Thoughts for the Day

Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—
a stranger, and not your own lips.
The sated appetite spurns honey,
but to a ravenous appetite even the bitter is sweet.
Like a bird that strays from its nest
is one who strays from home...

Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,
so that I may answer whoever reproaches me.
Whoever blesses a neighbour with a loud voice,
rising early in the morning,
will be counted as cursing....

Just as water reflects the face,
so one human heart reflects another.

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
and human eyes are never satisfied.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
so a person is tested by being praised.
Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle
along with crushed grain,
but the folly will not be driven out

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today we look at three short proverbs:

• Do not boast about tomorrow, for you don't know what the day will bring: Many of us plan our future, some in intricate detail. I spent months planning a huge pilgrimage for thousands of people, even having two beautiful chalices with gold linings made by Royal Worcester Pottery, only to end up that evening after the glorious send off from the cathedral, in bed with a trapped nerve in my back. It was galling! The Epistle of James (4.13-16) says we should be humble, saying "If the Lord wishes." We can plan, but not be over-confident. There can also be a blessing in not knowing what will happen next. (Note to self: Plan, but allow God to have His say!)
• Just as water reflects the face, so one human heart reflects another: In a society where 'mirrors' were probably burnished pots and in the poorest homes not even that, a person would only see their reflection in still water. The British scholar, Derek Kidner pointed out that the Hebrew text is literally 'As the water the face to the face, so the man's heart to the man'. In other words the things in our heart will be revealed in our actions and in our words! (Note to self: Do my words and actions reflect my Christian values?)
• Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and human eyes are never satisfied: We've come across 'Sheol' before as the resting place of the dead, but 'Abaddon' is new. It's often used alongside 'Sheol' to describe a bottomless pit. This proverb describes something that can never be satisfied. It shows us that just as the place for the dead is never full so our desires in this world can be like that. Adam Clarke a British theologian said this: "The lust of power, riches, and splendour, is never satisfied. Out of this ever unsatisfied desire spring all the changing fashions, the varied amusements, and the endless modes of getting money, prevalent in every age, and in every country.” (Note to self: Turn from the fleeting things of the world to what God offers!)

Lord Jesus Christ,
we thank You for all that You have taught us,
and also for the teaching of Solomon.
May we reflect on what we have learnt
and begin to apply it to our own life today.
Help us not to be discouraged if we fail,
but send Your Spirit to lift us up once more
to try again.
Amen.