Pondering Proverbs

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. —  Proverbs 11:24

In this world, economics is often about quickly making the greatest profit at the expense of others. It’s based mainly on greed and a “me first” attitude. Though it is sometimes called “the pursuit of happiness,” it will never satisfy our deepest needs and longings.

There is also what we might call “heavenly economics.” It gives free rein to generosity, love, and goodwill. It turns the selfish, vicious cycle of greed on its head, and flashes of heavenly sunshine beam through.

We can hear echoes of this in our proverb today. Generous people forgive debts, as they have been forgiven, and ripples of love spread outward. That’s an example of amazing grace amid worldly economics, building up treasure in heaven.

Maybe you have seen the old movie It’s A Wonderful Life. It’s a story about George Bailey, whose savings and loan business lends out money at low interest so that low-income people can buy a home. But then something goes wrong: one day George’s uncle loses track of a bundle of money on the way to the bank, and that puts George in danger of going bankrupt. In the end, though, George is rescued by the townspeople, who give him all the cash he needs because he always treated them with goodwill.

Let’s follow God’s leading and live with generosity and goodwill. Greed and selfishness will only lead to ruin.

Lord, “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven . . . for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” Amen.

Pondering Proverbs

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. . . . Proverbs 24:3

A Japanese pastor who had worked with missionary friends for a number of years, gave them a beautiful bronze statue of hawks lifting off in flight. He had inherited it from his father, and he gave it to them as a farewell present when they returned to the United States. Now it is in a place of honour in their home in America, it stands as a rare and beautiful treasure that holds a flood of memories.

Our proverb for today teaches that the house of our lives is best built with wisdom, which comes from God. “Through understanding it is established,” and “through knowledge” provided by the one true God “its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”

Jesus talks about a house like that in a parable about wise and foolish builders Matthew 7:24-27: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

With wisdom we build our lives on the solid rock of the love of God in Christ. The commands of God give us firm flooring, the protective arms of God are like walls keeping out the cold, and the Word of God is like windows letting in God’s light.

We all struggle to build a good life. Jesus and his good news are the keys to doing so. May we have heavenly wisdom each day to build our lives and to share God’s love with others.

O God, help us to build our lives with wisdom and to share your love and light in this world, remembering all you have done and that you are with us always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pondering Proverbs

Proverbs 3:13-15 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

The book of Proverbs presents two women of different character. One is Wisdom personified. “She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She calls people to shun evil and turn to God.

The other woman, Folly, is loud and defiant. She calls out from her door with temptations to immoral living: “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” (9:17). Describing her as an adulterous woman, Proverbs says, “Many are the victims she has brought down. . . . Do not let your heart turn to her ways. . . . Her house is a highway to the grave” (7:25-27).

Proverbs is populated by thieves, sluggards, quarrellers, mockers, and gossips, as well as people who are wise, careful, just, kind, and generous. And we are all humbled by the words “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’?” (20:9).

The wisdom of the Bible calls us back to God, to repentance from sin, to right living. We grow to recognise that putting God first in our lives is the only way to truly live. That is why Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Our search for wisdom leads us to Jesus Christ, “who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Lord, you are our heart’s desire, our treasure more precious than rubies. Thank you that we have the riches of full life in Christ. Amen.

Pondering Proverbs

Proverbs 13:20 Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

Many of us  have some friends that we can count on and share anything in confidence. They stand out in our lives because they have shown that they are trustworthy. Although we may spend time with other people too, we often choose to remain close and build relationships with the ones we can trust. The more we get to know them and let them get to know us, the closer to them we grows. This includes mentors and those special parents, who have been there for us  in difficult times.

Proverbs tells us to build relationships with wise people rather than foolish ones. 

Wise people know how to listen and to keep promises. They know how to protect confidential information. They are the people who love us and who want what is best for us. They are also the people who help us use our gifts and abilities and allow us to be who God created us to be.

Who are our companions? Are they people who are untrustworthy? Are they people who don’t look out for your best interests or even harm you?

Or are they people you can trust? Are they people who love you for who you are and who God made you to be? These are the wise people you want to be close with in life. 

Father, please put people in our lives whom we can trust. Help us to avoid foolish ways and to help everyone find wisdom, which comes only from you. In Jesus, Amen.

Pondering Proverbs

Proverbs 17:17 “Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.” (The Message)

I heard of a father who spoke of how his daughter switched schools in the middle of year four. She left behind a lot of good friends that she had known for years. Though she was sad to leave those friends, she was also excited to meet new people and make new friends. She has made some great friends at her new school, at church, and at the stables where she rides horses. But she also stays in contact with some of her friends from her previous school as well.

Friendships aren’t always easy. Friends go through seasons of trial, arguments, differences of opinion, and busy schedules. Along the way, new friends are made, and old friendships sometimes fade. Friends can influence us for good and for bad. Friendships can be a lot of work. But when they are at their best, friendships are also very rewarding. Real friends support us and also challenge us. They see us for who God intended us to be, and they help us grow in the grace and love of Christ.

The Bible contains stories of deep friendships. David and Jonathan’s friendship is a great example of one that lasted through deep difficulties (1 Samuel 19-20). Friendships that endure are filled with love all the time.

Who are our friends? How are we supporting them and encouraging them? How are they supporting and encouraging us? Are our friendships filled with love at all times? 

Father, help us in our friendships to love each other as you have called us to love. In Jesus, Amen.

Pondering Proverbs

What is a Proverb?

Today we start a new series; the power of wise proverbs.

A proverb (Hebrew masal) is a poetic, terse, vivid, thought-provoking saying that conveys a world of truth in a few words. Modern people do not have a category for proverbs. They are neither absolute commands nor promises, and often they are partial. That is, they need to be put beside other proverbs on the same subject to get the full picture. They are observations about how life works. The point of a proverb, then, is to get rightly related to reality through hard thinking and sustained reflection. A proverb is like hard candy: If you just bite down on it, you get little out of it and may even get a broken tooth. Instead you must meditate on it until the sweetness of insight comes.

Wisdom is not only for “deep thinkers.” It is how you get through daily life. It helps you know what to do when your child comes home from school with a black eye, or when you suddenly come into unexpected money, or when you lose your job. What do you do that won’t make things worse? Our wisdom will guide us as we grow in the knowledge and image of his Son, Jesus, who is Wisdom itself. 

In what area of life do we most need to grow in wisdom? 

In a real sense we can’t know wisdom without knowing Jesus. Colossians 2:3 says, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Wisdom is knowing what God is doing in our time.

Prayer: Lord, I’d prefer if you would simply tell me what to do through some inner voice or some book of specific rules for every situation. Instead I hear you calling me to grow into a wise person who discerns what to do. Help me to answer that call, and give me understanding. Amen.

Prayers through the centuries

George Basil Hume  (2 March 1923 – 17 June 1999) was an English Catholic bishop. Previously he was a monk and priest of the English Benedictine monastery of Ampleforth Abbey and its abbot for 13 years until his appointment as Archbishop of Westminster in 1976. His elevation to cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church followed during the same year. From 1979, Hume served also as president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. He held these appointments until his death from cancer in 1999. His final resting place is at Westminster Cathedral in the Chapel of St Gregory and St Augustine.

During his lifetime, he received wide respect from the general public which went beyond the Catholic community. When as Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, he was told that he had cancer, "and not in the early stages," his first reaction was to go to the hospital chapel and pray for half an hour before the crucifix.

A few days later he wrote to his priests to tell them the news, adding, "I have received two wonderful graces. First, I have been given time to prepare for a new future. Secondly, I find myself—uncharacteristically—calm and at peace."

On various occasions, Cardinal Hume had given reflections on Christ’s "seven last words" from the cross. These verses, drawn from the Gospels of Mark, Luke, and John, brought him "a message of hope," he said—possibly never more so than in his final months. 

Following the earth Diana he gave a homily that included these words….

Farewell, then, Diana.

The agonies of the heart and

The anguish of the mind

Were often your companions in life.

They were your teachers, too,

For from them you learned understanding, 

Compassion and kindness.

These are you finest legacy to us.

Thank you for all the good you did.

Thank you for the joy you gave to many. 

Thank you for being like the rest of us”.

Basil Hume embodied the human spirit and was able to pray; We praise and worship you, God our creator. You have created us in your image, though we are unworthy. You have given us your Son, who continues to nourish us through the gift of his body and blood. May we never be separated from you, and may our worship be worthy of you, God our life-giver. Amen