Prov 8:19 [ESV] My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold. And my yield than choice silver.
When I worked for seafood businesses (for around 12 years in total), yield was everything at time. Any profit that was to be wrestled from the business was directly connected to the yield. We measured the yield, weighing he waste against the weight of the original product told us what was left to sell. Then the selling price times the weight, told us if we had covered our costs and had some profit left.
So much energy and effort went into controlling the yield, to minimising waste and maximising return. We trained staff continually, reported progress instantly, and develop incentives regularly, all so that the yield would lead to profit.
What about my life today, what is the yield? How do I consider this and how do I allow God’s word to inform this and bring repentance where it is needed (through His kindness)?
Will I yield to His will?
KNOWLEDGE – what do our lives yield. What is left when all the unproductive parts or waste is removed? It’s a good thought to bring to the surface and consider. Sometimes in the sheer busyness of life we can incrementally shift our rails and move inch by inch into a lane that is good, but perhaps not God. We can be impacted by the culture of the day and become obsessed about our weight and physical appearance, or commit 100% to our career, and lose connection with family and friends on this self-propelled journey to acquire.
It’s a fine moment when we stop and ask what are we doing with the gospel news that has been given so freely to us, how are we aligning with God’s heart for souls to be saved?
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 used for “yield” in Hebrew is pronounced as “tbu’ah” and carries the meaning of “harvest, crops and produce”. In the “interlinear version the Hebrew word is pronounced as “u-te-bu-a-u” and means “and my revenue”.
The LXX uses “γεννήματα” [gennemata] – my produce. This word also appears in the New Testament eight times, and has the meaning of “offspring, produce, and fruit”. Notably in Matthew 12:34 and 23:33 it is used for the fruit/offspring of the Pharisees and is translated as “you brood of vipers”.
WISDOM
What is the produce of my life, and how can I lean more into God’s ways?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Developer as a Gallup Strength loves to help others take a step forwards, and is passionate about celebrating even small successes. Be careful to invest this energy into wise opportunities.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – What I produce speaks better than gold, even pure gold, and my harvest than the best selection of silver.
My fruit – what I produce
is better – speaks better
than gold – than gold
even fine gold – even pure gold
and my yield – and my harvest
than choice – than the best selection of
silver – silver.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to allow you to both speak to me and through me.
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