Proverbs 12:13-14

¹³ Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble. ¹⁴ From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.

Celebrity

A celebrity actor felt invincible. He did whatever he wanted to do. He was accused of murder; he was imprisoned; he was acquitted. He died lately. His death attracted conflicting opinions from expert to ordinary viewers. They suggest that the celebrity was guilty but he was acquitted because of not so clear reason. Another person commented that his death served its purpose whatsoever.

Together, let’s seriously reflect on what is declared in Ecclesiastes 9:2-4,

² All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them. ³This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. ⁴Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

Certainly, no one knows when God decides to take our life. He may decide to extend our life or just end it. Anytime, anywhere, we have to be mindful that we don’t control the length of our life. But we can decide whether to prepared for eternal dwelling or just linger on our limited life on earth. We may choose to enjoy whatever is offer through life or be more serious of preparing for eternal treasure.

What do you think? Can we enjoy life on earth while we obey the Lord?

Let us seriously reflect on what Christ declared in John 11:25, ²⁵I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?

Ordinarily, it is interpreted that life in Christ is simply breathing, but faith in him inspires us to conceptualize that in Christ there’s fullness of life and not just simply breathing. Fullness of life in Christ produces in us joy and peace from his Holy Spirit. Pray to explore life with joyful peace in Christ. Life as Christian offers partial experience of eternal life that Christ the resurrection offers to everyone.

When we experience joyful and peaceful life in Christ, we avoid sinfulness.

1.  Sinful

¹³ Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.

Sinful talk may pertain to blasphemy, profanity, flattery, swearing, cursing, lying or deception. Sinful speech is a trap. Mostly, if the heart is not regenerated by the Holy Spirit, it will entertain speeches that are not pleasant to the Lord.

In contrast, the innocent won’t be snared, trapped or controlled by ideas that are not pleasant to the Lord. The term “innocent” is properly translated as “righteous, just, lawful and blameless.” Surely, nothing is to be charged against a blameless person. Interestingly, when you speak of the truth, many individuals may not like you, especially, those who will be rebuked for their wickedness.

Security Guard

A preacher humorously declared, “I have a lot of security guards!” “Really? You must be rich to employ security guards.” The curious listener cannot agree. “Yes! I have security guards but I don’t pay for them. It’s free!” he answered. “How come?” the listener was amazed even more. The preacher clarified, “Those people who hate my sermons, they attentively watch my behavior and everything I do; they wait for me to make mistakes; and they cannot stop following me!”

Well, it is a challenge for preachers to admonish wrongdoings. When you rebuke friends or relatives but they are unrepentant and cut off your friendship or block your social media account, it is very sad but don’t be alarmed. It could be that their time for change has not come just yet. Be more concerned of what the Lord would do, whether we decide to be sensitive to his will or disregard him.

Together, let us reflect on what King David prophesied in Psalm 56:8-11,

⁸Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record? ⁹Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. ¹⁰ In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise—¹¹in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?

In his prayer, King David declared what the Lord revealed in his heart. The Lord has record for our miseries and heartaches. Can you believe that he also counts every tear that falls from our eyes? Why does God count our tears? He prepared appropriate rewards for our devotion and sacrifices in obeying him.

We persevere while waiting for positive result of praying for loved ones. But certainly, when we receive rewards from God, we will be satisfied forever.

2.  Satisfied

¹⁴ From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.

The term “filled” is appropriately translated as “satisfied, satiated, have in plenty, abundance or enough.” The fruit of lips that filled people with good things pertains to words of wisdom from successful people. What they accomplished or accumulated practically proves what they advise. They speak of their practices in life that brought them success, and observers may wish to attain or achieve.

Naturally, human is envious of accomplishment, achievement, attainment or success of others. We want to achieve what others achieved or accomplished.

It is helpful to listen to their story of success and try to do the same. Right? Interestingly, the most successful king of Israel in term of materialism and worldly success was King Solomon. Yet, only a few would seriously listen to his advice, why? The wisdom of King Solomon originated from God. Therefore, it requires faith in God to internalize and seriously consider his word of wisdom.

Not everyone would pay attention to the wisdom of King Solomon, why? Is it rebellion to God? Do you accept without hesitation that the Lord who spoke and gave wisdom to King Solomon is the same Christ who was born Jesus in human flesh? If so, let us reflect seriously of what Jesus Christ warned in Luke 10:16:

¹⁶“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

This warning was given to the disciples when Jesus Christ sent them on a mission. But it is by faith we believe that the Lord gave wisdom to King Solomon to write proverbs for believers to adhere to and internalize. The Proverbs of King Solomon are accepted as godly advice for practical life, but to adhere and apply practically the prudent words of King Solomon is also practice of faith in the Lord.

Together let’s seriously reflect on Deuteronomy 28:2, ²All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.

Packed Up

How strong do you believe that blessings accompany you if you obey the Lord your God? Lately, someone published his personal experience of amazing grace of God. He was informed that if he cannot pay his accounts, he should not stay in the seminary. They have no money on hand. So, they packed their things and decided to leave the seminary and go home. All of a sudden, someone came and gave him check to pay his account in the seminary. And the rest is history.

The fruit of his lips simply testified his personal experience of blessing from God. He mentioned that when he desired to obey the Lord, his needs were taken care of. He explored and attained great things: career wise, finances or travel.

Together, let’s reflect meditatively on what it advised us in James 1:22-25:

          ²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Instead of just praying for blessing, pray for increase of faith. The Lord has already delivered everything we need for godly life. Blessing is included in God’s command. When we obey him, we receive blessing prepared for obedience.

Have you heard a command from the Lord lately? Obey and you will be blessed!

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