We’re spending some time looking at the most famous proverbs. Here’s Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” ‘Walking with the wise’ refers to spending time with people who are wise. In contrast, being ‘a companion of fools’ means spending time with foolish people. The first … Continue reading The company you keep
Author: Matthew Ruttan
He will make straight your paths
There are a lot of famous proverbs in the Bible. Proverbs 3:5-6 is probably at the top of that list. Here is what it says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make straight your paths.” But … Continue reading He will make straight your paths
The wise, hard-working ant
In the Bible, Proverbs are short statements to help you live wisely daily. Our society likes things that are short and to-the-point. The proverbs are certainly that! Proverbs 6:6 says: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” See what I mean? Short and to the point! To understand this proverb … Continue reading The wise, hard-working ant
How God’s justice encourages peace
Psalm 139 is one of the most famous psalms. In it we learn about God’s care for us. He enters into relationship with us from the womb. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (verse 14). But the tone changes at verse 19: “Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!” For four verses, the … Continue reading How God’s justice encourages peace
Your soul has a label with three words
This week I’ve been encouraging you to think about how you are valuable. This is no power of positive thinking. This is rooted in Scripture. You are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). When we read our Bibles, or speak to a Christian friend, or read … Continue reading Your soul has a label with three words
Who are we when all our things are taken away?
One of Arthur Miller’s books is called Incident at Vichy. A man appears before a Nazi guard. The Nazis have just invaded their town. The man is well-educated and well-respected. He shows his credentials to the guards. These include his university degrees and his letters of reference from well-known people. The guard asks him: “Is … Continue reading Who are we when all our things are taken away?
Received, not achieved
Our society values achievement. That’s one of the reasons we have things like trophies, ribbons, A-pluses, and year-end bonuses. If we’re not careful we can start to think that our value is connected to our achievements. “I’m only truly valuable if others recognize me, or if I have a lot of money, or if I … Continue reading Received, not achieved
Little actions, big mission
In one of his speeches John F. Kennedy said that America would put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. “In a very real sense,” he said, “it will not be one man going to the moon—it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him … Continue reading Little actions, big mission
Unexpected holy ground
“Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). In the 17th century, George Swinnock said that a Christian should regard “his shop as well as his chapel as holy ground.”* Here is what he meant. We often think of church buildings as “holy ground.” We might also think of a special location as “holy … Continue reading Unexpected holy ground
A God who never sleeps
Psalm 121:3-4 says this about God’s guardianship over his people: “He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” I think that the psalm is alluding to a story from 1 Kings 18. There the prophet Elijah is in … Continue reading A God who never sleeps
