Turn the World Upside Down!
Opening Prayer
Wise and good God, I want to know the wisdom of Your Word and live by it each day.
Read PROVERBS 6:6-19
[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! [7] It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, [8] yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. [9] How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? [10] A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- [11] and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. [12] A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, [13] who winks with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, [14] who plots evil with deceit in his heart- he always stirs up dissension. [15] Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed-without remedy. [16] There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: [17] haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, [18] a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, [19] a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What actions and attitudes are we warned against here?In Titus Paul encourages us to say “no” to evil. Here, our writer draws three portraits from God’s Rogues’ Gallery.
The sluggard (6-11). Read vs. 6-8 carefully. He is not saying only that the ant works while the sluggard doesn’t, but that the ant takes responsibility while the sluggard doesn’t. The ant knows what needs doing and does it. But the sluggard is like someone who always thinks of some excuse. He doesn’t notice problems until it is too late (9-11).
The mischief-maker (12-15). Here is a fellow with an endearing wink, but underneath there is wickedness as well as worthlessness. In fact the word “scoundrel” (12) literally means “of Belial,” a name explicitly used of the devil (2 Cor. 6:15), the father of all mischief. His destructive behavior will meet a sudden and fatal end.
The abomination (16-19). This list is not exhaustive (six and seven imply that) but is a full body scan of the unhealthy troublemaking God hates. Here the mischief-maker is unmasked (notice how dissension in v. 14 is echoed in v. 19).
Apply
Is there anything here that you should repent of, or should warn a friend to stay away from? If so, do so.
Closing prayer
Lord, Your Holy Spirit work in me to take away all the attitudes and actions You abhor.
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