Proverbs 27

Bible Passage:  Proverbs 27

This chapter alone speaks of so much wisdom. Preacher Aun Quek is currently also conducting Bible Study sessions after Sabbath afternoon services on the Book of Proverbs. There is much to learn from these sessions.

The Flower Flourishes, the Flower Fades

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” v1-2

However strong, intelligent or well-equip we think ourselves to be, we are still limited in our capacities. Instead of resting on our laurels, we stand humbled before God and strive to be teachable Christians.

Only God is omniscient and has knowledge of the things to come. Only God is omnipotent and can strengthen our being and make us whole. Job experienced this during his days on earth. He teaches us:

“Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue.”
~ Job 14:1-2

Today we live in comfortable houses, attend to family and friends, work hard so we have enough to splurge a little on the next holiday, a pretty dress, the latest tech-toy. We ease into a snug, compact shelter that is our life, with occasional rewards to excite. In all these, what have we gained for God?

“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”
~ Psalms 103:15-16

We may be flourishing now in our various pursuits. We have everything going for us. But the verse above reminds us how transient these events are. There is a hymn which we sing every Holy Communion and often causes me to stop and think – hymn 297. And I ask myself what I have gained not for myself, but for Christ. Living for Jesus and turning souls to Him are eternal blooms which we can give Jesus. He does not need our other ‘blooms’.

In some parts of the world, traffic rules serve as a reference only. They exist but nobody actually follows the rules. Accidents follow. Do we treat the word of God in the Bible as such today? If we do not have the same guiding principle in our lives and we do not take His teachings seriously, then we will realise that we are very volatile to situations presented before us. Because everyone goes on and does as he/she pleases, all our goals differently aligned whilst we interact with each other, it is almost certain that we clash. In the case of people not observing the traffic rules, the rules will still exist, but lives may have been lost due to lack of observance and obedience to the rules.

As we reflect on God’s deliverance and grace this Sabbath, let us also open our hearts and ears to His enduring word.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”
~ Isaiah 40:8