Proverbs 6:1-5: Be Careful

My son, if you become surety for your friend .....maybe this translation would be easier to understand:

My ·child be careful about giving a guarantee for ·somebody else’s loan, about promising to pay what someone else owes.

You ·might get trapped by what you say; you ·might be caught by ·your own words.. My ·child, if you have done this and are under your ·neighbor’s control, here is how to ·get free. Don’t be proud. Go to your ·neighbor and ·beg to be free from your promise. Don’t ·go to sleep or ·even rest your eyes, but ·free yourself like a ·deer running from ·a hunter, like a bird flying away from a ·trapper. Proverbs 6:1-5 EXB

I'd do ANYTHING for you. I'd help you ANYWAY that I can. How often have we said those words to someone? And if that person returns asking for help, what do we do? 

This is a warning... BE CAREFUL..you may get caught in a trap, "roped into something". You want to do the "right thing" but you need to guard yourself. Helping someone is not always the RIGHT thing to do. Don't let someone guilt you into doing something that you really should do. 

If you do find yourself in a situation, what do you do? Be humble. Realize that you did make a mistake. And work on correcting it. Don't ignore it. Address it. Take care of it. 

I think this warning is also for the "friend". We shouldn't ask someone to do something for us which first, we shouldn't be involved with, and second, if we can't do it ourselves—should we be doing it? 

How often do we find ourselves in situations where helping seems right, but actually causes the person we help to not learn and grow? Do we become enablers to someone's wrong decisions? Do we become enablers to someone who doesn't want to realize the consequences of his/her choices? 

And what is our motive for helping the friend? 

Should I give help? Yes or no, what is the right answer? Making the right choices begin when a heart is permeated with a deeps sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). Remember the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. And it take godly wisdom to know if helping someone is right or wrong. Be careful, a good warning for us all. 

The Point of Satiation

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 16. Here is what I learned.

You will teach me ·how to live a holy [the path of] life. ·Being with you will fill me with joy [In your face/presence is the fullness of joy]; at your right hand I will find pleasure forever. Psalm 16:11 (EXB)

Instead, You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment. Psalm 16:11 (VOICE)

Fullness: satiety (satiate), abundance

Satiate: to supply with anything to excess

Is fullness of joy - Not partial joy; not imperfect joy; not joy intermingled with pain and sorrow; not joy which, though in itself real, does not satisfy the desires of the soul, as is the case with much of the happiness which we experience in this life - but joy, full, satisfying, unalloyed, unclouded, unmingled with anything that would diminish its fullness or its brightness; joy that will not be diminished, as all earthly joys must be, by the feeling that it must soon come to an end. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I was trying to get comprehend “fullness of joy”.... and my human mind can’t quite comprehend it. I know what it’s like when my Team wins, or when my favorite driver wins. I know what it’s like when something extraordinary happens... like I win a contest, or God supplies a need in a creative way. I know what it’s like when I’m happy for a friend. But each of those moments is short-lived. The joy is based on something that happened. 

The joy that God provides isn’t based on circumstances, situations, rather God’s joy is provided from Himself. He is joy. 

And the presence of God, provides excess joy... abundant joy.... more joy that I can comprehend.. overflowing joy. 

To create a positive day, it’s not about trying to find joy around me, rather it’s about entering God’s presence and accepting His joy to the point of satiation.

God’s Pure Joy Perspective

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 4. Here is what I learned.

But you have ·made me very happy [given joy to my heart], happier than they are, even with all their grain and new wine. Psalm 4:7 (EXB)

You have filled me with joy, and happiness has risen in my heart, great delight and unrivaled joy, even more than when bread abounds and wine flows freely. Psalm 4:7 (VOICE)

You have filled my heart with more happiness than they have when there is much grain and wine. Psalm 4:7 (NLV)

Thou hast given more joy to my heart. By another comparison he better expresses and illustrates the strength of his affection, showing that, having obtained the good which he had longed for, he does not in the least degree envy the wealth and enjoyments of others, but is altogether contented with his own lot. The sum is, that he had more satisfaction in seeing the reconciled countenance of God beaming upon him, than if he had possessed garners full of corn, and cellars full of wine. 

David declares, that he rejoices more in the favor of God alone, than earthly men rejoice when they enjoy all earthly good things, with the desire of which they are generally inflamed. He had represented them as so bent upon, and addicted to, the pursuit of worldly prosperity, as to have no great care about God; and now he adds, that their joy in the abundance and increase of their wine and corn is not so great as is his joy in a sense of the divine goodness alone. 

This verse contains very profitable instruction. We see how earthly men, after they have despised the grace of God, and plunged themselves over head and ears in transitory pleasures, are so far from being satisfied with them, that the very abundance of them inflames their desires the more; and thus, in the midst of their fullness, a secret uneasiness renders their minds uncomfortable. Never, therefore, shall we obtain undisturbed peace and solid joy until the favor of God shine upon us. And although the faithful also desire and seek after their worldly comforts, yet they do not pursue them with immoderate and irregular ardor; but can patiently bear to be deprived of them, provided they know themselves to be the objects of the divine care. Calvin's Commentary

I’m I not only satisfied with God’s joy, do I wait with anticipation to receive it? Looking for joy in things, or a certain situation or set of circumstances is not only looking in the wrong direction, but will not provide the satisfying and pure joy that only God can give. 

I need to accept God’s pure joy and allow His joy to radiate through me. For as I immerse myself in God’s joy, I’ll see my situation and circumstances in a new perspective. Once I have God’s pure joy perspective, I can create a positive, and joyous day!

Not Just One Dinner, but Several!

One of my neighbors was moving back to India. Before she moved away, she wanted to treat me to an authentic Indian meal. I do enjoy a variety of ethnic foods, and Indian is one of my favorites. We decided that she'd bring the meal by the following Monday. Not knowing what she'd bring, and if it would fit my vegan, gluten-free diet, I did go ahead and eat dinner. I figured if she brought something I could eat, it would make a nice lunch for the following day. Well, when the clock hit 11:00 pm, I figured that with all the details of moving, she forgot about my dinner.

I wasn't upset that she forgot. I fully understood the huge job of preparing to move back to India. But I was now craving Indian food! I've tried to cook Indian meals in the past, but they never turned out right. Not sure if it was my cooking methods or the spices (never had all I needed). There is a wonderful Indian restaurant near by, however, most of their dishes include milk and or gluten. As each day passed, the craving for Indian food grew, and I had to check my attitude too—frustration over something which I had no control would not create Indian food! 

 

One of my adopted Soldiers (www.SoldiersAngels.org) is a vegetarian and as I was shopping for food for her box, I found a WONDERFUL surprise! Pre-packaged Indian food that is vegan & gluten free! I know, who would have guessed?

 

So, instead of getting

just one meal—

I now have several Indian meals

in my pantry!

All I have to do is heat and serve.

As I was thinking back over the past few days, I got to thinking of situations in our lives—some in which we find ourselves, we've created. Other situations are created by others or various circumstances.

Once again, I learned that

my attitude determines

if a situation will be "bad" or "good". 

If I had allowed my attitude to turn to frustration that the neighbor forgot my dinner, bitterness would have turned me off to Indian food. Thus, I would have missed finding new items for my diet. Yet, by having a positive attitude and not having a pity party on missing the dinner, I was excited when I found the new meals. 

I hope next time I find myself in a "less than pleasant" situation, I remember the blessing of Indian food.

Perhaps I can't change the situation,

but I can change my attitude! 

And having a positive attitude

makes for a very positive day!