Proverbs 17

Another wonderful chapter in the Book of Proverbs where there are many things that we can reflect upon and learn.

So allow me to share some verses that strike me most…

Bible Passage: Proverbs 17

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests the hearts.

v3

The refining pot is not only for refining metals, but they are also used to test their quality. Similarly, the Lord puts His children through trials to test and to refine them. Just as what prophet Jeremiah had revealed the ways of God to us:

“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 17: 9 – 10

In our Christian lives, we are bound to meet with some hardships, but these are necessary for our realization and growth in our faith.

We must admit that we don’t really know ourselves. Many a times we do things without knowing the reason behind our doings.

But our God sees all our hearts, and He knows all our hidden intentions; whether these intentions are good or not, our Lord can reveal them to us through some testing moments or incidents.

So when we face with some difficulties in our lives, maybe in the form of sorrows, sicknesses, or even poverty, let us all be reminded that we have an Almighty God who sees and He knows what we are going through. (James 1: 2 – 4)

We just need to endure and also reflect upon the word of God and His love for us, then He will reveal to us if these trials are for our refining or for punishments for our sins so that we can repent and improve henceforth.

The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

V14

He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

V27 – 28

These verses reminded me of the sharing we had in the Tampines fellowship when we were studying Genesis 26, that Isaac dug 2 wells and the herdsmen of Gerar came to quarrel with the herdsmen of Isaac; but Isaac chose not to contend with them but moved away to dig somewhere else.

From here we learnt that there is no point in contentions or quarrels, because many a times, when anger is aroused, the end results will not be pleasant to everybody.

Therefore we need always to be calm and exercise tolerance, so that we won’t end up in a situation that is like water being released and we can’t collect it back.

A friend loves at all times,
 And a brother is born for adversity.

 V17

Here we learn about the standard that the Lord wants us to always adhere to, and that is to love one another, which is one of the greatest commandments of the Lord (Matthew 22: 37 – 39).

Can we be a true friend to our friends and our brethren in Christ?

Can we be a true brother to others?

We may have our own principles and standards regarding our treatments towards our friends, but have we ever compare our standards with our Lord’s standard in this matter of loving our friends and brothers?

And after comparing, are we willing to conform to His standard instead of holding on to ours?

Can we love our friends at ALL TIMES or only as and when I’m convenient?

Can we be there for our brothers when adversities befall them, or only want to be around them when times are good?

May we all learn and grow to be more like Jesus with the wisdom we have learnt from His word.

Shalom