Lamp . . . Light – April 13, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. NIV.

The account of David’s interaction with Nabal and Abigail in 2 Samuel 25 illustrates the principle of this verse. Nabal is the foil for the proper use of his tongue. He disrespects David’s men and demeans David as a brigand and thief. Infuriated, David intends to avenge this affront and destroy Nabal and his family. When the perceptive servants inform Abaigail of Nabal’s actions, she understands the ramifications. She provides ample supplies and intercepts David before any destruction happens. In so doing she demonstrates the value of using speech in a wise manner to diffuse a tense situation and result in an appropriate solution.

Several years ago, I read a helpful book: Zip It by Karen Ehman. This book provided valuable guidelines on how to identify and remedy the misuse of speech. She identifies six destructive potentials for how we interact with others: judgmentalism, criticism, sarcasm, negativity, complaining, and gossip. I sensed that I had a tendence to utilize three or four of these on a fairly regular basis. Since I read the book I pray almost daily that God keep my speech from these traits and that I might use my speech to express thoughtfulness, helpfulness, inspiring words, nurturing statements, and kindness. How much better it is to speak with the integration of truth and love.

For anyone who might relate to the tendency to regret what one has said, I recommend this book as a starting point to examine how you might face your speech patterns and with God’s help surrender these to become people who bring truth in love with the things you say.

Father, grant me the grace to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:14). Amen

Lamp . . . Light – January 23, 2024

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21:21 He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor. NIV.

In the book The Fellowship of the Ring, the fellowship sits at the doorway to the mines of Moria trying to figure how to open the magic doors. The instructions engraved above are simple “Speak friend and enter.” Yet, regardless of the ingenuity of Gandalf he cannot determine the secret password. Then Frodo receives a flash of insight. This was not some secret message but a specific instruction to say the word “friend.” Once they did that they entered to continue their journey, albeit with a bit of suspense and danger.

This reminds me that sometimes in life I do not get what I hope for because I go about achieving things in an incorrect manner. Yes, I want life, prosperity, and honor. So, to seek life, I read self-help books one after another. Surely, this will provide the key to my best life ever. I want prosperity, so I study and prepare for the best occupation possible. Then I invest into a long-term savings plan. This will get me to the point financially I can enjoy a nice house and cars. For receiving honor, I strive to understand what people expect of me and do everything in my power to meet their expectations. And, if I can exceed their expectations, I may just get even more honor. I suspect some of you who read this may relate.

Yet, what is the result of all these strivings? I age and it seems like more and more parts of my body are wearing out. My “best life ever” is slowing down and aches and pains increase. Prosperity, at least of the material kind, eludes me, even as unexpected expenses come and deplete my reserves. Even more disappointing is how little honor and satisfaction I receive when I try to live to please others and meet their expectations. Why does it seem people are not satisfied with what I do and they often don’t even appreciate my efforts.

This verse says I had my vision out of focus. Instead of life, prosperity, and honor, I should focus on pursuing righteousness and love. God is most concerned about my character – whom I am on the inside. His goal is that I become conformed to the image of His Son. This includes being filled with faith, hope, and love; of being dedicated to His will; and of loving Him fully and serving those around me. Jesus reminded us that we need to keep our hearts (inner character) pure because from the abundance of our hearts out mouths speak and our hands do.

Let us pray that God change our hearts. Let’s ask Him to help us love Him with our whole beings and those around us as we love ourselves.

We are Yours. Mold is into the image of Your Son that we might be beacons in our world. Amen.