Proverbs 22 by Doug

Reflections on Proverbs

September 22, 2009

Doug

Proverbs 22:1 →Which am I seeking? And what do I get more concerned about losing? Do I insist that I don't care what people think if I have stuff? Or that I don't care what I have as long as my name is good?

Proverbs 22:2 →God has made all people, and is the Lord of them all. Don't treat the poor as if they are less than you or the rich as if they are great.

Proverbs 22:3 →The prudent man takes refuge. The simple go ahead get their wireless data from AT&T and then pay to have nothing. Ack, to have been prudent.

Proverbs 22:6 →Is this an absolute guarantee? No, it's a guideline based on wisdom and knowing the opposite to be almost an absolute guarantee: If you don't start with a child and train them right, they will most certainly go wrong. Why do you think it's so important to actually teach children at church and to be heavily invested and involved in their overall education? Because how we train them as children impacts their lives, and how we don't train them impacts their lives.

Think about gymnastics, ballet, figure skating, or even contact sports. When do the real standouts start with those activities? If I took my 8-year-old to a gymnastics teacher, they would do some good for her, but she'd likely never be competitive. Same with my 6-year-old. They start kids that are going to really be excellent usually by 5! What is evident in the physical is often also true of the spiritual, emotional, and mental, given that we're all one body. Train your children well, whether you are parent or pastor! Church can be a place where learning is fun, but shouldn't be a place that is all about fun. It's about growing disciples.

Proverbs 22:7 →The rich do rule, because they have the power. Think about how many things in your day are managed by someone else that can wreck it. I have issues with AT&T. Lots of issues right now, and why? Because AT&T is rich enough to own wireless frequencies, and I'm not. So, they rule over my ability to communicate. We've built a society that allows this. Think about this: consider every service you use that is provided by either a TV Conglomerate or computer company. Now, take that away. What have you got now? Not much, really. Computer/tech companies own the phone systems we use, both wired and wireless, and the free services we use on the internet. TV conglomerates, like News Corp, that owns Fox, also own various properties on the internet, print media, and so on. And let's not get started about where 50% of us in the South would get food if Wal-mart exercised their rule over us!

Proverbs 22:8 →Like we see with AT&T....ok, stop. I'm 8 verses into Proverbs, and I'm seeing my problems, from my perspective. Ever do this with the Word? Ok, so I'm alone on it. But I'll talk about it anyway. I need to learn to come to God's Word to be changed by Him through it. Really. It's not about seeking to find solutions to my problems in the Word, but about finding God and letting Him guide the solution.

Proverbs 22:13 →Here's my lion. I don't want to do anything, and any excuse will do. What will devour you today? Move past it.

Proverbs 22:28 →There's a place for preserving the traditions of the past. Don't obliterate them without consideration.