Insightful Musings on the Scripturesby
Ray Sparre, NU class of '67
Ray has a wealth of experience as a Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, and student of the Word. He believes and practices his faith where the rubber meets the road. You'll find his writings to be practical, insightful, and grounded in a truly Christ-centered world view.
Below are links to a printable daily Bible reading guide which Ray has followed, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010 and 2011.
| Daily Reading Guide | 2011 Devotion Archives | 2010 Devotion Archives |
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22 April 11
Greetings, dear ones.
It’s late Friday…very late for me—10:50pm. I’m definitely ready for bed. We just returned from a senior Gospel Sing. Becki was a way most of the day attending a seminar so she wasn’t around to critique this production till about the time we had to run off again. Only now am I finally ready to send. I doubt you’re up to receive it tonight anyway.
To the bed… Good night.
Love, Dad/Ray
22 April 2011
Proverbs 22
Focus: “Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.” Proverbs 22:2.
Take a moment to ponder this question: Which is better—to be rich or to be poor? Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. OK—time’s up. I wish we could discuss your answer together in person. But since we can’t, I’ll give my answer here in print: It doesn’t really matter. Neither poverty nor wealth is necessarily better than the other. The vital quality that makes the difference is RIGHTEOUSNESS (a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD—a HEART AFTER GOD), or the lack thereof.
Perhaps I’ll review of few quotations from the Proverbs that influence my answer. “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death” (11:4). “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver” (16:16). “Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse” (19:1). “A good name is more desirable than great riches, to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (22:1).
A New Testament statement by Paul also speaks to the issue. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6). I trust I am not stretching principles too much to equate the ideas of circumcision and uncircumcision with wealth and poverty.
However, I will offer this added value judgment: Godly wealth has an edge over destitution. I base that statement on the words of Paul who is quoting Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). If this is a valid principle, it only makes sense that one must be productive of income in excess of what is required for his essential needs—so that he has something to give. It doesn’t make sense for a person to give away his essential resources. Nor is it a healthy lifestyle to be a perpetual receiver when that is not required. And blessed giving is giving launched from a HEART AFTER GOD that desires to help and bless others. Some Proverbs bears this out. For example: “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24-25).
The FOCUS VERSE says, “The LORD is the Maker of them all.” Does that mean the LORD made the rich be rich and the poor be poor? I don’t think so. I believe Proverbs 20:12 offers good related commentary: “Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.”
Bottom line: IF YOU ARE RICH, BE RIGHTEOUSLY RICH with a desire to give. IF YOU ARE POOR, BE RIGHTEOUSLY POOR with a desire to give.
“Some people think they are generous because they give free advice.”