On the last day of sixth grade, I got into a fight. I don't remember what prompted it, but I do remember that it happened during an outdoor gym class. Being that it was the last day of school, our gym teacher was in no mood for our behavior and he snapped.
After yelling at me and the kid I was fighting, he took a basketball and threw it at the other kid. The ball whacked him hard and he bent over crying. Then the teacher took that same ball and winged it at me, but to his surprise (and extra annoyance) I caught it, gave him a smile, and bounced it back to him. It definitely benefitted me that he threw the ball at me second because that took the element of surprise away and I was better able to anticipate it.
Some things in life catch us off guard, and other events and experiences are a little bit easier to anticipate. How are you handling what's being thrown at you? Are you building a life that can withstand what's being thrown at it, or do you feel a little beat up by some of the surprises that have come your way?
For many people, this year has been filled with unforeseen challenges and unexpected difficulties. Some of us are experiencing changes in relationships and occupations. Some of us are mourning the interruptions to our daily routines, limits on our personal freedoms, medical challenges, and even the extra hoops we have to jump through in order to be able to travel.
But here's what I know. Our circumstances and opportunities are always changing, yet the nature of our Savior Jesus Christ never changes. And with His help, we truly can withstand whatever comes against us in this world. Proverbs 12 gives us some great examples of what that looks like. What does this portion of Scripture teach us to withstand?
I. Withstanding the onslaught of wickedness
The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous will stand.
A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is despised. (Proverbs 12:7-8)
When the Lord created this earth, He created it perfectly. There was no sin. There were no shortcomings. There were no regrets, but knowingly, mankind rebelled against Him and invited wickedness into our earthly experience. Wickedness is something all mankind has struggled with since the day it was first invited into our lives.
The cultures of this world have historically celebrated evil. We champion violence. We give hearty approval to greed. Sometimes we envy those who seem to get away with the most evil. It's as if we've turned rebellion against the Lord into a game and we're just seeing how much we can attempt to get away with.
But those who have a genuine relationship with Jesus can testify to the fact that they are no longer mastered by wickedness. The victory over sin that Christ secured on the cross is a victory that's shared with all who trust in Him. That victory becomes apparent in all areas of a believer's life. We see the effects of that victory on display in this portion of Proverbs.
In this passage, Solomon speaks of the fact that the household of the righteous will stand, and a man who exhibits good sense will be commended. This is the fruit of a changed heart. This is the effect of Christ's presence on a person's home and life. And it stands in stark contrast to the long-term effects of those who persist in wickedness. Solomon tells us that those who continue to embrace wickedness will be despised and eventually overthrown.
Wickedness comes at us from every direction, even if we follow Jesus. I don't think I ever realized that more than I did when I first became a father. Being that I desire our home to be a place where Christ is honored, I do my best to attempt to filter sources of wickedness out of our home. Let me be the first to admit just how challenging that can be. You don't even have to go looking for it. It comes looking for you.
But with the strength of Christ, we can withstand evil. I love what we're told in Ephesians 6:13...
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:13)
I'm grateful that even though we live in a world that has been tainted with sin, we have been given the tools we need, through the Spirit of God, to stand firm and withstand evil when it comes looking for us.
II. Withstanding a haughty attitude
Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.
Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. (Proverbs 12:9-10)
Several months ago, I had the opportunity to interact with a man that I didn't know very well. We have a common friend, and I was introduced to him through that friendship. During the course of our conversation, something about him seemed off to me. I wasn't sure if he had a chip on his shoulder or what, but I wasn't a huge fan of the way he carried himself. Eventually, he turned the conversation into a discussion about how much money he had. Now I don't know if he really has money or not, but I can tell you that he definitely wanted me to believe he did. As he bragged about how much money he has at this season of life, I thought to myself, "What's the quickest way I can exit this conversation?" I grew instantly tired of listening to his bragging and haughtiness.
Solomon, on the other hand, was one of the richest men to ever live. He had more wealth than he probably knew what to do with, yet look at the words he penned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Solomon expressed that it was better to be lowly and humble than to pretend to be wealthy. It's better to lift others up when they're with you than try to drag them down or attempt to make them feel like they can't compare to you. Conceit drags people down. Humility lifts others up. And those who are truly humble will reveal their humility in ways that might surprise you.
One of those surprising examples of a person's humility and their value for life shows itself in the kind of mercy they would show an animal or a beast of burden. Solomon says that the righteous has regard for the life of his beast. He cares about what God has created. He sees animals as a gift from God and demonstrates the kinship God has created between humans and animals.
I saw a video recently that demonstrated the beauty of mercy begin shown to an animal, and I thought it was fascinating to observe. A young dog with a beautiful grey coat had been abandoned and brought to a shelter. It was so fearful around humans that it wouldn't eat. Eventually, the man who ran the shelter took two bowls of food, one for the dog and one for himself, then he sat down to eat with the dog inside the cage. With each bite the man took, he would also attempt to feed the dog. Eventually, the dog settled down and learned to trust him. In time, it began eating regularly and learned to socialize so well that the man decided to keep it for himself.
It was an act of humility for that man to be willing to sit in that cage with that dog, but isn't that exactly what Jesus has done for us? He saw us in our lost, scared, and hopeless condition, and He sat down to a meal with us. He showed us mercy while we were living like animals, and He invites us to model His humility to others while withstanding a haughty attitude.
III. Withstanding anxiety
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad. (Proverbs 12:25)
When someone you know is going through a season of anxiety, you can often tell just by looking at them. The expression on their face is down. They sit a little lower in a chair. Their shoulders seems a little hunched when they walk. Their pace may seem a little slower and their energy level may be depleted. There are external signs that signify what is taking place in their heart. If they are overcome by their worries and fears, their hearts are weighed down and begin to feel heavy.
Just last week, I walked past one of the members of our church and I happened to notice something different about her facial expression. Normally, she's a very enthusiastic person, but that day, I could tell just by looking at her that something was troubling her. I took a moment to ask her about it, and she admitted that she was feeling anxious about an upcoming surgery. She was burdened by the thought and very nervous, so a small group of us took a few moments to lift her up in prayer and offer words of encouragement. It seemed to help, and thankfully, everything went fine with her surgery as well.
Anxiety weighs us down. It tells us that we need to handle the things that only Jesus can handle. It makes us feel like we have been forced to carry a load that is beyond our ability to carry. It influences us to think that help isn't available to us and we're completely alone in our struggle.
Proverbs 12:25 reminds us that there is an alternative to being weighed down by anxiety. Our fears like to keep us hunched in a beaten down position, but a "good word" can make us glad. A good word can make us feel light again. A good word can be used by God to lift us up.
There is no greater word than the gospel. The word "gospel" literally means "good news" and good news is proclaimed and demonstrated all throughout the pages of Scripture.
In the gospel we're told that God created the world and humanity perfect. We rebelled against Him and became both sinful and condemned. But in His mercy, He chose to offer us a second chance.
Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth in flesh, lived the perfect life, took the punishment for our sin upon Himself at the cross, died in our place, rose from death, defeated sin, Satan and death and assures us that through faith in Him, we will be forgiven and given new life. In Jesus, we are no longer condemned, we are made righteous and are holy in His sight.
What message are you preaching to your heart? Is it a message of condemnation that produces anxiety or the good word of the gospel that produces joy?
With the power of Christ, your life can withstand what's being thrown at it. You have His strength to defeat the power of wickedness, His heart to combat a haughty attitude, and His hope to repel the encroachment of anxiety. Welcome His presence, and let Him keep building you into the person He has called you to be.
© John Stange, 2020
