Relationships can be tricky. They can lift us up and motivate us or they can devastate and crush us. Some people decide to check out of relationships altogether so they can avoid the pain.
That, however, was never God's intention.
This chapter in Proverbs examines how fragile relationships can be and where some of the landmines are that can destroy them.
Is there a particular verse that resonates with you?
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• Verse 6 - “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
ReplyDeleteOne of the greatest treasures in the world is a friend who will "tell it like it is," even when the message isn't the most desirable news I could wish to hear. As the song goes, ♪♫♪♫"Who else but a bosom buddy will tell you the whole stinkin' truth?" Fortunately, on the many occasions when I've made a fool of myself, these same friends never seem to think I've done a permanent job (though verse 22 seems to indicate it is possible to do so)!
Verses 2, 10, 11, and 17 resonate with me because I am very grateful, blessed, and thankful that I am a part of the Bammel Church family and I am also thankful for the relationships that have formed as a part of God placing me there at this time in my life. Lord, please continue to bless and and use me to be a blessing to others that I come in contact with. Pray that you will send me some more iron sharpeing men and women in my life so you can continue to mold me and develop me into the character and the person that you have called me to be. Help me to not fail a friend in need and continue to make me rely more and more on the humble confidence that can only come from your son, Jesus Christ. Forgive me for the times I don't take heed of the advice of another brother who "tells it like it is" to me because I don't like people being blunt with me even though being blunt is sometimes warranted. Keep me humble and honest. In the name of Jesus, I humbly pray, Amen.
ReplyDeleteVerse-7 "He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet."
ReplyDeleteThis verse made me think about how spoiled we are. The comforts of our nation and our lives do not compare to others around the world and even those a few blocks over. We throw away food that we won't eat as leftovers when there are people who do not know how they will feed their children that day. People who live really close to me. It makes me sad to think I won't sacrifice my time, money, or comfort to "feed God's sheep." And I mean literally feed them but that applies spiritually as well.
We have tried to make some changes in our lives the last few years so that we can be better about feeding God's sheep and making sacrifices to do that. I don't always have a happy heart about that. God loves a cheerful giver and sometimes my sacrifices comes with lots of grumbling. While I know that He understands and forgives, I strive to be better and more like Christ. I have such a long, long way to go. And I am thankful most days for the journey but there are days when I long for that peace that only Christ provides!!!
Great comments above.
ReplyDeleteI'm in Hopkinsville, KY and have felt behind since I haven't posted in two days, but as I read through chapter 27, I realized I was RIGHT on time, because I couldn't have appreciated vss. 23-27 without being at Ashley' s farm.
Vs. 23 - Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
My father-in-law, David, is this guy. Yesterday I went with him to check out the new garden, and Ash and I noticed the horses running in the field behind it. He mentioned that he has more horses and mules now than he ever has, about 20. He had a baby mule born two nights ago, his guess is about 30 days premature. He is doing everything he can do to keep it alive, including buying colostrum from another horse farmer to hand feed the baby.
I've never known anyone like him. He was born 100 years late. He hangs out with the amish...literally. He showed me a reference book last night that he gets a lot of his animal care info from. I looked at the copyright date: 1936. He was old-school before there was such a thing.
In these proverbs, the point of knowing and caring for the flocks and herds was because they, in turn, take care of you: they feed and clothe your family.
An important point in all of this is that YOUR care for THEM must come first. You must invest in them without knowing if they'll be able to hold up their end of the bargain, or even survive.
David told us that he has done everything he can for that mule, that "it's up to God now." There is something to be said for pouring whatever we have to give into others, regardless of return, and allowing God to make of our efforts what He will. But there is great satisfaction in knowing we did what we are called to do.