We live in such a time that outrage is a sport of sorts. There seems to be an addiction, almost like outrage porn.

• Someone cuts you off in traffic going way too fast. Now you’re upset! You follow them … to the Emergency Room entrance. They are running into the hospital with their child.
• Someone looks in your direction from across the street and makes weird faces and gestures with their hand. You yell at them from your side, “What’s your problem?” They don’t hear you. They are too busy trying to get the bee off of them without spilling their latte.
• Someone manipulates a headline or photoshops an image and the buzz feeds the finger-pointers and meme mongrels.

Proverbs 25:8 warns us to slow things down:

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

Often, we enter a battle without knowing the grounds or even what the battle is about. The battle has become the game. Outrage the addiction. Facebook the needle?

Slow down. Keep your wood off the fire (Prov 26:20). Don’t be in a hurry to battle.

There might not be one worth fighting.

If you do find a battle, settle it amicably and privately (Prov 25:9).

As I was checking out at the grocery store, my eye got caught and lust practically took over.

A Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.

For me, these little goodies are not profitable. Money I shouldn’t spend. Sugar I shouldn’t deposit. Habits quicker getting into than out.  Plus, my wife, being allergic to chocolate, probably shouldn’t kiss lips which have given such entry.

For me, even thinking of a candy is foolish. For me. Maybe not for you. We might each have our own foolish thoughts.

And foolish thoughts lead to foolish deeds. That’s probably why Prov 24:9 tells me:

The thought of foolishness is sin

Also, in 2Cor 1:5, I am told to throw away such imaginative thoughts, bringing into captivity every thought for Christ’s sake.

Foolish thoughts, when given their course, lead to foolish deeds.

In plain, “Pthu to Sin!” and away with foolish thoughts.

 

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.