Prov. 10-12
These Proverbs can be a lot to take in, but there are some notable themes throughout. In Proverbs 10 and 12, I notice a lot of statements regarding speech and work ethic. The tongue is a powerful thing – words can build up and words can tear down. What we choose to or not to say or reveal with our lips matters. As one who tends to rattle off at the mouth a little (a lot?) more than I should at times, it pays for me to be very aware of this. I don’t think there is anything wrong with talking and expressing ourselves. However, we…I…do need to pay attention to the power of the tool/weapon I am brandishing and not let it fly carelessly. And as for the work ethic, the Proverbs make it very clear that wisdom lies with the diligent and that being slack leads to lack!
Proverbs 11 goes on to talk about honesty, humility, and integrity, all of which are aspects of righteousness. The righteous, it seems, do not seek their own good or harm toward others. Nor do not rely on themselves or their riches. This Proverb talks a lot about the benefits and behavior patterns of righteousness, but I’m not sure it makes clear what righteousness really is. I see clues to its characteristics – Godliness, kindness, the aforementioned honesty, humility, and integrity – and we saw in yesterday’s reading that it is founded in wisdom. So, pursue wisdom – true wisdom – and you gain righteousness. Or pursue righteousness and gain wisdom. Either way, we know (also from yesterday) that both are found in pursuing God.
Acts 1
The eleven remaining apostles rightly used scripture to determine that the twelfth position, which had been left open by Judas’ departure, should be filled with somebody else. But I wonder about the way they went about it. I realize that casting lots (basically drawing straws, so to speak) covered in prayer was a very standard way of making such decisions, but I notice that they picked out two options and then asked God to choose one of those. Did they give God a “none of these” option? What made them so sure that one of the two men they picked would be God’s choice?
I know that Paul later calls himself an apostle, selected by God Himself. I also know that Paul would never, especially at that point in time, have even been a consideration for the position by Jesus’ group of core followers. But God often does the unexpected, doesn’t He?
I don’t know if appointing Matthias as the twelfth apostle was right or wrong, with or against God’s plan, but I can see a typical behavior pattern of possibly cutting God out of the decision even though you think you are seeking Him in it. I, personally, want to be careful that I don’t come to God with MY plans, asking Him to choose between them. Instead, I want to leave the door wide open for God to show me HIS plan in His own timing. For the apostles in this situation, that would have meant waiting for a considerable amount of time and then taking in the most unlikely of candidates. Not easy.