Life presents
itself in all sorts of situations. By studying the book of Proverbs, we receive
practical wisdom on how to deal with each one wisely. There are so many
spiritual gems in this book waiting to be mined so that we will know how to act,
and so live our life with distinction. Whether it be about the home, marriage,
work, recreation, or relationship, we are never poorer if we seek the counsel
of this book that is full of divine wisdom. In three verses, Proverbs 24:27-29
give us three sensible perspectives on three different situations. And then
tell us what we should do with each one of them.
In verse 27, the
counsel is on what to do if one contemplates establishing a stable home. Before
one decides to get into marriage, the first thing to do is to make sure that one
has the means to support a wife, build and maintain a family. The man who wants
to do this must first ensure that he works hard. In agriculture language, this
verse encourages a man to be sure that he establishes his career before he gets
married, starts a family and builds a home. The idea is about being prepared
before one jumps into such a major commitment. Isn’t this what the Lord Jesus said
in challenging believers on being a good disciple of his? In Luke 14:28-30, he
said, “For which one
of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate
the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who
observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to
finish.’” Whoever wants a stable marriage and
a comfortable home must ensure that he has counted the cost and prepared himself,
before he makes that commitment. A good and successful marriage not only
requires romantic passion but also financial viability.
Verse 28 shows us
what not to do when we are called to verify a truth. We are not to be flippant in
giving testimony. Speaking untruly can injure a person’s reputation unnecessarily.
The counsel here is for us not to be malicious or slanderous. No one should
offer to be a witness to something he doesn’t know. To do so would be running
the risk of being deceitful.
Verse 29 urges us
not to be vindictive. Let’s not do life with a “tit for tat” attitude. To have
an “eye for an eye” lifestyle seems very human. But this verse urges us not to
adopt this pattern of living. The three words “Do not say…” debunk the need to
do to others what they have done to us. As followers of Christ, we must be
mindful of what he has said. He calls us to love our neighbours as ourselves.
In Romans 12:18-19, Paul counsels us this way, “If possible, so far as it depends on
you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave
room for the wrath of God, for it is
written, “Vengeance
is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.” We should not repay evil for
evil. For that is what an animal would do. And if we should only repay good for
good, we are doing just what any ordinary human being would do. But if we repay
evil for good we will be doing what the devil would do. Let us learn to repay
good even when we are treated badly. For that is exactly what God in Christ has
done.
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