In six verses
from Proverbs 22:7-12, we see what we need to do to build a credible, trustworthy
life. This is important if we are to ensure meaningful relationship with others
within and without the community of God. Since building credibility is unquestioningly
important, we need to be aware of the hindrances that can block us from attaining
it. So, in the next four verses of Proverbs 22:13-16, we are given four hindrances
to avoid if we desire to have a trustworthy life.
Laziness,
says Proverbs 22:13, is one of them. “The sluggard says, “There is a lion
outside; I will be killed in the streets.” Humorously, the author taunts a lazy
person. A sluggard can invent the
wildest joke imaginable just to avoid work. He gives a very fantastic and fanciful,
if not pathetic excuse, why he is not found working. Lions are usually located in
the wild but seldom in the town. Yet for the sake of avoiding getting to work,
the sluggard will use the most ridiculous and laughable of excuses to remain lazy.
He won’t even care about how ridiculous he may appear. This certainly will ruin
his credibility as a person.
Lust is
certainly another one. So, Proverbs 22:14 tells us never to fall for the ruse
of an immoral woman. Such a woman will use enticing, seductive words to lure a
man into an illicit tryst. The purity of sexual intimacy within the confine of
a marriage must never be violated. A man breaks moral purity at the expanse of
his credibility. The two words “deep pit” conjure an image of irreversible damage.
To fall into such a predicament through wilful involvement is an indication of
one’s affront to God, resulting in a curse.
Lacking
discipline is the third hindrance to a trustworthy life. This is especially so
when one is not guided and disciplined from young. So, Proverbs 22:15 says, “Foolishness
is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline will drive it far
from him.” A child, unlike a discerning adult, doesn’t know any better. Hence, he
has the tendency to indulge in mischief. In his or her stage of innocence, a
child will have a strong self-will and hence the great possibility to drift waywardly
into the wrong path. If at that stage, he or she is not disciplined and taught
the right path, the child will grow up untrained in discerning between what’s
right and what’s wrong. It is highly likely then that he or she will adopt the path
of least resistance leading to the formation of wrong habits. Here, the Word of
God advocates that proper discipline be enforced when a child is still young and
malleable. Train a child while he is still trainable. Don’t wait till bad
habits are formed.
Lacking
equality in dealing with others is the fourth hindering factor to the
cultivation of a trustworthy life. A partial person deals differently with
people depending on their status in life. He exploits the poor for personal
gain and curry favour with the rich, and often to his own peril. So, verse 16 decries
such a behaviour saying, “He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself or
give to the rich, will only come to poverty.” He oppresses the poor and bribe
the rich. Such biasness and inequality will bring a bad reputation to a person,
making him untrustworthy.
Trustworthiness
must be built through being faithful in the little things in life. Jesus’ conclusion
to the parable of the unrighteous steward in Like 16:10 is this, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in
much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in
much.” The Lord assures us that when we remain faithful in the little
things in life, we will become faithful in much. The opposite is also true. If
we are not faithful in the little things of life, overtime we will be unfaithful
in the big things as well. Take heed to the Lord’s words. Be faithful!
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