Proverbs 9:11, Share the Life that Blesses!
April 12, Proverbs 9:11
John 15 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
Share the Life that Blesses!
Here we have the theme of longevity again. Obedience to God’s will leads to length of days (Ex. 20:12). Conformity to God’s will brings blessings in the present, and the promise of life and health in the days ahead. Precious as physical life is, there is something infinitely more priceless. It is not how long but how well we live that matters. For identifies the connection between wisdom and righteousness (vs.9-10). The truly godly life leads to the most gratifying life as well. In the New Testament this has an eternal application. “We are not so to live,” said J.C. Ryle, “as if we had nothing but a body.”
1. Days of Sanctified Aspiration: For by me thy days shall be multiplied (v.11a). Someone said that an hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name. God wants us to count for Him. Our days only multiply as they glorify our Redeemer. Wesley said, “I am not careful what may be a hundred years from hence. My part is to improve the present.” Paul cries, redeem the time (Ep. 5:16). We cannot make up lost time! Paul is telling us that we redeem time only when it is guided, guarded and governed by the Spirit. Without a guided life, there is only aimless living. Without a guarded life there is nothing but wasted living. Without a governed life, there is utterly selfish living. “We are to redeem the time because we ourselves are redeemed” (R. Chester). Jesus said, Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, and that your fruit should remain.
2. Years of Sacred Expectation: The years of thy life shall be increased (v.11b). Years are but the converging of the unknown hours, days and months of a person’s life. Days speak of the present, years refer more to the future, and represent the character and service of our lives when we stand before the JudgmentSeat. In that coming Day, when we answer for the things done in the body, the value of our years will be tested to the uttermost. Jeremy Taylor said, “God hath given man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends.” Let us not squander time for it is the stuff of which life is made. The only occasion in Scripture where God calls someone a fool is in Luke 12:17-20. He is the Rich Fool because, in planning for himself, he heartlessly forgot his neighbour (v.17); in reckoning his goods, he thanklessly forgot the Giver (v.18); in providing for his body, he foolishly forgot his soul (v.19); and in counting on time, he recklessly forgot eternity. “‘Only one life’, but if I had a hundred or a thousand,” someone said, “I’d live them all for Christ.” Peter, James and John, and Paul are no longer with us, but the value of their years still speak to us through the centuries. How will it be with your years? Over the right-hand door of the famous Milan Cathedral is a sculptured wreath of flowers with this motto: All that pleases is but for a moment. Over the left-hand entrance are a Cross and Crown, under which are the words: All that troubles is but for a moment. Over the central door is this sentence: Nothing is important, save that which is eternal.
Thought: “What we weave in time, we wear in eternity” (Anon).
Prayer: Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee.