Proverbs
18 reminds me of the first game we learned in school, called Follow
the Leader. Everyone followed
the path of the person in front of the line, mimicking their actions.
We quickly found that some people were no fun to follow. Often, we
would splinter off into small groups, particularly when we marched
outside to see all the new distractions. I think Solomon is warning
us to be careful who we choose to follow in life’s playground. He
describes some of the lessons from recess. First he points to the
trouble maker. “An
unfriendly
person pursues selfish ends
and against
all sound judgment
starts
quarrels“. These
people seemed to always spoil the fun by arguing. They were excluded
from games whenever possible. Next he describes the “Fools”
who “find
no pleasure in understanding“.
They do not want to listen; instead they “delight
in airing their own opinions“.
You remember them because they fought every day. “The
lips of fools… invite a beating… and their lips are a snare to
their very lives“.
These are the dividers that cast blame on everyone else. Next he
mentions “The
words of a gossip are like choice morsels“.
Like a baited hook, the gossip is constantly trying to get us to
bite. Finally he points out the “One
who is slack in his work“.
This was the smart kid that never did the work, but instead, just
got by. Perhaps you knew these kids? Perhaps you know them today?
Some
adults still have scars from grade school. They still feel excluded,
or abused, or damaged by lies. Solomon offers this home base in the
midst of the game, “The
name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and
are safe“.
It is open to all; it is a place to heal. Where do you place your
trust? “The
wealth
of the rich is their fortified city“.
Success brings many things, but it cannot provide comfort to the
soul. There is a step all must take to find true inner peace; there
is a God that is greater than His creation and He deserves our
worship. We cannot make ourselves worthy, but “humility
comes before honor“.
Much of our play made us stronger. Yes there were some broken bones
and bruises too. Solomon highlights the one thing that continues to
hurt. “The
human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can
bear?”
Some try to ignore it, others try therapy and others self-medicate.
Solomon says “The
heart of the discerning acquires
knowledge,
for the ears of the wise seek it out“.
What is missing? Forgiveness from sin!
Finally
Solomon breaks through the childishness. “In
a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward
and cross-examines“.
You have been holding onto bitterness for too long. He rightly
explains, “A
brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes
are like the barred gates of a citadel“.
You have taken your ball and gone home rather than hear the words of
reconciliation. You stubbornly hold onto the past. Listen, “The
tongue has the power of life and
death“.
There is no need to be a loner. It is time to get back in the game;
“He
who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the
Lord“.
There are many that beckon us to follow, but not all of them are
good leaders. Solomon concludes, “One
who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend
who sticks closer than a brother“.
His
name is
Jesus
and He has the words you have been unwilling to hear. Jesus called
to each of the disciples and he calls to you today, “Follow
Me“.
Are you tired of being the last one picked? Ephesians chapter one
says that you were “chosen
before the foundation of the world“.
Tag, you’re it!