Podcast Introduction

Our reading today Proverbs 20-21. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Avoiding Strife.”  

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Andrey Zvyagintsev on Unsplash

Comments on Proverbs 20-21

Just a few comments today. Most of the verses, or proverbs, speak for themselves. They just need to be rolled over in our minds and made a part of who we are.

Comments on Proverbs 20

My wife, the lovely lady LeeAnn, has been in the car business for several years now, and God has blessed her. She is the director for the internet sales department at her dealership, and every month she’s almost always the top sales person because she treats her clients openly and honestly. Verse 14 of Proverbs 20 makes me think of the sales process that so many people seem to want to go through. “Bad, bad," says the buyer, But when he goes his way, then he boasts.” It’s the give and take of, not just the car business, but any financial transaction where negotiating is involved. The buyer points out the problems with the merchandise, the seller extolls the virtues. If the process is done properly, both parties are winners. The buyer comes away feeling like he’s gotten a good deal, and the seller makes a reasonable profit. 

And Verse 24 says, “Man's steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?” That last part is better translated, “How can a man understand his *own* way?” It’s true. Our lives are in God’s hand. He knows where He wants us and what He wants us to do and be. We sometimes think we are planning and running our lives. And to a certain extent we are, since we do have the freedom to choose. But God’s ultimate, overarching plan for creation will be accomplished. Doesn’t it seem foolish to think that we can challenge God? Doesn’t it seem wiser to acknowledge His lordship and follow Him one step at a time, and allow ourselves to be in harmony with His plan? If our plan is in conflict with His, all our planning will be for nothing. There’s an old Jewish proverb, non-Biblical and somewhat cynical that says, “Man makes his plan, and God laughs.” I would much rather give myself to Him and have the assurance that my life will have meant something when I stand before Him at the judgement. I’ve told you many times that my ultimate goal is to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Thoughts on Proverbs 21

I’m sure you noticed Solomon’s comments about living with a disagreeable woman. In some circles this is fodder for the fallacy that the Bible is anti-woman. I disagree, and here’s why.

Proverbs was written by Solomon, a man who was a king with not only great wisdom and great wealth, but he also had a large amount of concubines. (And yet he is still credited with having wisdom. Haha!) I’m sure that he was well acquainted with what it was like to live with easy-to-get-along with women and some who were not so much.

The purpose of this book is what? To impart wisdom. Why? Because with wisdom comes many things, one of which is peace. 

Solomon was writing from a man’s perspective, so he talked about marital peace from that vantage point. So he wrote about living with a quarrelsome woman, and the disruption of peace that causes.

One could just say, “Better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a home with a quarreling mate.” Do I hear an amen from the women? Haha. I thought so. This scripture doesn’t give men the right to be quarrelsome. And it doesn’t denigrate women. 

How do I know that the Bible is not anti-woman? There are many reasons, but Ephesians 5:25 comes to mind. Paul said, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” The way Christ loved the church is the epitome of love! Husbands are to put the welfare of their wives above their own. 

One more example. After His resurrection, Jesus could have chosen anyone to be the first He appeared to. It could have been Peter.