Jump Start # 2291

Proverbs 15:26 “Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, but pleasant words are pure.”

Jussie Smollett, a relatively unknown actor has been in the forefront of the news this past week. His plans certainly backfired. He was hoping the attention and the publicity would somehow give him a bump in pay. But, instead, he’s out of a job. Our verse today, from a long time ago, reminds us of the trouble we face with the Lord when we plan and scheme to do wicked things.

Earlier in Proverbs, where we find the list of things that God hates, “a heart that devises wicked plans” is among them.

Some thoughts from this:

First, before the plans were formed, evil, wicked and wrong were thought about. A corrupt heart turns to corrupt thinking and planning. What has been in the news this past week, is nothing new. On smaller scales this happens all the time. Insurance fraud and medical fraud are nothing more than corrupt people trying to cheat the system to their own advantage. They are trying to get by, get ahead, and do things dishonestly. Some major cities will have a highway lane that is designated for carpool riders, at least two people are to be in the car when on that lane. People try to cheat that system. There have been those who put manikins in the passenger seat to make it look like another person. Long before the plans are formed, the thoughts are there.

Second, when folks get caught, and they usually do, the trouble, punishment and fines are a whole lot worse than what they gained from cheating. This is true in school. A student will come up with all kinds of ways to disguise his cheating. Rather than spend that same amount of time studying, he devises evil. When caught, the consequences sometimes are more than an F on the test. In some settings, he fails the course and sometimes is expelled from the school. What happened was far worse than what he would have gained by cheating.

Third, the Lord already knows what is going on. There is no mocking God as the N.T. teaches. We can fool others and we can even deceive ourselves, but God knows. He knows our motives, our intentions and our heart. There is no getting around God. A person may literally get away with murder, at least here and for a while, but he never truly gets away with it. He will face God one day. God knows.

Fourth, those that cheat, have a low regard for others. There are those who try to cheat in business. There are those who try to sell inferior or even broken products. Why? Their selfish hearts only think about self. They want to make some money and they do not care if someone else is hurt. The Lord told us that the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as your self. This goes out the window when a person is planning evil and wicked. That selfish, indifferent attitude doesn’t set well with the Lord. It is just the opposite of what He is. The N.T. teaches us to be kind, gentle, forgiving, engaging in good deeds and loving. All of these great qualities and characteristics are directed towards how we treat others. A person can’t be wrong with others and right with God. Remember that golden rule? That is forgotten when one plans evil.

Fifth, it’s hard to restore name, reputation and trust after one has been caught cheating and planning evil. People become suspicious. People don’t want to include you in places where integrity and honesty are demanded. For some, they will always be known by the evil that they planned. Their deeds taint them and people remember. Selfishness and greed come with a price. That price may simple be that you find it hard to get a job. That price may be that you can’t get accepted into a school. That price may be that you lose friends and even family relationships. There are a lot of things much more important and valuable than a bump up in salary. And, to climb on people to get that, is a terrible and wicked way to accomplish that.

Rather than laying awake in bed, wondering what you would do if you could rob a bank, put your thoughts to good, useful and helpful things. Paul tells us to let our minds dwell upon what is lovely, pure and right. Chase those thoughts away and think about how you can help the church. When you walk into a store or your place of work, what do you notice right away? How is it appealing to a visitor? Share those ideas with those at church. Be thinking of ways to get the word of God out on social media. Think about ways to reach more overseas. Pour your thoughts, your energies into constructive, godly and useful ways to improve things.

Hollywood glamorizes the one who devises wicked plans. Breaking the law, breaking the rules, stepping on others to lie, cheat and steal, is the basis of so many movies. Wicked plans. Wicked people. And, as our culture sits there and takes in all of those images, is it any wonder that some turn those images into real plans. They stockpile weapons and ammo and then plan how to shoot up a school or church. They make plans to cheat insurance companies. They come up with ways to fool the corporate bosses so they can get paid when there is nothing wrong with them.

Rather than feeding our hearts upon glamorized plans that are wicked, we need to fill our minds and hearts with the goodness of the Gospel. What is truly missing in the Jussie Smollett story is a heart that was void of Jesus. His hatred, prejudice and wicked plans came from a heart that has no focus and no direction. Rather than using his influence for good, he chose evil. Rather than promoting unity in a torn city, he added to the division and hatred. Rather than being known as a great actor, Jussie Smollett has become the poster boy of someone who plans evil. His name, unknown to most in this country, has been the illustration of so many sermons recently. Rather than getting praise and adoration, he is scorned and mocked as a fool who lives without God. His plans backfired, as most wicked plans eventually do.

Just what is it that you think about? What do you day dream about? What are your wishes? The quality of your heart tells the answer.

Roger

Jump Start # 1452

Proverbs 15:26 “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”

  Proverbs, the book of contrasts, helps us so much with learning how to make the right choices. The words are simple, true and extremely practical. Our verse today deals with talking to someone, and especially, responding to what someone has said to us. Conversations. The day begins with conversations before we leave the house. Getting everyone on the same schedule and who is going where after school. Then it’s off to work we go, where there are more conversations. Most of these surround work but there is the occasional chit-chat about what are you doing this weekend. Phone calls. Emails. Texts. Back home and how was your day? Our world is filled with conversations. Some are meaningful and some are very shallow and some are simply sharing information.

Our verse today reminds us of the importance of putting thought into what we are saying. Think first. The book of James would say, ‘be quick to hear and slow to speak.’ The righteous ponders how to answer. There is some stewing going on in the mind and the heart of the righteous. He’s careful. He chooses his words wisely. In contrast, the wicked pours out any and every thing that is in his mind. Some of it is inappropriate. Some of it will cause harm. Some will hurt the feelings of others. Some will do damage to the image of the work place or the church. The wicked will spread secrets. The wicked will say mean things. The wicked has no filter and no regard for what is said. He justifies his ways by saying, “I just call it the way I see it,” as if that excuses his rudeness and offensiveness. The wicked has made some cry by what he said. The wicked has made some mad by what he has said. He could have said things better, but he doesn’t take the time to ponder. He just pours out whatever comes to mind. He ignores Solomon’s Ecclesiastical wisdom, “There is a time to speak and a time to be silent.” Not for the wicked. If he feels like it, he’ll just say it. Most of us have felt the daggers from such a mouth. It hurts.

Our attention is upon the pondering righteous. He’s thinking before he speaks. He is searching for the best way to say what ought to be said. He is considering the person he is talking to and considering how best to help him by what he says. The righteous understands nagging doesn’t work. He knows yelling isn’t productive. He knows name calling usually just insults a person. He ponders. He thinks. He runs this thoughts through all kinds of filters before his mouth opens.

Most understand this application when asked a Bible question. We give it some thought. We are careful to be accurate and helpful. The difficulty with our passage is when we are in a heated conversation, when there are disagreements, when it feels that we are losing the argument, then we open the flood gates, stop the pondering and out comes anything and everything that is on our minds. Couples may say things that they shouldn’t, all because they were upset with each other. Brethren say things that hurt and do a lot of damage, just because they are heated and are not thinking.

Pondering takes time. That’s the trouble. We want to microwave our words and get them out as fast as we can. Pondering involves not only word selection, but considering the person who is going to receive those words. Pondering also involves the tone in which those words are sent. The volume of our voice, how rapid we speak, how little we hear the other person. This is really hard for parents. Teenagers like to push buttons and the limits with their parents. They sometimes will say things without thinking. Pondering doesn’t work with most teenagers. It takes time and maturity to develop pondering. So, your teenager comes home and declares that he is going to quit school, join a band, dye his hair pink and travel across the country with his freeloading friends. That’ll get your blood pressure going! Your sensitivity meter will redline quickly. Out goes the pondering. Out comes screams and declarations that he is an idiot and lacking all sense. You’re probably right, but your words, without pondering probably will not help the situation. Take a breath. Say little. Let him tell you his little scheme. Flip on the pondering in your head. Get to thinking what ought to be said first. Be careful. Be wise in what you say.

I expect most of the trouble we get into with our mouths is because we fail to ponder what to say. We just say whatever we feel like saying. The same goes for posting things on Facebook and other media sources. Venting your frustrations to the world can cost you your job if you openly complain about the company. It lessens your influence on others when you complain about fellow Christians. Ponder who might see what you post. Ponder if that is the best thing for you to do.

I have written letters that were never mailed. I needed to get some things off my chest. I pounded those keys on the computer, vented and vented my feelings and then tossed or deleted what I wrote. Some things simply should not be shared with others. Some things do not help. It’s hard to get into a dog fight, when the other will not fight. Elsewhere in Proverbs we learn about the soft answer turning away wrath, and a word fitly spoken. In the N.T., multiple times we find answering with gentleness or kindness. There are times when difficult things need to be said. Jesus did that to the Pharisees. Parents do that. Shepherds have to do that. Pondering doesn’t mean looking the other way. Pondering doesn’t mean never having to be the bad guy. Pondering isn’t excusing wrong or justifying bad behavior. Not at all. Pondering means you have given thought to what you say before you say it. What is said may be hard, tough and pointed, but it was given thought and careful consideration.

So, give it a try today. Before you say something, hold the thought, think about it first and then, if it is fitting and right, say it. If you catch yourself thinking, “I probably shouldn’t say this,” then DON’T. That’s the pondering part. It’s trying to help you be helpful. The more you ponder, the less you will explode. The more you ponder, the better will be what you say.

Try pondering today…it may make for a better day!

Roger