An Age Old Excuse Revisited: Generosity

"I'm going to earn lots of money, so I can be generous with it." I've said it, I've heard it, but I can't agree with it as a Christian.

The formula of the argument is:
1) If I have a lot of [X], then I will use [X] for good.
2) I don't have [X].
3) Therefore I should have [X].

But of course, it's not just related to having money: we can replace X with power, time, blessing/gifts, opportunity, beauty, etc. So we keep telling ourselves,
"if only I was given this position of leadership, then I can make a big difference," or
"if only I could go to that place, then I could serve properly," or
"if only I was good at public speaking, then I would be able to persuade people."

I think God has warned us not to have evil or selfish desires to spend on our own pleasures from the letter by James.

A few good questions to ask in order to test ourselves would be:
"Am I generous with what I have now?"
"Am I using what I have now for serving and helping others?"
"How has my pattern of life been like? Generous, thoughtful and considerate?"

If we lack what is good, then God will provide. I am sure He is more than happy, if James was right in his letter, to grant me a generous heart. I'm going to ask for that right now, and I'm going to ask for that gift for anyone reading this blog at all. It'll make me feel better.

Back at blogging, for the common good?

Starting a new habit?

Nowadays, I'm always hesitant to start a habit or custom, which I'll have to continue. Should I waste precious time on trying to do hip-hop, keep up the guitar skills, run again? Things like spending more time with Danielle on short trips is never a doubt; but time again lets me down, or more correctly, I haven't made the time.

Still, I thought I'll start publishing things written, said or done that might have a use for anyone out there.

Just last Sunday, I was at NSCCCS (http://www.answers.com/topic/nscccs) talking on Proverbs 8-9. The youth are always a joy to meet. They have a great bunch of leaders as well. I felt like the father in the proverbs, who'd luckily found an attentive, wise, young man to bore.

Here's the Link: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df75wq87_9hgnm69

I loved preparing for this, God's wisdom is made for us living in this world. Not only is it relevant, His wisdom goes beyond just getting by in this world: it, through Jesus, sets me up for eternity. But most of all, His Wisdom is best shown in the whole life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and it is astounding. I didn't make much of this in the talk though, there wasn't enough time.

BTW, David Atkinson's commentary from the BST series is very nice.

God's Wisdom: a Talk

Proverbs 8-9 NSCCCS Talk 2007-10-21

William Ng

"The Blue Pill or Red Pill? AKA: Wisdom or Folly?"

Outline:
1) Wisdom's Beginnings (Proverbs 8)

2) Wisdom versus Folly (Proverbs 9)

3) Wisdom in Practice (Proverbs 6; Choice Words 10:20; Beauty 11:22; Sober Minded 12:9; Taking Criticism 13:18; Real Labour 14:23; Worldly Pleasure 15:17; Planning 16:9; Home 17:1; Loose Speech 18:19; Fair Trade 20:17; Wife 21:9; Children 22:6)

4) Wisdom in Eternity of Ecclesiastes

Wisdom: Knowing and fearing God by living with spiritual and practical intelligence. Its characteristics are seen in 1:1-7

Main Point: Live in Wisdom because God’s world is made by God’s Wisdom and Wisdom is practical, useful and joyful.

Sub-Points: Wisdom leads to a full life and favour with God.

Folly leads to ruin and death.

Jesus is God’s Wisdom and His Life & Work shows God’s Wisdom best.

Wisdom is in Fearing and Obeying God.

Ecclesiastes: World cannot be completely understood by wisdom for this life.

This world – Death, brevity of Life and cyclical Time – seem to contradict living wisely, but the eternal God’s Judgement makes wise living meaningful.

1. Wisdom's Beginnings

8:22-31 Creator, Eternity, Joy of God.

Jesus is God’s Wisdom .1Cor. 1:30-31 and Col 1:15-17.

2. Wisdom versus Folly

9:1-6 Attractive Opportunity

(Also 8:1-21 Invitation to Wisdom and Treasures in Wisdom; 3:1-12 Fear of the Lord)

9:13-18 Attractive Lies

(Also 8:32-36 Death for the Foolish)

3. Wisdom in Practice

Adultery 6:20-35

Repaying Debts 6:1-5

Miscellaneous Wisdom

Choice Words 10:20; Beauty 11:22; Sober Minded 12:9; Taking Criticism 13:18; Real Labour 14:23; Worldly Pleasure 15:17; Planning 16:9; Home 17:1; Loose Speech 18:19; Status 19:10; Fair Trade 20:17; Wife 21:9; Children 22:6

4. Wisdom in Eternity of Ecclesiastes

1:1-2 Meaningless

1:16-18 Wisdom brings Frustration

3:9-22 Time for death for all, so enjoy the present. NB Eternity in Man’s heart 3:11.

4-10 Meaninglessness of Wisdom: injustice, fools in world, frustrations of the wise)

11-12:8 Rejoice in One’s Years before Death

12:9-14 Fear of the Lord and His Judgement gives Meaning.

1) Wisdom’s Beginnings

Have you been really attracted to a person who excites you? Or mesmerized by a scene in a movie? Or fascinated by a new idea? Or have you been to a place that frees your mind and gives you a buzz whenever you walk into it? Well, Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs is that person, place, time and event that is trying to attract you and me, Wisdom is parading her best and finest wares in front of our eyes, Wisdom is singing a lovely tune that is teasing our ears in Proverbs 8.

Wisdom first blows us away by telling us when she began. Wisdom was with God before the Creation. Have a look at 8:22-23. Verse 23 says Wisdom was there from Eternity and given a special position in God’s grand plan, that’s what appointed means. Verse 22 may seem to say that Wisdom was the first of God’s work, but the verse is better understood as saying Wisdom was brought forward before the first of God’s work. Certainly this emphasis on Wisdom at God’s side before He made the world reads well with the other verses.

Wisdom was with God during His powerful production of the waters, springs and oceans, the mountains and the hills, the Earth and the fields. Wisdom witnessed the incredible separation of vast spaces in verses 27-29, the heavens above from the waters below, the clouds from the oceans and the continents and the seas. Isn’t this saying that Wisdom was there in the days of Genesis, the beginning of the universe?

But Wisdom was also in the creation process with God, she was not standing back. By Wisdom God did every one of His incredible feats, by Wisdom God made the world¹; Wisdom was “the craftsman” getting His hands dirty besides God. That’s why God had a great time with Wisdom as they shared the work and took pride in the work they’d done together, Wisdom in return gave God much pride and joy.

So we know that Wisdom has a big CV. Wisdom was there before the creation, during the creative process of Genesis and was the means by which God made the World: so great is God’s Wisdom we are taught to think of Wisdom as a co-creator along side God.

[Aside on Jesus as God’s Wisdom: Colossians 1:15-17; 1Corinthians 1:30-31; Romans 16:5-27]

2) Wisdom versus Folly

Wisdom is not the only one calling or attracting us. There is an equally attractive and alluring person called Folly. Wisdom and Folly are both calling for our attention, our vote and our personal choice. Just like an election, we are asked to make a definite choice between two parties, we have to choose John or Kevin, we can take the blue pill or the red pill, and we either choose Wisdom or follow Folly. Each party has their attraction, but each choice is followed by a set of consequences and fruits.

Wisdom continues to blow us away by giving us understanding and life. Look at the way she calls. She spares no expense at inviting any passers by, and willing travellers. You cannot miss Wisdom’s calls because she is shouting at the top of the mountain and you cannot miss her because there are a host of other maidens at the hilltop. Wisdom has a great feast prepared for those who are willing to come in to dine with her. Actually she has been planning for this feast with such enthusiasm she has built a whole new diner to seat her guests. What she offers is prime. The food is fine, and the wine supreme. Wisdom offers a full and fruitful, blessed life to her followers. Her ways educate, prepare and discipline the simple and naïve, so they are experienced and prepared for the living in this world. She is like a TAFE course geared to preparing people for trade and a “hands on” training degree that actually prepares someone for work after they graduate. She educates people on how to live and live life to the full. [Invitation and Rewards 8:1-21]

Folly on the other hand puts up an equally good show to get our vote. She is loud and speaks with a megaphone on the top of the mountain. She too is desperate to get people to come into her home. But Her way is distinctively different to Wisdom’s. She loves deceit, things done in secret, as if hiding the truth from God’s sight. She likes to tempt the simple and the naïve into the easy way, the morally dubious way, by enjoying stolen wine and shameful deeds done in the dark. She is a dodge. But the trick is that she seems to offer the same outcomes and fruits that lure people to Wisdom. So she is a dodge and an imitation of Wisdom and it’s easy to choose her because her offer seems equally attractive. But what’s inside the house of Folly? Like a dodgey Chinese Ferrari that you wish you’d never bought, Folly’s house is full of rotten corpses, blazing hellfire in 9:18. Those who dine with Folly, eat to their own death.

Wisdom is distinguished by her trademark: the Fear of the Lord and obedience to His commands. [Andrew Law has talked about this?

Key of Wisdom in Fear of the Lord:

Acknowledging He is the Creator, Lord and Ruler.

The only way to the Wise Life.]

So both Wisdom and Folly are polling for our vote and we must vote Wisdom, we must choose Wisdom and accept her invitation.

3) Wisdom in Practice

So it’s not surprising that Wisdom is practical. If by God’s Wisdom He made this world, if Wisdom was overseeing the making and running of this world then it’s no wonder that living by Wisdom leads to a full, fruitful² and joyful life. Wisdom is for living because life is designed by Wisdom. Wisdom is practical. So the rest of this talk, just like the rest of Proverbs 10-31, will be a short and sweet guide on how to live in Wisdom from reading Proverbs 10-31 and how to be practically Wise in God’s world.

Now we’ve gone through proverbs 1-9 briefly, I’ll bring in a working definition of Wisdom having explained Wisdom’s awesome credentials and her rewards: Wisdom is “knowing and fearing God by living in His world with spiritual and practical intelligence.” This is a working definition and is not perfect. We know that Wisdom begins with our right relationship with God, in fear and obedience to the Creator who wisely made this world and wisely saves us for eternity. That is knowing and fearing God. Spiritual intelligence is scattered throughout the Proverbs just as practical advice is laid out through the book. Spiritual matters include moral matters, matters of eternal consequences like the Judgement of God, matters of right living by God’s laws. Practical matters touch on all walks of life, from sex, to marriage, to economics, to trade, to ethics, to friendship, even to running a city or country. So when we read through Proverbs, especially 10-31, we see that God’s Wisdom is not only good for spiritual matters but also for practical living. Christianity is not only doctrine and knowledge of historical and eternal truths; it’s also living wisely in God’s world now. Doctrine and Living is a conversation, Theology and Christian Practice go hand in hand. Wisdom is practical.

Let’s take a couple of situations in life on which Wisdom educates us.

Firstly listening, paying attention, accepting Wisdom 9:7-12. The most practical question is do I want to listen to Wisdom. It’s a choice entirely, and God gives us an invitation to choose Wisdom or to reject Her. But Listening to Wisdom takes a bit out of our ego, because we have to admit that God is wiser. It is no easy for a lot of people, in fact for anyone. The difficulty may lie in receiving correction, rebuke, or criticism. Most of the world don’t like to receive rebuke, and certainly never publicly. Who wants others to know that we have made a mistake, we’ve been a fool, we’ve made wrong choices? Even fools have pride, and even the poor have egos. Our world oddly admires people who simply have a passion for things even if that person is passionately and stubbornly wrong. The scoffer is always around. But Wisdom calls us to humble ourselves, accept wise discipline and listen to good advice. Sometimes our parents may just know a little better than our friends, then what the movies tell us³. Our friend who spoils our fun at parties, might just be that person that saves us from committing mistakes of drunkenness. Our God who doesn’t grant us our desires, might be just trying to teach us what’s important. Wisdom calls us to listen, to pay attention and accept good advice.

Secondly Wisdom in saving sex for marriage only 5:1-23. This is honest, Father to Son advice and it’s repeated with different imageries, many times in chapters 1-9. The lure of premarital sex, extramarital sex, sex with a strange but attractive lover is great. Our world cannot resist it: it knows how much we can be attracted by the idea free, non-contractual sexual relations. The ads we see are smooth, sassy and sexy. The scenes from movies are beautifully crafted, washed over with heart-throbbing music. Our own minds create fantasies of relations with others. But the Father’s advice is to stick to love, sex and relations within our marriages. Believe it or not, through the toil, work and commitment of marriage, you may actually find love in your wife or your husband to be. Here in chapter 5 are lovely images of fresh, sweet cool water that satisfies our thirst, and that of a lovely animal, pleasurable to look at and play with: such is the love of our own wife or husband. The pleasure of marriage and physical love in marriage actually outweigh the fun of promiscuity.

We’ll briefly sketch through a few more humorous practical wisdoms throughout 9-22, the Proverbs of Solomon.

[Choice Words 10:20; Beauty 11:22; Sober Minded 12:9; Taking Criticism 13:18; Real Labour 14:23; Worldly Pleasure 15:17; Planning 16:9; Home 17:1; Loose Speech 18:19; Fitting Status 19:10; Fair Trade 20:17; Wife 21:9; Children 22:6. NB 23-24 are longer Father to Son advices.]

Back to our working definition of Wisdom: Wisdom is “knowing and fearing God by living in His world with spiritual and practical intelligence.” God is Wise and through His Wisdom made this world, so we are called to live by this Wisdom in order to live a fulfilling, fruitful and joyful life in His world.

4) Wisdom in Eternity of Ecclesiastes

To Get a balanced view of Wisdom, we are meant to read Proverbs and Ecclesiastes together. We need to know the meaning God gives to living in the world now in light of His eternity, or else things seem meaningless, living wisely is pointless, and we’ll be unprepared for frustrations in this world. Briefly

Meaningless of Life and Wisdom

1:1-2 Meaningless

1:16-18 Wisdom brings Frustration

Frustrations of Life despite Wisdom

3:9-22 Time for death for all, so enjoy the present. NB Eternity in Man’s heart 3:11.

4-10 Meaninglessness of Wisdom and Frustration despite Wisdom: injustice, fools in world, frustrations of the wise)

Living Wisely because of God’s Judgement

11-12:8 Rejoice in One’s Years before Death

12:9-14 Fear of the Lord and His Judgement gives Meaning.

1 Creation by Wisdom, see Proverbs 3:19-20

2 See how Wisdom celebrates life in Proverbs 3:13-18.

3 Note how in Ch 1-9, advice begins with the words “My Son.”

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