Read
26Having a lazy person on the job
is like a mouth full of vinegar
or smoke in your eyes.
27If you respect the Lord,
you will live longer;
if you keep doing wrong,
your life will be cut short.
28If you obey the Lord,
you will be happy,
but there is no future
for the wicked.
29The Lord protects everyone
who lives right,
but he destroys anyone
who does wrong.
30Good people will stand firm,
but the wicked will disappear
from the land.
31Honest people speak sensibly,
but deceitful liars
will be silenced.
32If you obey the Lord,
you will always know
the right thing to say.
But no one will trust you
if you tell lies.
Reflect
It would be great if we could take what this passage says at face value. The truth is there are some wonderful Christians whose life is shortened by tragedy or illness. Do Christians actually live longer than those who don’t follow Jesus? Loyal Christians in other parts of the world have been raped, murdered and butchered because of their faith. Even Jesus’ own twelve disciples, except one, according to tradition, fell victim to martyrdom. The prophet Habakkuk complained about the situation in his day:“Laws cannot be enforced; justice is always the loser; criminals crowd out honest people.”(Habakkuk 1:4)
This seems hardly what King Solomon is saying. This is why we must consider the “whole counsel of God” when reading these passages that don’t seem to measure up to reality. “Wisdom literature” – books like Proverbs, state what is generally true, not what is always true.
King Solomon offers good advice from his perspective as the King of a nation and as a world leader. Respect and obey the Lord. Your life will be full and happy. People will trust you and wherever you are God’s hand will be there for you.
There is often something going on behind the scenes that we don’t see or understand but in God’s time, (maybe in eternity), justice will be done.
Respond
Thank you Lord that you promise that those who follow you will have a life worth living. While we are perplexed at times when doing good doesn’t result in success as we envision it, help us to see the “big picture” where you will make all things right. Help us to also rejoice in your abundant grace which keeps us from getting what we deserve. Help us to do what is right – to respect you, to obey you and to be honest. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Ted Seres
Ted Seres received his B.A. in Political Science at McMaster University in Hamilton. He earned an M. Div at the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon. He is married to Susan and has two sons: Trenton and Brett. Ted is an ordained minister with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. He has been involved in pastoral ministry including church planting.