“Do Not Envy
Saying 20
Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
Saying 21
By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
Saying 22
A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength. Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
Saying 23
Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
Saying 24
He who plots evil will be called a schemer. A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
Saying 25
If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
“Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.” At first, you might read this statement and think, “Well duh! Who doesn’t know that!” But in a day and age in which many people pride themselves on being “bad-ass,” these same people truly are envying the wicked and desiring their company, believing that this will make them strong and invincible. (And where did the term “bad ass” come from? Why should the state of one’s derriere be so interesting? Don’t correct me; obviously I am mocking this term because it has suddenly become complimentary to call something “bad ass.” Previous generations used positive terms such as good, honorable, honest, hard-working, etc.; is this really the best we can do?)
“By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.” This statement actually goes along with the first one. When you copy the wicked, you will get terrible results. Apply wisdom if you want a good, successful, and prosperous life.
“A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength. Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.” Strength without wisdom can land you in trouble, and refusing to consult the right people can make things far worse. I just received a phone call from one of our staff who had previously been sponsored for training. Unfortunately, when this lady wanted to go for an advanced course, she took off for school, assuming the hospital would pay her fees; meanwhile, the hospital coffers are tapped out because we are trying to help several poor students secure their first qualification. Whether or not this lady discussed the matter with anyone else, she never came to us and we are the major donors to the hospital sponsorship fund. Now this lady is severely disappointed, and all because she didn’t consult anyone else.
“Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.” It’s always good to make sure your brain is in gear before your mouth is in gear.
“He who plots evil will be called a schemer. A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.”
We can’t be certain about the term used for “schemer” in the original language, but it’s quite possible that it was far more insulting than the English translation. Schemes, whether foolish or wise are still sinful because these plots are hatched in attempts to manipulate people or events.
“If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?“ I have spent most of my professional career working in mission hospitals in remote settings. For much of that time, I have been the only doctor for the hospital, covering all kinds of surgical emergencies as well as other medical emergencies in addition. Whenever possible, I counsel families to make the wisest decisions for their patients and themselves. I do these things conscious that I am always working in the presence of God and I pray over ever surgery patient before I operate for complete healing. You see, I have promised God that if I do the best I can to heal people where I am working, God will take care of my family in the U.S. I try to treat each of my patients as if he/she were my closest relative. Some days, it is very tough, not because I don’t care but because of the work load and the tropical heat. Those are the days when I remind myself of my agreement with God.
Wisdom and foolishness, righteous behavior and retribution for misdeeds-these are the main themes of this part of Proverbs 24. May God help us as we work so that we will honor Him in all that we do.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are tired, wondering if the struggle is worth it. Help us to realize that we are actually working for You and not just for some faceless group. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment