Prov 6:27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?
As a pastor, one of the things that causes me the most concern is when someone comes to me for help, but then will not take any action to help themselves. I may ask them to read a chapter of a book, visit their doctor, or perhaps see a counsellor. A week goes bye, and I call them to ask how they are going. They tell me the same story as the first time we met.
When I ask them if they have done what we talked about they always give great reasons as to why not.
This cycle repeats itself over and over. I continually ask them to take some action that will be good for them and will address the situation they are in. Maybe it’s to go to bed earlier or to read the bible regularly. Still, they resist taking any action to help themselves, somehow believing that things will change if we talk about it more.
Then one day they call in a panic. Their wife is leaving them, or they are in hospital in a serious situation, or perhaps they have had some sort of breakdown. They want me to come right away, to wave my magic wand and fix everything.
But there is another group, who do everything required and more, they pray hard, trust fully, step into humility well, and stay teachable and reachable. They phone me one day in a state, their marriage is restored, their health is improved, their finances are stabilised.
For both groups it’s between them and God, my role is to point them to Him.
KNOWLEDGE
There are habits of commission and omission that will eventually lead us to harm. At some point either we have hardened our heart against God and we find ourselves feeling so far away, like the prodigal son. Or a calamity comes to our door, brought on as consequences, and devastating in its reach.
What habits or people are in your life right now that you know are not leading to a great outcome. What can you do today to change that. Just do it?
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word for “burned” in Hebrew is pronounced “sarap” and carries the meaning of to be set on fire or burned up. This word is used 117 times in the Old Testament and is translated into English as burned, kindled, utterly consumed, and a great fire. There is little room to misunderstand the outcome of our decisions here.
In the NIV this scripture reads “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?”
WISDOM
Q – What seemingly minor actions are you taking or not taking today that will cause you to harm eventually?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Learner – let’s always be learning and improving, and be willing to put into action the things we know are right? If you do the journey well you can become an effective and influential teacher.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [if a man begins by shovelling and ladling flames into the source of his blessings for self and others, this self treachery will set him on fire].
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to make great decisions around the small beginning in life that have great impacts.
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