Closer Day By Day

There is a story of Pericles, the ancient great leader of the Greeks. From time to time, he will issue decrees which are inscribed on plaques and displayed in prominent locations around the city. On one occassion, an ambassador came to Pericles asking that a certain decree be changed and the plaque removed.

“I am sorry,” replied Pericles, “but I cannot do that. We have a law that once a decree has been posted, the plaque carrying the decree cannot be removed.”

“But,” argued the ambassador, “we are not asking you to remove the plaque.  Just turn it around to face the wall so that we won’t have to see it.”

That sounds very much like the attitudes many today take towards sin.

Although we are still aware of God’s laws, those laws are “turned around” so that one is no longer a criminal or even a sinner but is merely “socially maladjusted”.

A couple living in adultery is demonstrating an “open lifestyle.”   Homosexuality is now promoted as an “alternate lifestyle”.  Those who murder unborn babies are called “pro-choice” and not “anti-life”.  And the list goes on.

Indeed, society prefers euphemisms and does not call a spade a spade.  But this “politically correct” use of words is certainly not biblically correct.  No where in the Bible do you read that we are allowed to turn the decrees of God to the wall and thus ignore them.

Today’s reading from Proverbs focuses on sexual immorality and detestable sins - sins which many in the world are already turning a blind eye to.  We as Christians, cannot afford to ignore them because these things pertain to our eternal life.

Bible Passage:  Proverbs 5-6

Instead of going through the 2 chapters, I thought that I would just focus on Proverbs 6:16-19.  Last week’s reading showed us that gaining wisdom is a means of avoiding sin and the trouble it brings.  And today’s reading will emphasize to us the importance of guarding against certain sins.

Run From Evil

If I am to give put a theme for today’s reading, it will be “Run from Evil”.  And in the following verses, we see 7 things which are an abomindation to the Lord…

¹⁶ These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
¹⁷ A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

Proverbs 6:16-19

The lists of sins listed here is not meant to be exhaustive but rather a representation of the wide range of sins that plagued society at that time.  We may be able to add more sins to the list but one cannot deny that all the sins listed here are still prevalent today.

A Proud Look

There are some people who just have a haughty look that makes you feel “why so proud?”.  But when you get to know them, you realize that they are in no way proud and it is just how they look.

But here, I believe, the author of the proverbs are refering to those who by virtue of a proud and arrogant heart, shows disdain for others.  And such an attitude actually shows contempt toward God.  We are most familiar with some of the following verses that shows us that God deals severely with this sin.

God will “bring low those whose eyes are haughty” (Psalm 18:27).

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6)

Job asks God to “look at every proud man and bring him low” (Job 40:11)

A Lying Tongue

Lying is something that all of us are familiar with.

In the Bible, we do read about how Ananias and Sapphira were punished with death when they chose to lie to the Holy Spirit and misrepresented their contributions to the church (Acts 5:1-11).  In Revelations, we are told that all liars are subject to eternal punishment (Revelation 21:8).  And here, it is listed as one of the abomindations to God.

And with it comes a very common dilemma - is there ever a good time to tell a lie?  Are there good lies (i.e. white lies)?

This is something for us to consider.  And I would love to know what you think.

Hands that Shed Innocent Blood

Violence surrounds us today.  Despite the best efforts of psychologists, sociologists, religious leaders, politicians, educators… the situation seems to get worse. And the media - movies, tv shows and digital gaming - does not help much as there is a tendency to glorify violence.

I guess that is where the gospel comes in.  We need the love of Christ to change the hatred and anger in many people’s lives into love.  We need the Word of God to guide our lives so that we will know the boundaries of our freedom and not commit sin.

A Heart That Devises Wicked Schemes

All of us at times struggle with wicked schemes or evil thoughts.

I read somewhere that said that while we can’t keep eagles from soaring above our heads, we can keep them from building nests in our hair.  The implication being that while we may struggle with wicked thoughts at times, we must not allow it to nourish in our minds so much so that we start to plot wicked plans.

And one way to keep our heart from evil schemes is to fill it with the things of God all the time.  Set our minds on the things of God (Col 3:2) and on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil 4:8).

Feet That Are Quick To Rush Into Evil

Our feet can be used in a variety of ways.

It can be shod with the gospel of peace - so that we go out and tell everyone about the great message of peace that we have.

But strangely, our feet seems to move very slowly for this action.

However, our feet always seems to move faster when we are called to do something else - more often than not something that is not good.

We are reminded that evil can also be defined as knowing what is good but choosing not to do it.

Have we ever considered why we are so reluctant to take leave for Spiritual Meetings but the moment an excellent offer for a tour package comes along, we book it and apply our leave for it?

Or we rather attend a concert than another home fellowship?  Or surf the internet rather than reading the Bible?

A False Witness who Pours Out Lies and A Man Who Stirs Up Dissension

We will take the last 2 abominations together.

When I look at these 2 destable sins, it gives me an idea that these sins serves to disrupt the harmony and love within a church.  It will also affect how the Church progresses and stop it from achieving its goals.

Some of the sins previously mentioned affect only individuals but discord can disrupt the work of the entire group (Titus 1:11) which makes it a very dangerous sin indeed.

So we must be wary of these sins and strive to make sure we are not part of the group that bears false witness and stirs up dissensions.

Parents!  Teachers!  Everyone!  You Have A Part To Play!

I had intended to stop but I think it will be a remiss if I do not point out quickly Proverbs 6:20-23

²⁰ My son, keep your father’s commands
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

²¹ Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck.

²² When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.

²³ For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,

Although the warnings are for adultery, the principle still holds firm for us to guard against sin.

All of us have a part to play in helping to keep one another from sin.  Some of us are parents.  Some of us are REU teacher.  Some of us do not have any special role in church.  But we all collectively have an important role to keep God’s commands and to help others keep them too.

^“My son, keep your father’s commands
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”

Proverbs 6:20 reminds us to listen to God’s Words that we have receive from our parents and follow them.  It also tells me the importance of us teaching these commands to others as well.  And making sure that they do not forsake it.

“Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck.”

And Proverbs 6:21 tells us that we cannot just keep the commandments by just an occasional observance of them.  They must be permanently lodged in our mind and conscience.  To ensure that this will happen, we kust discuss them with others, be involved in Bible Study groups, and listen to sermons regularly.

Some people complain that they never hear anything new in sermons or lessons.  And in a sense, they are right.

The Lord’s commandments are certainly not new.  But we need to hear them over and over again, lest Satan finds a way to dislodge them from our hearts.

When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.

Proverbs 6:22 is somewhat similar to Deut 6:7 where keeping the commandments of the Lord is a 24/7/365 job!

Indeed in our lives today, we are so busy that we tend to not think about God and His commands until we step into Church.  But this should not be the case and the important thing is that we must be able to show to others at all times that we are His disciples in the way we talk and behave.

For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,

Proverbs 6:23

We would surely never walk into a unfamiliar room without the lights switched on.  Because in so doing, we are setting ourselves up for a fall and be hurt.

Yet, many people try to make their way through the rooms of life without any spiritual light at all.

How much safer is we just allow the light of the Word of God light our way?

Conclusion

I am sorry for this long posting today.  But the Words of Life from Proverbs 5 and 6 has left a lasting impression on me and I know that without the word of God in our lives and keeping them in our hearts, we will never be able to withstand the evil seductress and lose our way in this world of sin.

So the conclusion of it all is this…

“…Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.”

Eccl 12:13

May we all be found faithful.