beat #49 - jasmine [proverbs, day 22] (Thursday, May 23, 2013 / 9:27 AM)
Soundbites from Proverbs 22
v.2
"Rich and the poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all."
It is hard for us to understand common humanity as a concept. We are so busy classifying and dividing ourselves into categories that we forget often that over us sits one throne only.
The eyes of Jesus saw humanity in its common denominator: the work of his Father, and their need for salvation. In more theoretical words, he saw God's love for us.
It may benefit me immensely to use the eyes of Jesus more often, my vision is too prone to the dicing and slicing of modern critical thinking, and approach to learning.
His eyes are the eyes are justice, for what we all have in common is that we are all made by the same hand.
v.12
"The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful."
What does it mean to have your words frustrated? Does this mean that they are not understood? That they find themselves lost? Or unable to express?
Words are frustrating things, I understand that well.
But it is interesting to think about God being the one doing all the frustrating, like at Babel when the world ceased to understand each other...
The gaps between us were widened then, and have been widening ever since.
If he frustrates the words of the unfaithful,
what will he do with the words of the faithful?
What are my words?
v.29
"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men."
Skill.
Today's church likes to talk about the heart being enough. If you try, your best effort is sufficient.
But Proverbs is full of warnings, about the reality that in life, action does count for something. Skill and talent and drive and discipline all count for something.
Skill is 10,000 hours of work.
That is dedication.
Maybe the church should talk a little more about skill, and what that means in our pursuit of Christ.
He, after all, was also a skilled man.
Our Lord was a carpenter.
