Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good afternoon, dear ones.

What a full day! Becki and I squeezed in a short walk jog, then went to church, then ate at the Mulino Airport Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, then went to a birthday celebration, then went to the Pheasant Pointe Gospel Sing, and now need to run off to my cousin’s birthday dinner. Oh my, our ride to that event just rolled in…so I need to run. I have a report on Bimbo…but will tell you later.

Blessings. Love, Dad/Ray.

Having begun this reading of the Proverbs, it sure doesn’t take long to get pumped with inspiration and fundamental good advice. And right off we are hit with a fundamental warning—both explicitly and implicitly. Focus for a moment on verse 7 of chapter 1, which is a kind of bottom-line fundamental basis for everything else in this collection—“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” The explicit warning is that each of us risks playing the part of the fool—one who doesn’t make it to square one insofar as acquiring the wisdom for getting life truly figured out is concerned. The implicit warning is gleaned from the bigger picture that confirms that wise King Solomon was not wise enough to implement a disciplined program for maintaining the wisdom of his own advice. That’s scary!

That fact raises a point that deserves clarification. To qualify for being a Biblical fool does not require that one be stupid in regards to intellectual capacity, brilliance, or IQ. It does, however, demonstrate one to be a fool in regards to how they use or direct their intellectual IQ. The standard for measurement begins with “the fear of the LORD.” So there can be brilliant fools, and there can be intellectually-challenged wise people. Truth is truth even if liars speak it. And wisdom is wise even if fools promote it.

Notice that within the first seven verses of the book, the word “discipline” is used three times. That points to its importance. Be reminded of the close connection between “discipline” and “disciple” or “discipleship.” Do you think one can be a disciple or true follower of Christ without the exercise of discipline? Do you think a person can live casually by feeling and accidentally fall into heaven? I see no Biblical support for the notion that God is happy to modify His clearly stated policies to accommodate men’s lethargy. The cross of Christ speaks volumes.

Just yesterday I launched into a grandfatherly lecture to three of my grandkids on the importance of discipline—the importance of submitting to a fundamental principle of how life in this world works. That is, if one will discipline himself to be responsible and do good work, it will yield good benefits. It’s a virtual law. However, if one is irresponsible and does poor work, or no work, he cannot expect good benefits. Insisting on getting good benefits while choosing a course of irresponsible self-centered living-by-feel is just plain stupid—and you cannot avoid making a hell (hell-like) of a mess over time! Of course, I also assigned a task for these kids to perform so they could apply the lecture and earn the benefit of driving the quad around the property. They actually did reasonably well.

The principles of Proverbs 3:5-6 have guided me over the years like a GPS navigational system. Let me inject the idea of discipline into that capsule of Biblical advice: “(Discipline yourself to…) trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and (discipline yourself to…) lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways(discipline yourself to…) acknowledge him, and he shall (reward your discipline and…) direct thy paths” (KJV).