Proverbs 16:31-33 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 16:31-33, which read,

v.31 - A gray head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness.

Yesterday our focus was on the worthless man who dug up evil and spread it around; the perverse and slanderer man who pit friend against friend; a violent man who encourages others to participate in the same; and the body language of the fool that gives away their evil motives.  Today is a much different story.

To make it to having a gray head was a feat because living a foolish life usually meant you don't live as long.  The behaviors of going against God brought about consequences that could end life before the gray hairs appeared.  We have a lot of medical technologies to get us there today in spite of how we live but the proverb says that righteousness is the way there authentically.  If I live a righteous life that fears the Lord by revering who He is and honoring Him with obedience then my gray hairs will be a sign of respect of God and His words and ways.

v.32 - He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

Temper and self-control are mentioned in this proverb as very valuable to the wise.  The mighty are ones who are loud and use volume and anger to get their way.  God says that a better way is to be slow to anger.  To be slow to anger is to gather more information and give more time to think about what is before you than reacting so quickly with a judgment.  The wise hold their tongue so that their mind and heart have a chance to weigh in with Biblical wisdom that has been scanned so it can be applied.  

The one who captures a city is usually the hero and gets the front page press but God says the one who rules his spirit is better.  The one who keeps his spirit in line with God's spirit will see God results rather than just man's results.  The taking of a city looks great but what did you miss by not doing it God's way with God in control by you keeping your spirit in control?  I have been many times running so far ahead of God to look back and see that He has gone a totally differently way and I am not really ahead of Him at all.  I have to turn around and catch up to Him if I want to see His results rather than my own.

v.33 - The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

To cast a lot was a way to determine which way to go.  It was like rolling the dice or flipping a coin.  The disciples cast lots about who would fill the position of Judas after his betrayal of Jesus and death.  The Christian will have decisions to make but those dealing with good and evil should be where no lots are cast.  The wise go with God.  Some decisions are between what seems to be two good things.  There are godly pros on both sides.  A wise person may get to the point of flipping the coin to take a step between two godly ways but know that man's way of deciding does not erase God's sovereignty before the coin is flipped.  The coin helps us to take the step but God knows the step before the coin is tossed into the air.  

Again, this is a decision not between good and bad because the wise, the gray head of righteousness, the slow to anger and ruling spirit will be operating already by following after God.  This decision is between going this way or going that way and whichever way is gone, it is going with God and continuing to follow after His ways.  Even when the wise get to a fork in the road, they go with God either way the coin is tossed and the lots are cast.  Let's pray.

"Lord to be a gray head because of following after Your righteousness and to be one slow to anger and ruling my spirit because of Your declaration of what is better and to be casting lots knowing You know the result but also leading me in either direction is what I want to be because I desire to see Your work accomplished.  Help me to hold my tongue and allow my mind and heart to settle on You before responding.  May I see a life of righteousness that is settled on following You and deciding on the many directions You would have me go with You in the lead.  Amen."

Pastor Adam  
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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