Proverbs 7
I overheard someone talk about divorce as being “just another emotion and stage of life that we all must experience to know that we are truly living.”
Uh, Sorry…There are some stages of life that I just DON’T want to experience! Divorce being a big one! Buddhists have a word for this, “Dukkha.” In Buddhist philosophy Dukkha (meaning “suffering, pain or sorrow") is one of their four noble truths and it’s something we just cannot avoid in life.
This is ever more the reason Solomon encourages us to “keep the commandments of wisdom and you will live” (v. 2). Jesus said He has come to give us life, and life more abundantly. I want to live the life Jesus intends for us. That is a life full of “Chara” (the Greek word for joy). Assuredly, there will always be hardship and pain, but if I can avoid Dukkha, I will. Chara is a feeling of deep inner gladness and rejoicing, which was promised to those who abide in Christ (John 15:11). It does not depend on circumstances because it rests on the spiritual realities about God. As seductive as “the women (v. 10)” or any other seduction can be, I chose a life of Chara! I choose Joy. #choosejoy
Does this seem too simplistic? Do you see a difference between Buddhism and Christianity in relation to suffering?
Blessings,
Pastor Adrian
Uh, Sorry…There are some stages of life that I just DON’T want to experience! Divorce being a big one! Buddhists have a word for this, “Dukkha.” In Buddhist philosophy Dukkha (meaning “suffering, pain or sorrow") is one of their four noble truths and it’s something we just cannot avoid in life.
This is ever more the reason Solomon encourages us to “keep the commandments of wisdom and you will live” (v. 2). Jesus said He has come to give us life, and life more abundantly. I want to live the life Jesus intends for us. That is a life full of “Chara” (the Greek word for joy). Assuredly, there will always be hardship and pain, but if I can avoid Dukkha, I will. Chara is a feeling of deep inner gladness and rejoicing, which was promised to those who abide in Christ (John 15:11). It does not depend on circumstances because it rests on the spiritual realities about God. As seductive as “the women (v. 10)” or any other seduction can be, I chose a life of Chara! I choose Joy. #choosejoy
Does this seem too simplistic? Do you see a difference between Buddhism and Christianity in relation to suffering?
Blessings,
Pastor Adrian
Posted in Proverbs Challenge
7 Comments
I can speak from experience.....I have fallen "prey" in my distant past and consequently have experienced the devastation of unplanned pregnancy, marriage without love, and subsequent divorce. Fortunately, our God is forgiving. The lesson here is that you can gain wisdom in many ways. You don't have to choose the hard way as I did.
Shortly before rededicating my life to Christ, I spent a year in a intensive Yoga Teacher Training program. I was in a period of great 'sadness and grief' at the loss of the relationship with our daughter. I spent hours in meditation 'praying' that the Universe would help put our family back together. Finally, I 'accepted' this suffering as my 'fate' in life. But a living and all powerful God had plans for our family. It is when He stepped in...with His love, His mercy, and His POWER that the healing began. He poured His GRACE and MERCY over our family in such a beautiful way. Yes, suffering is a part of this life on earth. One of the differences between suffering as part of The 4 Noble Truths and the suffering we experience as a beloved child of God...is this...our Heavenly Father sees it all, knows it all, cares about it all and works all things out according to His will...He gives us the power and the grace to endure or He sweeps in and HEALS our suffering. For 4 years I found no answer...no power...just a reverberating emptiness as I prayed that the 'Universe/Buddha/The Devine would heal our family. We are healed, we are helped through the power of a risen Christ, who loves us deeply.
Thank you Andrea!! What happened in our family IS a testament to a Living and Loving God who has the power to redeem and heal us!!!
What a beautiful testament of your family â¤ï¸
Thank you Andrea!! What happened in our family IS a testament to a Living and Loving God who has the power to redeem and heal us!!!
By far, one of my favorite, wisdom filled chapters of Proverbs! It's packed with guidelines for renewing my mind and preventing adultery, leading my ox heart away from the "slaughterhouse".
"Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablets of your heart." Great instructions to motivate me to get in the word daily and fill my mind with scripture, a shield as you will to help deflect the attempts of temptation and steer me back on a righteous path.
In regards to suffering. I think of Rom 5:3. Where suffering is a path to hope. Suffering in all its pain and uncomfortableness, if embraced and looked at thru the right God lens, can provide a path to a stronger relationship with Jesus. Suffering - perseverance-character-hope. Easier said then done though!, without Jesus anyway.
No matter what you're searching for, if you're searching you're going to find it. For good or bad.
God gave us a wise and discerning heart and we must apply that wisdom to all areas of our lives. Wisdom is both the ability to discern what is best and the strength of our character to act upon that knowledge. God is good