Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 10:8, Don’t Forget to Execute

by Marilynn Chadwick

“The wise in heart will accept and obey commandments, but the foolish of lips will fall headlong.”

Proverbs 10:8 AMPC

In the Hebrew language, the words "listen" and "obey" are represented by the word “shema.” This means to hear, pay attention, and act upon what is heard. It embodies the concept that true listening includes obedience.

In Hebrew and Greek, the original languages of the Old and New Testaments, there is no distinct word for "obey." Listening and doing are considered two sides of one action. We see this sentiment expressed in James, often called the Proverbs of the New Testament. “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22 NIV). Another word for translating ideas into actions is “execute.”

For any business, the ability to execute is critical to the bottom line. In spiritual matters, we execute when we live out the truths we’ve learned in Scripture—we put feet on our faith. Proverbs and James exhort believers to execute—to be doers as well as hearers of God’s Word. "Faith without works is dead,” James challenges (James 2:26 NKJV).

God’s Word calls us to dig deep. Do we really believe our beliefs, or do we merely hold an intellectual assent to the faith? “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (James 1:23, 24).

Do we truly believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection covered our sin? If so, that belief should propel us into a life of action and good deeds. Have we found practical ways to be both a hearer and a doer of God’s commands and his calling?

Mother eagles are known to be quite nurturing. Yet their method for teaching their young ones to fly is a swift push out of the nest. They swoop down and catch the baby eaglets as they falter, repeating the flight lesson again and again until the little ones are soaring like... well, eagles! Just like a mama eagle, God sometimes pushes us out of our cozy nest of faith with a call to action. We may hear the Holy Spirit whisper, “Go there, to that one who needs the Father’s love. Serve this broken one over here. Share your living water with this thirsty one.”

Our heart begins to beat faster in response to the Holy Spirit’s promptings. We step out...take a risk...and find that our faith takes wings. We become doers, not just hearers of the Word. Our trust grows, and before you know it, we are soaring like an eagle!

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 3:13, Wisdom’s Reward

by Marilynn Chadwick

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.”

Proverbs 3:13 NIV

People talk a lot about profitable investments and especially the ROI, or “return on investment.” According to Proverbs, there are very few investments in life as profitable as the gaining of wisdom. Threaded throughout Proverbs are admonitions to seek wisdom. The gain from wisdom is “better than gain from silver, and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:14,15 ESV).

Do you want to be wise? King Solomon sure did. And God blessed him mightily for his prayer (1 Kings 3:5-15). If we lack wisdom, we, too, should ask God. It's a prayer he loves to answer (James 1:5).

But James warns us about the dangers of mere “earthly wisdom.” He calls this kind of wisdom “unspiritual and demonic” (James 3:15 NIV). He contrasts earthly wisdom with heavenly wisdom: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17,18).

Earthly wisdom has a swagger about it. It is power-hungry. Commanding. In control. “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:16). Eve found earthly wisdom irresistible. And tragically sometimes, so do we.

James reminds us that true wisdom from heaven produces humility: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13). But make no mistake. This wisdom is anything but weak. It comes with its own reward.

The Greek word “praus,” translated as “humility,” implies bridled power. Praus is the very same word Jesus used when he said, "I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matthew 11:29). It’s the only instance in the New Testament where he described himself.

Think about it. Jesus, the all-powerful king of the universe, described himself as humble. In his presence, the sick were healed. The dead were raised. Demons trembled. Jesus was true wisdom from God in human form. That’s the most powerful and the most profitable kind of wisdom on earth—the wisdom that comes from above.

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:22, Joy is Good for Your Health

by Marilynn Chadwick

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

Can practicing thankfulness actually improve your health? Some think so. I read about a study in which participants were asked to list the things for which they were thankful. They were instructed to write their gratitude list and sustain this exercise for exactly five minutes. The results of the study showed that those who practiced gratitude for five minutes experienced a sharp rise in their disease fighting antibodies. These antibodies remained elevated for several hours!

Being thankful can improve our mental health as well. The Bible teaches us that a thankful heart is a joyful heart. And as Proverbs 17:22 points out, a joyful or cheerful heart is “good medicine.” I like this paraphrase from the Message Bible: “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired” (Proverbs 17:22 MSG).

The Bible promises joy when we spend time with Jesus: “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Acts 2:28 NIV). The Greek word for “joy,” euphrosune, comes from two words that mean “well” and “mind.” Said another way, a sound mind. Joy springs from a sound or healthy mind when we’re connected to Jesus. Just spending time in his presence can be healing. That’s good news!

When we practice being thankful, we become more aware of Jesus and all his blessings. This naturally (and supernaturally) increases our joy. And who doesn't want more joy? Joy is a language anyone can understand.

The story is told of missionaries who went to a tiny village in a faraway place. Even before the missionaries became fluent in the village’s native language, some villagers approached them wanting to hear more about “this Jesus” after hearing the sounds of joyful laughter coming from the missionaries’ tent.

So today, let’s exercise our “thank you muscles.” A thankful, joyful attitude promotes physical and emotional health. This, in turn, will help us be filled with more joy. We can pray that thirsty people—especially those who may not even know what they're thirsty for—will be drawn to our joy. Above all, let’s pray they are drawn to our Jesus who gives us this joy!