Peter Misselbrook's Blog
May 21 2019 - Proverbs 2 – What our children learn from us

In these opening chapters of Proverbs, Solomon is seeking to pass on his God-given wisdom to his son, particularly, no doubt, to Rehoboam who will succeed him as king. But his words are not for Rehoboam alone; they are recorded here for our learning that we too may live to please God.

This is how Solomon begins his instruction:

My son, if you accept my words
   and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
   and applying your heart to understanding –
indeed, if you call out for insight
   and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
   and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
   and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
   from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  (Proverbs 2:1-6) 

But children learn not only from our words of exhortation; they learn even more effectively from the pattern of our lives. Solomon may have pleaded with his son to live wisely, but he failed to practice what he preached. He allowed himself to be seduced by the trappings of kingship: wealth, splendour, power and women. He allowed himself to be led away from the Lord and into idolatry. He was planting seeds that would spring up to destroy his kingdom in the reign of his son, Rehoboam.

What are our children learning from us? And not just our children – you may not have any of your own – what is the younger generation learning from our lives as older Christians? What are young Christians learning from those of us who have professed to be Christians for many years? They may have heard us speak often of the importance of trusting Christ for salvation, following his calling and devoting our lives to the service of God. But what have they learnt from the pattern of our lives and the priorities displayed in the way we behave? Words are not enough.

Like Proverbs 1, this chapter also emphasises the need for us to listen – for us to turn our ears to wisdom. How well are we listening to God and applying to our own hearts the things he is saying to us? God is always ready to give wisdom to those who ask him (v. 6, cf. James 1:5); he delights to help his children learn and grow. Why not start each day asking God in prayer for the wisdom you need to respond to the demands of that day in such a way that you will be enabled to live well. The life well lived is not a burden or a chore but is "pleasant to the soul" (v. 10), as well as being a beautiful witness to others.

It is only as we live by the wisdom that God gives us through his word and his Spirit that we will enjoy the rich blessings he has for us as his people (see vv. 20-22). Encouraging younger generations, whether or not they are our own children, to live well for God is vital if the church is to thrive under God's blessing and to be the source of blessing to the society where God has placed us now, and in years to come.

Father, forgive us that our lives have sometimes drowned out our words and have turned others away from following you. Help us to be more like Christ, the word made flesh. May your word shape our lives, enabling us to live wisely and well. May our lives lived under your blessing, and the testimony of our lips, draw many others to follow the Lord Jesus in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. So may your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

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May 21 2020 - 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 – Of poverty and riches

Often it is those who have little who seem most generous in sharing what they do have with others. Jesus commended the widow who put her two mites into the temple treasury; she had given far more than others since, out of her poverty, she had given all she had while the rich had given what they would not miss. Paul speaks highly of the Macedonian Christians; though they were very poor they pleaded with Paul to be allowed to make a contribution to the collection he was making for famine stricken Christians in Judea. They saw it as an expression of their devotion to the Lord.

Paul recounts this remarkable example of giving as he asks the Christians at Corinth to contribute to the collection. But there is an even more wonderful example that Paul would have them remember. Paul writes, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus freely gave up the riches of glory to be born into comparative poverty. He was ready to suffer the loss of all things for us – dignity, reputation and even his life. He did all of this for us that we might share in the riches of his glory. This act of sheer love and sheer grace should empower us in acts of love and of grace, making us as eager as the Macedonians to give to others in need.

Paul reminds the Corinthians that what God looks for from us is nothing like his act of grace in giving us his Son. God does not expect us to make ourselves poor so that others may be rich but rather that we might share with others in need so that there might be an ‘equality’ among members of his family. Paul reminds the Corinthians of how God provided manna for the Israelites when they were in the wilderness. There was enough for all; no one suffered want and no one had too much. So also now God has provided enough to meet the needs of all. The tragedy and scandal of our contemporary world is that many live and die in desperate need while so many in the West suffer the diseases of affluence and excess – diseases of body and of soul. The grace of Christ should be reflected in remarkable acts of grace in Christians, seeking to ensure that the riches of God’s good gifts might be shared more equitably – that our plenty might meet their need.

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)

How are these words going to shape our lives?

Living God, you are a God of grace – a God of giving. You gave us your Son. He gave himself up to the cross for us. You have given us an abundance of good things both materially and spiritually. We give you thanks for the riches of your grace and goodness. You have also given us your Spirit. Work in our hearts to make us more like your Son. May the love with which you have loved us be reflected in our love for others. May we be eager to excel in the grace of giving. May our riches supply the needs of others that together we may rejoice in your abundant goodness.

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Peter Misselbrook