Exploring the riddle of the Bible's wisdom
The “pyramid society” is a well known concept–the architectural analogy for the totalitarian state managing all of society and making it function better than it ever could without such a controlling political authority. The few at the top guide the rest beneath them.
But the power of the image relies on a hidden reversal of reality. The pyramid is supposed to represent a stable society in which the top directs the rest.
Continue reading “The Illusion of the Pyramid Society”Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
Proverbs 21:17 (ESV)
Before Facebook and Twitter, you had to go to a public venue to get in ideological fights to affirm your moral superiority over others. At my Christian college, in the 80s, we had arguments on a bulletin board—literally. It was located in the campus center basement and we tacked notes onto it to express opinions and start fights.
Continue reading “Do Socialist and Capitalist Students Behave Differently?”The desire of the sluggard kills him,
Proverbs 21:25-26
for his hands refuse to labor.
All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous gives and does not hold back
I won’t cite examples in this post, but I am growing weary of Christian books attacking capitalism or the free market in the name of helping the poor.
Where does wealth to help the poor come from?
If one believes we are obligated to help the needy then it follows that sloth is a robbery of the needy. Instead of becoming a resource for aiding others the sluggard voluntarily becomes needy and thus adds to the number of those needing help.
Continue reading “Productive Work Is Where Charity Comes From”Awhile back I mentioned some connections between Psalms and Proverbs. One of them was that Psalm 1 and 2, in addition to being an introduction to the whole Psalter, also works as an introduction to Proverbs.
If you read Psalm 1 and Proverbs, it is obvious what I mean. The two ways of Psalm 1 are described repeatedly in Proverbs. While Psalm 1 doesn’t mention folly versus wisdom, Proverbs includes plenty of contrasts between the righteous and the wicked.
Continue reading “Psalm 2 Tells All Us Kings to Be Wise”A book of the Bible doesn’t have to have a verse or verses that announce the theme. But, if Proverbs has one, usually people appeal to at least the first two verses in this passage in chapter 3:
Continue reading “A Better Theme Verse for Proverbs”Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
Proverbs 3:5–8; ESV
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
The first draft of the Proverbs book is done so, while I’m arranging for publication, the blog is moving back nearer the center of my attention.
So stay tuned!
In the meantime, I recently posted at Kuyperian.com. Here’s the beginning:
Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Colossians 3:22–4:1
The typical way I think this passage is applied and preached is to exhort Christians to be better employees because they want to please God by obeying him. Since we’ve eliminated slavery as they practiced it in the ancient world and later, these texts are usually applied to the employer/employee relationship. But I’d like to do something a little different here. I’d like you to consider how the way you work to please your employer should influence how you obey God.
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7–8; ESV
Though Paul compares training in godliness to athletic training, there is a major difference. There is no gym or running track for godliness. There is no time to practice apart from actual competition. Sometimes one hears of a famous person in another religion who allegedly spends the night with virgins to test his self-control, but that is not a Christian option (and it wouldn’t build character anyway).
Continue reading “TRAINING IN THE “SMALL STUFF””Sort of.
I wrote On Praying for Rescue from Circumstances and mentioned, at the end of it, “I have more to write about this.”
Well, I have written more about prayer but I did so at Kuyperian.com where I occasionally contribute. These two “sequels” make up a Trilogy of sorts:
Eventually, I’ll post copies here at Solomon Says.
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.
Continue reading “On Praying for Rescue from Circumstances”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.
Continue reading “A Better Version of Yourself”
