What are you willing to give up?

In Prov 23:23, the parameters of trading for truth are clear transactionally: Give up to get it; once gotten, don’t give it up.

Before realizing salvation’s free gift, I was told I should be willing to give up the music I listened to most. I thought the guy was nuts. First, because I invested a lot in the music, both time and money. Second, because the music I was listening to at the time was a lot of Dean Martin, Buddy Greco, Steve Lawrence type music. Not too noisy or too nasty.

Upon salvation, my desire and focus was thirsty for hymns and gospel. I was willing to trade my time and music for this new (to me) music and invest time to learn the songs. I was willing, indeed yearning, to dive in and study the Bible and learn from others. Good trade.

I was willing to give up everything. Not for salvation, but because of salvation.

Sadly, there have been times in life where I’ve traded it back. Letting go of truths to follow folly. Oops. Bad trade.

Again, it’s made clear in Prov 23:23

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Like a kid and their security blanket, hang on to Truth for life. Don’t give it up for nothing. Not time, money, interests, reputation.

Bend your ear to hear. Apply your heart to act.

In Prov 22:17, we are encouraged to hear the words of the wise, and apply our heart to what we learn.

Intake and Output.

In Bible reading, I sometimes realize I should to slow down, even stop and refocus, so that I might hear what God’s Word has to say. That’s the intake.

There are times as I go about my day, I sometimes realize I should slow down, even stop and refocus, so I that I might do what the Holy Spirit is giving me unction to do. At times to engage with people. At times to enter into prayer. That’s the output.

Bible Study and Prayer: Incline Your Ear. Apply what you learn.

You can often hear it in their face.

Look and Listen for the cry of the poor.  Do we even look at their faces?

In Pro 21:13 we find we are not to ignore their cry:

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

We who are so rich that our cup spills over (Psa 23:5), should we not spill out some of our joy? A smile. A warm greeting. Maybe even a friendly inquiry.

Poor isn’t always about money. And even if a circumstance seems to be about money, the problem isn’t always the problem.  Maybe you haven’t the money to give (Act 3:6), but you have reason for hope (1Pe 3:15)

To walk by the cry of the poor (in spirit or otherwise) while covering our eyes and ears, isn’t profitable for anyone’s sake.

Just because it’s getting said, doesn’t mean it belongs in your head.

In Prov 20:19, we are warned about people with loose lips. As Matt Mitchell says in Resisting Gossip,

Gossip is like a fired bullet. Once you hear the sound, you can’t take it back.

There is no denying that it is hard to not listen, especially if the words are coming from someone close to you. Yet, if gossip is wrong, your listening is enabling the gossiper, no?

Plug your ears. Walk away. La-La-La-La-La…

Don’t Let the Gossip In.

We all at some point feel the pain of backstabbing or wrongdoing. It hurts. Rather than displaying your anger, defer it instead of acting on it.

If you’ve been done wrong, do right. As in Prov 19:11

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

There are several verses in Scripture that echo this wisdom in exercising prudence and patience, such as Prov 14:29, Mat 5:22, Mat 5:44, Col 3:13, Eph 4:32, and Jas 1:19 to name a few.

I’ve been the victim of my own anger, self-inflicting pain on top of hurt. Hold off on your anger. It helps no one, and the pain just lasts longer.

Forgiveness is a muscle. Exercise often.

A young child grabs hold of the leg of their parent, sometimes in order to hide, often simply for safety. But what about as adults? Is there an Olly Olly Oxen Free place? A pillar of safety like the old oak tree or a parent’s leg?

Prov 18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Whenever I read or recall this verse, or whenever I feel a bit scared about something, this song also comes to mind:

Hide Thou Me

There is a difference between swallowing your words and sparing your words.

Swallowing your words happens after you say the words. Sparing your words happens before they come out.

Even a fool look’s wise in his silence. Looking in Prov 17:27-28

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

In Jas 1:19, we are told to be swift to hear, slow to speak.

In wisdom: Spare Your Words.

There seems to be a trendy topic about Resting Bad Face or something like that. It’s what your relaxed-like-no-one-is-watching face shows. And sometimes, it’s not a cheerful face.

Does your resting face turn downward in a frown? Is your countenance in a cowering slope at your lips or brow?

Rather than checking your face, maybe you should check your heart

Prov 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Our face reveals what’s in our heart. Is your heart merry?

I once heard someone say, “If there’s a Godly battle, I want to be in the middle of it – because that’s where God will be.”

Awhile back, we had a hard work before us. Through patience, perseverance, and prayer, we believe in our heart the work was profitable for sake of Christ. It was a Kingdom work. It was hard work. It was messy work. And it was profitable work.

Prov 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Sometimes, there will be messy work. If there is never a messy work, is it really a work? I’m not suggesting you should ever leave the mess. Every day brings its own mess. At the end of the day, we clean the mess of the day. Tomorrow could bring a different mess.

Messy doesn’t necessarily mean bad. Hard doesn’t necessarily mean terrible. To never have a mess, one could wonder is there a progress or profit in the work.