"Proverbs 10:1-10
Apply ‘the rocking chair test’
A successful businessman, who is well known to be a man of extraordinary integrity, told me that he applies the ‘rocking chair test’ to all his decisions. He pictures himself one day, in his retirement, sitting in his rocking chair and looking back on the decisions that he has made. What will he decide was a good decision and what will he decide was a bad decision? He wants to ensure that the decisions he makes now he will not regret later.
This passage shows us the things we need to avoid, such as malice (v.10), foolish gossip (vv.8,10) and laziness (v.4).
Honesty and integrity are key to a life lived without regret. ‘Ill-gotten gain gets you nowhere; an honest life is immortal’ (v.2, MSG). ‘A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench’ (v.7, MSG).
If we live honestly and with integrity we can be ‘confident and carefree’ (v.9a, MSG). ‘But Shifty is sure to be exposed’ (v.9b, MSG).
1. Thank You for having our conscience. Thank You for being in all of us. May we always remember You in every decision that we make.Lord, thank you for the wisdom of Solomon. Help me today to be wise and righteous (vv.3,7), to avoid malice (v.10) and foolish gossip (vv.8,10), to live a life of diligence (v.4), honesty and integrity (v.9) and to take into account how the decisions I make now affect my future."
Make the most of the rest of your life
Recently, I sat next to an 86-year-old woman at lunch. She was in a wheelchair. I soon realised that although her body was failing her, her mind was not. She raised some very difficult theological issues. When I asked her what she thought the answer was to these questions, she replied with a verse from this passage: ‘The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children for ever’ (29:29).
She said she had come to realise that some things we did know the answer to, but others (such as the kind of questions she had been raising!) we would probably not know the answer to in this life. They were part of the ‘secret things’ that ‘belong to the Lord’.
There are some things, however, that do belong to us. God has revealed to us how to ‘live well and wisely’ (v.9, MSG). We need to avoid getting ‘sidetracked from God’ (v.18), thinking ‘I’ll live just the way I please, thank you’ and end up ‘ruining life for everybody’ (v.19, MSG)
The way to make the most of the rest of your life is to listen to and obey God wholeheartedly (30:2–10): ‘Obey him with your whole heart and soul ... He’ll have compassion on you; he’ll come back and pick up the pieces ... And you will make a new start, listening obediently to God ... Nothing halfhearted here; you must return to God, your God, totally, heart and soul, holding nothing back’ (vv.2–10, MSG).
Lord, help me from now on to live a life of wholehearted obedience to you. Help me not to get sidetracked. May today be a new start. Help me to obey you wholeheartedly."2. Thank You for revealing the things that we ought to know. Help me listen to what You say.
3. Praise You for allowing the sharing of Your Word. May you shower the seeds with Your rains.
