“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
~ Proverbs 27:1
Hi James and Ellen,
Do you boast about what you do? Do you boast about what you have done? Do you think that boasting is something good to do? Boasting is bragging. When you are boasting – or bragging, you are saying that you are better than the kid to whom you are boasting – or bragging. Do you think that it is a good to boast – or brag, about what you think that you may do tomorrow? The premier author of proverbial adages – Solomon, could very easily have boasted – or bragged, about himself. During the years that he was king over the Israelite people group’s guys and gals, Solomon was esteemed among the rulers who ruled at the same time that he did in the inhabited world. Beside what he inherited from David – his dad, Solomon personally accumulated so much wealth that he could have whatever he wanted. Solomon built an absolutely magnificent palace in Jerusalem for himself in which to live and an amazingly exquisite temple in Jerusalem where God’s presence could reside. God gave wisdom to Solomon as a gift. Solomon probably was one of the wisest guys – if not the wisest guy, who has ever lived on planet Earth. Even though Solomon was quite probably the most powerful ruler in the inhabited world during the period that he was the third king over the Israelite people group’s guys and gals, even though Solomon possibly accumulated more things and wealth than any other guy or gal would ever do in their lifetimes, even though Solomon saw to the building of quite possibly one of the most beautiful structures that has ever been built when he built a temple in Jerusalem for God’s presence and even though Solomon had going for him probably more wisdom than any other guy who has lived on planet Earth, Solomon when he looked back on his life saw all the mistakes that he made throughout his life. Solomon wants you to learn from his mistakes so that you will not make the same mistakes with your lives.
Proverbs 27 is another chapter of proverbial axioms that were authored by Solomon that reflect on actions that Solomon wishes that he had done very differently and which he hopes that no one else will get caught up doing and attitudes which Solomon wishes that he had not had and which he hopes that no one else will get caught up having. Solomon knew how it hurt to have a guy or gal mad at him. Solomon knew what it felt like to have a guy or gal jealous of him. Solomon knew what it was like to pursue gals who would not make good wives. Even though Solomon knew how painful that it was to receive a rebuke, he knew that he needed rebukes. Your grandpaa believes that Solomon knew how difficult that it was to live with a wife who would not stop quarreling with him and who was constantly on his case about one thing or another because Solomon had a wife like that. Solomon knew that how a guy or gal lived his or her outward life did not always reflect his or her heart. Solomon learned one life lesson after another during his long lifetime. Solomon learned that the life lessons that he would rather not remember cannot be erased. Solomon learned from the life lessons that he had that he could never be sure of what tomorrow was going to be like. Solomon in verse 1 says “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
Your grandmaa and grandpaa do not know what tomorrow has for them. Your grandmaa and grandpaa over the years have learned to go through opportunity doors – even though your grandmaa and grandpaa have no idea what is on the other side of an opportunity door, just because they have sensed that it was God’s will that they go through the opportunity door. About five months before your grandmaa and grandpaa began their first furlough in the United States, your grandmaa and grandpaa began in Concepción, Ñuflo de Chávez the rural resident training program. Your grandpaa along with other South America Mission field missionary team guys had a couple of times met together to pray and discuss what a rural Bible education program would look like if one was to be implemented someplace in eastern Bolivia. Because your grandpaa was the South America Mission’s Bolivia’s Field Committee’s secretary, your grandpaa took minutes during the meetings when the South America Mission’s Field Director for Bolivia met with his field committee of three guys. Even though your grandpaa had gone into the ad hoc times with other South America Mission field team missionary guys with ideas of what a rural Bible education program could look like if . . . in the end, what your grandpaa thought a rural Bible education program could look like and what would become the rural resident training program in Concepción, Ñuflo de Chávez did not begin to look like what your grandpaa was envisioning when he first got together with other South American Mission field team missionary guys. Not all the guys were in agreement with the draft of the Bible training program that your grandpaa put together but . . . your grandpaa especially thought that the idea that the Field Director of the Bolivia South America Mission field missionary team had of teaching each Bible themed class in two week modules was great idea. Your grandmaa and grandpaa were asked to jumpstart in Concepcion, Nuflo de Chavez the rural resident training program. Your grandpaa loaded up two pickups with tables, chairs, supplies, students and their families and . . . one of the field team missionary guys who did not agree with your grandpaa on how to begin a Bible education program told the Bolivia Field Director that what your grandpaa was going to do would not work. There are now between Bolivia and Guatemala over 150 guys who are enabled to lead Christ-follower fellowships of guy, gals and kids because your grandmaa and grandpaa – and other guys and gals, did not brag about what they were going to do; they just did it. Your grandmaa and grandpaa have learned that it is wise to only boast – or brag, about God’s amazing sovereignty.
Proverbs 27 (305)