Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. ” It is natural to assume that your way of doing things, or you way of thinking about things, is "right." After all, who would consistently do things in a way that they thought was the least beneficial? So, not surprisingly, most of us assume our way is the "best way." And we've all known people who believe that they are always "right"! People like that can be so frustrating; and yet, most of us are secretly "that person" (at least sometimes)!
Our proverb for today reminds us that we all think we know more than we do, and we all think we see things correctly. And yet, the Apostle Paul reminded us that we actually only see things about as clearly as the ancients did when they looked in their very blurry and poorly reflecting mirrors. (1 Corinthians 13:12) Mirrors in antiquity were awful and gave you a distorted image. They were "better than nothing," but only just! And so much of what we "see" or think we "know" is equally distorted and inadequate.
It has been said that the more you know, the more you realize you don't know! Translated, this means the humble person—as they gain more knowledge—begins to gain an awareness of how ignorant they really are. So, our proverb warns us, don't be "conceited," arrogant or narcissistic—thinking you are "wise" and know more than you really do. Instead of relying upon our own "brilliance," we should acknowledge our own "ignorance," and trust instead the Lord—who has all knowledge. And, in so doing, we'll not only develop humility, we'll find the strength and wisdom to avoid the traps of sin and evil that are everywhere in our world today.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
