More reflections on Proverbs

Proverbs 26-27

26:4-5—Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.  Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

     The wise man recognizes the truth of these two seemingly contradictory proverbs.  On the one hand, there’s a warning not to lower oneself to the standard of the fool. On the other hand, there’s a recognition that you have to speak at a level that person can understand.  You find the same balancing act throughout the Scriptures: associating with the wicked can lead you into temptation and wickedness; on the other hand, if you never hang with the unbelieving how will you ever witness to them.  Much of wisdom is knowing how (and when) to say yes and no.

26:11—As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.

     Well! That’s graphic. And gross. And completely relatable. Dogs are gross and can’t help themselves. Fools are gross and should be able to stop themselves.

27:10—Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

     I suspect this has in mind occurrences like plague or famine and the idea is that one ought not only look to his own concerns. I’m reminded of the story of Ruth in which Naomi and her husband had sought refuge in Moab instead of struggling with family and neighbors at home. We do owe something to those around us.

    That’s an insight I share with youth all the time. Ask the question, “Who’s your neighbor?” and they’ll often jump right out into the whole wide world, “Everyone!” Well, yeah, sure, but the your greatest responsibility are to those who are right next to you and in you most immediate circle.  In our context, it’s a wonderful thing to be concerned for world missions, as long as we don’t miss the fact that there are unbelievers right here in Hartford; and it’s a wonder thing to be concerned for social problems in Milwaukee—again, as long as we don’t miss the fact that there are people in need across town from us and in our own congregation.

27:17—As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

     A favorite of mine, it reminds me why my friends are so dear to me. In college, we challenged each other’s thinking; we debated and argued; we critiqued. And it was not mean-spirited. It made us better thinkers, better writers, better pastors. The word ‘accountable’ only appears in the Bible a handful of times. (I can only find one legitimate use in the New Testament.) But here’s a verse that reminds us that holding one another accountable makes us better.