Proverbs 12:13
An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,
but a righteous man escapes trouble.
This verse is not written the way I want to read it. I want it to say, “but a righteous man never experiences trouble.” I want a promise that I won’t go through trouble, that I’ll be a million miles away when trouble enters the picture, but alas, that is not what the verse says. It says a “righteous man escapes trouble” and you can only escape something you are close to.
When a house burns down three miles away from you, you don’t throw your television through the second story window to escape. There’s no need to. We don’t have to escape something that is far away. Escape is an activity born from intimacy.
I’d like to think that my status as a Christian means I won’t ever get close to trouble, that hardship will never find my home. But it might, for all of us, it might. Trouble could breathe down your neck it’s so near, but we will escape. If God’s word is true, and I believe it is, we will escape.
Friday, February 13, 2009
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11 comments:
Good one. I like that.
Well... I don't actually like it, cos I'd also like to have a wide escape, but it does give hope.
I used to lie when I felt it served a purpose. Sometimes I even believed I was doing other people a favor by not telling them the truth. After a while I began to lie because I could get away with it. It made me feel like I was in control and somehow smarter than the people who chose to believe my lies. Over time, it simply became too much work to maintain the web of deceit. The truth is often difficult but always preferable. I am still a human being. I screw up. I get in trouble. But when I acknowledge that and take responsibility for my own actions I get to live in peace. That’s my escape.
There has been some major "trouble" in my life this week. But God has provided the escape - actually it was there all the time. I think God may have allowed the "trouble" to escalate so I would be obedient. I fall on my face before a holy God - who loves me enough to provide the escape plan.
Do you think a fighter pilot feels a sense of comfort knowing that he has a button he can push or a lever he can pull that will blow him clear of the jet if he gets into trouble? It's good to know, cause that's kinda his job to get close to trouble.
Do we look at God like that sometimes? I'll get close to trouble because I've got this escape button that will blow me clear if I get into trouble.
"Okay God, I'm doing what you want me to do, I'm going where you want me to go, just make sure if I give the signal you blow the escape hatch."
Amen, so often we forget God said he would guide us through the valley NOT take us out. Phillippians says it clear enough 3:10 'I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death"
ACCKKK...I focssed on a different aspect of this proverb at first blush. The hard part about this one to me is the "sinful talk."
I don't mind the trouble so much, since we're promised it. Jon, you said [re: trouble and hardship] "But it might, for all of us, it might. Trouble could breathe down your neck..."
Huh? more like: count on it, brother. You WILL have trouble and hardship, it WILL breathe down your neck. Count on it. This is a fallen sinful world.
Often escape means walking through the fire. We are refined in the end, but the walk still burns.
I've never thought about this verse very closely. I've always skimmed it and assumed it meant they would stay out of trouble, except I know that isn't true, so I guess I've never really paid attention.
This makes sense.
A local church always has some saying on the billboard in front of the building. My favorite was "God doesn't promise smooth sailing, just a safe harbor."
What I got from this is that a righteous man escapes trouble not because he's so great and wise, but because he is righteous. And he wouldn't be righteous without God. It is the God in him that helps in escape trouble. I no longer have to beat myself up about my inability to escape trouble on my own, because I'm not expected to. God will help me to escape.
*starts singing the chorus for Pocket Full of Sunshine*
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