Proverbs

ORANGES AND GENERAL GRANT

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Without a doubt, the best oranges I’ve ever eaten came from my dad’s and uncle’s grove in Southern California. The navels were especially good: big, juicy, easy to peel, seedless! In fact, the fruit was so good I decided I would try selling it door-to-door! I was putting myself through college and needed some extra money so I bought some paper sacks, picked a truckload of fruit, and started knocking on doors. That initiative really “paid” off — within about two days I sold it all: a buck a bag! I picked another load the following week and had the same success. Before long I had about 300 regular customers! Dad set aside several trees for my use in this business enterprise!

So what does this have to do with General Ulysses S. Grant? I really enjoy biographies of people who accomplished much during their lifetime. President Lincoln appointed Grant as Commanding General of the Army in March of 1864 — and under his command General Robert E. Lee surrendered on Apri l 9, 1865 at Appomattox, thereby putting to an end the American Civil War’s four years of bloody conflict (1861-1865). Grant’s “secret”? Initiative!

Grant had learned, from experiences prior to the Civil War, that apprehension and despair are often the consequence of “fear and inertia.” Initiative, he believed, was the “engine of accomplishment.”

I was convinced dad and my uncle’s oranges (both Navel and Valencia — the ones with seeds) were the best around, and that if I was to take the initiative and knock on doors, I could sell them. The “fruit” of my effort would be the money I needed for living expenses.

As we’d expect, God’s Word has much to say about initiative, diligence — and their opposites: laziness, sloth, etc. Solomon’s Proverbs, in particular, address this human tendency! Consider the following examples:

  • “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth” Proverbs 10:4.
  • “A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied” Proverbs 13:4.
  • “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty… The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work… All day long he craves for more…” Proverbs 21:5; 25-26.

Let us resolve to “fight the flesh” in areas where our tendency is toward procrastination or passivity.

MUSINGS ON PROVERBS

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For “some reason” my Bible was opened this morning at the beginning of Solomon’s Book of Proverbs. As I glanced at some introductory notes I’d written in the margins of the first few pages, it seemed the Lord was prompting me to share some insights concerning this most wonderful, insightful, encouraging book! If you’ve been wondering where to read next in your Bible, perhaps Proverbs will be your next stop!

Weaving its way throughout Proverbs is the theme of “Wisdom for Living” — perhaps best summarized in 1:7 (Solomon’s very first instruction!): “The fear [reverence] of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…” Of course 3:5-6 are also great summary verses: “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.”

Proverbs comes under the Biblical category of wisdom literature and emphasizes practical living before the face of God. The book is filled with distinctive maxims and adages — general principles that are usually (but not always) fulfilled this side of heaven. For instance: The righteous suffer while the wicked seem to prosper and enjoy great blessing. But, ultimately, rewards and punishment will be fulfilled in the new heaven and earth.

Very importantly: The verses in Proverbs are not unqualified promises — unless they overlap with promises found elsewhere in Scripture! Broadly speaking, Proverbs are principles to live by, not unqualified promises to count on (e.g. 22:6). As Dr. Charles Caldwell Ryrie has noted in his study Bible (The Ryrie Study Bible): “Proverbs are sayings taken from everyday life intended to serve as practical guidelines for successful living… The purpose of Proverbs is that the reader might know wisdom and allow it to govern his or her life.”

I recall Billy Graham saying he read a chapter a day out of Proverbs. When he finished, he’d simply start over. I’d say his life turned out pretty well, wouldn’t you? Of course, most of us are not called to public ministry, much less one of Billy’s scope — but we all are called (blessed with the privilege!) to walk with God each day of our life. He has given us some great help on how to do that in the book of Proverbs!