Day 9/17 – The Stronger Brother

———/://///

Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man by Walter A Henrichsen (“Walt”)
The Stronger Brother
Day Two Hundred Sixty

“If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?” 1 Corinthians 10:30

Weak people do not consider themselves weak; if they did they would cease being weak. If someone comes to you saying, “I am one of those weak people Paul discussed in his epistles, and therefore you must accept my view on matters,” that person is committing spiritual extortion. “I am weak because I make essentials out of non-essentials, and you must accommodate me by making them essential too.”

In the days in which the Bible was written, weak people were those who, freshly converted from paganism, did not clearly understand the distinction between the true God and gods that are no gods. Meat offered to idols is as good as any other piece of meat. But you cannot eat such meat in the presence of weak people who see it as honoring the gods.

Today, weak people usually have known Christ for many years and because of their experience, add to the commandments of God. They consider certain practices sin because they perceive that they damage people, not because the Bible prohibits them. They interpret passages such as “abstain from all appearance of evil”342 to mean that you can’t drink, dance, etc.

You must respect the weaker person’s scruples, but not at the expense of your calling wrong what you know to be right. If you engage in a non-essential with thanksgiving for your liberty in Christ, no one has the right to denounce you. You respect the conscience of others, but you cannot in good conscience agree with them when they are wrong. You refrain from participating when in their presence, but enjoy with a clear conscience when away from them.

342 1 Thessalonians 5:22

———/://///

Proverbs 27-29 2 Corinthians 10 (New King James Version)

Proverbs 27-29
My Son, Be Wise
27
Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.
3
A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,
But a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them.
4
Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent,
But who is able to stand before jealousy?
5
Open rebuke is better
Than love carefully concealed.
6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7
A satisfied soul [a]loathes the honeycomb,
But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8
Like a bird that wanders from its nest
Is a man who wanders from his place.
9
Ointment and perfume delight the heart,
And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by [b]hearty counsel.
10
Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
11
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
That I may answer him who reproaches me.
12
A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself;
The simple pass on and are punished.
13
Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.
14
He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,
It will be counted a curse to him.
15
A continual dripping on a very rainy day
And a contentious woman are alike;
16
Whoever [c]restrains her restrains the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.
17
As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18
Whoever [d]keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
So he who waits on his master will be honored.
19
As in water face reflects face,
So a man’s heart reveals the man.
20
Hell[e] and [f]Destruction are never full;
So the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And a man is valued by what others say of him.
22
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23
Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
And attend to your herds;
24
For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
25
When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
26
The lambs will provide your clothing,
And the goats the price of a field;
27
You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food,
For the food of your household,
And the nourishment of your maidservants.
The Righteous Are Bold as a Lion
28
The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2
Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged.
3
A poor man who oppresses the poor
Is like a driving rain [g]which leaves no food.
4
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But such as keep the law contend with them.
5
Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand all.
6
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7
Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8
One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.
9
One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
10
Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
But the blameless will inherit good.
11
The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding searches him out.
12
When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory;
But when the wicked arise, men [h]hide themselves.
13
He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
14
Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15
Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
Is a wicked ruler over poor people.
16
A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.
17
A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;
Let no one help him.
18
Whoever walks blamelessly will be [i]saved,
But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
19
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!
20
A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
21
To [j]show partiality is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
22
A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.
23
He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
24
Whoever robs his father or his mother,
And says, “It is no transgression,”
The same is companion to a destroyer.
25
He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.
26
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
27
He who gives to the poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
28
When the wicked arise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law
29
He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2
When the righteous [k]are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
3
Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.
4
The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.
5
A man who flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his feet.
6
By transgression an evil man is snared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.
7
The righteous considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
8
Scoffers set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.
9
If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.
10
The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
But the upright seek his [l]well-being.
11
A fool vents all his feelings,[m]
But a wise man holds them back.
12
If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked.
13
The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14
The king who judges the poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.
15
The rod and rebuke give wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
16
When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their fall.
17
Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.
18
Where there is no [n]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But happy is he who keeps the law.
19
A servant will not be corrected by mere words;
For though he understands, he will not respond.
20
Do you see a man hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21
He who pampers his servant from childhood
Will have him as a son in the end.
22
An angry man stirs up strife,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.
23
A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
24
Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He [o]swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.
25
The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be [p]safe.
26
Many seek the ruler’s [q]favor,
But justice for man comes from the Lord.
27
An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
Footnotes:
• Proverbs 27:7 tramples on
• Proverbs 27:9 Lit. counsel of the soul
• Proverbs 27:16 Lit. hides
• Proverbs 27:18 protects or tends
• Proverbs 27:20 Or Sheol
• Proverbs 27:20 Heb. Abaddon
• Proverbs 28:3 Lit. and there is no bread
• Proverbs 28:12 Lit. will be searched for
• Proverbs 28:18 delivered
• Proverbs 28:21 Lit. recognize faces
• Proverbs 29:2 become great
• Proverbs 29:10 Lit. soul or life
• Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit
• Proverbs 29:18 prophetic vision
• Proverbs 29:24 Lit. hears the adjuration or oath
• Proverbs 29:25 secure, lit. set on high
• Proverbs 29:26 Lit. face

2 Corinthians 10
The Spiritual War
10 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Reality of Paul’s Authority
7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even [b]so we are Christ’s. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave [c]us for [d]edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed— 9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
Limits of Paul’s Authority
12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Footnotes:
• 2 Corinthians 10:4 of the flesh
• 2 Corinthians 10:7 NU as we are.
• 2 Corinthians 10:8 NU omits us
• 2 Corinthians 10:8 building up