SOAP 12/21/2015; Proverbs 3:3

Today's reading: John 9, 10, 11*

S) "³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart."

Proverbs 3:3 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Proverbs 3

O) This verse ties two principles together, that are not always considered equals. Many people recognize that truth is a virtue, although they may rationalize lying or think truth can be relative. In general, people don't want others to lie to them. The importance or virtue of kindness, however, is often minimized. In fact, in a lot of ways, the world sees kindness (or at least, when people make it a priority in their lives) as a weakness of some type. The Bible simply does not teach this, though. Jesus made it perfectly clear that we should love our neighbors, including our enemies, and kindness is the way that love is manifested. But in the verse above, we see plainly that kindness has always been a virtue in the Bible. Regarding this tie of truth and kindness, we also read later in the New Testament, Paul wrote to the Ephesians that they should speak the truth in love. This is the same concept. In the verse above, Solomon says these two principles are so important, that they should always be with us (tied around our necks). The idea of writing them on the tablet of the heart, is a matter of discipline, dedication to this cause. Solomon was making this a big deal. It's not just "better" to be kind and honest, it is vital. It's also notable the way the first line was worded, that we cannot let them "leave" us. There are so many reasons we are tempted to lie, and tempted to be unkind. We must not allow circumstances to chase truth and kindness away from us.

A) Do it! This verse is so instructive, that the application becomes super simple. I just need to follow the wisdom Solomon laid out for me. In my youth, I struggled with a double-life, which required a lifestyle of lies (one way or the other), and as I became more and more cynical, I saw less and less reason for kindness. But, when God broke my hardened heart, one of the first things He did was to purify my lying tongue. Kristin and I learned quickly, just how vital truth was in our marriage. We knew it was a key to our marriage staying healthy, and a key to raising our kids in our faith. But recently, Kristin has been making it a point to highlight the importance of kindness, too. Her personality being what it is, she sees that need more clearly than I do. Even still, in the course of the last three years, or so, God began working in me, helping me grow in compassion and kindness. So, seeing Solomon tie these two principles together, helps me to realize how important it is for me to tie them, too. Tie them around my neck!

P) Father, Your grace at work in my heart is so clear to me, and it stands as the most obvious miracle in my life. The way You changed the desires of my heart, that I would long to become more compassionate, more kind, more honest, it is such a clear separation from who I used to be that Your fingerprint is unmistakable. Even still, I see that I am still a work in progress. Father God, please continue the work of sanctification within my heart. Help me to properly teach the importance of truth and kindness to my children. Let them see the example Kristin and I are trying to set. Let Your grace be at work in their hearts as well. In my life, in my marriage, and in my kids, be glorified Lord. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.