Proverbs 10:22-32 - Self Examination

When we read proverbs, we often read them as if they are talking about other people. Eg. in verses like Proverbs 10:23 "To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom", we don't pride ourselves as being a man of understanding, but we always think of the "fool" as "others". Looking into the mirror to examine myself, the proverb is not as distant as I thought.

How often do we laugh at or start rude jokes? It seems to be accepted quite well by society, and it definitely gets us the attention we seek. We've lost our alertness in morality as we integrate with worldly behaviours, and if we don't carefully examine ourselves, we always fail to identify our weaknesses. After all, society tells us that we have to think positive and have pride in ourselves, right?

Before I even finished closing my eyes to pray, a song popped into my head. "Lord I come to You, let my heart be changed renewed. Flowing from the grace that I found in You." I didn't even remember the name of the song until a fair bit of the song has gone through my head. I wouldn't have even picked this song if I was picking one to worship during devotion, but if you think carefully, the lyrics actually fit quite well, at least for me it did. Proverbs 10:22 "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich". Not in the common sense. It's different to people praying and wishing for wealth in front of idols.

After self examining, I saw where I was at. Not that I didn't realise it beforehand, but I just didn't want to address it. I have become an aquaintance of God. Like those Facebook friends we have who we'll say "hi" when we bump into each other at Uni, but we won't make the extra effort to meet up with them like we do with our closer friends. I treated my relationship with God as something that happens when and if it happens, unlike the good old days of when I would look forward to it and make extra effort to communicate. Even though recently, most people would think I had the time of my life, I must be so satisfied with having a huge holiday and buying all these things etc etc. My life had been so puny compared to an abundant life full of blessings I once experienced and cherished so dearly.