Wednesday, November 13, 2013

November 13, 2013 by Doug

Author’s Note: This blog was initially conceived as a group project. I’m down a few group members. Anyone interested? Email doug @ doughibbard.com with the subject line “Proverbs Blog” and tell me you want to and why you should. I’m after a few people to share 250-400 words about Proverbs, with the goal being the chapter connected to the day—Proverbs 13 on the 13th of the month. Why that? Just for organization’s sake. Not much in it for you but the challenge and the link-backs to your own writings for a little bit more traffic.

I will consider any Bible believing Christian who would like to contribute.

A consistent refrain of Proverbs 13 is discipline. Discipline, as in choosing to do what needs doing whether or not you want to. For if you do not have this discipline, you will have the other type: negative consequences for failing to do what needed to be done.

 

How is discipline the refrain of Proverbs 13?

 

Proverbs 13:11 reflects on the value of wealth by labor compared to the loss of fraud. I think this is directed at material wealth but also applies to mental wealth—what good is your cheat sheet? None. But what of those things you truly study?

 

Proverbs 13:14 reminds us to listen to the wise—and it’s important to remember that we’re not always the wise.

 

A note is important for Proverbs 13:23 about the fallow ground of the poor: it is sometimes that the poor have not worked (fallow being unplanted) and so remain poor, but it is often that injustice has hampered their efforts. Consider this: are the poor of this verse not planting because they are lazy or because they have no seed? Perhaps injustice blocks their access to raw material from which to work.

 

Realize this: nearly every family farmer in this country depends on banks and finance companies fronting the money for them to farm this season. It is from those loans that seed, fertilizer, fuel, and farmhand wages are paid for. Now, let a finance company take a dislike to a farmer, or triple their criteria for a loan. The most hardworking men I know would find themselves poor, with unplanted ground! Not for laziness but for injustice.

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