Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbour who is near than a brother who is far away. (Proverbs 27:10)
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
One of the entries I’m looking forward to posting soon is a series exploring how to read the Bible. This is not from a definitive perspective as though the way I’ve learnt is the only and best way and I’m always a tad concerned by the level of certainty some have regarding their reading of the Bible. It’s not to say you shouldn’t be confident about some of the things said in the Bible and how they’re interpreted – I’m not in for the everything up in the air approach to Bible reading. What I do warn against though is a blinkered dogmatic approach to reading scripture that actually neglects the fact that as God’s Word the ultimate reading of it is always down to Him and how He reveals it to His people.
That preamble was necessary because of the selection of quotes from today’s chapter in Proverbs. I am not suggesting at all that the following is the way to read the section and there is no other way to read it. Indeed the only reason why I made the connections between these verses was how closely they related to the crucial theme of relationships.
In this day of mass communications and a range of electronic media to sort out how we conduct that, it’s easy to forget that the most effective means of communicating with each other remains the physical approach. There is a rather wild concern among some that there is such an obsession in our society for texting, emailing, Facebooking, Tweeting and the like that we’re losing the art of social interaction. I know married couples who got together over email correspondence and maintained that method of communication up to the point of their engagement and subsequent wedding.
I don’t necessarily see these things as bad or indeed evil, but the wisdom of the Proverbs in the first two references is about the power of proximity. I am sharpened by reading the works of others in article, magazine, blog entry or email/message. I am sharpened by video and audio means. I am especially sharpened, however, through physical relational contact where I get to be alongside others living life and learn that way as well as being challenged and motivated by that level of interaction.
It is indeed true that the one who is physically closest to me is of more use than the email from the friend who lives on the other side of the world. Those priceless gestures that can only experienced up close and personal – the hugs, the hardy hand-shakes, the environmental reverberation of the walls at the laughter of good friends sharing a great joke, the power of emotion sensed in the room when someone shares something revealing and tender to them allowing themselves to be vulnerable in the knowledge that they’re among supportive people. Nothing beats that and that is why the nature of physically intimate corporate gatherings remain the most effective way of doing community as it is to doing life.
Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered, the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field. There will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls. (Pro 27:23-27)
This is a great agricultural reference that could have been lost on me if it wasn’t for the key word ‘maintenance’. This whole section of scripture talks about good stewardship – good management of that which you’ve been given. The farmer may leap easily on it and know what the brother is saying in terms of if you look after your flock in essence it will look after you.
The application for those who don’t find themselves looking after the herd near a mountain with greenery is equally as crucial and is the heart of how wisdom helps us make the most of life. If we are connected with God and recognise that He is the giver of all good things, then our approach to how we handle these gifts – time, thoughts, desires, money, resources, relationships (get that last one?) will see us reap the benefit of diligent investment in maximising these things. It’s not a business equation that is clinically assessed and then exploited – life just isn’t like that – but the underlying principle stretches us not to look at anything as something to be wasted. Whether for work or rest, benefit today or later, there is much good in carefully managing that which we’ve been given not just for ourselves as explained here, but for those around us.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
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