B.C. Bolt's Blog, page 31
April 3, 2013
Give and Receive
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10
Too often, we get our priorities reversed. We often pray asking for something from God. Yet we fail to give him anything. No gifts of time, money or effort are given to our Master, yet we expect to receive another blessing from Him. Solomon clearly lays out the process above. If you want to receive, you must give.
What have you given to God lately? Have you been too rushed to visit with Him? Have finances been to tight to give back to Him through others? Have you ignored opportunities to help others? Have you used your talents to glorify Him? We often think that money is the only answer to worshiping Him, but He deserves glorification in all that we do, not just our wealth.
Our prayers of assistance are not limited to just financial blessings. And neither should our gifts to Him be limited to financial gifts, either. Allow Him to be Lord of all phases of your life and worship Him in all areas. The blessings you will receive will exceed anything you can imagine!
Proverbs 3:9-10
Too often, we get our priorities reversed. We often pray asking for something from God. Yet we fail to give him anything. No gifts of time, money or effort are given to our Master, yet we expect to receive another blessing from Him. Solomon clearly lays out the process above. If you want to receive, you must give.
What have you given to God lately? Have you been too rushed to visit with Him? Have finances been to tight to give back to Him through others? Have you ignored opportunities to help others? Have you used your talents to glorify Him? We often think that money is the only answer to worshiping Him, but He deserves glorification in all that we do, not just our wealth.
Our prayers of assistance are not limited to just financial blessings. And neither should our gifts to Him be limited to financial gifts, either. Allow Him to be Lord of all phases of your life and worship Him in all areas. The blessings you will receive will exceed anything you can imagine!
April 2, 2013
Catastrophe Insurance
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Proverbs 2:10-11
We buy insurance for many things. From home and auto to personal property to body parts to weather, there is an insurance policy for almost any imaginable event. However, the insurance policy does not prevent the occurrence. Just because you have auto insurance does not mean you will not have an accident. If just means that you will be compensated.
However, Solomon promises a prevention insurance - one of its kind. He assures us that we will be protected if we pay the premiums of allowing wisdom and knowledge to dwell within us. While the premium doesn't seem too steep, the payments are difficult to pay. For wisdom and knowledge can not reside where there is foolishness and pride. No matter how hard you plead, they won't stick around.
Are your premiums paid up? Do you have assurance for today? If not, seek Him who can grant the policy! Commit your life to Him and he will save you in more ways than one!
Proverbs 2:10-11
We buy insurance for many things. From home and auto to personal property to body parts to weather, there is an insurance policy for almost any imaginable event. However, the insurance policy does not prevent the occurrence. Just because you have auto insurance does not mean you will not have an accident. If just means that you will be compensated.
However, Solomon promises a prevention insurance - one of its kind. He assures us that we will be protected if we pay the premiums of allowing wisdom and knowledge to dwell within us. While the premium doesn't seem too steep, the payments are difficult to pay. For wisdom and knowledge can not reside where there is foolishness and pride. No matter how hard you plead, they won't stick around.
Are your premiums paid up? Do you have assurance for today? If not, seek Him who can grant the policy! Commit your life to Him and he will save you in more ways than one!
April 1, 2013
Foolish Foolin' Around
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
Proverbs 1:18
Today is celebrated as April Fool's Day around the world with people going to great lengths to trick others. Unfortunately, Solomon was not joking when he wrote the verse above. People become so enthralled with the thrill of taking advantage of others they fail to see the damage to their own lives. As we have seen, his words come true much too often to those we know. They become consumed with besting another that they end up the loser themselves.
Isn't the same true when we try to live our own life without following God's guidance? We think we know better, only to find out in the end that we didn't? We try to become rich only to become poorer? And, of course, we try to become glamorous and only become hilarious. Such is the way when we try to do things on our own.
David's advice rings true still today: Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:4-5) So let's stop fooling our selves by foolin' around and remain focused on who can grant us the desires of our heart.
Proverbs 1:18
Today is celebrated as April Fool's Day around the world with people going to great lengths to trick others. Unfortunately, Solomon was not joking when he wrote the verse above. People become so enthralled with the thrill of taking advantage of others they fail to see the damage to their own lives. As we have seen, his words come true much too often to those we know. They become consumed with besting another that they end up the loser themselves.
Isn't the same true when we try to live our own life without following God's guidance? We think we know better, only to find out in the end that we didn't? We try to become rich only to become poorer? And, of course, we try to become glamorous and only become hilarious. Such is the way when we try to do things on our own.
David's advice rings true still today: Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:4-5) So let's stop fooling our selves by foolin' around and remain focused on who can grant us the desires of our heart.
March 31, 2013
Amazing Grace
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:31
Proverbs 31 is well known as the chapter of praise for the virtuous woman. I, like many others, adore my wife and the lofty verses bring a fond smile as I listen to the graceful praise for a wonderful woman. While I wish I could write such poetic praise for my wife, I am content in knowing that she fully understands how appreciative I am of the blessing that God gave me when he granted me such a wonderful wife.
However, the book of Proverbs is ended with the sobering verse listed above. I often wonder how we would fare if we were rewarded with the fruit of our hands and how well our works would praise us? If we were given our just reward for our actual efforts, how well would we fare? The nagging thoughts of idle hands, mischievous acts, bitter words and wasted opportunities cause me to shudder just how pleasant my "reward" might be. If we had to rely solely on our efforts, I am afraid many of would be displeased and embarrassed by the results!
Luckily, we do not have rely on our efforts to make it to heaven! Paul so aptly describes how we achieve our rewards in Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Paul's acts before salvation would have never granted him a place in heaven but by God's grace, he was instrumental in writing a major portion of the New Testament. My favorite song, Amazing Grace, is a constant reminder that my admission to the glories of heaven having nothing to do with my efforts but rely solely on God's amazing grace.
For a stirring rendition of the song: Celtic Woman
Proverbs 31:31
Proverbs 31 is well known as the chapter of praise for the virtuous woman. I, like many others, adore my wife and the lofty verses bring a fond smile as I listen to the graceful praise for a wonderful woman. While I wish I could write such poetic praise for my wife, I am content in knowing that she fully understands how appreciative I am of the blessing that God gave me when he granted me such a wonderful wife.
However, the book of Proverbs is ended with the sobering verse listed above. I often wonder how we would fare if we were rewarded with the fruit of our hands and how well our works would praise us? If we were given our just reward for our actual efforts, how well would we fare? The nagging thoughts of idle hands, mischievous acts, bitter words and wasted opportunities cause me to shudder just how pleasant my "reward" might be. If we had to rely solely on our efforts, I am afraid many of would be displeased and embarrassed by the results!
Luckily, we do not have rely on our efforts to make it to heaven! Paul so aptly describes how we achieve our rewards in Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Paul's acts before salvation would have never granted him a place in heaven but by God's grace, he was instrumental in writing a major portion of the New Testament. My favorite song, Amazing Grace, is a constant reminder that my admission to the glories of heaven having nothing to do with my efforts but rely solely on God's amazing grace.
For a stirring rendition of the song: Celtic Woman
March 30, 2013
Modern History
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
Proverbs 30:13
In today's world, technology seems to be advancing by leaps and bounds. Compare the size and capability of laptops or cell phones from just ten years ago. And try comparing them to the modern advances during your grandparents youthful days. It seems that items become obsolete before you can get home from the store with them.
But there is some things that never change. And human nature is one of them. While Agur wrote of these wretched actions 700 years before Christ's birth, they remain true today. No matter how many inventions and time saving tools we develop, we are still creatures with a terrible human nature. If you think long and hard about the situation, it is enough to depress you.
However, something else remains the same as well. John 3:16 remains true today as the day it was written. No greater love has ever been demonstrated and his amazing grace is just as powerful today as the Day of Atonement. Rather than being subdued by the awful human nature that persists, be thankful for a love that will last for eternity!
Proverbs 30:13
In today's world, technology seems to be advancing by leaps and bounds. Compare the size and capability of laptops or cell phones from just ten years ago. And try comparing them to the modern advances during your grandparents youthful days. It seems that items become obsolete before you can get home from the store with them.
But there is some things that never change. And human nature is one of them. While Agur wrote of these wretched actions 700 years before Christ's birth, they remain true today. No matter how many inventions and time saving tools we develop, we are still creatures with a terrible human nature. If you think long and hard about the situation, it is enough to depress you.
However, something else remains the same as well. John 3:16 remains true today as the day it was written. No greater love has ever been demonstrated and his amazing grace is just as powerful today as the Day of Atonement. Rather than being subdued by the awful human nature that persists, be thankful for a love that will last for eternity!
March 29, 2013
Partners in Crime
Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
Proverbs 29:24
Solomon aptly describes the feeling of someone who recognizes that he has partnered with a thief. I rarely doubt if the unknowing individual awakes in the morning with a resolution to perform a heinous crime. Rather, he is led down the slippery slope by enticements that have repercussions of which he is not aware.
Doesn't the same happen to us? While our "friends" don't convince us to rob a bank, they do convince to lower our guard against sin. Often, we are convinced that everyone is doing it and there is nothing wrong with.... a little gossip, taking advantage of others, taking something that doesn't belong to us, looking at things we shouldn't, and the list goes on and on. While the offenses rarely seem egregious at first and rarely does anyone get hurt initially, the final toll on our hearts are beyond measure. Only after the sin has matured do we fully realize the true impact of our actions.
David clearly felt similarly threatened in Psalms 140. In Psalm 140:4 he recognizes the risk: Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. But unlike us in many situations, he also recognizes his protection in Psalm 140:8 - Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
Do you feel tempted today? If so, follow David's example in Psalm 140 and seek the strength to resist from the One who is always able to protect us from becoming partners in crime!
Proverbs 29:24
Solomon aptly describes the feeling of someone who recognizes that he has partnered with a thief. I rarely doubt if the unknowing individual awakes in the morning with a resolution to perform a heinous crime. Rather, he is led down the slippery slope by enticements that have repercussions of which he is not aware.
Doesn't the same happen to us? While our "friends" don't convince us to rob a bank, they do convince to lower our guard against sin. Often, we are convinced that everyone is doing it and there is nothing wrong with.... a little gossip, taking advantage of others, taking something that doesn't belong to us, looking at things we shouldn't, and the list goes on and on. While the offenses rarely seem egregious at first and rarely does anyone get hurt initially, the final toll on our hearts are beyond measure. Only after the sin has matured do we fully realize the true impact of our actions.
David clearly felt similarly threatened in Psalms 140. In Psalm 140:4 he recognizes the risk: Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. But unlike us in many situations, he also recognizes his protection in Psalm 140:8 - Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
Do you feel tempted today? If so, follow David's example in Psalm 140 and seek the strength to resist from the One who is always able to protect us from becoming partners in crime!
March 28, 2013
Unseen Riches
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Proverbs 28:6
Often we don't always see everything. While we may scrutinize an individual and evaluate his attire, mannerisms and apparent wealth, we often fail to fully evaluate the individual. We are too concerned with the worldly measure of a man, wealth and possessions, that we fail to recognize the spiritual wealth of an individual. We even evaluate spiritual wealth by worldly standards: how often they attend church, how much they contribute to the church and how many positions they hold within the church.
Luckily, God does not use the same standard. He is all-knowing and knows our heart. While it may cause shivers down the spine of those evaluating others, those who are close to Him smile with appreciation. God's value system is totally reversed from the worlds. Look at Job - even after he initially lost all financial strength, God still spoke highly of him (Job 2:3). Even with no worldly possessions, God still called him a perfect and upright man.
Where do your riches belong? Have you been investing in the long-term program or greedily seeking the short term fame on earth? Invest in His riches and they will pay dividends forever. While the riches may be unseen, there is One who knows your spiritual value.
March 27, 2013
Gardening 101
Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
Proverbs 27:18
Just as the trees start budding, Solomon gives us some basic gardening guidance - you get to eat the fruit of your efforts. The same is true in our relationships with others. As we fertilize the relationship with time, effort and a heaping helping of love, we grow a strong relationship with a fruit worth waiting for.
Do you have relationships that are wilting like flowers in the heat of summer? A kind word or a friendly gesture may be all it takes to perk it back to life. Don't wait for the relationship to go to the plant cemetery, take the initiative to revive it!
Proverbs 27:18
Just as the trees start budding, Solomon gives us some basic gardening guidance - you get to eat the fruit of your efforts. The same is true in our relationships with others. As we fertilize the relationship with time, effort and a heaping helping of love, we grow a strong relationship with a fruit worth waiting for.
Do you have relationships that are wilting like flowers in the heat of summer? A kind word or a friendly gesture may be all it takes to perk it back to life. Don't wait for the relationship to go to the plant cemetery, take the initiative to revive it!
March 26, 2013
Improper Association
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
Proverbs 26:1
While Solomon was referencing snow in the summer, it is officially spring and we continue to get ice and snow. It is hard to create an image of tulips and daffodils bursting forth in bloom when there is snow still on the ground. The image just does not create the same feeling of renewal associated with spring.
The same conflict arises when we claim to be Christians but fail to act any differently than those we are trying to convert. When there is no visible difference, people fail to see any benefit to making such a commitment. However, when we are truly committed to Christ, our behavior reflects him vice the world. Then there is a visible difference!
Help prevent improper association by actually reflecting the love of God vice the love of worldly attractions. It will prevent confusion in others!
Proverbs 26:1
While Solomon was referencing snow in the summer, it is officially spring and we continue to get ice and snow. It is hard to create an image of tulips and daffodils bursting forth in bloom when there is snow still on the ground. The image just does not create the same feeling of renewal associated with spring.
The same conflict arises when we claim to be Christians but fail to act any differently than those we are trying to convert. When there is no visible difference, people fail to see any benefit to making such a commitment. However, when we are truly committed to Christ, our behavior reflects him vice the world. Then there is a visible difference!
Help prevent improper association by actually reflecting the love of God vice the love of worldly attractions. It will prevent confusion in others!
March 25, 2013
Forest Fires of Contention
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Proverbs 25:9-10
Too often, it is more convenient to vent our frustrations about an individual to someone else rather than simply confronting the issue. And then the rumor begins and it spreads like a forest fire. It devours everything in its path and leaves nothing but ruin in its wake. And you have the same feeling of desolation when you are finally approached by the offending individual and challenged with your own statement. We are now put on the defensive trying to justify our statement that has come full circle and left a path of destruction in its wake.
While we may be able to explain the cause of our initial frustration and work through the differences with the individual, we cannot remove the pain and hurt caused by the vicious rumors that circulated. Solomon urges us in the verses above to simply work through the issue with the offending party and stop the gossip. While our frustration and/or intimidation may not make it easy to address the issue, the results are much less painful than the embarrassment associated with the rumor coming full circle. And the results will have a greater chance of success if we approach the situation with a Christ-like love rather than a confrontational approach. Remember, Jesus rebuked those around Him but we never hear of Him gossiping!
Join me in resolving to directly approach annoying situations or to keep my comments to myself. As the commercial goes, "Only you can prevent forest fires" of contention.
