November 26, 2007 6:23 AM
Sam wrote:
Proverbs 26. Fools, sluggards and gossippers. I guess God does not think too much of them. What is a fool? "A person lacking in judgement or prudence." So says Webster. A fool can change, I would imagine. TEACH a fool to make wise decisions and act wisely, then he will no longer be a fool. Unfortunately, you are starting with raw material, and trying to make a finished product....a non-fool, if you may. To do so, will take time. For us to become less like fools, and more like Jesus, it will also take time. And in this time, we fools need to focus on wisdom and prudence. You may recall an earlier blog about this...if so, great. But, bottomline, for fools to get wiser, they must be taught and/or discipled by someone less a fool, or more wiser. That is where we, as foolish friends, come in. We must teach each other, but must expect it to take a while. Don't give up on gaining wisdom and prudence, as God wants us to become wiser and less a fool. What is a sluggard? "A habitually lazy person." As again, Webster says. Habitually....making it a habit....being lazy a lot. We are sluggards. We are lazy when it comes to our job of evangelism and aiding others. It has become our habit since the ACOC broke up not to evangelize like we used to. We have become sluggards. Verse 13 says that sluggards are afraid of what is out there (lions in the streets). This correlates to our 'lions'. Things and people out there of whom we are afraid. Afraid to share for fear of rejection. Yup, we're sluggards alright. Gossiper--"a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others' (yup, Webster, again). See that? Habitually. One who has made it a habit about talking about others. One thing I don't agree with Webster on, is that gossip is not always about 'facts' about a person. Like the old telephone game, lies and mis-truths are told about people. THIS type of gossip, which is more common in my opinion, is the worst kind. But either is bad, especially when it is one's habit of doing so. Do you talk about other people? I am sure you do. I do at times. We should refrain from spreading sensational 'facts' or lies about people as God dislikes this trait. Today, as you go about your daily routine, try to remember what God says about gossipers. Reply to this
I feel like I repeat my folly all to often. I know what Paul say in Romans about not doing what you want to do and doing the thing you dont want to do. is this like repeating your folly? I feel like it is. I tell myself I never want to commit this sin or walk into that problem again and it seems I find a way to fall again. I get tired of having the same struggles Lord please take this thorn in my side! Reply to this
November 26, 2007 9:39 PM
Rich wrote:
Hey guys. Sorry I have been AWOL. I have been at the hospital with my son since noon yesterday. I told you that he wasn't feeling well. By Sunday, he as having stomach pains bad enough that I took him to see an after hours doctor. The doctor immediately sent us to the ER at North Fulton Hospital. After many tests they decided to check him into the hospital for the night (at 11:00 last night). Since he has never been in a hospital, I stayed with him. After more tests all day today, they finally discovered that his gallbladder is not functioning properly and needs to be removed. We just got home a few minutes ago.
I have to take him to see his regular doctor tomorrow sometime and depending on how much pain he is in, they will decide when to do the surgery. I spent a lot of last night and today reading the Jesus The Same book. It is so awesome to focus on Jesus.
I also read Proverbs 26 today. It struck me that most of the verses deal with fools. Then I remembered that Proverbs says that anyone who does not seek wisdom is a fool. Wisdom is found in the word of God. And wisdom comes to those who pray for it. So, these verses are talking about anyone who does not seek wisdom from God by studying his word. Think of someone you 'admire' who is not a Christian. Go back and read Proverbs 26 thinking of each "fool" verse as applying to that person. Believe it or not, this is how God sees them. We see them as wise in the world's way. God sees them as fools. Remember I Cor 1:20 - "Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?"
This is not said to make us feel superior or to look down on others. Instead, it is meant for us to try to have Jesus' attitude about wise and powerful and wealthy and influential people in this world. Unless their wisdom is grounded in the word of God and was found by studying God's world, we should not envy them. Instead we should have compassion on them as harassed and helpless people, sheep without a shepherd. Reply to this
Proverbs 26. Fools, sluggards and gossippers. I guess God does not think too much of them. What is a fool? "A person lacking in judgement or prudence." So says Webster. A fool can change, I would imagine. TEACH a fool to make wise decisions and act wisely, then he will no longer be a fool. Unfortunately, you are starting with raw material, and trying to make a finished product....a non-fool, if you may. To do so, will take time. For us to become less like fools, and more like Jesus, it will also take time. And in this time, we fools need to focus on wisdom and prudence. You may recall an earlier blog about this...if so, great. But, bottomline, for fools to get wiser, they must be taught and/or discipled by someone less a fool, or more wiser. That is where we, as foolish friends, come in. We must teach each other, but must expect it to take a while. Don't give up on gaining wisdom and prudence, as God wants us to become wiser and less a fool.
What is a sluggard? "A habitually lazy person." As again, Webster says. Habitually....making it a habit....being lazy a lot. We are sluggards. We are lazy when it comes to our job of evangelism and aiding others. It has become our habit since the ACOC broke up not to evangelize like we used to. We have become sluggards. Verse 13 says that sluggards are afraid of what is out there (lions in the streets). This correlates to our 'lions'. Things and people out there of whom we are afraid. Afraid to share for fear of rejection. Yup, we're sluggards alright.
Gossiper--"a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others' (yup, Webster, again). See that? Habitually. One who has made it a habit about talking about others. One thing I don't agree with Webster on, is that gossip is not always about 'facts' about a person. Like the old telephone game, lies and mis-truths are told about people. THIS type of gossip, which is more common in my opinion, is the worst kind. But either is bad, especially when it is one's habit of doing so. Do you talk about other people? I am sure you do. I do at times. We should refrain from spreading sensational 'facts' or lies about people as God dislikes this trait. Today, as you go about your daily routine, try to remember what God says about gossipers.
Reply to this
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
I feel like I repeat my folly all to often. I know what Paul say in Romans about not doing what you want to do and doing the thing you dont want to do. is this like repeating your folly? I feel like it is. I tell myself I never want to commit this sin or walk into that problem again and it seems I find a way to fall again. I get tired of having the same struggles Lord please take this thorn in my side!
Reply to this
Hey guys. Sorry I have been AWOL. I have been at the hospital with my son since noon yesterday. I told you that he wasn't feeling well. By Sunday, he as having stomach pains bad enough that I took him to see an after hours doctor. The doctor immediately sent us to the ER at North Fulton Hospital. After many tests they decided to check him into the hospital for the night (at 11:00 last night). Since he has never been in a hospital, I stayed with him. After more tests all day today, they finally discovered that his gallbladder is not functioning properly and needs to be removed. We just got home a few minutes ago.
I have to take him to see his regular doctor tomorrow sometime and depending on how much pain he is in, they will decide when to do the surgery. I spent a lot of last night and today reading the Jesus The Same book. It is so awesome to focus on Jesus.
I also read Proverbs 26 today. It struck me that most of the verses deal with fools. Then I remembered that Proverbs says that anyone who does not seek wisdom is a fool. Wisdom is found in the word of God. And wisdom comes to those who pray for it. So, these verses are talking about anyone who does not seek wisdom from God by studying his word. Think of someone you 'admire' who is not a Christian. Go back and read Proverbs 26 thinking of each "fool" verse as applying to that person. Believe it or not, this is how God sees them. We see them as wise in the world's way. God sees them as fools. Remember I Cor 1:20 - "Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?"
This is not said to make us feel superior or to look down on others. Instead, it is meant for us to try to have Jesus' attitude about wise and powerful and wealthy and influential people in this world. Unless their wisdom is grounded in the word of God and was found by studying God's world, we should not envy them. Instead we should have compassion on them as harassed and helpless people, sheep without a shepherd.
Reply to this