Read
26Giving an honest answer
is a sign
of true friendship.
27Get your fields ready
and plant your crops
before starting a home.
28Don't accuse anyone
who isn't guilty.
Don't ever tell a lie
29or say to someone,
“I'll get even with you!”
Reflect
Honesty and hard work: these values were once coveted, but in mainstream society today they have lost their lustre. Life is fast paced, honesty is often blurred with half-truths in order to achieve desired results, and hard work is quickly abandoned in favour of easier routes that promise the same end goal.
Here we’re reminded to get back to basics. Honesty is not always easy; however it’s always right. When a friend asks for your honest opinion, you owe them the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable. Truth said with tact and love can have a huge impact, affecting life decisions and providing important perspective. When we’re connected with the Holy Spirit, we are often used for exactly this purpose: providing wisdom where it’s needed and according to his word.
Our day to day can quickly pull us in many directions, taking our attention and causing us to lose focus. But we must always remember to take a breath, speak truth, and put one foot in front of the other, especially with tasks that overwhelm us. Just as we are told in this passage to first get our fields ready, then plant our crops, and lastly, build our home (v 27), we must remember to first put our heads down and accomplish our work before we can expect a reward. Hard work may be old fashioned, but it is never outdated.
Respond
Heavenly Father, thank you for guiding us with your Word when our lives become messy and blurred. Please plant in us a hunger for hard work and integrity so that we may become more Christ-like with each passing day. In your holy name we pray, Amen.
Julie Fitz-gerald
Julie Fitz-Gerald is a freelance journalist, writer and editor based in Uxbridge, Ontario. She has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Ryerson University and writes about diverse topics from faith to food to clean water. As a regular contributor to Faith Today, as well as numerous trade publications, she is inspired by the stories she gets to tell. Julie’s business has grown over the years to include corporate writing and editing services, ghost writing and book editing.