Proverbs – Wise Emotion

Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26–27

Context

Humans are emotional creatures. We possess something beyond simple “animal instincts” and we are created with complex passions with the potential for both good and evil. At the watershed moment of human testing it was both reason and emotion that let us down. “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.” (Genesis 3:6) Eve’s desires were tested and rather than being zealous for wisdom and life, she succumbed to the lure of Satan’s lie. In the very next chapter of Genesis, Cain killed his own brother because he nurtured anger against him (Gen 4:6-8). And so the story of the Bible repeats page after page with descriptions of rage, jealousy, mourning, grief, pride and envy. But our emotions give us the potential for great joy and excitement and laughter and love.

In the book of Proverbs, the greatest advice is to put on love while the loudest warnings involve the emotion called anger.

Observation

The following are a list of quotes from the book of Proverbs with a brief NOTE in CAPS after each to suggest what the verse says about emotions.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Pr 3:3–4).

FOR LOVE

Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy. (Pr 14:10).

INTRO QUESTION about personal nature of emotion

Even in laughter the heart may acheand rejoicing may end in grief.  (Pr 14:13).

INTRO QUESTION about temporality of emotion

A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated. (Pr14:17)

AGAINST QUICK TEMPER

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. (Pr 14:29)

FOR PATIENCE – AGAINST QUICK TEMPOR

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Pr 14:30).

FOR CONTENTMENT – AGAINST ENVY

A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury. (Pr 14:35).

AGAINST PROVOKING OTHERS

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Pr 15:1).

FOR WISE WORDS – AGAINST FOOLISH WORDS

A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.(Pr 15:18).

FOR PATIENCE and CALMING NATURES – AGAINST QUICK TEMPER

A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. (Pr 16:29).

?AGAINST VIOLENCE?

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. (Pr 19:11).

FOR PATIENCE

A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again. (Pr 19:19).

FOR DISCIPLINE – AGAINST HOT TEMPER

A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives. (Pr 20:2).

AGAINST ANGERING OTHERS

A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. (Pr 21:14).

FOR SOOTHING ANGER and PACIFYING WRATH

Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife. (Pr 21:19).

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The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury. (Pr 21:24).

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Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.  (Pr 25:28).

FOR SELF CONTROL – AGAINST LACK OF SELF CONTROL

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?(Pr 27:4).

AGAINST ANGER AND FURY AND JEALOUSY

Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger. (Pr 29:8).

FOR PACIFIERS – AGAINST STIRERS

Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. (Pr 29:11).

FOR CALMING – AGAINST RELEASING RAGE

An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. (Pr 29:22).

AGAINST STIRRING and HOT TEMPER

For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife. (Pr 30:33).

AGAINST STIRRING

WHERE GOD IS ANGRY? Exodus? Jesus in the temple?

In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. (Eph 4:26–27).

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. (1 Co 13:4–8).

Meaning

The bible promotes love (3:3) and demotes hot temper and rash anger (29:11, 22). God’s wisdom is to foster contentment (14:30) and self-control (25:28) within and even assist in pacifying those around us (21:14).

Application

  • While anger is not a sin (since God displays wrath and anger) it does manifest what we are most passionate for and that is for our own glory, not God’s.
  • Don’t let the sun go down on your anger and do not keep a record of wrongs
  • Make anger your signal to listen to where your heart is at – count to ten and pray and then consider what your next move ought to be for the glory of God.
  • Our words can be used to cut people deeply or to heal. What are some examples of soothing words and calming remarks which can pacify a situation in either yourself (self-talk) or in another person?
  • Commit to memorise 1 Corinthians 13!

Prayer of the Week

Our Lord and our God, thank you for first loving us and being patient and slow to anger. Please help us to be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help us to bear with one another and to forgive one another as you forgave us. And over all of this, Father, please help us to put on love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Proverbs: Wise Spending

What shall we do with money?

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:10

Context

The book of Proverbs has a story to tell. Through parables and sayings we have heard that wisdom is good and the only way to truly live, while folly is bad and leads to destruction. Chapters 1 to 9 painted a worldview where wisdom from God is to be dearly sort after and that wickedness and foolishness must be spotted and rejected. Proverbs 3:5-6 is famous for good reason:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge him,
And he will make straight your paths.

In this study and the next, we will look at what the book of Proverbs says about a particular issue. It will be good to remember that we are to trust God and not put our own instincts in charge. We looked at the topic of wealth in our previous study book. That study focused on how to think about money, how to earn it and where our hearts ought to be. This week we will focus on how we spend our money.

Sayings and Proverbs that relate to this topic

Proverbs 3:9-10

Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Comments: To honour the Lord with the firstfruits is to give it away! Numbers 28:26 says concisely that the first of the harvest is to be offered to the LORD in thanksgiving (see also Exod 23:16; Lev 2:12; Deut 18:4). It is accompanied with sacrifices and is part of the Levitical law but it communicates that thanksgiving is to be given first for the land producing crop. Although the Levitical law has lost its primary power this side of the cross, it is still important for giving wisdom. Notice that giving is a primary ingredient for ongoing profit (Prov 3:10).

Summary: Always give thanks to God.

Proverbs 22:7

The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Comments: Taken separately, these two statements are just true on their own merit: the rich have the power to pay for poorer people to do stuff and if you owe someone money, then you are indebted to them until it is paid off and therefore not independent. But taken together, it is better to be able to independently paying for things than to need rich people’s ‘help’. Better to buy a $4K car with your own money than to drive a $25K car you needed help to pay for.

Summary: It is wise to avoid debt.

Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward them for what they have done.

Comments: Contrast this with Proverbs 22:7 and we have wisdom for the rich is to see lending money as a positive thing. When we have the power and opportunity to help someone else then we do this. The Lord uses the generosity of people to do his work. Our money ought to be in service to the Lord. Notice that when money is lent to the poor, the Proverb describes the payback as coming from the Lord. It suggests that we ought to give without expecting to see that money returned from the poor person. See Proverbs 14:31.

Summary: See your money as a tool for God’s work. Be generous rather than an investor at people’s expense.

Proverbs 28:22

The stingy are eager to get rich
and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

Comments: Stingy would be the opposite of generous. Our instinct is to keep everything in order to have as much as possible but God’s wisdom says that generosity will get you far. What we have will be taken from us whether we like it or not and will we have treasure in heaven? The stingy are not willing to give to the poor because that equates to having less for themselves. But a heart that is for God will release its grip on money.

Summary: Release your grip on money and trust God for your future.

Proverbs 21:17

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

Comments: This proverb requires context. The love of pleasure is a euphemism for loving the things of this world rather than simply wanting to be happy. Loving wine and olive oil is to indulge in luxury. Other Proverbs speak of the downward spiral of those who love wine (23:20-21). Compare this proverb with the one that sees the value of money (13:11) and the one that says put in a day’s work (12:11).

Summary: An expensive life is expensive. Live within your means and make you means meaningful.

Proverbs 13:22

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

Comments: Take the first statement first. It is good and wise to look after your children. There is a godly responsibility for a person to think beyond themselves and take care of their family. 1 Timothy 5:8 is strong on this subject. The lesson is not that the grandchildren ought to expect a handout since this is a lesson for the parents. It is for the adult to show responsibility. The second statement, in its context, teaches that wealth stored up in a stingy manner and kept for self will be passed on to someone eventually. The inheritance will not go to who you may have wanted it to go but to those who God will bless. It seems that Solomon is using hyperbole to show what is good and what is bad and the overall lesson here is that money kept beyond your lifetime ought only happen for the direct and explicit purpose of handing to those you are responsible for.

Summary: Store money for other’s sake, not for your own.

Proverbs 13:11

Dishonest money dwindles away,
but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Comments: Money that comes quickly and without effort is given little value and is lost with unwise spending. Money that is collected over time with patience and diligence is also money that is not spent rapidly. The time taken to grow the money teaches the earner that money shouldn’t be thrown away. Refer to the Proverb on wine and olive oil (Proverbs 21:17).

Summary: Money ought to have meaning. Earned properly and spent respectfully.

Meaning

Money is a passing tool for this life. Spent only on self, stored for abundance, throne away on indulgent things, this is poor form and ungodly. Spent with thankfulness to God, first to show thanks to God, second on the family, thirdly on the poor, this is rich in wisdom.

Application

  • Give thanks to God with your money. This is different to giving thank for your money. To give your money away for the work of the LORD is to show that you recognise where the blessing of money comes from (Proverbs 3:9-10. How do you love the LORD with your money? Would you consider your giving an act of faith or an act of guilt or works?
  • Giving money to the poor is a very clear instruction from the bible. With organisations in place to take money to the poor for us, how can we obey the principle of loving the poor? Discuss some issues and good godly practices for giving to the poor. Be careful that we seek to obey rather than seek to justify ourselves.
  • Generating money for the next generation is a wise thing but could also become an excuse for storing up unnecessary wealth. How do we police this for ourselves and how can we pass on godly wisdom on spending to our children?

Prayer of the Week

Lord, take our money and our lives and let us be only, ever, all for thee. Amen.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

God will…

“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” 2 Thessalonians 1:8

Context

Paul, with Silas and Timothy, came to Thessalonica on his second missionary journey which we read in Acts 17 (mostly verses 1-10). Although it appears he was only in Thessalonica for a few weeks, there is reason to believe that he spent more time there than is implied. He describes in 1 Thessalonians 2:9 that he had worked among them and so was there long enough to establish himself in his trade.  Also Philippians 4:15 mentions financial support being sent more than once to him while in Thessalonica. Perhaps he returned on another occasion or perhaps the account in Acts 17 is somewhat truncated. Either way, Paul had quite an impact on the church and the church had an impact on him. The persecution he received from the citizens, including the Jews of this town, was impressive and forms the backdrop to the first chapter of this letter.

Observation

Structure

  • 1-2 Initial Greetings
  • 3-4 The cause for Paul’s prayer
  • 5-10 Paul’s encouragement to stay faithful
  • 11-12 The content of Paul’s prayer

1-2 Initial Greetings

“Paul, Silas and Timothy” Paul authored the letter in the company of Silas and Timothy whom the Thessalonian believers would remember as part of Paul’s ‘company’ in Acts 17. Paul may have used a scribe to pen the letter but he at least concludes it in his own hand (2 Thessalonians 3:17).

“…in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the distinguishing feature of the church – that the assembly (church) in Thessalonians meet to worship God the Father and Jesus Christ their Lord.

“Grace and peace to you…” much of these opening verses are standard greetings in Paul’s letters. The starting point in any Christian communication is that we have grace and peace with God and one another. We are not a people trying to find or fight for peace but those who have been gifted it from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Peace with God has been paid for through Christ and peace with one another has been gifted to us because we have one Lord, one Master, one Saviour, one Judge.

The Thessalonians know who has sent the letter, that it comes in peace and are reminded of their connection to the author by faith in the same Lord and God.

3-4 The Cause For Paul’s Prayer

Note: verses 3-10 are all one sentence in the original Greek. That is not weird but rather helps us to see Paul’s flow of these two apparent sections into one thought flow. That is, he begins to praise them for their growth despite persecution (v3-4) and before concluding what he prays in verses 11-12 he exhorts them to remain faithful because they know the future.

“We ought always to thank God for you…” The interesting word in this phrase is the word ‘ought’. Paul feels obligated or compelled to thank God. It is only right and correct to be thanking God for what Paul has observed.

“…your faith is growing more and more…” The first reason for Paul’s obligation to thank God is that the Christians in Thessalonica are growing in their faith. Put this another way: their trust in God and his promises is getting stronger. Verses 5-10 will show us that it is the promises of God that they are showing trust or faith in. When persecution comes and faith is evident, that is the work of God, not man.

“…and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.” The second reason for Paul’s obligation to thank God is that the church is growing in their love for each other. Again, under persecution, the church will exercise love by the grace of God.

So, trusting God more instead of fleeing and loving one another more instead of abandoning their church are two signs that Paul diagnoses as the work of God.

“Therefore, among God’s churches we boast…” The reports from Thessalonica need to be shared with the churches of God for the encouragement of the hearer, for examples to the hearer and to spur the hearer on to praise God for the church growing despite strong opposition.

“…in all the persecution and trials you are enduring.” Thessalonica, like many other cities of the time, viewed religion as a primary source of unification. One way to establish peace and unity is to enforce one political religion. This may be the background to persecution referenced here. Background historical data can be useful but a simple reading of Acts 17:1-10 (and 11-15) gives enough information to know that the persecution was violent and life threatening.

5-10 Paul’s Encouragement to Stay Faithful

“All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right…” We come to a real test of our understanding in this passage. What does ‘all this’ refer to? Is it the faith and love of the Thessalonians? Is it the persecution of the Thessalonians? Or is it the faith and love despite the persecution? How is the growing faithfulness and increase in love of the Thessalonian church evidence that God’s judgment is right? Philippians 1:27-30 may shed some light on this, especially verse 28.

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

The word “sign” in Phil 1:28 is the same root word for ‘evidence’ in 2 Thess 1:5. The sign is that God is preserving the faith of them through persecution and this shows God’s alignment with the persecuted rather than the persecutors. The former will be saved in the end while the latter will be destroyed.

An alternate view is that the evidence that God’s judgment is right (or God’s righteous judgment) is the persecution and affliction that the Thessalonians experienced. This interpretation goes something like this: look at the way people are treating you – this is evidence that justice must come. This is the view that I am holding and it is based on the outflowing of the rest of the paragraph (verses 5-10). Let’s keep reading.

“…worthy of the kingdom of God…” this is not a celebration of works based religion but rather that the way the Thessalonians are responding to persecution is exactly how a kingdom kid would respond.

V6 “God is just: He will…” Paul merges now into a monologue about the future day of the Lord. This is the theme of chapter 2 and is introduced here in the opening stage of the letter.

“…pay back trouble…and give relief…” The future includes a judgment toward men based on what they have done. Trouble will come to those who are against the church of God and relief will come to those who have suffered for the kingdom of God. Ultimately, as spelled out in verse 8, this boils down to those who are for Jesus and those who are against.

“When the Lord Jesus is revealed…” The judgment will come when all is wrapped up on the final day of the Lord. We will discuss some of the controversies about the end of time when we come to chapter 2. The Lord’s coming is briefly described in mighty imagery: blazing fire and powerful angels. Paul will want to reassure his readers in chapter 2 that this has not happened yet and here he indicates quickly that it will not be a show people will miss. The immediate context is contrasting the trouble for those who don’t know God with the relief for those who do.

  • The Trouble: everlasting destruction; shut out from the presence of the Lord and his glory.
  • The Relief: brought to the presence of the Lord and his glory; holy; marveling at Him.

This section may be made clearer if read in reverse (sentence by sentence). The bullet points would look like this:

  • You Thessalonians believed our testimony to you (of God, Jesus and the gospel)
  • On the Day of the Lord you will marvel in his glorious presence because of your belief.
  • Others will be punished and excluded from God’s presence.
  • They will be punished because they neither know God nor obey (believe) the gospel.
  • This will happen when the Lord Jesus is made known (with heavenly fire and angels).
  • God is just and will pay back trouble for trouble and relief to the troubled.
  • You will be counted worthy because of your suffering for the kingdom.
  • You know that God’s judgment is right since you have endured such trouble.

Thus, the evidence in verse 5 refers to the trouble caused on the Thessalonians bearing testimony for God to judge and judge rightly. The encouragement is that the Thessalonians must keep enduring because they have believed Paul’s testimony and ought to recall the coming of the Lord. This persecution fits perfectly with the message of the gospel and is a sign that the gospel is true.

11-12 The Content of Paul’s Prayer

“With this in mind…” The present suffering from trouble makers is again in mind. Paul’s prayer will focus on the work of God to continue in the Thessalonians despite opposition.

“…we constantly pray for you…” Or ‘we always pray for you.’ It was routine for Paul to pray for his converts (Phil 1:9 and Col 1:3,9). Prayer for the body of Christ ought to be a major focus of our prayers. God does not promise to heal sickness or stop death or keep people safe in travel or to do well in exams but he does promise that he will complete the good work that he has started in a believer. Prayer, if nothing else, is the practice of those who believe God will fulfil his promises.

“…worthy of his calling…” This reflects the language of verse 5 and may be requesting that the church will continue to persevere and grow in faith as in verse 4.

“…he may bring to fruition…” God is asked in prayer to support the efforts of the church for good. No specifics are mentioned here – the prayer is far reaching and based on the desire of the Thessalonians for good. This may be answered in this life but is promised to be fulfilled on the Day of the Lord. This may be a request in line with the church to grow in faith – desiring the goodness of God.

“…every deed prompted by faith…” This may correspond to the love described in the church for one another. Both the growth in faith and the love for one another praised in verse 3 is the subject of Paul’s prayer in verse 11.

“…the name of our Lord Jesus…” lest we forget, the testimony believed (v10) and the gospel obeyed (v8) and the future of the church (v10) is all for the glory of the Lord Jesus.

Meaning

There is a clear and present danger that Christians may take their eyes off our future hope and relief and be overcome by the suffering of persecution. By the grace of God we pray that the church will live lives worthy of the gospel, knowing that today’s trouble reminds us of future judgment and stirs us to desire God now. God will bring disaster on trouble makers and bring eternal peace and glory to those who stand firm with Him now.

Application

  • Topic A: Prayer for the church. Take time to discuss prayer in your group. Think about the ease or awkwardness you experience together. Think also about the content of your prayers. How could you continue to grow in faith and love together through the things that you pray for and how you pray? Are your prayers gospel focused?
  • Topic B: Persecution and trials. There is no doubt that heavy persecution occurs around the world today against Christians. In Australia, physical persecution is not common. We can even enjoy great friendships with unbelievers in this country. Resistance is present though and our faith can be tested here too. Discuss ways you feel being Christian can be counter cultural to the point of discomfort or worse. How can you turn those feelings into hope for the future? How can or do you respond to such trials?
  • Topic C: Desiring to be in the presence of the Lord. The ultimate future described in 2 Thessalonians 1 is that we will stand amazed in the presence of the Lord. Share how this is or isn’t a compelling future for you. What can we do to set our hearts in this direction? Perhaps praying through verse 11 and 12 will be part of the answer.

Prayer of the Week

Heavenly Father and Jesus our Lord, thank you for calling us into your holy church. Please make us worthy of this calling. May our hearts desire goodness and may you bring those desires to fruition. May our actions be prompted by faith in you and not fear of man. We pray this so that Your name may be glorified in us and that we may be glorified in You. We pray all of this according to your grace our God and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.