Today’s scripture: Proverbs 1:8-19 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Robin Herman):
Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.
This is what I love about the bible. I think if I was smart enough to really understand every lesson in the bible, there would be no need for any other book. Passages like this one leave me amazed. You could peel this verse out and apply it today, as relevant today as it was then. Sadly, I doubt it would get anymore attention today than it apparently did then. It would be worded with more contemporary examples, but the same lesson.
Kids, listen to your parents, they’ll give you everything you need, and although you may want other things, you won’t need them and will be better off without them.
Don’t join a gang and don’t hang around with the kids that will try to get you to join a gang. They’ll make lots of promises, but they won’t come through with them.
Gangs, robbers, and thieves are greedy, and that greed will rot away your soul and leave you with nothing.
I don’t think any of us are lacking examples of the lessons in this passage. Greed is not just money — it’s also time, compassion, and love. Look at gang violence, violence over religion, our recent losses of celebrities who run over with talent and money, but still managed to lose their lives.
I don’t think that it’s a literal life this passage refers to — it’s more about the soul. I don’t know where these celebrities souls will end up, but I’d bet they will have to answer for the people they hurt by leaving them behind. For the money that went for drugs and decadence rather than giving back. For their time, that they stole from those who loved them.
If you think of “greedy” as anyone that puts their needs over the needs of another, it’s everywhere, and it is deadly.
Thought for the day: How am I with what I have? How can I better share what I’ve been given?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.