Prescribing Proverbs – RX 25
Have you picked up your prescription today?
August 25th, 2021
A Proverb a day keeps Untruth away
Proverbs 1:1-6, ‘These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David’s son, Israel’s king—written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; a manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair; to teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There’s something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.’ (MSG)
Prescription (RX) Twenty-Five: Kill ‘Em with Kindness
Proverbs 25:21-22, ‘If your enemy is hungry, give him food to drink; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head and the Lord will reward you.’ (NIV)
It is not just an old wife’s tale, but also a Biblical Proverb, that reminds us to do unto to others what we would hope they do unto us. But with enemies, that’s strategic, right? Because I don’t think an enemy is sitting around thinking of ways to be nice. So, we must try a bit of a twist with those who do not like us, specifically those who make it apparent they have no use for us.
It is wise counsel that reminds us to go the extra mile and add additional touches when a relationship hangs in the balance. I even am thinking right now of the person who cuts me off on the freeway, or steps ahead of me in line or makes an error in their driving and then turns back to me like I made him do it. How about the line at the drive-thru at Starbucks and the car that pulls in next when they clearly just arrived or the one who reaches out and takes that last package of toilet paper, LOL, that you ran to the store to get and needed so badly. Think of all the words that come across your mind and are looking for directions to your lips. And turn the other cheek, look the other way and offer that person a blessing instead of the curse that is aching to fall out of your mouth.
Likewise, there are many who would rather curse others than be kind. You may buy that enemy a drink and a meal, and he may still turn on you. But we must remember why we are asked to stand out in an attractive manner. We are to be the very fragrance of Christ, and therefore, this means, anything we would likely choose to do our way, do it just the opposite, as that is how Jesus would ask us to represent Him. And if your enemy rattles off a nasty reply to you or spits in your face, remember no one can curse what God has blessed, and if you represent Him, then He has blessed you, and you are covered by that blessing. The best part of always choosing to be kind instead of nasty is when you go to bed at night, your head can lay down on a soft pillow and sleep instead of rummaging through files of emotional responses you chose through out the day to make sure you ended well. Always end well!
