Today we begin Proverbs. Proverbs is kind of like the sayings portion of Benjamin Franklin’s "Poor Richard’s Almanac". The sayings in Poor Richard Almanac give advice like “‘Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them" and “If your riches are yours, why don’t you take them with you to the other world?”
Proverbs gives similar advice. Proverbs gives practical advice for practical living with advice like “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs is about doing and acting the right way. The key piece of advice from Proverbs comes in the first chapter. “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Fear can compel us to action and motivate us. I believe that peace is the the culmination of wisdom that comes from working through fear. New fears will always arise, but the trick is to know God so well that we are both motivated and peaceful.
Contrastingly, the sixth chapter of Galatians concludes with a letter whose main point is that faith and belief are more important than action, and specifically more important than the action of circumcision. Paul is clear to say that works are important, but works are not the source of our salvation. Salvation comes from God alone. Salvation does not come through circumcision. Taken together, Proverbs 1-3 and Galatians 6 give us a good balance between practical advice for practical action, and the importance of believing, not just doing.
Keep Reading. Spencer
Proverbs gives similar advice. Proverbs gives practical advice for practical living with advice like “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs is about doing and acting the right way. The key piece of advice from Proverbs comes in the first chapter. “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Fear can compel us to action and motivate us. I believe that peace is the the culmination of wisdom that comes from working through fear. New fears will always arise, but the trick is to know God so well that we are both motivated and peaceful.
Contrastingly, the sixth chapter of Galatians concludes with a letter whose main point is that faith and belief are more important than action, and specifically more important than the action of circumcision. Paul is clear to say that works are important, but works are not the source of our salvation. Salvation comes from God alone. Salvation does not come through circumcision. Taken together, Proverbs 1-3 and Galatians 6 give us a good balance between practical advice for practical action, and the importance of believing, not just doing.
Keep Reading. Spencer
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