Proverbs 21

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered." (verse 13) This one is really deep and I think it is getting at a point that is deeper than just helping the poor. Yesterday in bible study we talked about how we traditionally help the poor; many times this is giving them handouts of food, money, or other goods. We examined this and it seems that it is really God's intention that in addition to helping them attain their basic needs, we also need to provide for their purpose in life by giving them something to work for. So this was the mindset that I had started with when I read this verse. Verse 13 does not give instruction on what to give to the poor or how to give it. For that matter, it doesn't say much about any exchange of food, money, job, etc. What it does talk about is if my "ears" or in this case I think it means "heart or spirit" is open to seeing and empathizing with their suffering. I think the nature of God is that He wants us to feel (by being led by the Spirit) and then have our feelings lead our actions rather than simply tell us what specifically to do. God holds the poor close, the scripture tells us this. It's easy to look past the poor and suffering, but it clearly says that if we look past, if we close our world to theirs, then God will close His to us. A bit scary!! So what does this mean to Susan and I? We both believe strongly in our giving of first fruits to the Lord. But it seems that just the check or the canned food is not as important as what he desires in both of our hearts. Susan and I need to be aware and diligent to take time to benefit the poor; to exercise what our "ears" are telling us. We get exposed to these opportunities often and probably don't act on them much to go out and serve the poor. As the song says, I pray for God to "break my (and our) heart for what breaks [His]". In this then, the spirit will convict me to go where He needs me. -Bob

Proverbs 20

"Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find...It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows." (verses 6,25)


Anyone who knows Susan and I well know that we've had a bumpy road as we considered our relationship and if and how there was a future for us. It seemed that for a long time we were on "different pages" in life and always just grazed a serious path to marriage rather than actually traverse it. I can't count how many long conversations and difficult days we had as we tried to figure out the right things to do. Nevertheless, that is all behind us and here we are, but as I consider those times, I can most certainly see God working in all of those things to help keep me from making the wring choice. His timing is truly perfect. Sometimes that wrong choice would have been to push forward with marriage too soon, and at other times that wrong choice would have been to walk away entirely. The Lord never closed these doors completely. I'm thankful for these times that the Lord brought us through because it feels now that Susan and I have had so much opportunity to consider everything regarding our love and our relationship. I feel now that we are going forward with marriage on the Lord's path and on His timing. But even more so, I feel that this is a choice that both she and I are making after literally years of consideration. It could have worked the other way, as verse 25 says, and we could have married and then later considered our actions. But as I said, I am extremely happy for the timing that this all has happened on because this decision, and commitment to Susan, are not rushed. For this I know that I won't be that person who wakes up years into my marriage and decides that I made the wrong choice. Finally, although verse 6 paints a pretty bleak picture that no man can have unfailing love, I believe that the path that Susan and I have traveled to get here (by the way... here is now only 10 days away) gives us an intense love for one another that can stand up to strong trials. I only pray that we are never tested in that regard. Once again, I thank God for His timing and for mysteriously bringing all the critical pieces together in a time that truly shows His power and working in my life.
-Bob