Readings for today: Proverbs 1-4
None of us is an island. None of us “does life” on our own. We are shaped profoundly by the company we keep. Our families of origin. The friends we hang out with. The professional relationships we develop. The clubs we join. The churches we attend. We are all products of the human system and the human system is fundamentally communal. I think about when my children were younger. My wife and I talked to them at length about their friends. We encouraged them to be wise in who they chose to spend time with. When they chose poorly, they suffered the consequences. When they chose wisely, they benefited tremendously. The same is true for all of us no matter how old or young we may be.
None of this is new, of course, and it’s why Solomon encourages his own son to beware of bad company. “My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded. If they say, “Come with us! Let’s set an ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun! Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol, whole, like those who go down to the Pit. We’ll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. Throw in your lot with us, and we’ll all share the loot”, my son, don’t travel that road with them or set foot on their path, because their feet run toward evil and they hurry to shed blood. It is useless to spread a net where any bird can see it, but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives. Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it.”(Proverbs 1:10-19 CSB) It’s the practical application of Psalm 1 which talks about not walking in the counsel of the ungodly or standing in the path of sinners or sitting in the seat of mockers. The world is full of all kinds of enticements. All kinds of temptations. It’s so easy to compromise here or there. Indulge just a little. But that road only leads to self-destruction. It steals life rather than gives it.
Much better to trust God. Much better to seek His wisdom. Much better to surround yourself with godly people and wise counselors. Much better to walk in the fear of the Lord. When we seek God’s ways above our own ways, it leads to blessing. We receive life rather than lose it. The community around us is lifted up. I think of the men and women I just spent two weeks training in Africa. Part of their work is agricultural sustainability projects. Farming and animal husbandry. We give them the tools and training and resources necessary to provide food security for themselves with the charge to share what they’ve learned with their neighbors. As a result, thousands and thousands of homes (over 18,000 in just the last year) are now food secure in a very food insecure region of the world. Nutrition and hunger and starvation is being eliminated one village at a time. We call this “redemptive lift” and it is the natural result of the gospel penetrating a community for the first time.
We have the same opportunity over here in our own neighborhoods. All it takes is a little time and intentionality to bring redemptive lift to our neighbors and friends in our community. Where do you start? How about hosting an ice cream social on your driveway and invite all your neighbors? How about putting a fire pit out front with hot chocolate on Halloween for all the trick or treaters and their parents? How about attending a game or a play or a musical at your local middle and high school to support the students? How about volunteering at your local food pantry? It’s not hard to find a way to bring the light of the gospel into your community and give people a chance to be shaped in new and profound ways by the Lord.
Readings for tomorrow: Proverbs 5-8