Proverbs 15:9-10

⁹The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. ¹⁰Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.

Prank

Pranksters deliberately perform practical joke to trick others just for laugh.

Pranksters pretend to be someone else for humorous performances. Some pranksters pretend also to be needy beggars. They want to explore how people react toward lesser privileged beggars. They reward people who help beggars.

In one episode, a young boy was gathering fallen coconut fruits; he passed by a prankster pretending as beggar. The prankster pleaded, “Please give me a little drink.” Without any word, the young boy put down the coconut fruits he was carrying, opened one fruit and gave drink to the prankster. The prankster asked, “What do you do with these coconut fruits?” “I will sell them, and use the money to buy food for my family,” the boy said. “I’m sorry! You gave me what you are supposed to sell,” the prankster said. “It’s okay, I still have more,” the boy said.

The video showed that the prankster and his team visited the family of the young boy and gave them financial assistance; they also build a better house for them. The prankster told the young boy, “You are very kind; you did not hesitate to give me coconut water to drink, we’re glad to help you and your family.”

Together, let’s seriously reflect on what it declares in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. ⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Many Christians believe that when we give cheerfully, God would bless us more abundantly. Indeed, God is faithful. He blesses even more abundantly when we cheerfully give. How can we practically know that we cheerfully give?

Imagine this: Last week, many lovers celebrated Valentine’s Day. Now, if you gave a golden ring to your friend and your friend appreciated your gift, you’re so happy about that. Few weeks later, you observed that your friend was not wearing the golden ring you gave. So, you asked, “Where’s your golden ring?”

Your friend admitted that he sold the golden ring because of financial difficulty. If you sense gladness that somehow the golden ring that you gave was useful to your friend during financial difficulties, you were a cheerful giver.

God loves a cheerful giver because God is cheerful giver. God cheerfully gave us life. We can live the life the way we want, but God won’t say, “What are you doing the life I gave you?” No matter what we do, will God love us still?

1.  Love

⁹The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

Observe the present tense “loves.” It implies experience of God’s love the very moment we pursue righteousness. As long as we engage in righteousness actively, God loves us. The love of God is not simply emotional attraction. When God loves, he also blesses the one he loves, so that the recipient of his love will practically realize his godly love. How do you practically express your love?

Together, let’s reflect on what it declares in Deuteronomy 33:12, ¹²About Benjamin he said: “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”

This passage was originally prophesied by Moses for the Benjamin tribe. Is it proper to interpret that this prophecy is not only exclusive for the tribe of Benjamin? Interestingly, it declares, “The one the Lord loves.” He secures and shields the one he loves. The one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.

Shoulder

Many TV commercials feature a happy family together where the father carries his child on his shoulder. Has your father carried you on his shoulders?       My father was a politician. During election campaign periods, he tagged me along with him while his political group travelled in the countryside. In those years, travelers can only reach the villages on foot going up and down the hills and mountains or crossing the river. Whenever I get tired or slow walking, my father would carry me. And while trudging and hiking on those mountains and hills, my father would carry me and make sure that I won’t fall into the ravine.

There are online Asian Dramas that feature stronger people in the village carrying their elderly, sick people on their shoulders and even, the drunkards.

If you have experienced being carried on the shoulders of loved ones, you may have sensed a gratifying sense of being cared for. When it says that the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders, it implies that God makes sure that we personally experience his care; that, we are secured and shielded from harm.

Let’s reflect on what it declares in Psalm 11:7, ⁷For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. It also declares in Psalm 33:5, ⁵The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

These passages used the present tense “loves.”  The Lord loves justice because he is morally just. God loves righteousness because he is righteous. The Lord loves what is attributed to him. When we cheerfully give and pursue righteousness, God loves us. He disciplines us, if we leave his righteous path.

2,  Leave

¹⁰Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.

Most often, God disciplines us and brings us back into his care when we leave the path of righteousness. And when our behavior pleases him, he enables us sense much of his compassion. However, not everyone can appreciate the love God, why? To appreciate God’s love, we have to be familiar of his ways.

When God performs in us, we care about eternal things, but naturally, we mostly care about temporal things in this world. We want the best clothes, house, car or hairstyle, why? We want others to appreciate our material collections. And we want much money as much as we can collect. What else do you want in life?

Crisda Rodriguez/ Kyrzayda Rodriguez

Have you read an article about Crisda Rodriguez or Kyrzayda Rodriguez? Crisda was popular designer. In 2018, she died at the age of 40 from cancer. In her last days, she published, “I have a brand new car parked outside that cannot do anything for me. I have all kinds of designer’s clothes, shoes and bags that cannot do anything for me. I have money in my account that cannot do anything for me. I have a big well-furnished house that can’t do anything for me. Look, I’m lying here in a twin size hospital bed; I can take a plane any day of the week if I like but that can’t do anything for me. So do not let anyone make you feel bad for the things you don’t have, but the things you have, be happy with those; if you have a roof over your head who cares what kind of furniture is in it. The most important thing in life is LOVE. Lastly, make sure you enjoy the ones you love.”

This sad story reminds us that death won’t respect anyone. Famous or not, rich or not, healthy or not, when death knocks on the door, it’s time to leave this temporal world. Seriously, let us reflect on 1 Timothy 6:6-9, ⁶Godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

If God makes you rich and powerful, use that privilege to glorify the Lord.

Anyone can be victimized by materialism. The desire to get rich has also attracted many Christians so that they prioritize on temporal satisfaction on earth.

We should be very serious of our spiritual life, and purposely store up eternal treasure for ourselves in heaven. How? One way is to keep on praying not for ourselves but also for our brothers and sisters in Christ to listen and heed the discipline of God before it can become very painful for them to bear.

Let us be more prayerful and diligent in our pursuit of godly righteousness to experience much to the gracious love of God. Remember when the Scripture says, God loves in present tense. Present tense “loves” implies experience of the love of God at present moment. God loves a cheerful giver. God loves us as we pursue righteousness. God is righteous and he loves righteousness and justice.

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