A Better Tomorrow

Fear of the future haunts us. Interestingly, a lot of this worry may come from comparing ourselves to others. But check it out:

Let not your heart envy sinners,

but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.

Surely there is a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

-Proverbs 23:17-18

The future is bright for those who fear God. Don’t worry about those around you. The ungodly will prosper in this life—it’s all they got. But you, lean on God’s promises and follow his commandments, and you can rest easy knowing that your Future is secure and unbelievably happy.

Scripture vs Science?

First of all, science means knowledge. There are plenty of knowledges beyond that of the material universe—like the laws of logic, or the laws of love.

Second of all, check out this quote from Saint Augustine:

We do not read in the Gospel that the Lord said: “I will send to you a Paraclete who will teach you about the course of the sun and the moon!” For he wanted to make Christians, not mathematicians.

Heat. The Scriptures and the sciences serve different purposes.

We do not expect God’s written word to teach us how to add, subtract, read, write, run, swim, chart the stars, or crack jokes. The book of nature offers courses of study in all these fields and more. We expect one thing of the Bible, that which is the greatest knowledge of all: how to walk with God.

For Whom the Breeze Blows

Out of the four seasons, some crown autumn queen. She is breathtaking. Hers is a time of bounty and of reflection. She also casts a bittersweet spell upon us, for she is the dying season, full of memory.

You and I, what are we? We are leaves hanging upon the branch of this world, waiting for the autumn breeze to send us off into eternity. Perhaps you are still fresh and green, but even your time will come. Spring will turn to summer, and summertime shall pass before the cool air of fall.

Can you hear it? The wind blows for me. The wind blows for you. Let us be ready for our journey.

Preach the Gospel, Die, and Be Remembered

Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten.

-Nicolaus Zinzendorf

This pious saying was uttered by Moravian bishop Count Zinzendorf. It sounds so spiritual, doesn’t it? (It averages about 100 shares an hour on Christian social media.) Only problem is, it backfired. Royally. The poor fellow is mainly remembered for this quote! Ironic, eh? The wise words of Master Oogway come to mind: “One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.”

Ol’ Zinzy has been long remembered, and well he ought to be. The missionary-minded man has left a good and worthy name to posterity. In fact, according to a wiser than Zinzendorf:

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.

-Proverbs 22:1

A good name means a good reputation. It is to be known and remembered. Turns out, it’s even better than wealth. Great Scott! A good name is a treasure all its own. How’s about we preach the gospel, die, and be remembered fondly by our families, friends, and acquaintances? Could be the move.

Sunset on Summer of Solomon

All good things must come to an end, the Summer of Solomon included. I’ve enjoyed meditating upon the Proverbs over these short months. And now, as the great orb wanes and the shadows of summer stretch, I’d like to end with one more word from the man himself:

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.

-Ecclesiastes 7:8

We tend to romanticize the past. Perhaps we wish we could go back to the beginning of summer and have it all over again, but such a wish is foolish. In this life, the end is better than the beginning.

But that doesn’t sound right. How could it be? Because, for Christians, the end of all things in this life signifies their beginning in the wondrous world to come. As the seasonal guard changes, let us not get too nostalgic, but rather set our sights on the Prize to come.

Fake It Till You Make It?

Whenever we start something new, the recipe calls for a certain amount of fake it till you make it. But as a course of life, this is not the way:

A wicked man puts on a bold face,

but the upright gives thought to his ways.

-Proverbs 21:29

According to this proverb, one of the character traits of the wicked man is that he puts on a bold face. In other words, he pretends to be more than he is. He makes great boasts, even though he may deliver (and has delivered) very little.

The upright, on the other hand, is characterized by his thoughtfulness. He is guided by knowledge and carefulness, rather than open bravado. The gospel security we enjoy in Christ makes this possible (since we have nothing more to prove). With the help of his Spirit, we too can rightly consider our life and ways and walk in the freedom of simple honesty.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Desire without knowledge is not good,

and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

-Proverbs 19:2

Many of us grew up under the impression that if we wanted something bad enough we could get it, or be it, or whatever it may be. Sometimes we still think that if our passion is strong enough, it will drive us to inevitable success.

But Solomon stops this idea dead in its tracks. Desire alone is not good. Knowledge must guide it. Without understanding, we will miss our mark and lose our way, no matter how bad we want something.

Let us then seek God for wisdom, that we may move wisely as well as passionately in our pursuits. As the saying goes, Work smarter, not harder.

Imaginary Friends

A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,

and like a high wall in his imagination.

-Proverbs 18:11

It’s easy to trust in money. What could possibly go wrong if I can buy anything and everything I could ever need or wish? But the rich who trust in their riches are blinded to the harsh reality: money does not protect from everything.

Tragedy, heartbreak, sickness, and death strike the rich as well as the poor. And it’s not just money; we trust in all kinds of things to keep us happy and whole. But only the Lord is a true defense for now and forever:

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

-Proverbs 18:10

Starstruck

The world look’d upon him as a star of the first magnitude, nay as a Sun shining in the firmament, gilding the world with knowledge, scattering beams of light, sparkling out in wise and proverbial sayings.

This was written about wise King Solomon. It sheds light upon our innate desire for human stars to follow. We look up to them because they give us guidance in life, someone to imitate. But choose carefully!

The wild thing is, we are stars—leastwise, we shall be: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Dan 12:3).

Let us cultivate the quiet wisdom of godliness and in due time we too will sparkle with Christ. Even now we shine as lights in the dark.

Summer of Solomon

This summer I’ve been meditating in the Proverbs. Solomon wrote some bangers. Here’s one:

A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding

than a hundred blows into a fool.

- Proverbs 17:10

The wise heart embraces truth wherever it is found, even in a personal rebuke. The foolish person rejects reality, even when it smacks them in the face. Why? What makes the difference?

For one, the wise heart is aware of its sin. To hear that there’s sin they aren’t aware of does not surprise the wise. They believe it and search it out.

For two, the wise heart wants more wisdom and will get it wherever it can. It has already decided that the pain of reproof is worth the gain of growth.

For three, the wise heart is secure in Christ and can therefore handle personal correction and rebuke. It is at rest in the mighty gospel of God and free to develop from within God’s love and care.

Which person are you on this fine summer’s day?