Love Covers

Hatred stirs up strife … 

...but love covers all transgressions

Proverbs 10:12

Wisdom, worship, faith and discipleship have been great studies for me.  But it wasn't until I started appreciating the depth of love that I really found what was true.  Love is the ring that rules all the others – it’s the key to everything, even wisdom. 

This morning in my Proverbs time the verse above came to me, and there it was, the word “Love” again.  And this passage brought to mind a few others.  Love and wisdom - the truth is: love is the highest wisdom.  

I challenge you who read this to “three column” these … to make a real effort to DO and BE these things as a human being.  Make a list, pray prayers, or do whatever helps you … but OBEY this.

He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.  - Proverbs 17:9 

 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.   -  James 5:19-20 

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins   1 Peter 4:8  

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart  -  1 Peter 1:22

Does God Listen?

Got this note from a friend today:   

"Found this gem today:" If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
Proverbs 28:9

What do you suppose this proverb means?  

I'd like you to take a moment and read the words and pray and think to yourself exactly what this may mean.  Challenge yourself to find the answer, and once you've thought it through in your head, read on... 

When I was young, I thought this verse meant that if we don't study the bible, God won't grant our wishes. Now I know better (sorta).  

First, when it says "the law," that's really "the Torah."  We know the Torah sometimes as the first five books of the bible, sometimes as the law of Moses, or sometimes the Old Testament.  So if we take this seriously, we have to study the O.T. in order to get God to hear our prayers?  If that's true, then it's no wonder many of your prayers go unanswered, right?  How many of you have studied the OT as diligently even as, say, English, fashion or even math?  

But then again ... this proverb also is in the OT - and written to/for Israel about 3,000 years ago.  So maybe it's just true for them, and not for us???  

I ask these questions, because I want you to learn to ask questions like that when you're studying the Proverbs.  Seeking wisdom in the proverbs takes some practice, some work and some thought.  And speaking of that, there's one other thing you want to do when studying Proverbs: compare different versions.  Proverbs is very hard to translate, so check each translation and see how they differ.  

Now the Real Issue - Is God even listening to you? 

Does God hear ALL prayers, from ALL people, ALL the time?  

Obviously not. 

This isn't the only passage in the bible that speaks of a time when God isn't listening ... 

Behold, Yahweh’s hand is not so short that it can’t save; nor is His ear so dull that it can’t hear.  But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He doesn't hear.Isaiah 59:1-2

Now let's focus on our proverb.  

If God wouldn't listen to the prayers of ancient Israel unless they listened to the Torah, what must we do to make sure our prayers aren't also ignored by God? 

Answer: If you don't care enough to listen to God, He is indifferent to your cries for help when you have gotten what you deserve.  

Notice again that in the proverb it says the person has turned his/her ear away from "hearing" the law.  In other words, we listen to God (or not) and then He listens to us (or not).  

What happens when we refuse to listen to God?  We behave foolishly.  

What are the consequences of folly and sinfulness?  Pain, hurt, suffering. 

Have you ever warned someone not to do something, then they did it, and then cried to you for rescue?  Sometimes we need to live with the consequences of our bad behavior for the lesson to soak-in.  God knows this. 

God is never surprised, because He knows the future.  But even if He didn't, it is easy to see that one who wastes money is going to be broke.  One who drinks too much too often is going to have trouble.  One who behaves immorally will suffer consequences.  And one who is lazy in seeking God or bearing fruit will also "reap what he has sown."  

 Don’t be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.   Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.Galatians 6:7-9 

Listen to (study) God's word like your soul depends upon it, because it does.  And not only your soul, but the souls of everyone around you is affected by your actions.  

Will you seek God's will by finding it in God's word?  Or - will you listen to other sources, including your own stupid self ... and then have the nerve to call out to God when things go awry?  

Abraham tried to warn Sodom & Gomorrah, Noah warned his generation, the prophets tried, and so did Jesus.  If you listen to the ten spies along with the majority, and refuse the word of God from the two spies ... don't be surprised if you die in the desert.  

After all, it 's not really God who isn't listening - it's you. 

Consequences

My brother Ross and I were talking recently and he told me of some advice he had given and the advice was ignored.  As we talked, it occurred to me that the advice Ross gave was based on the outcome of this person’s actions … the consequences.  Have you ever thought about the fact that consequences are the basis for all wisdom? 

Here’s some advice a father (David?) gave his son (Solomon?) as found in Proverbs:

When I was a son to my father, tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, then he taught me and said to me,

“Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live; acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Don’t forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

Don’t forsake her, and she’ll guard you;

Love her, and she’ll watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; & with all your acquiring, get understanding.

Prize her, and she’ll exalt you; she’ll honor you if you embrace her.

She’ll place on your head a garland of grace;

She’ll present you with a crown of beauty.”       Proverbs 4:3-9

Do you see that here the father is telling his son why he should seek wisdom?  It’s about the consequences – so his son will receive honor, grace, and protection.  Consequences

We don’t usually like thinking about the consequences of our actions.  We usually choose the short-term benefit over the long-term one.  That’s why many of us over-eat and don’t exercise … consequence = weak and fat.  It’s why we don’t have savings accounts that grow, but rather have increasing debt … consequence = burden to others.  And sadly, it’s why we sin … consequence = loss of our soul or that of others. 

The video here is the result of someone who didn't consider the consequences:     

If you find that unsettling, consider the eternal consequences when we fail spiritually.  Or as Jesus asked: “What will a man give in exchange for his soul”? 

Although there are unintended consequences, most of the time we know the consequences of our actions, if we will stop and think about it.  Sadly, we make choices based on what’s “OK technically” or what’s “fun” or what gives us some satisfaction or frees us from discomfort, fear or guilt. (selfishness)

Sometimes we even make choices intended to be ‘obedient’ to God – but we don’t consider the consequences, and so hurt others.  This was a theme of problems between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day.  He called them “blind guides,” and the consequences of bad leadership is that not only is the shepherd doomed, but the sheep under his care are also jeopardized. 

 “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?  Luke 6:39

Consider the failure of the watchman in Ezekiel 33 or that of the shepherds in Ezekiel 34, for example. 

Disciples of Jesus who want to be like him must remember that the consequences of our actions and speech can have eternal results for more than just ourselves!

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.  For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.  James 3:1-2

Consider consequences as you make your resolutions this year.  Maybe you should resolve to act with love from faith, even when it means you will suffer in the short term. 

Wisdom happens when we behave and speak so as to produce fruit for the kingdom.  We are foolish when we do that which causes spiritual harm to others. 

Consider the consequences before you act or speak – it’s the wise thing to do

The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.  He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.  Proverbs 5:22-23

“wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” - Jesus  

Luke 7:35