“MASTERS OF DISASTER”: MOVING TO THE GREATER PATH OF GODLY SELF CONTROL
“GREATER PATHS” Session #9 Lifeway Explore the Bible Quarterly
Proverbs 23:17-21, 29-35
When I think of “disaster” two names come to mind: Movie Director/Producer Irwin Allen and Boxer/Coach Muhammad Ali. Both have been given the moniker: “Master of Disaster” but for different reasons. Irwin Allen and his production disciples were famous for producing movie and TV shows that centered on disasters… Remember Lost in Space, Airport 77, Towering Inferno, and The Poseidon Adventure? All these shows had similar plots: a stoic and “in command” leader (usually played by a leading A List Actor) is in charge of the world’s greatest space quest, largest luxury aircraft, biggest building, or longest ship. Said hero has everything running smoothly until management hires some rich millionaire fool who disrupts everything with his own agenda and then the computer goes haywire, the robot gets aggressive, a fire starts, the flight path is disrupted, and icebergs are seen off the port bow! By the climax of the movie everything is out of control and major disaster occurs! And then enters the “second” hero- a First Responder who supports and helps the captain (usually Steve McQueen) and gets everything worked out but not until buildings are torched, ships sink to the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle, and Mr. Robot waves his arms shouting: “Danger Will Robinson, Danger!” The plot goes from self-control to foolish pride and disaster to regaining control again.
Muhammad Ali was called the “Master of Disaster” for another reason. He was a world famous boxer because of his MASTERY of what boxing aficionados call the “Sweet Science”. There is nothing “sweet” about an organized professional brawl in which the force of punches thrown is so great that a rounded glove can split skin open and crush bones and cause permanent brain damage. Ali knew this, and his ability to maintain self-control and think while in the ring and then teaching the American Olympic Boxing Team to do the same allowed him to command the science and become the “Master” over what for his opponent was their “Disaster.” When we are trusting in God He makes available to us the spiritual gift of self-control in the face of temptation. The proper utilization in life of this and other spiritual gifts (see Galatians 5:19-25) for our welfare and the glory of God is what it means to be Biblically wise. Like Irwin Allen, and Muhammad Ali life is surrounded by “disasters” either waiting to happen through our poor decisions, or waiting to be transformed into a triumph through dependence upon God and wise skillful decision making or by turning to Him and making better decisions in the future. How can we make wise decisions? How can we help others to make wise decisions? What do we do AFTER we have made BAD decisions? Our study today will examine these questions by looking at the Promise of God, the Petition of the wise, and the Portrait and Problems of the “fool” who ignores God.
One disclaimer I want to make here… All of us “have played the fool,” (been the “bad guy” in an Irwin Allen Film) all of us have made bad decisions (been KO’d by disaster in life’s ring) that have costs us dearly, some of which we might still be struggling with. We must be very careful as we study Proverbs not to get stuck up in “self righteousness” because we haven’t struggled with alcohol or drug addiction because if we haven’t messed up here there is somewhere else some other branch of idolatry that we are just as much in need of help, wisdom, and grace from God to deal with it. Proverbs deals with wisdom BEFORE the decisions of life. Job and Ecclesiastes deal with wisdom AFTER we have made choices (that is where many of us as middle-aged and older adults find ourselves). One is foresighted and visionary offering protection for the young and naive, the latter is reflective, hind sighted and restorative for the stormy, weather-beaten and remorseful. As human Christ Followers we need both! So please, please, please do not beat yourself up, and wallow in regret over previous failures nor think you are immune to foolish choices in the future. Jesus didn’t die for you to feel “guilty” but to clear you of “guilt” by HIS righteousness, wisdom, sacrifice, and love if you will receive and turn to Him. If we are alive, THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE AND HELP FOR THE HOPELESS AND HELPLESS! Let that help and hope make a difference in your choices today and leave the rest to Him!
THE PROMISE OF GOD (23:17-18)
Proverbs 22:17- 24:22 is called the “Thirty Wise Sayings of Solomon.” This is more than just “helpful advice” from a skilled teacher or professor, Solomon wants to make clear that these teachings are from “above” for our success here “below” these teachings are divinely revelatory and reliable when applied. As Paul admonishes Timothy, “ALL scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, and training in righteousness that the Man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16). The GREATER PATHS begin and end with God and His Word. That is why Solomon can say for us not to “envy sinners” but “fear the LORD. For then you will have a future your hope will not be dashed.” Have you ever envied somebody else’s success? Seen the wicked and devious prosper at the expense of someone else and questioned the fairness of it all? The best way we can prevent envying others is to first “look up” (fear God) and secondly, “look forward” remember that He keeps His promises and we have a future because of Him! Our God is not just a “promise maker” but a “promise keeper!” The Bible promises that God will deliver and warns us that the World will not. We must remember that everything we see in the “World” is not to be near as attractive to us as God. We must gaze on the GREATER PATHS not the lesser. Walking in wisdom will keep hope alive in our hearts while the allure of hope in Christ through trusting in Him should drive us to seek and ask for GOD’S WISDOM in our daily living and the choices we make. C.S. Lewis tells us that if you start with the fear of the LORD and the Kingdom of Heaven you get earth thrown in with it but if you start with earthly desires and knowledge you will get neither! We need to stand on the promises of God instead of sitting on the premises of scheming men. As in all of Solomon’s Proverbs the difference between the two is the difference between the GREATER PATHS of life and the lesser paths of death.
THE PETITION OF THE WISE (23:19-21)
Solomon starts in verse 19 with reminding us that being “wise” doesn’t come from being a “decision maker” but a “decision discerner” through listening and paying attention to God’s revelation and godly teaching. When I was in Business school at Baylor, and later involved in space management with Coca-Cola, I studied hard and asked questions of those in the beverage industry about managing space in Supermarkets and worked alongside them to learn how it was done. One day, I and some other soda vendors were involved in a huge reset of the soda aisle at a large store in Joppa Town Maryland. We had worked out with the Grocery Manager the Plan-o-gram for the aisle and were almost done when the Supermarket Manager came in and told us to reverse it. We showed him the plans we had made and attempted to share with him how he would make more revenue with this setup, but he wasn’t interested. He had been playing “Darts” in the break-room and lost a bet with another store’s manager. Whoever lost had to change their store back to the original setup! What determined his decision was not facts, reason, or the skill of others, but who he was associating with. How sound would this whole company be if all its financial decisions were based on bets, whims, and chance like this manager’s? Solomon warns his listeners not to associate (associate means “do as they do” here) with drunkards and gluttons- not just because this is dangerous but because how and what we think and act upon determines our course in life. Part of the transformed minds we have in Christ is learning not to conform any longer to the patterns of the World but to renew our minds and we do that by following healthy patterns of living instead of the destructive patterns that drunkenness and gluttony lead us down (Rom 12:1-3).
THE PORTRAIT AND PROBLEMS OF A FOOL (29-35).
Solomon paints a portrait of the drunkard (the fool). One of the major allures of alcohol and drugs is that it promises an escape from one’s problems but it is not a “successful” escape. Solomon reminds in verse 32 that in the end it bites “like a viper!” Alcohol promises one thing and in the end it can deliver another! “The Rock,” Alcatraz penitentiary, sits less than 3 miles off shore from Pier 39 (a major shopping, entertainment, and restaurant attraction) in San Francisco. Every year inmates would be recaptured or died participating in the “Alcatraz Triathlon” of digging, dashing, and diving trying to escape to that pier. They would be either shot from the walls, or drown from the vicious undertow and freezing water, or eaten by sharks. Now days, when you visit the Rock, you can go into the Solitary Confinement and the Park Ranger will lock you in for 5 minutes… That’s all it takes! In the cold damp darkness of the cell you hear the mournful howling wind off the Pacific and coming from under the Golden Gate Bridge and in the evening a land breeze reaches you with the smell of grilling steaks, and the sound of happy people and families enjoying themselves on the pier- so close but yet a million miles away…
Yes, we need to “face” our problems and not “escape” them but everyone needs an escape from their problems now and then. But we need a godly and safe way of doing it and Solomon warns that alcohol is not what it promises to be. Questions to ask ourselves as we step back to escape is; what are we stepping into? And as we face our problems and attempt to move forward; what are we trusting and depending upon? The only one that answers truthfully and keeps His promise of deliverance 100% is God. Perhaps you have struggled in this area with alcohol, or you have a family member who is. What can you do to overcome it? First, ask God for help in trusting Him, secondly seek help from godly counsel, others who are overcoming, and medical professionals, and finally don’t give up! That deliverance will be a daily battle, and it might be a very long time in coming, but don’t give up on seeking God and making amends as He shows you what to do. There is always hope! Do you believe that? And if so, will you act on it and get help as you begin and stay the course? Know I am praying for all of you! Looking forward to the day when we can be together again! Continue to pray for Matt and Amanda as they begin their IMB Mission’s training! Love in Christ, Darrin.
Isolation to Intimacy Jesus: Matthew 26 Written by Matthew Waldraff
There is no greater example of intimacy with God in times of isolation than that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Time and time again we see Jesus model the appropriate use of isolation to truly transform it into intimacy as we draw near to God and find rest in His sovereignty and control. One of the most vulnerable times that we see Jesus in great sorrow and isolation is in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, and Luke 22:39-46. Although he takes with him three of the disciples, we quickly find that they fall asleep leaving him alone in his hour of need. In his isolation we see Jesus pray to the Father to take away the coming punishment for the sins of humanity, yet he prays, "not as I will, but as you will." Throughout his life and ministry we see Jesus go into these times of isolation to fully give himself to the will of the Father and His sovereignty. While Jesus's companions abandon him to his isolation, we praise God that we have a Savior who never abandons us. Jesus's ultimate isolation on the cross paved the way for us to never truly be isolated again. We now have an everlasting relationship with God as we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Our seasons of isolation, even those characterized with deep sorrow, are effortlessly turned to seasons of intimacy because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Even when we may not understand the difficulties we face in isolation, may we pray the prayer of our Savior, "Not as I will, but as you will." Ultimately, we rest in the assurance of the will of God with the peace and comfort of our relationship with our Lord and Savior. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16). WALDRAFFOVERSEAS@GMAIL.COM