Proverbs 27
When I was in 4th grade, black canvas vans were all the rage in school. If you were anybody on the playground, you sported those shoes. They were slick and cool and pricey! To authenticate them as “true vans” they had a little white tab on the side (almost unnoticeable) which read “vans” which distinguished them from the identical knockoffs.
Growing up, my family was not financially well-to-do. Knowing I wanted those shoes “so bad,” my mom bought me a knockoff pair from Payless Shoe Store. I wore those things so proudly on the first day of school, until kids noticed “no white tag” on the side. As you can image, I got made fun of to the point of tears. (Maybe this is why I’m such a shoe guy today?)
I was not crying because I was angry or mad; I was crying because I was jealous of the cool kids. Verse 4 reminded me of this story, “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?”
Jealousy is a powerful force that can lead to much destruction. It starts in our hearts and eats away at us. If we don’t tackle it head on, it can seep into every area of our life to the point that it consumes us. Jealousy can take on many shapes and forms. My jealousy was rooted in the opinion, affirmation and acceptance from other people.
Do you struggle with jealousy? Remember, it was jealousy that motivated the religious leaders to arrange the death of Jesus (Matt. 27:18). It is this same jealousy, when unchecked, that will bring death to our relationships, to love, to opportunities, and will grieve our souls. The bottom line with jealousy: We can turn it off. The key to biblically overcoming jealousy is to discern the roots of our jealousy and then battle them with the truth of God's Word. When we realize jealousy can be counteracted with God’s Truth – it frees us to let it go. A better life awaits on the other side of jealousy.
Blessings,
Pastor Adrian
Growing up, my family was not financially well-to-do. Knowing I wanted those shoes “so bad,” my mom bought me a knockoff pair from Payless Shoe Store. I wore those things so proudly on the first day of school, until kids noticed “no white tag” on the side. As you can image, I got made fun of to the point of tears. (Maybe this is why I’m such a shoe guy today?)
I was not crying because I was angry or mad; I was crying because I was jealous of the cool kids. Verse 4 reminded me of this story, “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?”
Jealousy is a powerful force that can lead to much destruction. It starts in our hearts and eats away at us. If we don’t tackle it head on, it can seep into every area of our life to the point that it consumes us. Jealousy can take on many shapes and forms. My jealousy was rooted in the opinion, affirmation and acceptance from other people.
Do you struggle with jealousy? Remember, it was jealousy that motivated the religious leaders to arrange the death of Jesus (Matt. 27:18). It is this same jealousy, when unchecked, that will bring death to our relationships, to love, to opportunities, and will grieve our souls. The bottom line with jealousy: We can turn it off. The key to biblically overcoming jealousy is to discern the roots of our jealousy and then battle them with the truth of God's Word. When we realize jealousy can be counteracted with God’s Truth – it frees us to let it go. A better life awaits on the other side of jealousy.
Blessings,
Pastor Adrian
Posted in Proverbs Challenge
12 Comments
I am writing this on Sunday night....not having seen Pastor Adrian's comments yet. As I read Proverbs 27, one verse stood WAY out....verse 19.
"As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart"
This is my favorite verse (so far) in all of Proverbs.... If your heart is not right, your life won't be right, and vice versa.....if you want to get your life right, start by getting your heart right. Your life will reflect whatever is in your heart. It seems obvious in others, but not always in ourselves. We want our lives to be a certain way and we try to change things external to us...often things we have no control over, which leads to disappointment and frustration. Ironically, changing our heart is not only the most effective way to change our lives, it is something we have full control over. Pastor Adrian talks often about what's in our heart and this simple verse really brought it home for me.
And by the way, Proverbs 27 (verse 15) is at least the third chapter that has specifically mentioned quarrelsome wives. Is that still a thing?
Mike,
Yes, they do. Wait until Proverbs 31. It describes your wife, Carolyn, beautifully. You are blessed! Judy
Such good words, Pastor Adrian
Mike,
Yes, they do. Wait until Proverbs 31. It describes your wife, Carolyn, beautifully. You are blessed! Judy
Mike, I really appreciate the reminder about the heart. Such an important truth. It's no wonder Jesus said, "what comes out of the heart defiles a man." It all starts with our heart. In proverbs 4, it said we are to guard our hearts above all else for everything we do flows from it. Such a powerful truth. The Hebrew translation for guard is "to keep above all keeping." So, above ALL you guard - your marriage, family, bank account, passwords, your car or house - guard your heart with more vigilance than anything else.
Mike,
Yes, they do. Wait until Proverbs 31. It describes your wife, Carolyn, beautifully. You are blessed! Judy
Such good words, Pastor Adrian
Mike,
Yes, they do. Wait until Proverbs 31. It describes your wife, Carolyn, beautifully. You are blessed! Judy
I was wondering the same thing!
Proverbs 21:9 and 25:24:
"It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife."
**Was the corner of the housetop Solomon's "doghouse"? I've been there! lol!**
Proverbs 27:15-16 (ESV)
A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one's right hand.
Mike,
Yes, they do. Wait until Proverbs 31. It describes your wife, Carolyn, beautifully. You are blessed! Judy
Such good words, Pastor Adrian
Mike,
Yes, they do. Wait until Proverbs 31. It describes your wife, Carolyn, beautifully. You are blessed! Judy
Mike, I really appreciate the reminder about the heart. Such an important truth. It's no wonder Jesus said, "what comes out of the heart defiles a man." It all starts with our heart. In proverbs 4, it said we are to guard our hearts above all else for everything we do flows from it. Such a powerful truth. The Hebrew translation for guard is "to keep above all keeping." So, above ALL you guard - your marriage, family, bank account, passwords, your car or house - guard your heart with more vigilance than anything else.
Mike,
Yes, they do. Wait until Proverbs 31. It describes your wife, Carolyn, beautifully. You are blessed! Judy
Such good words, Pastor Adrian
Mike,
Yes, they do. Wait until Proverbs 31. It describes your wife, Carolyn, beautifully. You are blessed! Judy
Verse 9; the blessing of a friend who gives it to you straight, you can speak words of truth to you because of a friendship based on Trust...these are rare friendships, meant to be cherished.
The Passion Translation translates this verse poetically; "Sweet friendship refreshes the soul and awakens our heart with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God's presence."
P.s...Mike, you are right, there is definitely a repetition of verses concerning "conflict relationships"...from personal experience, I would phrase it "the quarrelsome person".
Isn't this passage wonderfully posed about these, sometimes, rare friendships?!! Loved it too!!!
Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.
Proverbs 27:14 ESV
Although night owls might use this against a morning person, I think it is more a wise piece of advice about timing. Doesn't matter what you say or how well meaning, if you don't choose a good time for the hearer, it's not going to be helpful or accomplish its intent.
I love that verse. And in full disclosure, I've used that at times against morning people!!!
Hmmm, jealousy...
Proverbs 27:4 uses that word in a simple statement that hides larger issues.
The Word contains 'jealous' as an attribute of God if we look further.
If one researches the etymology of jealous/jealousy, it has connection to envy, being possessive (I wish I could have my neighbor's shoes), and also to being zealous. or 'passionate about' (even possessive - see Exodus 34:14).
My thought is that the passion of jealousy, like most emotions, needs to be sprinkled with wisdom and guided by truth.
In Ex 34:14 God is 'jealous' that we go to Him, and Him alone, for our identity and direction. Seems to me that this jealousy is both wise and true.
Perhaps leave all other forms and opportunities for jealousy to lie in the dust where they belong?
Just a thought....
v19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man. Oh how I love this one!
Jealousy? Envy? There's certainly plenty from years gone by. My shoe jealousy was white go go boots in third grade! Never got them.
Pastor Adrian, Mike Kalish,
Same verse stood out to me as well! My version says: "As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person." This hit home to me as I found I am jealous, in pursuit of a relationship I was praying for and found that I've then, bcuz of this jealousy(that I didn't recognize as such until this passage) I allowed myself to be blinded to someone unworthy of me; now I see I was settling, compromising myself to the brink of death trying to obtain it.
Pastor Adrian, thank you for always being so vulnerable with us that we can also be vulnerable and grow.
I so much appreciate your heart for your flock.