you’ll remember Lenny and Squiggy from Laverne & Shirley. The most famous appearance they would make is when they would bust in on the girls, with nothing more than a BANG of the door flinging open, and Squiggy saying “Hello!”. I guess the more recent version of that would be Kramer on the Seinfeld sitcom. These were friends and neighbors who would just walk right in on you and make themselves at home…usually to the chagrin of the homeowners.

Neighbors are unavoidable when you live in close proximity to people. Good neighbors can be very hard to find. Good neighbors are there in good times and in bad times…and especially appreciated in bad times, like if your house is broken into. You don’t want the reputation of the neighbor that people dread having over at their house…especially the one who doesn’t know how to leave. To quote an old saying, “never overstay your welcome.”

Something to think about.

Read Full Post »

Proverbs 25:8-16

verse 11: “Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.”

The imagery here is of a thing of beauty. Sometimes hearing that right word in the right time can be as beautiful as a pretty sunset. Think about the time you heard:

your child say their first word

your wife tell you “I love you” (or for you ladies, your husband saying that)

a friend offering words of encouragement when you’re having a rotten day

your son speak excitedly about being with friends at a play (especially if your son has a hard time making friends)

a greeting from a friend you haven’t seen in ages

They are words that are golden to the ear. May we echo to God the words of Psalms 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD my strength and my Redeemer.”

Have a blessed day!

Read Full Post »