30 wise sayings (To paraphrase Proverbs 22:17 – 24:22)

(Suggestion: take one each day for a month and think about it)

1.       Learn to be wise and show it.

2.       Treat the poor fairly and don’t take advantage of them. God will defend them.

3.       Avoid hot-tempered people.

4.       Be careful about getting into debt beyond your means to pay.

5.       Respect boundaries, both physical and spiritual. They are there for a reason.

6.       Develop your work skills to the best of your ability.

7.       Be content with your circumstances. Don’t crave what rich people have.

8.       Live a balanced life. Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.

9.       Only take from those who offer generously. Don’t take anything from someone who will begrudge giving it to you.

10.   Don’t waste your time with people who are scornful about what you say.

11.   Respect the rights of the poor. Don’t take from the poor for your own advantage.

12.   Keep learning the ways of God.

13.   Discipline your children. Without loving discipline they will go astray.

14.   Teach wisdom to your children and you will rejoice when they act and speak wisely.

15.   Don’t envy anything that sinners do or have. The hope you have is far greater.

16.   Eat and drink in moderation.

17.   Respect the wisdom given to you by your parents. Try to be a wise and loving parent who passes wisdom and knowledge to your children.

18.   Be faithful in marriage and be faithful to God. There are many “attractive” sins in this world to take people away from God and which ultimately destroy true happiness.

19.   Don’t get drunk. It’s bad for you physically and spiritually and can lead to alcoholism.

20.   Don’t hang around with aggressive people or troublemakers, however attractive their company might seem; or envy their popularity or lifestyle.

21.   Wisdom, understanding and knowledge are great foundations for personal and family life.

22.   Knowledge and the sharing together of knowledge with others is very powerful and helps you to overcome obstacles.

23.   Fools cannot influence the wise.

24.   Scornful, sinful behaviour will make itself apparent and nobody wise will respect it.

25.   In times of trouble stand up for those being persecuted and don’t turn a blind eye.

26.   Keep learning and seeking after wisdom.

27.   Don’t steal from anyone or wish them ill.

28.   Don’t gloat over the consequences of sinful behaviour.

29.   Don’t be anxious or fretful about the sin in this world or jealous of the riches of this world. God’s got it all in hand.

30.   Keep your eyes firmly on God and your life fully committed to Him.

Fair weather friends

Ever had a friend who enjoyed all the good times with you but disappeared when the hard times came? I certainly have. Without going into specifics, there have been a couple of major traumas which I experienced in my life which were not made any easier by the distancing of themselves by a couple of so-called "friends". Perhaps its the hard times which demonstrate to us who our real friends are. At the same time, other people were there to step into the breach and demonstrate true compassion and help.

Some marriages are like that too. The excitement of courtship is followed by a fairytale wedding and a romantic honeymoon. The winds of change that blow on all couples suddenly carry along misfortune and hardship, relationships are tested and some crack under the pressure. The promises of "for better or worse" should have read "for better only".

Does God also have fair-weather friends? I suspect there are people who have remade God into their own design, one largely reminiscent of a celestial Santa Claus. They believe in God, He who blesses and provides abundantly. They ask and He supplies. They propose and await God to do their bidding. Like a thwarted toddler, they sulk and withdraw and blame God when things don't go the way that they planned. What a small God they serve, the god of self, rather than the omnipotent Creator of the universe.

In the book of Job we see the story of a remarkable man, I think one of the most godly men in history. Job was immensely wealthy, blessed with family and honoured God above all other things. Tragic circumstances occurred to Job- he lost his children, all his wealth and his health. He was destitute and ready to die. Some well-meaning friends added to his misery by accusing and remonstrating with him. His wife told him to "curse God and die." (Job 2:9)
Yet Job held fast to his faith in God. Job said
"Then I would still have this consolation—
    my joy in unrelenting pain—
    that I had not denied the words of the Holy One." (Job 6:10)

The book of Job is interesting and mysterious, majestic and confusing. We cannot fathom the ways of God and the spiritual conflicts in heavenly realms. We cannot understand why terrible things happen to good people. But we can admire the persistent faith of those who undergo great trials and continue to hold fast to God. God's word tells us that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."(Romans 8:28) and this is no trite platitude but a deep promise. 

Job says

"I wish that my words were recorded

and inscribed in a book,

by an iron stylus on lead,

or chiseled in stone forever.

But I know that my Redeemer lives,

and in the end He will stand upon the earth" (Job 19:23-25)

 Job's suffering had an impact that he never would have known at the time. More than 2000 years later Job's words are recorded in the greatest book of all, the Bible, and are being read throughout the world, still encouraging God's people to know that our Redeemer lives and in the end He will return.