High Expectations...
The Book of Proverbs
Proverbs chapter 20
Scripture= Proverbs chapter 20:14, 17 (The Message)
14 "It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.
17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
Observation= Have you ever been shrewd to the point of dishonesty in driving a good deal for yourself? Did you consider your tactics as simply a way to acquire a real bargain? When you put theses two verses together it creates quite a scenario. You use fraud to drive down the acceptable price for something by telling the merchant that there is something wrong with his product even though it is fine. Then you brag about your negotiating prowess in getting such a great deal! According to The American Heritage® Dictionary fraud is defined as:
“A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain.”
Can this be an acceptable level of behavior for those who have been given the righteousness of God as a gift? Should there be a higher level of expectations when it comes to the behavior of those who have the Holy Spirit of God residing in them?
Application= Were you born with a natural talent, ability or skill? When this happens it can be interpreted as both a blessing and a curse. It can be a blessing because you have something that can mark you and make you special. It can be a curse because you could be known for only your skill and be neglected as a person.
With the gifts that you have been given can come certain expectations. If you have been given something special you need to use this gift wisely. If your gift is in academics you need to study and apply yourself and choose to follow a profession that will help society. If you are a leader then you need to make sure that you travel the right path and be a positive example to others.
My son plays sports and has a real gift for baseball and really just about anything that he puts his heart into. I challenge him about working hard and always having the right attitude. I also tell him that with his gifts there are certain expectations of his outcome. He feels that sometimes his coaches or I get on his case and don’t treat him like everyone else. When that happens I try to convey to him that nobody is picking on him but instead his coaches know what he is capable of and cannot accept less than that out of him. If you can be more and do more should you just settle for mediocrity or push for excellence? It is hard for him to understand that the coaches say certain things to him because they know what he is capable of and they know that those same expectations are not realistic to some of his teammates.
As a follower of Jesus Christ I have been given the opportunity to live at a level that should exceed the standards of the world. It is unrealistic to assume or expect the world to act different than the standards that the world will tolerate or justify. But shouldn’t the children of God be expected to be fair and live above those tolerable standards?
Jesus knows what we are capable of because he is in us giving us, through his grace, the ability to live out his standards in our everyday lives. (Please see Luke 12:48)
Prayer= Lord Jesus, help me to submit to your ways inside of me. By your precious Spirit you guide me and by your grace you empower me to do the right thing and live above the world’s base standards. Thank you that all the expectations that you desire of me are fulfilled in you Jesus.
Proverbs chapter 20
Scripture= Proverbs chapter 20:14, 17 (The Message)
14 "It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.
17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
Observation= Have you ever been shrewd to the point of dishonesty in driving a good deal for yourself? Did you consider your tactics as simply a way to acquire a real bargain? When you put theses two verses together it creates quite a scenario. You use fraud to drive down the acceptable price for something by telling the merchant that there is something wrong with his product even though it is fine. Then you brag about your negotiating prowess in getting such a great deal! According to The American Heritage® Dictionary fraud is defined as:
“A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain.”
Can this be an acceptable level of behavior for those who have been given the righteousness of God as a gift? Should there be a higher level of expectations when it comes to the behavior of those who have the Holy Spirit of God residing in them?
Application= Were you born with a natural talent, ability or skill? When this happens it can be interpreted as both a blessing and a curse. It can be a blessing because you have something that can mark you and make you special. It can be a curse because you could be known for only your skill and be neglected as a person.
With the gifts that you have been given can come certain expectations. If you have been given something special you need to use this gift wisely. If your gift is in academics you need to study and apply yourself and choose to follow a profession that will help society. If you are a leader then you need to make sure that you travel the right path and be a positive example to others.
My son plays sports and has a real gift for baseball and really just about anything that he puts his heart into. I challenge him about working hard and always having the right attitude. I also tell him that with his gifts there are certain expectations of his outcome. He feels that sometimes his coaches or I get on his case and don’t treat him like everyone else. When that happens I try to convey to him that nobody is picking on him but instead his coaches know what he is capable of and cannot accept less than that out of him. If you can be more and do more should you just settle for mediocrity or push for excellence? It is hard for him to understand that the coaches say certain things to him because they know what he is capable of and they know that those same expectations are not realistic to some of his teammates.
As a follower of Jesus Christ I have been given the opportunity to live at a level that should exceed the standards of the world. It is unrealistic to assume or expect the world to act different than the standards that the world will tolerate or justify. But shouldn’t the children of God be expected to be fair and live above those tolerable standards?
Jesus knows what we are capable of because he is in us giving us, through his grace, the ability to live out his standards in our everyday lives. (Please see Luke 12:48)
Prayer= Lord Jesus, help me to submit to your ways inside of me. By your precious Spirit you guide me and by your grace you empower me to do the right thing and live above the world’s base standards. Thank you that all the expectations that you desire of me are fulfilled in you Jesus.
Asking for Help, When Needed
Proverbs 20:
5 Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;
a wise person draws from the well within.
18 Form your purpose by asking for counsel,
then carry it out using all the help you can get.
28 Love and truth form a good leader;
sound leadership is founded on loving integrity. (The Message)
Observation: Asking for counsel is wise, when asking a good leader about your purpose. If you want to know what a good leader looks like, look for integrity. Understand that love and truth are at the top of the traits necessary for good leadership.
I noted verse 5, because I thinks it’s crucial that drawing on the well from within was mentioned many verses prior to verse 18. It is as if Solomon wanted us to understand first, the depth of wisdom inside of us and then know that the wise man will be willing to ask for counsel instead of stumbling.
The NIV stated it this way: 18 Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.
It still rings true with the same intention; in making plans, be wise and obtain sound advice! It is easy to find the rules for looking for sound leadership in Solomon’s writings, and I can say confidently that he is mentioning obtaining help from the wise in this passage as well.
Application: I need to be sure of the wisdom found in my heart, for that is the place that the Holy Spirit leads me from. I also need to count the cost of each grand undertaking, I should ask for sound counsel, and be willing to ask for help when I need it. Knowing that I need help only shows my wisdom and keeps me from making grave mistakes. Find good leaders and mentors who are capable of providing judgments and help if needed.
Prayer: Lord, forever teach me that no man or woman is truly an island. Remind me when I become prideful that I am only made strong by knowing my weaknesses. Thank you for leading me to this place in my life where I am not ashamed of my gifts or of my weaknesses, for they are many. Lead me on and keep me humble. Father in Heaven; thank you for the wise leaders you have placed around me who love truth and integrity. Amen.
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