PAST COLUMN #3

From the West Meadow
By Pastor Wesley Higgins

When was the last time you perused the book of Proverbs? If it has been a while, maybe it's time to get refreshed. Be ready for common sense sayings that can bring solutions to all manner of situations. For instance: "where there is no vision, the people perish, but happy is he who keeps the law" (Proverbs 29:18). A people who lacks the wisdom to see that freedom lies in a law ordered society will find the lack of freedom in anarchy. Or another: "Be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herds, for riches are not forever." (Prov. 27:23-24) Not only does a rancher's livelihood now and in the future depend on the health of his cattle, but the continued success of any business depends on the continued quality of it's product.

One well known proverb is "spare the rod and spoil the child"; though not a direct quote from Proverbs, it carries the general meaning of several Proverbs. "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."; (Prov. 29:15) Too many children in our society are left to make major decisions on their own, left to decide what is right and wrong: the result is a decrease in respect for the rights of others, an increase in violence and immoral actions. A parent who shows love for his child will correct him; see Prov. 13:24. This is such a common sense statement that the writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that the sign of illegitimacy (the King James version uses the term "bastard") is the lack of correction.

The book of Proverbs is not just the result of some man who decided a collection of wise sayings should be included in the Bible. Proverbs is in your Bible because God inspired the writing of it and inspired its placement in His word. "Knowing this first, that ...prophecy never came by the will of man, but Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:20-21) Not only were the books of the Bible inspired by God, including Proverbs, but they were written for our salvation. "From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine (spiritual beliefs), for reproof (revealing wrong actions), for correction (finding the right solutions), for instructions in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (1 Timothy 3:15-17)

Proverbs is an ideal place for the adult and the child to become "equipped for every good work."

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