Rev. Don Campbell
Proverbs 16-18
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 8, 2019
“DAILY DEALINGS”
It is important what we do when we assemble on the Lord’s day to worship, but as an old friend used to say, “Some people stand so straight on Sunday morning that they fall over backward,” meaning that their “Sunday best” did not match Monday’s realities. Our daily dealings may support our Sunday proclamations, or they may cause us to be perceived as hypocrites. Solomon tells us that in our daily dealings, we must deal honestly, humbly, and honorably.
DEALING HONESTLY EVERY DAY: “A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work” (Proverbs 16:11). A storekeeper who was known for his religiosity was also said to have “weighed his finger” on many occasions, meaning he put his finger on the scale to make the weight displayed to the customer heavier than it was. And elder in the church was known to place the less desirable produce in the bottom of the basket and the better on the top and imply that all like that which was visible.
DEALING HUMBLY EVERY DAY: “Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 17:5). “But for the grace of God, go I” is a truth we should keep ever before us.
DEALING HONORABLY EVERY DAY: “It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice” (Proverbs 18:5). Showing partiality dishonors God and those whom he has chosen as heirs of the kingdom: “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ while you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there,’ or, ‘Sit down at my feet,’ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:1-9).
CONNECTIONS
1. Some people believe that going to church is the greatest good; others believe that be a good neighbor is the greatest good. How should each duty dovetail with the other?
2. How does Jesus’ rebuke of the scribe and Pharisees in Matthew 23:1-7 relate to today’s reading?
