It's Up To Us

March 17, 2017     Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Day 76: The Blessing Of Peace:
"My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life." —Proverbs 4:10

Anderson's anecdote today is about his daughter. When the children were young, Karen, Anderson's wife, used to pray for their children to be used by God "for his Kingdom in the uttermost parts of the world."  Kristen, their eldest daughter, "fell in love with a young man from Northern Ireland"—a place of great unrest. Prayer answered, but probably not in a way Karen had expected. Before their daughter's wedding, Anderson and the family prayed for God to bring peace to the region, which He did the very next day.  As Anderson and his wife were boarding the plane back to America, "the BBC announced the withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland. Peace soon followed." Seven years later, on Anderson's birthday, "God answered [their] prayers for peace again when Kristen gave [them] a very special gift—[their] first grandchild. They named him Callum, which means peace."

Anderson ends by reminding us that "today's proverb comes with a promise." If we will listen to God and do as he says, we will have a long and good life."

There was a part of me that while I was reading was thinking, How fantastic! Then there was a part of me that was like, Wait. This is not entirely true for everyone. There are many who listen to God and do as He says, yet do not live "a long and good life." It's this mindset (I think) that often turns people away from God. If they believe in their heart of hearts that they are following God and doing as He says, and yet are not reaping this promised benefit (at least not in their eyes) it can lead to doubt and resentment. I think in a general sense the proverb works. If we listen to our parents, because they have lived longer and know things we do not, it is likely that things will go better for us. If we listen to God, generally the same is true. I suppose it comes down to what is meant by a "long and good life."

My criticism is that it is a blanket statement that Anderson presents as an absolute truth. It may not be true for everyone. It's better to look at the proverb as the general statement that it is. Balance is once again key. Knowing when to apply such scriptures is important to that balance. As Peter Enns points out in The Bible Tells Me So, "Proverbs doesn't tell its readers what to do... Proverbs teaches wisdom. Wisdom isn't about finding a quick answer key to life...Wisdom is about learning how to work through the unpredictable, uncontrollable messiness of life so you can figure things out on your own in real time." The example that Enns uses to prove his point is Proverbs 26:4 and 26:5—"Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you will be a fool yourself."  Followed directly by "Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes."  "In other words," he states, "Don't mix it up with argumentative morons, or you'll come down to their level. On the other hand, get in the face of argumentative morons to put them in their place." So, which is it? Which one do we do?

The answer (as it is to all of our other life searching questions) is up to us. We need to think for ourselves and figure out what to do with the information we are given. I suppose this is why we often refer to our walk with God as "personal." So, should we listen to God and do what He says? I believe so. However, should we expect to live a long, good life because of our obedience? Perhaps not. Perhaps God has another plan. The real question is, are we open to it?

It's up to us.