Proverbs in the Bible or divinely inspired

Proverbs 10:3-8

It may be wise to share what the Holman Christian Standard Bible has to tell us about a Proverb in the notes. “What is a proverb?  A secular proverb seeks to state a general (not absolute truth, such as “a fool and his money are soon parted.”  In addition to all this, the proverbs in the book of Proverbs are also divinely inspired.  Since they come from God, we know they are true and can be certain they are beneficial.”  Now I cherry picked what they wrote, but I gave you I hope what is most important.  Today we have five verses we will ponder and see what insights the Holy Spirit gives to us.

“The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.  A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.  He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.  Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.”

Verse three, “The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.”  This verse came into my thinker; “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”  (Psalm 37:25)  I, like the Psalmist, have also witnessed the same truth, and many of us have been foolish in the way we have to handle the blessing of God but aren’t you glad God looks on the heart and not our actions.

Verses four and five need to be together; “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.  He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.”  My dad was a man of integrity; he never had much in the way of materials, but by his actions taught me the value of work.  I have observed men who have college degrees, talent, and skills, I often wished I had worked hard to keep from working, and many of them were failures.  The older I get it seems I have an understanding that God designed us to work, and it is in accomplishment that we find joy.  But we have a pampered group of young people who have not been allowed to work, and they are some of the most unhappy and angry people on this earth.  Most are very smart in the foolishness of this world but ignorant of the ways of God, and Lady Wisdom has made clear that wisdom only begins with the fear of God.

Verses 6,7 and 8, “Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.”

When I read this, our Congress came to mind and so let us close with some humor, and humor is only humor when it comes very close to the truth.  So shall we end with one of the best, a Will Roger’s quote?

"America has the best politicians money can buy."

"If you ever injected truth into politics you have no politics."

"Congress is so strange; a man gets up to speak and says nothing, nobody listens, and then everybody disagrees."

"I would love to see Mr. (Henry) Ford in there, really. I don't know who started the idea that a President must be a Politician instead of a Businessman. A Politician can't run any other kind of business. So there is no reason why he can run the U.S. That is the biggest single business in the World."

"Politics pretty quiet over the weekend. Democrats are attacking, and the Republicans are defending. All the Democrats have to do is promise "what they would do if they got in." But the Republicans have to promise "what they would do" and then explain why they haven't already "done it."

"Our president delivered his State of the Union message to Congress. That is one of the things his contract calls for -- to tell Congress the condition of the country. This message, as I say, is to Congress. The rest of the people know the condition of the country, for they live in it, but Congress has no idea what is going on in America, so the president has to tell them."

"Congress meets tomorrow morning. Let us all pray: Oh Lord, give us the strength to bear that which is about to be inflicted upon us. Be merciful with them, oh Lord, for they know not what they're doing. Amen."

A proverb, nothing is new under the sun.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Father & Son

Proverbs 10:1-10

The tenth chapter is a collection of Solomon’s Proverbs and we shall explore verse by verse, and see if Scripture supports what Solomon is teaching.  In the first nine chapters, it contains a discourse of wisdom, and wisdom is required to carry out what is necessary to live out these teachings.

Verse one; “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.”  So does Scripture support this teaching?  Yes, many of the Proverbs and the Psalms do so, but what about King David’s mother and dad, we do not know much about the mother, she may have been the second wife of his father, Jesse.  But I can tell you from a dad’s perspective that Jesse and his mother took great pride in David’s Kingship, and no matter what was going on with David he made sure that mom and dad were provided for and protected.  As great a king and son as David was, he is a poor example of the joy a son can bring to a Father when we look at what God has to say about His Son. 

How many sons and daughters want to hear a dad say, I am pleased with you, you make my heart glad, but so many never hear these words, and often it is because dad is gone or no longer part of his family?  The son or daughter has not learned that obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings punishment, and a dad and mom are often the blame for not teaching this truth.

With that said, we look at Jesus whose Father is God, and the Father often mentioned in Scripture as in the following; "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"  It's recorded in Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22, 2 Peter 1:17, Isaiah 42:1, and yes God is very pleased with His only Son Jesus, for His desire was to bring honor to the Father, and Lady Wisdom would exhort us to follow Jesus and honor and respect our dad’s desires and to please our Father in heaven.

Verse 2, “Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.”  Jesus said in Mark 8:36-37, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?”  I wonder if you have given thought to the words in the book of Ecclesiastes that Solomon tells us, all was vanity and a striving after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”  Now Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 is worthy of your pondering; ^“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Why Choose Wisdom?

July 1, 2018

Proverbs 9

Wisdom gives us her plan for one's life, and Wisdom has all that is needed even for the most inexperienced to learn and have life in the full.  But foolishness also has set a trap, and we know her as the woman of folly, she pretends to have the authority and yet her character is immorality.  Wisdom operates in the open, but folly always in secret.

Let us explore what Lady Wisdom has to offer; first, to the simple and the person who lacks sense, she provides food and real substance.  She is willing to guide you from simple or foolish ways in the way of insight.  First, she warns the simple not to try and correct a scoffer or ridicule wisdom.  On the other hand, she shares that if one reproves a wise man, he will show kindness and love back.

She gave an example of what happens when one instructs a wise man, he only becomes more prudent, and a righteous man will only increase in learning.  The key is given to guide the simple, and it is, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

Verse 11 is something all should want to attain; “For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.”

Let us examine what Proverbs 9:13-18 shares about the woman of folly.  “The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.  She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense, she says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”

Why would anyone want the Woman of folly and reject life promised by Lady Wisdom?  It is a simple answer the Woman of folly is very seductive, and I hope you’re aware that sex is enticing, and when tempted and done outside of marriage it brings her guest under her powers.

And under her powers are many a young boy and girl today, and her new tool is pornography.  Let me share some information: “Teenagers, being in their formative stages, are quite unsure about their sexual identity, and to them, pornography is not much different than a trip to the candy shop. They revel in the newfound euphoric feelings while at the same time secretly connecting with other folks with whom they share similar sexual tastes.  Studies done in this area have ascertained that pornography has roared into our everyday life so overwhelming that the existing social science models of treatment can no longer contain the phenomenon. Many young people suffer from exposure to pornography because it is an addictive force that is slowly consuming their productivity and capturing their creativity.” 

Pornography

“Cyber-sex addiction is predicted to be the next tsunami in mental health. Men in their late teens and early twenties have scant recollection, if any, of plastic-covered lad magazines on the top shelves of newsagents. The erotic world is seconds away with the touch of a button.

These young men are presented with what once was the older man’s affliction: erectile dysfunction. These are physically healthy young men, with no medical issues, but their use of pornography, which sometimes becomes an addiction, is having a debilitating effect on their sexual relationships.”  It may shock you to learn that this is happening to boys as young as 16 years of age.

The old devil is always trying to mask or copy in a perverse way the ways of God. The woman folly is a tool he has used for years, and now she is after a new generation of boys and girls to steal and to kill or to destroy any hope of finding Lady Wisdom and her offer of eternal life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Wisdom Brand is like no other

Proverbs 8:12-36

There is no Brand like Wisdom, her “fab’s” feature, advantage, and benefits, that are amazing, shall we explore the end product, and why you and I should seek it with all our being?

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.”  First, we see Wisdom’s offer is better than expected, it comes with other virtues, and when you find one you find the others.  “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”  When we fear the Lord we have the mind of Christ, we begin to see things from God’s perspective.  When we look at arrogance and pride in our lives, we have disdain for them.  “I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.  By me kings reign and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.”  Wisdom is not saying if you follow her and learn from her you will be a ruler, but she is promising sound counsel and sound wisdom.   “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”  Wisdom is not your servant that does you biding but she is more than willing to guide you if you have a passion for diligently searching for her.  “Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.  My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.”  We all like the promise of riches and honor that are offered by lady Wisdom, but the person who that is their only goal ends up with little.  And those who dishonestly pursue riches end up in shame.  “I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.”  Now that is the best of benefits, lasting wealth, wealth that will not end and treasure in heaven, who else has such a Brand as Wisdom.

Wisdom gives us insight into her developer; “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.  Ages ago I was set up at the first, before the beginning of the earth.  When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.  Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.  When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.  “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.  Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.  Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.  For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.” 

Wisdom’s product comes at the cost of being able to sit in a quiet room and listen for her instruction, and then to apply the truth she has given to your life.  It is not a one-time event it is daily waiting and watching, but with her comes the favor of the LORD.

Quote from Blaise Pascal, “All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Wisdom is personified as a lady

Proverbs 8:1-11

Like the forbidden woman talked about in chapter 7:5, Wisdom is personified as a lady, but unlike the forbidden woman Wisdom’s invitation is public, and her desires are spiritual, not sexual and following her leads to life, not death.

Wisdom is a creation, and we are told in Scripture that she works with God to create the universe, now the forbidden woman is also a creation of the evil one, the old serpent, or thief that is talked about in John 10:10.  He is about destruction, about death to anything good and holy, and that includes you, your marriage, your family, and the foundation on which the United States was founded.

A man I had great respect for just passed from this earth, but he left us a warning let me share it with you.  The Enemy Amongst Us!
By Charles Krauthammer, New York Post — March 6, 2018

“I do not understand how living in a country with its democracy established more than 200 years ago, and now, for the first time in history, suddenly we have one of our former presidents set up a group called “Organizing for Action” (OFA).

OFA is 30,000+ strong and working to disrupt everything that our current president’s administration is trying to do. This organization goes against our Democracy, and it is an operation that will destroy our way of governing. It goes against our Constitution, our laws, and the processes established over 200 years ago. If it is allowed to proceed, then we will be living in chaos very much like third world countries are run.”

In the first four verses, we see Wisdom calling out from all the very public places in the full light of day, and her call is to all who will seek understanding and live.  Verse five is so needed today in a world full of knowledge and technology beyond most of our understanding.  “Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced; develop common sense, you who are foolish.”

Do not become a name caller, but a thinker, understand that lies are from the evil one, and God is Truth.  Learning to be shrewd, if that word bothers you change it to discerning, it’s the same word meaning, or perceptive.  Once more because I understand my need of understanding I’m returning to history, not Fox News or the New York Times, or my local newspaper, but historical accounts not the revision history of today.  It is also driving me deeper into what is the truth, for I like the apostle Paul do believe we are living in the last days and should be looking for Jesus’ soon return.  For many that put me in the camp of the foolish, I’m ok with that, but I’m not pulling that from thin air, but from God’s word.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy chapter 3:1-5 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”  I also wanted you to ponder on verse 7, “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.”

That is the world I observe today, but that is not all in Matthew 24:6-8, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”  Picking up Jesus words in verses 9-14, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

The good news is that both Pioneer Bible Translators and Wycliffe Bible Translators’ have very close timetables to when they believe the written gospel could be substantially completed by 2025.  Protestant translators expect to have the Bible — or at least some of it — written in every one of the world’s 6,909 spoken languages.  Some parts of this taken from the Denver Post and part from a meeting Jan and I attended with the Pioneer Bible Translators.

Now let me wrap up with this word from Wisdom found in Proverbs 8:6-11, “Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what my lips say is right.  For my mouth tells the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.  All the words of my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse.  All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge.  Accept my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.  For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can compare with it.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Bad Investments

Proverbs 23:4-5

 “Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it. As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.”

As of this day, many are making an investment in two jackpots worth 1.60 Billion cash.  They are Mega Millions and Powerball.  It is the largest drawing in U.S. lottery history; without a doubt, it would change ones life.  It is reported that if you won these Mega Millions, you could take home $904 million. 

Millions of people are pouring money into this investment, what are the odds of winning both jackpots, about one in 88 quadrillions. Now I am about as good in math as I am in grammar, so you understand I’m somewhat challenged, but a quadrillion is a significant number!  If you came to me as an investor and said I have a new business and I would like you to invest in it.  My first question would be, how long before I get my investment back? You said it’s about 88 quadrillion chances you will never see it again but if we hit it, your set for life, would you invest?

As the saying goes, a fool and his money are soon parted, and one must ask what would 904 million do for your soul?  It is not a new question, it is one Jesus asked and both Matthew and Mark gave an account of this in Scripture.  Shall we look at what Mark recorded; Mark 8:36-38, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

I had a young man out to work on my garage doors, and I ask him are you buying tickets for the big 1.6 Billion jackpot?  His answer was no sir and so being a salesman, I probed a little deeper.  The essence of our conversation was that neither he nor I were willing to allow that kind of trouble in our lives.  We got to the same point but came from different directions, mine was I’ve lived a long time and found God can be trusted to meet all my needs.  The young man had served our country in the military and was very content with the life he had.  He also understood the problems that come with cash one has not earned and had read the accounts of others who had lost everything after winning a jackpot.

But if you ask what I would do with that kind of power and money, I must go back to the prayer of a wise man named Aqur.  “Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need.  Otherwise, I might have too much and deny You, saying, “Who is the LORD?”  Or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A Modern Story of Seduction

Proverbs 7:6-27

Proverbs has a lot to say about two types of women; one has wisdom and insight, the other deception and harm to all who end up at her door.  This is the story of a foolish young man, not the one in Proverbs 7:6-29, but a young man I know too well.  The women in the story does not dress like a prostitute, she is a stay at home mom, active at church, but not happy at home, but that is a well-kept secret. 

The foolish young man was raised in the church but did not ask Jesus into his life till he was in his twenties, and for all those years before Christ, he learned to get his needs met outside of Christ.  He is carrying all of that flesh or baggage into his new relationship with Jesus.  He needs to be taught the ways of God but in his excitement and zeal to be used of God he becomes the teacher of youth.

Now before bringing judgment on this foolish young man you must understand his heart is wanting to do good, he loves everyone and yet still is harsh with his wife who also is a new creation in Christ.  But zeal without knowledge and understanding will always lead you down the path of self, and yet it seemed that Gods blessing was on him and his ministry seemed to grow where he was now leading lay witness missions on weekends at churches all over Texas. 

I must say to the best of my knowledge this foolish young man was very dependent on God for these meetings, and so were the other lay members on the team.  And over and over they saw God show up and change the lives of many who had been religious but entered into a personal walk with the Lord.  I often wonder why God picked such a man to do this when all around him were men of excellent skills and knowledge of the Scriptures.  Did I tell you that part of all of those teams was the wife and husband of the lady mentioned above?

The young, foolish man was married to a young lady that often cried, it seemed for no reason, and he was too foolish to understand that she was very tender to the voice of God and had a tender heart for the needs of others that he did not have at this time.   But the other woman was so accomplished and wanted to be the leader of the ladies luncheons at these weekends, so as the fool he was he chose her over his wife, fearful that his wife’s emotions would mess things up.

The two couples became best of friends and did everything together, and soon the other woman began to use her skills and charm to draw this young fool into her web.  At first, he was flattered that someone like her would find him of interest, but then a voice that sure sounded like him began to explore what a life with such a woman would be like and it seemed all good.  So what did this foolish young man need, he was deep into the lies of the enemy, and because he was stupid, prideful and dishonest he would not seek help, and like many, a man who wanted only to do good brought shame on the name of Jesus and His church?

That is the bad news, but God, I am so glad God looks on the heart and even a foolish young man can turn and with a broken heart come to his Father and ask for forgiveness, and that is what he did.  In 1st John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

He is now an older man, a man who has learned to do as Micah 6:8 teaches; “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”  Has he arrived at doing this, sometimes, a lot of the time, but he still battles with that voice that sounds like him, the one that tells him he deserves, or often brings up all his past mistakes and failures and tells him he has no worth or value.  But the other voice is so much softer, and it shows him he is of great worth and value for he is a child of the King, the Creator, and that he is loved much, that voice never attacks his character, but does confront the sin in his life.

Did I tell you that he and his wife have spent many years together she still has a very tender heart to the ways of God, and they have been in many ministries and wanted God to use them in whatever is His pleasure? 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Dad's - It is all about You

Proverbs 7:1-5

“My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.”

One should look at these five verses as one of the best things a dad can do for his sons.  For a wise dad will have applied this to his own life and be living it out in front of his sons and daughters.  The eyes are one of the things we protect, and it is in our eyes that others often see our joy and our pain.  But the eyes of one's heart is where one sees and stores things of the Spirit, it is the wellspring of life, not the organ, but the soul, the mind will and emotions.  It is why wisdom tells us to incline our hearts to understand; “yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

Often, dads forget that it is not so much the words we speak, but the life lived out at home, how we treat our wife, what we do with the goofy neighbor, and how we keep the promises we make to our children.  It is no different than at work, at work we earn the respect of our employer and other employees by what we say and do, it is no different at home it is an earned trust. 

So, dad are you earning the trust of your sons and daughters so that they treasure the commands of God and put His word in their memory, as you are doing?  Yes, it is all about you, as you go so goes your family, it is more than bringing home the bacon, dad’s it is all about the end product, a son, and daughter that loves God and keeps His commandments.

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.”  For many years I have done what this verse states, and I have found it to be true in my life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Adulteress

Proverbs 6:24-35

“To preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.  Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.  Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?  Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?  So is he who goes into his neighbor's wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.  People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.  He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.  He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.  For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.”

The Psalmist seems to have a very good understanding of the evil woman, and he tells us she has the ability to entice you with her words.  She is always on the hunt for another man to bring into her web, and she looks for the young the foolish and the naïve. In verse 26 we are given this insight; “for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.”  Both come with a high price to the man who enters their door, but the married woman is a destroyer of the family and marriages.  In fact, Proverbs 30:20, states the following; “This is the way of an adulteress she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have done no wrong.”  Now I believe it is clear that the adulteress, in this case, is a young woman and an older man, but it goes for both the man and the woman.  Young ladies watch out for the older man who believes fornication with you leaves no trace on his or your life.  Young men and older men are to be on guard for the married woman who is an adulteress, for she thinks sex outside of marriage is as casual and moral as a meal.

The Psalmist goes on to warn that the cost of an encounter with her is higher than one can pay; it brings destruction and shame that does not end after she is through with you.  Please pay attention to verse 32, “The one who commits adultery lacks sense; whoever does so destroys himself.”

Our Father is a God of the second chance and when one who has committed adultery comes to Him with a repentant heart and He is quick to forgive, but that sin comes with permanent disgrace.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Worship Select ball V's Worshiping God

Proverbs 6:20-24

Through six chapters this has been the main point to the son, keep your father's commandments, and forsake not your mother's teaching.

"My son, keep your father's commandment and forsake not your mother's teaching.  Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.  When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.  For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress."

My question is how is a young child going to be taught without a dad, and if not taught how will he know to keep the commandments of God or man?  Sure the mother plays a vital role in her son’s development, but she cannot be the dad, every boy needs to grow into spiritual manhood.

Let me address the church, how many parents by their actions have told their boys that select sports are more important than learning about God and obeying His commands?  Yes, I just moved over the line, but it is a line the church has been silent about, yet you get the applause of the world for they knew you were acting religious. If you are doing this you need to ask yourself some questions, a good one is how much time I’m talking to my sons and daughters about what God has shown me in His word?  Or how about this, how often are you taking time to teach them the ways of God, not send them to youth group, but do what God has commanded you as a dad to do?

If your answer is I'm sharing and doing both of those questions you asked, then how do you explain to your sons and daughters this commandment found in Hebrews 10:25, "not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."  I do not believe God is referring to select sports in Hebrews 10:25, for He must be the object of our worship!

Let me share John Mark's story; he is my oldest grandson and a fantastic athlete.  The head coach in the High School told his parents that unless he played summer ball and was on a select team no way was he going to play high school baseball.  At fourteen John Mark was throwing a ninety mile fastball and was a fantastic third baseman and very good with the bat.  But in his freshman year without doing what the coach said was required to play High School baseball, he not only was on the team but a starter on JV1, also the following year.  His granddad told them no coach turns down talent and I was right on, but guess what John Mark was pitching a game, and in the second inning, he grabs his arm and walks off the field.  He had torn a ligament, and it would require surgical graft procedure, called Tommy John surgery.  My dreams were to watch him play college ball and maybe pro ball, but that is not the plan God had for John Mark.

After the second visit with the surgeon, he was told there were no guarantees that he would ever have the same arm again.  John Mark asked this question; If I do not have the surgery will I still be able to fly fish?  The surgeon told him it would only effect being able to throw a ball hard, and his mother said, John Mark said we’re out of here, and has never regretted that decision.

I told you that story for a reason, if your kid has the talent he will do fine without all the output of cash and travel.  If he does not and is only marginal it matters not how many select teams he is on, he is not going to play even high school ball at a large high school, and few of these kids get to play college ball, and very few of the college players get into professional ball.  So invest in your child by seeking first the kingdom of God, and all they need will be there for them.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Learning from the Ant

Proverbs 6:6-11

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.  Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in the harvest.  How long will you lie there, O sluggard?  When will you arise from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

Learn from the ant, what can one so high on the food chain learn from an ant?  The answer is straightforward, much, for many who live in the United States of America would be wise to take a day away from feeling sorry for their lack of stuff and sit at an ant mound.  Now you may not want to do this with fire ants, those little guys have a tendency to climb on you and attack your person. 

What can one learn from an ant?  They were designed to work, and it was the design of their Creator.  Does the Creator also have a plan for us to work, if you turn to Genesis 2:2-3, we are given insight into God’s plan about work.  “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

I hope you understand God is all about work, but He also knew we needed downtime, a day of rest.

In Genesis 2:15, we have a clear understanding of God’s plan for mankind from the beginning; “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”  Man being put into the Garden of Eden to work was before the fall of man, before Adam and Eve were polluted by sin.  So it is clear that work from heavens view was not a punishment but has always been God’s plan for man.

We could title this paper moving from perfection to imperfection, for that is what had happened, before the fall it was good, no sin, no death, no predators, a world one can only dream about.

Ok, I will go watch the ants, not all day but for a short time, what should I look for?  No coffee breaks, just work, they seem to enjoy bringing in the harvest and saving for the bad days to come.  They seem to be giving 100% effort and carrying the load to the nest that would seem impossible to do.  They do not depend on a supervisor they go do the job that is required, and others help them with the find if it is too big for only one. 

When the Creator tells us to learn from something, why would one not do it, and the answer is simple many are ignorant to what God has said, others believe they are too smart to watch an ant and learn anything from it, and many have been getting their needs met outside of Christ and have no desire to change.  If you hate work, you fall into one of these groups, and it has not one thing to do with your color, your family, or your job, it all comes back to learn from the ant, and be wise.  For a man is at his best and he the happiest when he work and accomplishes something.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Investing in People

Proverbs 6:1-5

“My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor go, hasten,^] and plead urgently with your neighbor.  Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

When the Psalmist tells his son not to put up security for your neighbor, he is telling the son to not be your neighbor’s guarantee for his debts.  And more so do not do so for a stranger it is not wise to put your reputation and assets at risk like that.  I experienced this when I was helping a young man in our church that had a large family, and he and his wife worked in the business.  He needed a large sum of money to close a deal that would put him on easy street, and I agreed to give him the money.  What I did not know was his wife was having an affair with one of the workers nor did the young man.  He told me he would sell me 10% for my investment and it looked as if I would get my money back and more.  Not two weeks had passed and a day worker fell off a ladder, and he found out about his wife’s affair and moved out of the house.

It went from bad to worse when my young friend did not know he was being sued and a judgment was given to the day worker, and his deal fell through because of the lack of funds.  Now, why did I share this, for the reason that I only owned a small percent of his company and I was not brought into the lawsuit?  That is grace!  We forgave the debt and moved on with our life, we even moved from that area a year later.  Many years later I got a call it was from the man I had helped and he wanted to send me a check.  I told him the debt was forgiven and to use that money for his new family and business but this I knew when I invested in him, he was a man of integrity.  I do not doubt that he slept better the night the debt was paid.  Jan and I have used those funds to invest in others.

The times we have been burned were when we let our emotions get ahead of our prayer life.  In the area of money and friends and neighbors, one needs the leadership of the Lord.  Wanting to help is always a good thing, but it may not be the best, let me explain.  When you are putting at risk a significant asset to bail someone out, why are they in a mess, is God trying to get them to look to Him for what is needed and you just took on a role God never planned for you?  If so, you have messed up, and your good intentions may cause harm.  All that Jan and I have is a blessing from the Father, we learned early to work and save, and never made a large salary but God has blessed us with more than we could have dreamed.

Today one needs to be very careful for we live in a time where ones want become one's needs.  And many a person out of kindness has delayed or interfered with God’s plan for that person.  As a parent and grandparent, we need to be especially careful in this area.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Grace in Action

Proverbs 5:15-23

“Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.  Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?  Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.  Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe.  Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.  Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?  For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord and he ponders all his paths.  The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.  He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.”

I’m seventy-six years of age and have been married to one lady for 52 years, she is the love of my life, but as a young man, I was very foolish, with no concept of love.  I married my bride when she was only 18, and I was 23 and without a relationship with the Lord.  I had no idea what love was but it came after I came into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  My flesh had learned how to get its needs met outside of Christ, and at the time I was not teachable because I took the role of teacher when but I was the one that needed to be taught.  I broke my vows to God and man to honor my bride.

That is the bad news, but she allowed God’s grace to work in her and forgive me, and today I am intoxicated by her love.  Both God and my wife extended Grace to me, and for over 40 years we have worked to build a home where Christ is center stage.  If you make a mistake ask for forgiveness, and earn your wife’s trust and seek, study and apply the word of God in your life.

Remember and put to memory verse 31: “For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Wisdom brings with it Understanding

Proverbs 5:1-14

My son be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.  For the lips of a forbidden^] woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end, she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.  Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to^] Sheol; ^she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.  And now, O sons, listen to me and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner, and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!  I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.  I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.”

This instruction came from a very wise man who often tried the ways of the foolish, in fact, it seems as if it was an oxymoron that this wise man often acted like a fool.  Shall we examine the saying of this man, we might learn from him in Ecclesiastes 1:16-18, “I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”  And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.  For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

What has Solomon discovered, that with wisdom comes the understanding of how dumb and foolish one is, how little knowledge we have about our Creator and that alone is upsetting to a man who is full of himself?  For the beginning of wisdom brings a person to have a fear of God, and when you take that to a person that has a title like professor and claims, there is no God, wisdom calls that person a fool.

The wisest man born of an earthly dad knew that his dad was into infidelity, and yet with all that wisdom he also did many foolish things.  Does that mean we should not pay attention to his teachings?  Wisdom tells us to learn from others and not to repeat their bought lessons.

Many a man has fallen into the trap of the forbidden women and this began long before King David, and it is a trap that the devil uses today to destroy marriages and families.  My prayer for every man who reads this is you will never have to say;  “I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.  I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice