Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
In the psalms, King David wrote, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses….” It’s easy to get caught up in false security, isn’t it? Allowing careers to give us identity. Allowing retirement plans to give us security. Allowing investments to make us feel good about the future. Allowing where we live or what we drive to make us feel significant. Allowing our “chariots” and “horses” to make us feel safe and protected. For the believer, though, things must be different.
Sovereignty is an attribute of God that provides confidence. Sovereignty confirms that God is in control. Sovereignty describes the exercise of God’s power over all creation. God rules over every life and in all of history. He “works out everything for its purpose.” That’s what today’s proverb tells us.
The proverbs are statements of truth, but admittedly, they can seem formulaic. A surface reading of today’s passage may lead one to mistakenly conclude: “Cool! I just tell God what I want to do, and he will make it happen.” Not quite the Author’s intent.
Talk is cheap. More promises are made than are kept. Ever heard “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part”? These words are said before God and witnesses, but only about half the couples who take this solemn pledge honor it. Unfortunately, we are prone to make promises we can’t or don’t keep.
The first part of this proverb uses two words (love and faithfulness) to describe the basis of security. Chesed describes a “loyal love,” a love of commitment and dedication. Emeth describes what is trustworthy and true. While our passage today specifically addresses an earthly kingdom, these two words convey the strong meaning of a faithful love often used to describe the covenant between God and his people.
The word “kind” in today’s proverb is translated from the Hebrew word chesed. It is sometimes translated as “love,” “lovingkindness,” or even “loyal love.” Chesed is a rich theological word, and…it is also very practical.
Do you want to live a life with deep meaning? Do you want to be rich in the things that count? Do you desire to be respected by others? Today’s passage presents the formula—chase after right living and demonstrate kindness. It’s that simple and that profound!
God’s Word has a lot to say about money. And Proverbs addresses the subject often. Let’s read today’s proverb, and then I will give ten ways to evaluate your giving to God’s work.
We really think we do know best, don’t we? I evaluate happenings based on my experience. I assess my communication based on my perspective. I judge decisions on how they will impact me and mine. My personal appraisal of life leads me to believe that I am the possessor of wisdom and that everybody else should get in line behind me. Now that’s a problem, isn’t it?
A few years ago, I did my morning run at a state park in Tennessee. During the run, I ventured off the main path and took some trails into the woods. The trails were winding, muddy, and laced with tree roots. I had to focus on the path to keep from tripping or twisting my ankle. That’s what happens when we leave the main path—we travel on precarious and dangerous pathways. Scripture provides a better route.
Success in the eyes of God is not measured by your possessions but by your person. God is not impressed by what you own but who you are. Our passage today explains how to “find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.” That, at the end of the day, is true gain.
Who doesn’t want to be successful? I certainly do. Successful in my calling. Successful in marriage. Successful in parenting. The word “successful” means that things turn out the way you want them to turn out. Your dreams come true. Your hopes are realized. The challenge with success is not the desire to be successful. The challenge centers around the paths we take to reach the desired destination.