Community gathering with food, live music, and kids' activities outside St. Jude's Church

Community Rhythms

“So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

The neighborhood church is making a comeback. There’s just something good about a church that is an integrated part of its community. People know the church, and the church knows the people. When a need arises, everyone works together to meet it. Neighborhood churches aren’t necessarily big, but they are impactful. And they grow. It has been a few weeks, but today we are continuing with the fifth part of our conversation about the things that are contributing to the growth we are seeing happen in real time at my church, let’s talk about community rhythms.

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Loan officer helping two clients review and sign a loan agreement

Stay Out of Bad Deals

*Allow me to give you a quick peek behind the curtain. In my own studying through Proverbs, I’m already to chapter 11. We’ll get there eventually. I’ve written up post seeds through chapter 10. I write those when I study a particular passage long in advance of when I actually write a post to go live. That way, when it comes time to write the rest, I have a memory jog for where I had intended to go at the time. Well, I had intended for this post to go live this past Monday. But I had started working on it back at the beginning of July when I pivoted to summer reruns instead. As a result, it was buried in the middle of a long list of post seeds. When I didn’t see it, although I didn’t remember getting into chapter 6 before the break, I assumed I had and went on. I finally discovered the mix up yesterday. So, here it is a few days late. Enjoy!

“My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor or entered into an agreement with a stranger, you have been snared by the words of your mouth—trapped by the words from your mouth. Do this, then, my son, and free yourself, for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power: Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor. Don’t give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. Escape like a gazelle from a hunter, like a bird from a hunter’s trap.” (Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

I am not a financial guru. I know a few basics, but when things start to get very detailed, my eyes glaze over and all of the information starts soaring right over my head. Fortunately, those basics are pretty sound so as to keep me out of trouble. Don’t spend more than you make. Invest and save judiciously. Put sacrificial generosity first. Don’t go into debt for anything except possibly a car or a house. As we get into Proverbs 6 today, we’ll find Solomon offering a potpourri of advice. His first stop is bad financial arrangements. Let’s take a look at what he has to say.

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A balance scale held by a hand with dark and light elements on each side, glowing sword and book labeled 'JUSTITIA' in background

Love and Hate in God’s Good World

“The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.” (Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

I’ve been reading back through a book lately called, Gentle and Lowly, that makes the case for the gentleness and passion God has for people, and especially His people. Drawing on both New Testament and Old Testament sources alike, it’s a powerful exploration of the deep and passionate love of God—a love far deeper and more passionate than we can really imagine. Yet as great as God’s love for us is, as much as He is love, there are some things He hates. Solomon gives us a list of some of them here. Let’s take a look.

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Hiker standing on rocky mountain peak with sun rays breaking through clouds

Get While the Getting Is Good

“A worthless person, a wicked man goes around speaking dishonestly, winking his eyes, signaling with his feet, and gesturing with his fingers. He always plots evil with perversity in his heart; he stirs up trouble. Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly, beyond recovery.” (Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

There is a basic human intuition that we should reap what we sow. If someone does good things, they should expect to receive good things coming back their way. If a person does evil things, however, just the opposite expectation should frame their thinking. Given the world as it actually seems to exist, we don’t necessarily see this kind of thing playing out as often as we’d like. Yet this basic intuition is more right than perhaps we realize—something the collection of Proverbs helps us to see. Let’s take a look at another of the many examples of what Solomon had to say about this.

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An ant carrying a clump of soil on a dirt surface with a sunset in the background.

The Great Worth of Work

“Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. Without leader, administrator, or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest. How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.” (Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

If ants were larger, or capable of self-reflection we’d be in trouble. They greatly outnumber us. It’s not even close. And they’re really strong. And organized. They work really well as a unit. They would take over quickly if they could. It’s bad enough stepping on a fire ant hill! Thankfully, God designed them to be not much of a threat. But they do offer an object lesson, one that Solomon uses here to call us to the wisdom of hard work. Let’s take a look.

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