June 4, 2006
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Proverbs with Patrick
Proverbs 10:2 What you gain by doing evil won’t help you at all, but being good can save you from death.
Looking at multiple translations, this verse focuses on the idea of “treasures” gained, ill-gotten rewards, etc. Those out there who were recently students/still students- have you ever done something like this? Bent the rules a bit to your advantage? Done something to get the grade that, whether direct cheating/lies or more indirect, vague deceit was technically not completely straight? Often, sometimes, just once or twice? Maybe nobody but you knows- maybe you confessed. I’d imagine a lot of fellow students have some unconfessed issues there. I am not telling you TO confess, but I am addressing the subject. I, myself, have my own situations like that too.
I think it is important to look at the big picture. Why am I where I am? What is my goal in being here? For me, my purpose of being at CIU was to prepare myself for missionary service- to spend the rest of my life serving Christ in the Church. Looking at it from that perspective, I have realised in the past that I could take advantage of opportunity and ‘make the grade’ in a class while still failing in God’s eyes. I could miss the entire point of being where I was. The ‘gain’ of the classes I finished in such a way would be wiped away by the evil done to complete them.
Perhaps it is the same financially as well. It is God who provides for us- He can help us to make it through school when we otherwise could not, He can provide the finances and things we need to make it. Yet when we do evil to get what we feel we need- even if the ends is right- perhaps God will respond by not doing his ‘part’. Perhaps we would be better off avoiding evil entirely. As this verse indicates, evil means will never help. God does not use evil to accomplish his goods. The ends do NOT justify the means!
I just thought I would think up some xanga entries as I look through proverbs. Until next time!
-Patrick
Ever enjoy “The Neverending Story” movie? Here is a shot of the child stars- Bastien and the child-like Empress.
