Proverbs 27:1-4 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 27:1-4, which read,

v.1 - Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Isn't this so true?  I didn't know that Monday I would throw my back out doing a very simple activity that I do all the time.  The day instantly changed and all the plans I had for the week started to be adjusted because I had something to deal with that was not on my schedule.  I was going to go here and there and do this and that and now I was moving a lot slower and my ability to physically do things was limited greatly.  Do you feel my pain?

Tomorrow is only in the hands of our sovereign God.  I can think about it and even plan for it but the proverb is instructing us to not boast about it.  Boasting about it makes it seem like we are in control of it.  Boasting also fixes our minds and maybe our attitudes on how we respond to God's interruptions that are there to help us grow spiritually.  God has the "what a day may bring forth" scepter not us.  A great parallel passage to look up is Jesus telling the Parable of the Rich Fool and his barns in Luke 12:13-21.  Verse 20 says,

"But God said to him, 'You fool!  This very night your life is demanded of you.  And the things you have prepared--whose will they be?'"

v.2 - Let another praise you, and not your own mouth, a stranger, and not your own lips.

Solomon points out another thing that we do at times.  We boast about tomorrow and what we are going to do and then we pat ourselves on the back about how great we are and what we have done.  The focus and subject of our conversations is laced with "I" and "me" pronouns and we look pretty good or we make ourselves to look really good.  We are so good that others probably should pat us on the back too.  

If we are wise because we are following after God, others who are also wise will see what we are doing and saying and they will acknowledge us following after God.  This type of praise will come and it is more satisfying than our self produced praise because the focus will be on who we are following after and not ourselves.  We will receive a greater fulfillment because God's rewards are always greater than the world's.  Let anything come from God and from those following after Him than from ourselves.

v.3 -  A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

We are boasting about ourselves and what we are going to do; we are praising ourselves about our greatness and giving ourselves a pat on the back; and now we are being a burden to others by our ungodly actions of provocation and aggravation.  We are being angry in our attitude and others have to deal with it.  We set the tone when we come into the room and it has become a stone or a heavy bag of sand to carry for all.  Both are difficult because of the stone's roundness and the sand bags movability.  Both are hard to get a firm grip upon and carry and so is a fool's anger that is focused on bringing grief rather than goodness.

Carrying awkward items is tough.  You love a good handle or a corner with a straight solid bottom to get under.  Even though it is heavy you have some tool to help you carry it.  When someone or we ourselves come in with an attitude to harm rather than help, we force others to try to carry that attitude that doesn't have well established handles and firm bottoms.  We are called to carry each others burdens but let's make sure those burdens are not ongoing ungodliness that brings added difficulty that doesn't need to be there.

v.4 - Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealously?  

This proverb gives a cross reference of Proverbs 6:34 which reads,

"For jealously enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge."

And also Song of Solomon 8:6, which reads,

"Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm.  For love is as strong as death; jealously is as unrelenting as Sheol.  Love's flames are fiery flames -- an almighty flame!"

We boast; we praise; we aggravate; and now we are jealous.  Jealousy is compared to wrath and anger which are two terrible things to deal with but the proverb says that jealousy is actually worse.  How do you help someone change who is jealous?  Someone who has wrath and anger against another can be impacted by the power of true forgiveness and sacrificial love.  Someone who is jealous of another can't be impacted until the focus is off of self.  It is very hard to help another who can't see the God who requires our glory by living a life of denying self, taking of his cross and following after Him.  The jealously that is so relenting keeps the fool from experiencing God given fulfillment and joy.  

In my Bible this section is labeled, "Warnings and Instructions."  Here are the warnings and instructions of the day.  Don't boast in a way that puts you in charge.  Don't praise yourself so that others will notice you.  Don't be an ungodly burden to others, awkward to carry through the tough times.  Don't be jealous with a focus on, "What's in it for me?"  Let us pray.

"Lord, may we boast of You.  Lord, may we be in praise of You.  Lord, may we help carry burdens and when we have one that needs help carrying, may it be a burden that is not out to hinder others.  Lord, may we be so grateful of You and others and keep our eyes looking outward instead of inward.  Amen."

Pastor Adam