Jump Start # 3872
Proverbs 30:10 “There is a kind of man who curses his father and does not bless his mother.”
Our verse today sets off a series of descriptive attributes of a man who is not walking with the Lord. Each verse, from eleven through fourteen begins with “There is a kind of man…” The writer is not describing one specific person, but rather a “type” or kind of person. He is not kind. He is arrogant. His words are harsh and cutting. He claims to be pure but he is not. Selfish, proud, indifferent to others, hurtful, such a person leaves a whirlwind of destruction everywhere he goes.
Having described such a person, there are no instructions what to do. There are no warnings to avoid such people. There is not a call to teach such people. All we find is a descriptive list of “there is a kind of man.”
Now, some thoughts for us:
First, a person gets to be like this “kind of man,” by the poor choices he makes in his life. No one is forced into that mindset and attitude. No one has to be like this. Some believe the only way to the top is by stepping on others, including your own parents. Some will hang their hat on the trials and tragedies in life. They point to those things as the reason why they are the way they are. But, that doesn’t happen to everyone who has gone through valleys in life. Some have experienced all kinds of hardships, yet have remained kind, gentle, godly and helpful to others. It’s not the circumstances, but rather, the choices one makes that shapes the way that we are.
Second, as one reads sections of the Bible, they must not close their eyes to what God says in other places. The N.T. warns about evil companions. Paul specifically warned Timothy about some who were trouble makers. One could conclude, that since this section does not tell us to avoid such people, I will include them into my life. What a tragic mistake that would be. Use all the Scriptures. Build upon what you know. It is within Proverbs that God tells us that He hates haughty eyes and feet that run to mischief. Puzzle piece the Bible together to understand that the kind of man being described in our verse today is nothing but trouble.
Third, the hope for such a person is Jesus Christ. Could such a person change? Yes. Absolutely. He has to want to and then submit himself to the message of Christ. He must humble himself. He must honor his father and mother. A lot of apologizing is due. A lot of rethinking will be necessary. All of this is possible if one will but fall to the Lord.
Life without God is more than not going to church. It’s a destruction of character and the invitation to arrogance, selfishness and worldliness. “There is a kind of man” thrives to this day. His home is broken. His friends used. His eyes are closed to the needs around him and he has deafened his ears to the call of the Lord. Such a person sails through life as if he has the world by the tail. He does what he wants. He says what he feels like saying and no one is going to tell him otherwise. Yet, someday he shall meet God. Someday, his tune will change. Someday, will not come soon enough for the righteous and much too quickly for this kind of man.
The writer Thoreau was asked if he was at peace with God. He replied, “I was not aware we had quarreled.” Happy. Content. Doing well. None of those are signs that one is at peace with God. Our sins have separated us from the Holy One. We are the enemy of God and need to be reconciled to Him. We are in need of changing our ways.
There is a kind of man…so there is. But, there is also a kind of man who honors his father and mother. He has bathed himself in the forgiveness of God and walks in purity. There is a kind of man who is humble. He rarely talks about himself but is so interested in others. There is a kind of man whose words are like healing medicine. They are comforting, promising and helpful. There is a kind of man who has walked with Jesus and today, when we see him, our lives are made the better. There is a kind of man that reminds us of Jesus, not in the way he looks, but in the way he speaks. It is seen in the way he has become a servant. It is seen in his love for the Lord.
There is a kind of man…which one are you like?
Roger