A wise Christian who makes the Lord’s heart glad
[Proverbs 27:11-14]
What makes your hearts glad these days?
In 2 Corinthians 5:9, the apostle Paul said: “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” The apostle Paul tried to be a person who pleases the Lord. In other words, Paul made it his goal to please the Lord. Like Paul, we should make it our goal to please the Lord. Also, like Paul, we must look at what will please the Lord (Eph 5:10). Let me give you an example of what I did. This is Psalms 69. By looking at this word, we can see what pleases God. I have had two short meditations about this verse. First of all, I wrote this under the heading ‘Let’s please God more and more’: What can we, the church, do to please the Lord? (1) In order for us to please God more and more, we must ask God (Ps. 69:13). The reason is because God will show favor to us and will come close to us. Also, since God will answer our prayers, we must come to Him humbly and pray. God will surely deliver us. (2) In order for us to please God more and more, we must confess our sins (v. 5). When we pray, we will realize that it is “my folly” that we have relied on man and not God. Not only that, but when we pray to God, we realize that our sins cannot be hidden from Him. Therefore, we must confess our folly and sin to God in prayer. (3) In order for us to please God more and more, we must be zealous for the Lord's church (v. 9). When we ask God, we love God more and more because we confess and repent of our sins due to the love of God who shows favor to us. Therefore, we must be zealous for the church with God's zeal. (4) In order for us to please God more and more, we must praise God with thanksgiving in our hearts (v. 30). If God shows favor to us, we want to please God rather than please ourselves in the midst of suffering. God makes us praise God with thanksgiving even in our suffering. Secondly, when I meditate on the words of Psalms 69, I wrote these words under the heading ‘This is what pleases God’: Amid pain and distress (v. 29), our hearts can be broken and feel helpless (v. 20). At that time, no matter how much we look for sympathy, they may be none (v. 20). Even in such a time, we must praise God with courage (v. 32) and thanksgiving, looking to the God of salvation with faith (vv. 29-30). This is what pleases God (v. 31).
If we look at Proverbs 27:11, the Proverbs writer says: “Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, That I may reply to him who reproaches me.” This Scripture is the word of the Proverbs writer to his son, who wanted his son to gain wisdom and to please his father's heart. I think that when we apply this word to our 21st century Christians, we must become wise Christians who please the heart of the Lord. So, I would like to receive three lessons as I meditate on the words of Proverbs 27:11-14 under the title of “A wise Christian who makes the Lord’s heart glad”.
First, the wise Christian who makes the Lord’s heart glad sees danger and hides himself.
Look at Proverbs 27:12 – “A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, The naive proceed and pay the penalty.” What would you do if you saw danger in front of you? For example, what would you do if you are camping in a mountain now and you found a bear in the distance? Obviously, none of you are deliberately walking towards the bear because you want to see it a little closer. The reason is obvious. Isn’t it because it is dangerous? But what would you do as a parent if your child next to you was curious and trying to get close to the bear? Of course, aren’t you going to stop your child? What is the reason? Isn’t the reason, of course, because you know your child is dangerous to get close to the bear?
The Bible Proverbs 27:12 says, “A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, The naive proceed and pay the penalty.” This is what the Proverbs writer already said in 22:3 – “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” The lesson we learned from this word was that the wise Christian should behave wisely in order not to sacrifice life or suffer meaningless suffering without a purpose for the Lord during the tribulation. We must not suffer a dangerous thing without wisdom until God’s guidance that is before the right time. In addition, we must not cause persecution by recklessly causing opposition for the sake of the gospel of the Lord” (Park). But sometimes, when we come across bad news about missionaries in communist or Islamic countries through the news, this has caused the reckless opposition of the missionaries for the gospel of the Lord, resulting in meaningless suffering and persecution. This was the sad news. In addition to the question of whether the Lord led the missionaries so much, I think it would have been nice if they had waited for a more appropriate time. Of course, I think this is not limited to a few missionaries. I think it can be applied to all of us. Of course, we should participate in Christ's suffering like the apostle Paul and the Philippian church members. But I don't think we need to induce meaningless suffering on our own. Of course, it is God's grace to participate in Christ's sufferings (Phil 1:29). But I think that receiving meaningless sufferings by inviting ourselves is not God's grace, but rather the result of inviting ourselves out of our own foolishness. That is why the Proverbs writer says in Proverbs 27:12, “… The naive proceed and pay the penalty.” This is our own self-initiated, not God's cause for us to suffer. Therefore, in such a time, we must realize our folly, repent of God, and seek God's salvation (delivery) with mercy, and not foolishly blame God with our lips. But what we worry and worry about while praying is God's guidance. In other words, there are many times when it is very difficult for us to discern what is God’s guidance is. If we can only be sure of God's guidance through the work of the Holy Spirit through the grace of God, so if we obey God's guidance through faith, we will be able to experience God's salvation even in our dangerous situation. But too many times we don't know what to do because we don't have the confidence of God's guidance. So while we pray and yearn for God's guidance, sometimes we don't know God's guidance. So we can't wait any longer, and have to make up our own decisions and act and be in a difficult situation. What should we do?
When we see danger, we must hide ourselves (v. 12). I hope and pray that God will open our spiritual eyes to see danger (calamity), and at the same time, will give us wisdom so that we can see and avoid danger. For example, when God tried to bring disaster on Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham's nephew Lot escaped with his wife (Gen. 19:12-18) (Park). Why did God bring disaster to Sodom and Gomorrah and destroy them? The reason was because of the illegal and lewd conduct of the lawless men (2 Pet. 2:7, 8). And God made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly (v. 6). In the midst of that, God rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed and tormented in his righteous soul by the filthy live of lawless men (vv. 7-8). What Lot did at that time listened to the angel's words and obeyed the angel, and fled from Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:16-17). David also escaped from King Saul, who tried to kill him, and ran away (1 Sam. 20:19, 23:19, 26:1) (Park). This place we live in is a city like Sodom and Gomorrah. This is a city full of the illegal and obscene conduct of the lawless people. Holy God will surely judge this city and bring disaster. Therefore, we who are living in this wicked city must avoid all such sins, not imitating the illegal and lewd conduct of the lawless here. Rather, we must pursue God's holiness while living by His law. In the midst of such circumstance, God will give us wisdom so that we must not see the coming plagues or dangers, escape wisely, and not perish with the illegitimate.
Second, the wise Christian who makes the Lord’s heart glad makes no guarantees for others.
Look at Proverbs 27:13 – “Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.” As we have been meditating on the Book of Proverbs, we have learned lessons by meditating on what the Proverbs writer has already said about guarantees. For example, we have already learned from Proverbs 6:1-5 that we must deliver ourselves if we have put up security for our neighbor, if we have struck hands in pledge for him. In other words, the Bible tells us to deliver ourselves when we take on the responsibility of paying our neighbor's debts. The lesson that this word give us is to warn our foolishness. That foolishness refers to promising, i.e., making a guarantee, for the person who defaults, knowing that the other person owes it beyond repayment (MacArthur). Of course, according to the commandment of Jesus, it is not forbidden to stand a guarantee for our neighbors in loving our neighbors (Park). But the lesson the Proverbs writer wants to give us is we must have the economic ability to fulfill responsibility when we become a guarantor and a problem arises, or we are being deceived by our neighbor and have to fulfill our financial responsibility. Of course, if we have the financial ability and capacity to pay off the debts of our beloved neighbor, and are willing to make a guarantee for that person, it will not be a problem. By the way, it would be foolish to make a guarantee for that person if we practically don’t have the financial ability and capacity to pay the debts of our loved one. Another example is Proverbs 22:26 – “Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts.” What a clear word of God. The Bible tells us not to hold a debt guarantee for others. Dr. Yoon-sun Park said, ‘… Being a guarantee for someone else's debt without financial ability is only giving vain comfort to the debtor's heart, and it is also easy to bring bankruptcy to one's own.’ What a reckless act. To give a neighbor's guarantee recklessly enough to bring bankruptcy to oneself, it is only vain comfort.
In Proverbs 27:13, the Proverbs writer says, “Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.” Here, the words “Take his garment” or “hold him” means ‘the one who has been guaranteed for others must finally receive a bitter cup’ (Park). At the very least, we should refrain from taking a guarantee for others by taking lessons from the person who has already tasted the bitter cup that has already been guaranteed for others. In particular, unless we have the financial ability to make a guarantee for someone, we should never make a guarantee for others. Proverbs 27:13 is what the Proverbs writer said in Proverbs 20:16. If we look at the two verses, they are the same. Here, the Proverbs writer warns of a possible mistake in the act of guarantee (Park). But that mistake means that the guarantee is made for another person whom he doesn’t know well, so nothing can be returned from the other person. We must not make guarantee for people we don’t know very well. My personal opinion is that we should refrain from making guarantee, even those we know well, even family members and relatives. But why do some people make guarantees for people they don't know very well? When referring to such an act, Dr. Park calls it ‘economic adventure’ (Park). What a great economic adventure this is? Whether it is an act of lending money to someone who is unable to pay the debt financially or making a guarantee, it is an economic risk as it can result in great economic losses to the person who lent money or who gave the guarantee. Dr. Yoon-sun Park said: ‘When people (especially believers) take on economic adventures, most of them fail, because excessive economic adventures are a kind of disbelief. Such an adventure is the ignorance of God and thinking of tomorrow as if it are human power (Jam. 4:13-17).’
What should we do? What should we do when our neighbor asks us to give us a guarantee? Proverbs 11:15 tells us: “He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.” According to this word, we must become the ones who hate to be a guarantee. We must be the ones who reject the guarantees of others. Then we can be at peace. If we stand a guarantee and cannot refuse to suffer the bitterness of being damaged, who will say what? However, in my opinion, that loss or suffering is meaningless and unwise. Of course, a beloved neighbor may beg for a guarantee and it will not be easy for us to refuse. However, we must refuse to be his guarantor (11:15).
Third and last, the wise Christian who makes the Lord’s heart glad compliments his neighbor right at the right time.
How do you feel when the phone rings a little louder or the KakaoTalk sound rings loudly in the early morning of Monday? One day I heard that pastors shouldn't call their church members early on Monday morning, but that they should call them Thursday or Friday. The reason I heard this and remembered it so far is because I agree with it. I don't think that many people like to answer phone calls early on Monday mornings. If you're tired, I am sure you want to get a little more sleep before you go to work. But if the phone rings and you wake up, then I am sure no one will like it. I think you probably don't like to answer your mother's calls early in the morning on Monday. But you got a call and you couldn't help but answer the phone and it is your mother mother, or a company manager, or a friend. And if he or she says loudly, I am sure you will not like it. I am sure there aren’t many people who like to hear loud voice on early Monday morning, even he or she compliments them. After all, I think the timing is also important in complimenting others. It is of great value when you praise the other person at the right time with the wisdom that God gives you. Look at Proverbs 25:11 – “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” The meaning of this word is that the appropriate word spoken at the right time is of great value, like apples of god in setting of silver. For example, in Proverbs 25:12, the Bible says, “Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.” If we think of this in connection with verse 11, the lesson it teaches us is that appropriate (right) rebuke is of great value to those who heed it “Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold.” However, if we aren’t wise, improper rebuke will not only benefit each other, but may offend each other and not help our relationship. It is so important to say the right word at the right time, and to do so, we need God's wisdom.
Look at Proverbs 27:14 – “He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him.” Whenever I read this passage, the word “early in the morning” comes to my eyes. Maybe it’s because I personally don’t like to answer calls early in the morning. The reason I don't like receiving calls in the morning is because I want to spend more quiet time alone after the early morning prayer meeting rather than because I want to sleep more. The next word that catches my eye is “a loud voice”. No matter how much you bless the other person, who would like to hear it in a loud voice, if it is in too early in the morning? According to Dr. Park, blessing, or adulation in a loud voice in the early morning is ‘an act of flattering with excessive sincerity’ (Park). Just imagine it. Would you consider it a blessing if someone you know calls in the early morning and praises you loudly? In particular, if the other person praises you too much for you to hear, wouldn't it sound like a flattering word? If you hear such a word early in the morning, would you be grateful for it as a blessing? Rather, the Bible says that it will be regarded as a curse (v. 14).
What should we do? We should properly compliment our neighbor. In other words, we must compliment our neighbor with the right words at the right time (timing). In particular, we should avoid complimenting our neighbor early in the morning or late at night when our neighbor is tired and sleeping. We only have to obey the indwelling Holy Spirit who makes us to compliment our neighbor with the right words at the right time. In particular, we think we need to compliment our neighbor for three things based on Proverbs 27:11-13:
(1) We must compliment our neighbor’s wisdom (v. 11).
In particular, when our neighbor becomes a wise person and pleases not only his physical parents, but also our Heavenly Father's heart, we should compliment him at the right time.
(2) We must compliment our neighbor for wisely avoiding danger (calamity) (v. 12).
If we see our neighbor who foolishly goes ahead if he sees the danger, we must rebuke him with love knowing that he will be harmed. But if he wisely avoids the danger, we must compliment our neighbor.
(3) We must compliment our neighbor for not becoming surety for a stranger (v. 13).
After all, it is our wisdom that we should compliment our neighbor at the right time. In other words, we must compliment our neighbor when he acts wisely with the wisdom that God gives him.
I would like to share one thing here, a short meditation about Luke 6:32-35 while I was reading the Bible a while ago. The title of that meditation is ‘It seems that our standard of complimenting is very low.’
‘It seems that our standard of complimenting is very low.
We are complimenting he who loves only whom he loves.
We are complimenting he who does good only to those who do good us.
We are complimenting he who wants to receive and lends to people.
Even sinners are doing this.
The Lord loves and is good to His enemies
And He compliments those who lend to them without expecting to get anything back.
Also, He compliments those who are kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
(Lk. 6:32-35)
We must be wise Christians who make our Lord’s heart glad. To do this, we must wisely avoid danger when we see it (Prov. 27:12). And in order to make our Lord’s heart glad, we must not make guarantees for others (v. 13). We should compliment our neighbor right at the right time (v. 14). Therefore, I hope and pray that all of us be able to make our Lord’s heart glad.