Author: Mark Horne

Not all who wander are lost

It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.

Proverbs 25:2 (ESV)

On one level, this Proverb can be seen as aimed at reading and understanding the whole book of Proverbs as well as the rest of Scripture. Early in chapter 1 we are told Proverbs will contain the riddles of the wise (1:6). Proverbs is addressed to “my son” and “my sons.” Since it was published to everyone there is some sense in which we are all considered royalty.

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But nothing indicates this particular Proverb is meant to apply only to reading the Bible. It could apply to many other things that you are concerned about.

To understand what I mean, ask yourself this question:

DOES YOUR LIFE MAKE NO SENSE?

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On Praying for Rescue from Circumstances

Christians pray for different circumstances all the time. Obviously, the Bible teaches us to pray for our needs. Jesus himself prayed repeatedly for release from his circumstances. “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36).

So it’s not wrong to pray for different life circumstances… at least sometimes. But it’s noteworthy that, after praying in Gethsemane, Jesus’ whole demeanor changed.

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A Better Version of Yourself

I remember, back when I was a child, how excited I would get by the introduction to episodes of the TV show the Six Million Dollar man.

The idea that a person could become “better” through technology was entrancing to me… at the time. Much much later I got introduced to the idea—probably from hearing it from Crossfit’s publicity—that one could become a “stronger version” of oneself through training. Indeed, even if we did have the “plug and play” bionics envisioned in the TV show, Steve Austin would probably need training to control his new limbs in a normal fashion. Then he’d need more practice to run faster or lift more. Bypassing the need to train is difficult, even with super-powered tools.

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Gluttony In The Bible (As Opposed To Gluttony In The American Church)

In the Bible, fatness is such a blessing, that it is especially hard to understand why wicked men are permitted to enjoy such a state. It requires a theodicy and faith in God. Thus:

For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.

Psalm 73:4-7, ESV
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Should a Young Man Buy a Handgun? WWSS?

This is a controversial question in American political culture right now. Some strongly advocate for legal restrictions on gun ownership and possession. Others strongly favor the restriction of the legislature and the rest of civil government to the dictates of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights. As they see it, an armed populace is ultimately safer from crime and can’t be controlled as easily by domestic or foreign governments.

But even if a young man believes in the Second Amendment in this way, it may be a stupid decision to purchase a gun. His thinking may be clouded with slogans and visions from action movies rather than a sober evaluation of his actual circumstances and risks.

My argument for this is simple and two-fold. The first reason is that handguns are expensive to purchase and also expensive to keep since practice with them requires the cost of ammunition and usually a designated place. The second reason is more important and universal: A growing stash of saved wealth is usually the main tool of personal freedom and independence, not a handgun.

  • “Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich” (Proverbs 21:17).
  • “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it” (Proverbs 21:20).

Undoubtedly there are circumstances in which a handgun (along with discipline and proficiency in using it) is more valuable than all the money in the world at that particular moment. But much of the entertainment industry is concentrated on people facing such scenarios, making them seem common. Outside of fantasy, those circumstances are quite rare for virtally anyone who is reading these words. As far as “resistance to tyranny” goes, the government has its citizens outgunned. Practically speaking, after the skill of staying out of trouble altogether, the most important tool one can possess in dealing with government hostility in the U.S. is the ability to afford a lawyer.

The most common villain every person faces throughout all the world and all history is poverty. It is a “robber” and an “armed man” (Proverbs 6:11; 24:34). This is true even in affluent societies. Financial emergencies and setbacks, personal and societal, are a hazard of life. Thus, the most important weapon to defeat that villain is a growing stash of cash, and/or an expanding bank account, and/or a compiling collection of assets designed to produce income or at least be liquidated (not things you acquire to consume, but things you acquire to sell or make money from). If, while doing that, you believe you can own a handgun responsibly, go ahead and get one. But without amassing some wealth, purchasing something that unnecessary and expensive is stupid.

The fantasy of needing to be able to deal with an armed opponent is distracting you from the real threat you face. The Second Amendment’s vision of human life may be true, but that doesn’t make a young man’s decision to purchase a handgun wise. Being distracted into giving up money you will probably need to acquire something you probably won’t need is irrational.

  • “The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth (Proverbs 17:24; ESV).
  • “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense (Proverbs 12:11; ESV).

If you are dependent on and responsible for a car, for example, the ability to repair or replace it is probably a more pressing need than to deal with hostiles who have taken over Nakotomi Plaza.

The problem is that, one either gets in the habit on saving money or of spending all one’s money. Many people get set in this habit at an early age. If you have the wrong habit, it is human nature to accept it as normative and rationalize it. Instead of figuring out what is the best way to live, we utilize all our brain power to justify what we have already been doing.

When many American teens get jobs, they do so to be able to buy things they want over and above what their parents are willing to spend on them. This seems responsible but it means they get habituated to earning money for things they want to immediately purchase and use. That habit is insufficient for a productive adult life.

Many realize that they need to save, and assume that they will change their behavior when they get a “real job.” But a lot of people find that the “real job” barely covers real expenses. Unless they’ve already cultivated the habit of saving money, it will be very difficult to change their behavior. It is much better to have already developed an obsession to save rather than an obsession to have things you don’t need at the expense of saving. You need to get to the point where depleting your savings causes as much mental pain as not having some luxury you want.

As always, God wants us to be wise in order to empower us. Nothing in Proverbs indicates that it’s actually wrong to acquire and enjoy luxuries. But that enjoyment needs to be done in a way that doesn’t sabotage you as a person and rob you of financial freedom.

Matthew Henry Said It BEFORE Benjamin Franklin!

I find I need to add a footnote to my post concerning Benjamin Franklin and the quotation, “God helps them that help themselves.” I mentioned that some Christians hold the quote to the epitome of “the American religion” that is opposed to authentic Christianity.

But this blog post demonstrates that the saying isn’t original with Ben Franklin.

…this statement can be taken in an orthodox way and actually comes from the pen of the famous Bible commentator, Matthew Henry. Henry writes,

“God will help those that help themselves. Vigilantibus non dormientibus succurrit lex—The law succours those who watch, not those who sleep.” (Commentary on Joshua 5:13-15).

In another place, Henry writes: “He gives strength and power to his people, and helps them by enabling them to help themselves…He will help the willing, will help those who, in a humble dependence upon him, help themselves, and will do well for those who do their best.” (Commentary on Isaiah 40:27-31).

So the saying may well represent the influence of a Christian heritage on Benjamin Franklin, rather than a deviation from it.