Song of Solomon 1

Do not stare at me because I am swarthy, for the sun has burned me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me caretaker of the vineyards, but I have not taken care of my own vineyard. Song 1:6

I remember a former pastor of mine who was preaching on meaningful relationships. His contention was that divorce and breakups happen in our country because so many people, even Christians, fail to develop deep relationships before their marriage. He gave the example of hearing women who said, "I can't believe he's with her." In their eyes, the man was much better looking than his wife. This pastor said that if those women would sit with her for a few minutes, they would quickly see the love, mind, and caring that drew this man to her. To him she is beautiful inside and out because of the total woman she is.

Solomon made the poor choice to have many wives and women in his life. It was a character flaw that had carried over from his father, David. However, there appears to have been one wife in particular who was of high value to him. This woman had lived a difficult life. She was deeply tanned, to the point of being burned due to her family who forced her to be constantly working outside in the sun. As a result, she didn't look like other women around her, even taking on the appearance of being from a foreign land. This was certainly in the back of her mind, however she knew that the love of her husband was not swayed by the thoughts and impressions of others. She accepted his love, and loved him back in return. This is a good moment to reflect whether you're married or would like to be one day. How do you love your spouse? Does he or she have moments of doubt because of your inability to consistently communicate that love? As Christians, we should love our spouses in such a way that God is honored and that our relationships are examples to a lost world. May they look at our marriages and households and see a difference that is absent from the world.

Ecclesiastes 12

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Eccl 12:13

The hardest part of preaching or teaching the Bible is making it applicable to everyone. Just recently our pastor preached on idols and I thought, "Nice. Here is a sermon that others need to hear, but not me. I know that I don't have idols in my life." So when his sermon was over, I was of course repenting of my idols. However, not every topic meets every person where he or she is at. Messages on marriage may be disregarded by the single, and messages on children may be disregarded by the childless. There is application for everyone, but some subjects are tougher than others.

Here in Ecclesiastes 12 we find something that applies to every person. If you were to live your life having heard everything possible, the purpose of life comes down to one statement: fear God and keep His commandments. There is not a single person that will die who can ignore this standard. God is responsible for our very lives, and we are responsible to live our lives for Him accordingly. People who live out their years never acknowledging God or His commandments will not get a pass. God's Word applies to the hearers and non-hearers alike. Do you realize that your lost family and friends will not get a pass in Heaven? The message of God's Word isn't just for those who care, but for those who don't. I'm thankful that someone came and shared the message with me when I wasn't even asking to hear it. After everything I've heard, the conclusion of my life is that I should fear God and keep His commandments. He has a standard of holiness and my life has been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ to meet that standard. Are there any other messages from the Bible that you've been unwilling to apply to yourself? His Word is for everyone, and no one is exempt. Jesus said His friends would be those who would keep His commandments (John 14:15). Not because we work our way to Heaven, but because we love Him enough to respect the salvation we have been given.

Ecclesiastes 11

Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. Eccl 11:9

I was a freshman college when I made a firm decision to no longer look absent-mindedly at women. If a woman was not properly dressed, I decided to put the responsibility on myself not to look, instead of on her to be dressed better. Over the years since that decision, I have found myself watching other guys when a girl walks into a room. You have guys that will glance up and some that will simply stare at the woman until she is no longer in their sights or until it's no longer appropriate to do so. I have been disappointed greatly as I watched many men and friends I respected give not a glance but instead stare at a woman for a long time.

The Bible here is not giving permission to lust after people or possessions. Solomon says that the impulses of our hearts are easy. We are often distracted from our budgets by a must-have item, or perhaps there is that person we long after from afar. Solomon says that you certainly have the opportunity to follow your heart and your eyes at any moment. Solomon's reminder is that in doing these things, you bring judgement upon yourself. A Christian is saved from all sins as a result of the blood of Jesus. However, Revelation 20 tells us about the Great White Throne judgement. This will not determine Heaven or Hell for you, because that is determined at your death based on what you did with Jesus. This judgement is a determination of the level of punishment in Hell or reward in Heaven. The Christian will give an accounting for every careless word and careless glance that was cast out. What's behind us is behind us, and there is no way to change it. But, do you want to live your life ignoring the accounting to come? I know that God will have much more in my life to be displeased by than to be pleased. That's why I have made firm decisions in my life to resist sin. I don't always win, but I live in light of eternity. I fear God and have respect for His ownership on my life.

Ecclesiastes 10

If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. Eccl 10:11

When I was in my first youth ministry, we had a clown ministry team made up of about 10 youth from our group. They were really good. We had some kids that could juggle, make balloon animals, and one who could do amazing things with yo-yos. While we went out on a trip to YMCA children's day camp, a kid who wasn't a regular asked to come. I was impressed with our kids who said yes, mostly because they were trying to get him plugged into the group as a whole. When it came time for them to put on their show, here was this new kid that was painted like a clown, but clearly didn't have the talent. I think the little kids thought he was the funny clown because he kept missing the balls he was juggling. It was pretty clear he was trying to take on something he wasn't ready for.

This verse reminds me of snake charmers I've seen on TV, and I must say it seems like a particularly ignorant occupation. I have learned that it is not the music that registers with these snakes, but it is the swaying of the charmer himself. Imagine a novice snake charmer who came up and tried to charm a cobra without really know what he was doing. There's a good chance that snake is going to bite him in the face. Solomon is simply warning us against being ill-prepared. s. If you're not prepared on how to handle a sin situation before it appears, you will likely fail. For teenagers it may be opportunities to cheat at school. For adults it may be temptation to cheat on a spouse. There are lots of traps out there that have been set by Satan to ruin our witness and our families. We need to pray and ask God to give you wisdom to see the sin that is crouching at your door. Ask God to protect you from those traps and to give you the spiritual discernment to see the sin right away.

Ecclesiastes 9

The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Eccl 9:17

US Airways Flight 1549 is an amazing story of a captain, Chesley Sullenberger, who stayed calm in the middle of a potential disaster. His plane engines apparently hit birds and caused the plane to go down. With no other options, he told the tower that he would ditch in the Hudson river. He expertly glided the plane onto the water and his calmness and professionalism translated to his entire crew. They worked to make sure all 155 passengers got off the plane safely, and Sullenberger remained until everyone was off the plane.

Can you imagine if Sullenberger ran out of the cockpit and yelled, "The plane's going down! Every man for himself!" Instead he calmly spoke both to the control tower and to the people in the plane to let them know what was happening. A large crowd like that often panics together, but one calm voice clearly in control allowed the people to remain calm and trust that he was making the wisest choices possible. Sullenberger was listened to because he was a wise voice in a "loud" situation. Imagine if doomsayers and the voices of frightened people had taken control? The situation probably would have been much different. Do you listen for the wise voice, or do you find yourself sometimes just listening to the loudest one? As a Christian we need to listen for the wise voice, and be the wise voice. Talking loudest doesn't qualify our positions as the best. God desires to speak through you, but you have to make even your lips a vessel for Him. We need to realize that when we remain calm in a difficult situation, we show that we have a reliance and trust on God. The fool yells with no hope, but the Christian knows that God is in control of the most out of control situation. Do you people rely on your faith in difficult circumstances, or does your voice sound just as hopeless as the lost? Being a Christian has made me an optimist in pessimistic situations.

Ecclesiastes 8

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil. Eccl 8:11

People will tend to do what they believe they can get away with. I certainly am no expert with children, but I have been doing this long enough to learn what happens when I threaten punishment and when I bring punishment. My favorite example was a pastor who said that the "three count" isn't effective. What if your kid runs out in the street and all you're doing is counting. "One...two...BOOM!" I don't think any of us would allow our kids to take the risk of a three count in the street, but many parents have lost their authority with their children. Once you tell a kid that a certain action brings a certain punishment, he's going to wait and see if it happens. If it doesn't, then he's not going to be very concerned by your efforts to restrain him in the future.

We may be in our 20's, 30's or greater, but we are all still children. We have our childish moments of selfishness when we want what we want in spite of what the consequences might be. So often we see people get away with it and we wonder, "Can I?" Divorce is said to be terrible on families, but maybe you see a remarried couple who seems so happy. They don't seem to be paying a price, so we wonder if we can get away with it. A fellow employee is getting away with stealing from the company by being dishonest about his work hours and we wonder, "Can I?" God calls on us for a different level of integrity. We don't avoid sin because we think we might be punished. We avoid sin because God does. We are to be like Him, and God's blessings don't fall upon those who didn't get caught. They fall upon those who struggled against sin and won. What sins are you risking the punishment for? When we take chances long enough, eventually those chances catch up to us and cause us great embarrassment and pain. Don't ask if you can get away with it, whatever "it" is for your life. Ask what the benefit will be for you when you avoid the sin altogether.

Ecclesiastes 7

Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. Eccl 7:20

As Christians we need to be careful about putting other Christians up on pedestals. I was watching on a local Christian TV station and saw two former televangelists who lost their ministries as a result of deep, deliberate, and egregious sin. And now, here they are back in the spotlight as if nothing ever happened. We are to be forgiving people, because Jesus Christ has forgiven us. However, these men disqualified themselves from the ministry when they made the choices for sin that were lived out in the public eye. People that follow these men probably would say they are men of righteousness who were just caught in a weak moment, which ignores God's standards on a teacher of the Word.

As Christians our righteousness comes from Jesus. He makes us clean of our sins and puts us in a right standing with the Father. However, we still find ourselves to be sinners who now struggle against sin. You might think you're the most vile sinner ever, but Paul even thought that about himself. Recognizing your sin is not a bad thing. Ignoring your sin is. Even the most public and adored Christian in the world is a sinner. We have to understand that sin is still a part of our makeup and that as a Christian we have a responsibility and obligation to fight against it. Have you recognized the sin that's in your life right now? What are you doing about it? Are you praying for God to remove it with no active participation on your part? Everyone sins, but not everyone fights against the sin in their lives. It pleases God when we choose to live the opposite of the world who accepts and invites sin into their lives.

Ecclesiastes 6

All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied. Eccl 6:7

Why do we eat and drink? We're just going to get hungry again. The food may only stick with us for a few hours, and then we'll start the entire cycle over again. Yet we have to remain in the cycle in order that we don't become weak, sick, or ultimately die. It's just like making our beds or cutting our lawns. We don't really want to do it, but we do it anyway just to find that it becomes a necessity all over again.

Solomon says the whole reason we work is so we won't starve, and yet we get hungry all over again. There are lots of areas in our lives like this. Why should we pray? Why should we eat? God wants us to understand diligence in our lives. There are things we want to do and then there are things we have to do. Eating is a requirement for us to continue living. But there are other appetites that must be satisfied as well. We should have an appetite and hunger for God. It's a hunger that is never satisfied, because we can never be completely filled by Him. Are you trying to fulfill the appetites of the flesh more than the Spirit? We have an opportunity to build our relationship with God each and everyday. When we eat physical food, it simply burns off. But, when we eat the bread that is the Word of God, we are not only fed, but we grow. We are sustained by it. We do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Which appetites are you putting in priority?

Ecclesiastes 5

Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. Eccl 5:2

My pastor as a teenager said something stupid that stuck with me for years. He was talking about prayer one morning from the pulpit and he said, "Don't pray over and over for something. God heard you the first time and it insults Him to be bothered with the same request over an over." Well this really got my attention because I thought about how many times I prayed more than once for a request. So for years, I tried to make sure that I never prayed for something more than once, because I didn't want to insult God and cause Him to ignore me. When we went to a new church, I learned that God wants to hear our prayers. Not just our requests, but our praise and confession as well. I read Luke 18 and saw the parable of the persistent widow who continued to bring her request before the judge until he finally get her an answer.

Let's go backwards on this verse. It says that because God is in heaven and we are on earth, that we should let our words be few. The first point being made, is that we remember that God is not like us. Certainly we can call Him friend and are called friend by Him, but He is still God and worthy of reverence. We are not being warned about talking to God, but how we talk to God. Solomon says not to be hasty or impulsive in our prayers. Literally, the Hebrew word for impulsive here is "hurry your heart." If something is important to you, spend time truly praying, and not just mouthing words towards heaven. Don't pray mindlessly trying to fit in your requests while you're thinking about something else. Pray with your attention fully devoted to God, but don't just talk to talk. God is not impressed by your ability to drag out your prayers. How are you praying? Do you think about what or who you'd like to pray for before you do it? Do you simply ramble before God without much thought during? We need to make sure that we simply say to Him what needs to be said. But, let's offer up the whole prayer. Don't just make your requests known, but be a person of thankfulness and repentance as you lift up your requests. It shows that you have given thought to your prayers.

Ecclesiastes 4

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. Eccl 4:9

I'm not good at asking people for help. We were having a church cleanup day, and one member that I have been getting to know better asked if I needed help trimming the hedges. I hesitated to say yes, because I thought I could handle the work myself, and I didn't want him standing around waiting. But, he stayed and there ended up being a lot of work needed to pull the trimmings out of the hedge, getting it onto a tarp, and finally hauling it away. I told him thanks for helping me, because I realized if I had done that on my own, it would have taken a much longer time.

Two are always better than one. It means twice the muscle, twice the wisdom, and half the time on most projects. Solomon is not just talking about a helpful laborer, but also talking about a marriage. A marriage is supposed to be two people becoming one, but I see enough marriages where it seems to be two people simply living in the same house. They don't work together, and sometimes actually work against each other. I think about the lessons my wife and I have learned over our marriage. Our marriage hasn't always been perfect, and it seems that we were both focused on ourselves more than the other person during those moments. We weren't working together, so our labor was less fruitful. If you are married, how are you working with your spouse to strengthen your relationship? Do you both teach and discipline the children? Are you both of the same mindset regarding financial matters in your home? You need to be working on the same team. Be willing to accept the help of others. And if they don't know the job as well as you, look at the opportunity you have to be a teacher to someone who needs it. God isn't looking for an army of one.

Ecclesiastes 3

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven Eccl 3:1

I had a college friend named Susannah who taught me a very important lesson. I was thinking about replacing my old car and couldn't decide between a sporty Ford Probe or a Honda Accord wagon. I was only 20 at the time, but I knew that I was going to buy a car I would probably have for a while. I thought the wagon was a smart buy in the event I had a family in the near future. Susannah said that we have seasons of life, just as Solomon is saying here. She said that I may need to think about a family in the future, but this wasn't that time. I didn't need to buy a wagon if I don't even have a pregnant wife running around. She was absolutely right, but I ended up just fixing my old car and not getting anything new.

We have seasons in our lives. We have a season of childhood, in which children of each following generation seem more and more successful at skipping. We have a season of singleness which is a great time for us to serve the Lord with no strings attached. And eventually we may have a season of marriage in our lives. But even more than that, there are right times and wrong times for events. A baby is great in a marriage, and not so great outside of one. We need to learn to be patient people, especially as Christians. God has us where He has us for a reason. There is no one in history who works with more planning and wisdom than God. We need to be willing to remain content in our current circumstances. What is it that you want to see happen in your life? Have you talked to God about it, or are you just pushing for it yourself? Is now the right time for this event in your life? Let's remember that there is a time and place for everything. God wants you to know His will so you will do it. So pray that God will show you the moments to move in your life. Be ready for His timing, and always substitute His for your own.

Ecclesiastes 2

Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. Eccl 2:18

Back in high school, "No Fear" brand t-shirts were very popular. They had all kinds of sayings that were supposed to relate to life and competition. I bought one, mostly because tons of other people had them, that said, "Life is just sudden-death overtime. And the clock is running." Sounds pretty good until my dad said, "There's no clock in sudden-death overtime. Whoever scores first wins." Well that killed the excitement of my $16.00 purchase pretty quickly. One of my favorite "No Fear" sayings was a shirt I saw at school one day, "He who dies with the most toys, still dies." I wondered if the kid wearing it was a Christian or if he even got the depth of that statement.

Solomon would certainly have related to this shirt. He has started to realize that so much of what he chased after was vanity. He compares it to chasing the wind, something you can spend all day doing and never accomplish. In verse 18, Solomon realizes that after all his work is over that it will just go to the next guy. No matter if the next king is wise or an idiot, it will all be his. I hear athletes say that sometimes they pushed for a bigger contract because they wanted to take care of their children's children. I can see that line of thinking, but what kind of children do you think will be produced if they have unearned access to millions of dollars? What will you be leaving behind when you die? Are you trying to build up an inheritance for family, that may be appreciated for a while, but can corrupt as easily as ill-gotten gain? I want to give my children something, but I don't want them to forget their responsibility to work so that they can eat. I probably won't leave my children much money after I die, but I hope that I am leaving them with something of greater value: the testimony of a life lived for Jesus Christ. What inheritance are you leaving behind for those you love? Will it profit them or pollute them?

Ecclesiastes 1

That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. so there is nothing new under the sun. Eccl 1:9

I was a freshman in college, when a new friend of mine introduced me to his new found source of cash. He was selling phone cards, which were really big at the time because you didn't have a large group of people with cell phones. The idea was not only to sell the phone cards, but to get other people to sell them. You would get a cut of the sales of the people you later recruited, and he had been making real money to prove it. My dad called it a pyramid scheme, and I didn't really know what that was. Eventually the money and the company dried up and I saw Dad was right. Years later someone offered me a chance to make money selling a larger variety of items. I quickly realized I was looking at the same pyramid scheme, just with different components. I remembered the first lesson and kept my money.

The book of Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon in his later years. He had more wisdom than anyone who ever lived on the earth, and yet he still had plenty of unwise decisions scattered behind him. And one of the great warnings that Solomon gives is that there's nothing new under the sun. As the internet has become more a part of our lives, it has brought as many problems as solutions. We now have online identity theft, child predators, and online pornography. But really, the methods may have changed, but these aren't new sins. People have been robbing each other, targeting the innocent, and finding new forms of perversion for centuries. You need to take a close look at your life. The Bible may not speak specifically to the sin your in (don't look at internet pornography), but the principles are clearly in Scripture (do not commit adultery). Are you finding new ways to simply do the same old thing? Ask God to help you see through the methods to examine what's really going on behind the scenes in your life. Satan doesn't invent anything, he simply repackages old sins for a new generation.

Proverbs 31

She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Prov 31:26

It's hard for me to say much on this subject, because I have a Proverbs 31 woman for a wife, and she has been the greatest joy God has given me on this earth. I'm not saying that all women are bad, but in my time of watching my wife and sister, I have noticed that there are certain women they are drawn to. A woman who just talks in every circumstance doesn't seem to draw many hearers. But women like Mary Anne, Sherri and my wife seem to draw women because they don't just talk to be heard. They talk to speak to the specific situations going on in a person's life, and how that situation sits in light of who God is.

If you are a woman, do you speak wisdom and kindness? Not just in public to those around you, but in private to your family and your closest friends? Do you build people up or do you tear them down? A most excellent woman is one of dignity (v. 25), and she cares about the impressions others have of her because those impressions also reflect on the God she serves and the man she loves. If you are a man who is unmarried, look for a woman who speaks with a purpose. My wife considers herself a rambler at times, however the times that she thinks she has been rambling have often settled me on a particular course of action. If you are a man who is married, and you don't see wisdom and kindness coming from the mouth of your wife, pray for it. Wisdom and forgiveness are willingly granted by God, and you can pray that God will give her the wisdom to consider her words and not to just disperse them. A final note: it was a very important day when I realized that just because I have a story that relates to the conversation at hand, doesn't mean I have to share it. People are not all dying to hear every word you have on every subject. Wisdom and kindness opens people's ears.

Proverbs 30

Every word of God is tested; he is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Prov 30:5

The Bible as we know it has existed for about 1700 years. In that time, it has faced much criticism. Attempts have been made to get rid of it and silence the message of God's standards, yet the Bible remains the best selling book in the world. However, despite being the best-selling, I'm not sure that it's the best read book in the world. People could take the opportunity to read it, especially in a nation like ours where it is legal to do, but it seems people owning one and people reading one are two different things.

Any word that God says is tested, which literally means it's been tested as in a fire. Precious metal can be tested by being melted to check for impurities before reshaping them into the form that is needed. God's Word has been through the fire. People have been told that it will be dangerous for them to have a copy, and yet people continue to risk their lives for the words of God. God's words are pure and they are trustworthy and they are even a shield. When we live our lives according to the Bible, our lives are protected. We are prepared for the sins that can destroy our families and even our very lives. People seem to forget that the Bible is a protection for us. We have the opportunity to know what God wants us to know, but we have to pay attention. Like Dr. Rogers said, "Every time God says 'Thou shalt not', He's saying 'This will hurt you'. Every time God says 'Thou shalt', He's saying 'This is good for you.'". If you ignore God's word, even for a short time, you are ignoring the protections of God.

Proverbs 29

Where there is no vision , the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law. Prov 29:18

Unmotivated high school seniors really get my goat. Working with teens for so many years, I'm constantly talking to them about personal responsibility, especially in the area of their education. I try to make it clear that you can't start planning on going to college when you're a senior. Your grades from your freshman year are just as important as your senior year. Yet I see so many kids who get to that last year of high school and are completely unprepared for life after high school. They just look like their wandering around with no idea what they're supposed to do or even what they want to do.

Christians need to be people of vision. Through prayer and bible study, you should have an idea of what you should be doing with your life. And not just your possible occupations, but what you should be doing with your day-to-day life. Do you have goals for your job? Do you also have goals for your spiritual life? Do you desire to resist sin and pray with passion? It's interesting that the verse ends by saying that you'll be happy in keeping the law. When a person has no vision, or goal for which they are striving, they will probably miss many aspects of their relationships with Jesus Christ. And when you find yourself ignoring the across the board commandments of Scripture that are for everyone, happiness will not come to your doorstep. Only guilt and disappointment can be found there. Do you have a vision for who you're supposed to be? God does, and He wants you to know it. God doesn't play hide-n-seek with His will for your life, because then you would be unlikely to find it. He reveals what is needed to those who ask? Ask God to make it clear who you are supposed to be today, tomorrow, and for the future. 

Proverbs 28

He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Prov 28:9

In one of my high school history classes, we had a kid named Frank. My teacher's favorite statement when discussing a subject was "Let's be frank for a moment." Frank would look up for a minute and then the joke was over. Frank never listened to anything that was being talked about and just talked to one of his friends in the class. I remember seeing Frank go up to our teacher one day because he didn't know how to write a recently assigned paper. Mr. Balsman said, "Do you know why the others all know what they're supposed to write and you don't? Because they were listening." Frank wanted to know something he could have learned if he had been listening at the appropriate time.

God wants us to listen to Him. If there is anyone who is not wasting His breath when He speaks, it's the Lord. He certainly speaks to us during our prayer time through the prompting and conviction of the Holy Spirit. However, I have gained a great deal by listening to Him through the words of the Bible. I have been reading and been convicted, encouraged, and inspired by the words that God has written down. The verse indicates that we should be listening to God, and if we are not, why should we be praying? How hypocritical is it for you to talk to God and expect Him to listen, but you don't pay attention to His words that are available during the entire day?There is no excuse for not reading the Bible daily, because you have all day to do it. Are you listening to the words of God or just asking Him to listen to yours? I heard a pastor once say, "If your quiet time has been shortened, and you don't know if you should read the Bible or pray, read the Bible. It's more important for you to hear from God than for God to hear from you." I think this points completely to the idea of selflessness. When we read the Bible we show we are concerned with doing the will of God in our lives. When we pray without reading the Bible, we indicate we are more concerned with Him doing our will for that day. 

Proverbs 27

Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Prov 27:17

I remember the first couple of pocket knives I ever had. One was very small and had maybe an inch and a half blade. Of course as a little boy, I used it as a sword and trying to cut anything and everything. Eventually it became dull so I threw it away. I had another knife that was better quality sometime later, and I used it in the same way. Eventually I threw it away too. Soon after this I met someone who was sharpening a knife. I didn't know they could be sharpened, but he took this old dull knife, and could use it to cut just like new. I felt really dumb for throwing away those old ones. They weren't useless, they just needed sharpening.

We all need sharpened. I think of how dull we become to spiritual things by the middle of the week sometimes. When your sitting in the sanctuary, it's easy to see your failures and make promises to God, but the proof of the conviction is how we act when we leave that place. The iron that sharpens us is solid Christian relationships. When you have no one to talk to about your spiritual life, it probably is rarely mentioned. But a good Christian friend gives us the opportunity to have a dialogue and discuss questions of the faith back and forth. They provide accountability for us so that we stay sharp and ready for use, instead of dull and useless for work. Do you have believers around you keeping your sharpened for kingdom use? Are you a sharpener for other believers? It simply means that you encourage people in their faith, and that you challenge each other to live more obediently to Jesus today than you did yesterday. Ask God to show you where you need sharpened, and seek out those people who will be a refining influence on your life. A great place is the Sunday School or small group ministries of your church where you can build relationships in a relaxed setting.

Proverbs 26

Answer a fool as his folly deserves, that he not be wise in his own eyes. Prov 26:5

I remember for many of my formative years in school, hearing the teacher say, "There are no stupid questions." So people would start asking every dumb question they could think of. I know the intention was so that we would not hesitate to ask a question that we really needed an answer to. But by the time I got to high school, I cringed when people raised their hands. Not everyone takes high school seriously, but I often thought, "He/She already told us the answer to that question!" It seems that many people feel they are smart for asking a question, instead of critically thinking so they can answer their own questions.

Do you realize that not every question is valid? If  you're at work and someone asks you a question about a product you sell, that is valid. If you're talking about God and someone asks you, "Can God make a rock so heavy that He can't lift it?", that is an invalid question, because the answer is meaningless. I used to spend too much time trying to answer these questions, and I finally realized that they didn't want an answer. They didn't want to know any more than they already did, and they hoped their question would cause me to question all my answers on God. We are to love people, even those who's personalities are grating to us. But, we do not have to validate their foolishness. How do you respond to foolish questions? Do you waste too much time trying to make the person feel like they didn't ask a dumb question? Think about why a person is asking you the question they're asking you. Are they looking for an answer, or trying to prove their superiority? When you start your day, ask God for wisdom to answer situations you aren't even aware of yet. The proverbs are all about wisdom and they were written by a man who asked God to make Him wise. Perhaps we should make the same request today.

Proverbs 25

Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men; Prov 25:6

America loves inventors. One of the great inventors of our nation was Samuel Morse, who invented the telegraph. Because of him, no longer did messages require days or weeks of overland horseback riding or slow undependable trains. Now messages shot down the telegraph wires with speed that was before unthinkable. Morse is not held in high regard amongst inventors, mainly because of his humility. He received many honors for his invention, but didn't feel that he deserved them. Morse said, "I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and he was pleased to reveal it to me."

I know few people who have the humility and humble spirit of Morse. When they have an idea, they want everyone to know it was theirs. The idea doesn't even need a valuable application, but they want people to know it is theirs. This is a problem in most professions. People are searching for recognition over service. Everywhere I look, people are attempting to climb ladders. It used to just be in the corporate world, but has even spread to the ministry where ministers take churches they don't want so they later get churches with greater stature. Do you live your life for the recognition of man? Is your desire that you would be known or that Jesus would be known through you? I have learned that where ever I am, that's the place that God desires for me to be. My hope is that I am used to the fullest capacity, always mindful that anything I receive credit for, comes by the abilities I have been given by God. The only reason I can speak or write is because God has given me a voice and working hands. So who's attention are you seeking? The unwavering faithful eye of God, or the fickle attention of man?

Proverbs 24

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles Prov 24:17

How many times have you heard a Christian talking about some lost person and say, "One day, he'll know that Jesus is Lord. His knee will bow!" While this is a completely accurate statement, the intention behind it is completely wrong. The believer who says this shows that he does not get the seriousness of being lost. Of course lost people are going to act lost and do sinful things, because they aren't in a relationship with Jesus Christ. I was listening to a pastor on the radio as our family was going to church one morning. He was preaching on relationships with lost people, and he said, "You shouldn't wish for someone's demise." No matter how mean or hurtful they've been to you, you should never wish Hell over Heaven for anyone.

Proverbs says that we should not rejoice when our enemy falls. That's the premise of the movies we see and the TV shows we watch. We keep watching so that we can see the bad guy get his comeuppance. But if we find ourselves glad on the day that a lost person stumbles, then we are not living with the mind of Christ in us. Remember the rich young ruler of Matthew 19? When asked by Jesus about keeping the commandments, the guy said he had always kept all of them. I'll bet that people around this guy thought he was a jerk. He probably thought he was better than people around him, and some people were happy to hear about how Jesus set him in his place. But, Jesus loved this man and wanted his restoration through repentance. Think about the person that you currently have a big problem with. Are you hoping for a resolution with this person, or their downfall? Are you praying for their salvation, or could you care less? Be honest with yourself, and try to remember how other Christians saw you before you were saved. Lost people act lost, so let us show them compassion and care.

Proverbs 23

Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; Prov 23:31

I absolutely love the church I'm serving in, however it's the first church that I've ever been in that considered drinking to be acceptable. As I read the Bible, I can't see that it absolutely says do not drink, and as a result I'm trying not to be a Pharisee on the subject. At the same time, as a result of some people drinking, there have been consequences and results in their lives that I haven't dealt with amongst believers who totally abstain from alcohol. I've never had any alcohol in my life that ever tasted good, so for people to drink it they must have conditioned themselves to do so. The Bible is clear that wine and alcohol is not to be played with.

There has never been an alcoholic who never had a drink. It can only become a disease when someone makes the choice to put it in their life. I like the way that another pastor put it on the subject of alcohol, "You'll never be bitten by a snake you don't play with." If you drink alcohol, there is a possibility of drunkenness, and if there's a possibility of drunkenness, there is a possibility of being out of control of your decisions. My children are all under 8 years old, but they have figured out what being drunk is from different movies or shows we watched. When we explained to them what alcohol can do, they all said they wouldn't drink it. I pray they don't. How do you handle alcohol? Are you partaking of it with confidence that you know when enough is enough? The Bible warns us about ignoring the dangers. Don't have pride and believe that you can drink more than another person without being affected. Have you ever asked God what He wants you to do on the subject?

Proverbs 22

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold. Prov 22:1

I don't like my name. I don't mean the first one, because Heath is golden. The uniqueness of that name has gotten me far in life (except in Kindergarten when "Heathcliff" was still on TV). However, my last name doesn't really mean anything. It's not the last name I was born with, and I took it from one of my step-fathers. I thought his marriage to my mother would last until death, and he was like a father to me. But, when their marriage dissolved I knew how a divorced woman must feel. Here you are stuck with the name of someone that things didn't work out with. For years, it's been one of my greatest regrets, and one of the things I wished I could go back in time and undo.

Having a good name is important. I don't mean "Rockefeller" or "Trump", because the value of a name isn't what's in your bank account, but what people think of when they hear your name. Do they think of someone who has integrity, or someone that they wish to avoid? My last name is one that has been a hurt to many people over the years. When I think of it, I think of unfaithfulness. However, my wife and I have decided to make this name uniquely our own. When people think of our Tibbetts family, we want them to think of a family that lived for Jesus Christ. We want our children to grow up and continue to make this family name something to be proud of, and a name that people trust. What about your name or the name of your family? Are people drawn to it, or do they seek to avoid you? Do you realize that a contact with just one person, can be a contact with several as that person describes you to others? Are you described as a selfish or a selfless person? When I think of each of my wife's name, or my children's, or a friend, there is usually a word or two that comes to mind. Let us be aware of the impact we make. When people think of us, let them be led towards Jesus.

Proverbs 21

It is better to live in a desert land than with a contentious and vexing woman. Prov 21:19

I can still remember learning the lesson in my mind. I was a senior in high school, and I was thinking about what it would be like to be married some day. I was in a high school with plenty of girls, and there are always those that everyone noticed right away because their beauty made them stand out (just like my wife did). However, I had an epiphany one day. I realized that I was evaluating these girls only and not considering how we might get along. What good would it do me to marry a beautiful girl who didn't believe in Jesus? There would come a point that the relationship would be a nightmare instead of a dream.

I think it's funny that Solomon brings up the subject of living with a difficult woman, not just once but multiple times. Solomon had many wives, which doesn't appear to have been approved by God, but it seems that in having so many wives he was getting the punishment he deserved. I caution guys (and girls) not to get into a relationship based on surface impressions. A woman can become contentious when she sees a relationship is not what it once was. She desires the same attention in marriage as she did while you were dating. A guy who thinks getting married to a beautiful woman will solve all his problems, will be quickly brought down if he didn't marry for other reasons as well. Are you in a non-marriage relationship right now, that God has revealed is not His plan for you? Then you need to end it. Don't worry about how the other person will take it, if you know that you're not supposed to be in the relationship at all. Ultimately, listening to the Lord will be in the interest of both parties for the long-term. And if you are in a marriage relationship with a contentious person, YOU need to make the effort to eliminate the bitterness. You probably already know what you can be doing to ease the situation in your marriage. Divorce is never the answer, but living a life of selfless love with your spouse can change the atmosphere of a household in quick order.

Proverbs 20

Differing weights and differing measures, both of them are abominable to the LORD. Prov 20:10

My children have lately been attempting to get a reaction by telling which family member they love the most. Sometimes it's picking one of their siblings, or saying which parent they love the most. When they first started doing this, I asked them if they knew which kid I loved the most? After letting them wonder for a moment, I told them that I love them all equally. God has given each of them something that is unique about them, and because they are my children I love them all. They seemed a little confused by this concept at first, but I think they know understand that I really mean it. 

At the time of Solomon's writing, there wasn't a standard of money that could be constantly used. So precious metals or trading goods were weighed in order to make a fair transaction. When someone decided to weigh down their scale or use some secret method to come out ahead, that's abominable to God. He desires that we would deal fairly with all people. This doesn't just mean financially, but that we would treat people equally in general. I watch people at church talk. There are some that get your attention when they talk to you, and then others who you try to walk away from  immediately after the conversation begins. I know there are people in this world who's personalities are annoying, but does that mean they don't deserve your attention? Does God not care about them? Have you been treating some people as less valuable than others? Jesus never does this, because His love is perfect. Have you been cheating people in the area of your finances? Are you withholding what you owe to someone else?  When we choose to deal unfairly with people, we represent Jesus poorly. Then unbelievers begin to say, "He/She doesn't act any better than I do."