Proverbs 19 continues the theme of pithy sayings about the wise, the foolish, and the wicked. We also find sayings about the wealthy and the poor. One of the statements that alludes to wealth reminds us of the LORD’s hand in one of life’s most pivotal relationships: marriage. Here’s what we read: 14House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. Proverbs 19:14 (ESV) We can assume a prudent husband is from the LORD as well, although in King Solomon’s time, women were not considered equal with men. In some cultures, they were considered little more than property, although in the culture of Israel women were esteemed somewhat more highly, and the Law of Moses granted them protections not found in other cultures. In any case, the point of the proverb is the LORD’s hand is in providing a prudent wife. That has certainly been the case in my life. Nancy has been such a great blessing in every area of my life, but her prudence, which means “wise in practical matters,” has been so vital. I’m a “big picture” person, a visionary, what some would call a dreamer. While Nancy also sees the big picture, she has always been able to see the practical implications of the big picture or vision. She has provided much needed stability to me and our family over the years. King Solomon told us such a blessing comes from the LORD.
Proverbs 20 continues to offer us correction, admonition, and encouragement. One detail about the chapter is it condemns the use of false weights and measures not once, but twice. Any time we emphasize something twice, it is important. Why the focus on condemning false weights and measures? First, the practice is dishonest. It involves both lying and stealing. In an Old Covenant world, breaking at least two of the Ten Commandments with one action is a condemnable action. (We could say it also breaks at least two more of the “big ten,” because it is an affront to God, and puts an idol before Him – money, because the outcome of using false weights is to put money before relationship.) Second, the ones who would be most impacted by the false weights would be those who were poor or less financially stable. While cheating anyone is sinful and worthy of condemnation, cheating those who have little in the first place is even more so.
Proverbs 21 offers the same approach we have been experiencing, so let’s look at one verse once again: 3To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3 (ESV) I chose this verse, because King Solomon recognized the heart of the LORD emphasizes righteousness-right relationship with Him and others over the rituals of the Law. While the sacrificial system was important in the Old Covenant world, even then, the LORD was most interested in righteousness and justice. The LORD never needed our sacrifices. He is self-sufficient. We needed to offer them, because of our sin, but we always needed to live in relationship with Him and with each other in ways based on doing what was best for the other, whether the LORD or our neighbor. In this brief summary, King Solomon reminded us to put the matters of right relationship before religion or ritual.
As we return to Luke 18, we find it brimming with action and instruction. Jesus taught the disciples about persistence in prayer. He taught them about the importance of humility in prayer. He taught them the Kingdom of God belongs to the childlike, not the “mature.” He taught them that worldly wealth, far from being an automatic blessing from God–which all of them would have assumed it was–can be the very thing that keeps us from God. Jesus healed a blind man, because of the man’s faith, which shows us sometimes our faith prompts the LORD’s healing in our lives. Sometimes He heals on the basis of other people’s faith. Sometimes He heals on His own initiative, and sometimes He doesn’t heal in the way we ask. Throughout the chapter, we see Jesus as the one who is in charge, as the one who sees the bigger picture, who understands at the deepest level what it means to be godly. He also reminds the disciples the religious leaders are not learning these lessons. Indeed, they are going to put Him to death, because He came to usher in a new movement, a new covenant, and would eventually offer a new commandment that would sum up all of them: Love one another as I have first loved you. Jesus amazes us with His unswerving commitment to completing His mission on the earth, even when He knew it would lead to His death.