Day 9/9 – Do Good to the Undeserving

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Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man by Walter A Henrichsen (“Walt”)
Do Good to the Undeserving
Day Two Hundred Fifty-two

“Now concerning the contribution for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.” 1 Corinthians 16:1

Paul had a burden for the “poor saints in Jerusalem.” According to Acts 11, this current collection was a repeat of what he had done in the past. He called upon those churches in which he had had a ministry to give generously to the Jerusalem church. His plan was to collect the money from the various churches en route to Jerusalem at the end of this his third missionary journey.

His burden for these people was quite extraordinary. The Jewish Christians were suspicious of Paul’s ministry, and in all probability the Judaizers that opposed him came from the Jerusalem church. Still, he went out of his way to gather for their needs. When arriving at Jerusalem some of the Jewish Christians (“many thousands among the Jews of those who have believed; they are all zealous for the law,”335) had Paul arrested. The Bible does not follow Paul beyond his imprisonment and appeal to Rome, but we know that he spent the next years of his life fighting against the charges of the Christian Jews.

Paul did not show concern for others based on their response to him, but rather in accordance with God’s will. You will find it easier to serve those who appreciate you than to those who despise you. You will only be able to do the latter if you maintain an eternal focus.

335 Acts 21:20

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Proverbs 6-7 2 Corinthians 2 (New King James Version)
Proverbs 6-7
Dangerous Promises
6
My son, if you become [a]surety for your friend,
If you have [b]shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2
You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
3
So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend.
4
Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.
5
Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
And like a bird from the hand of the [c]fowler.
The Folly of Indolence
6
Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7
Which, having no [d]captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8
Provides her [e]supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9
How long will you [f]slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10
A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11
So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
The Wicked Man
12
A worthless person, a wicked man,
Walks with a perverse mouth;
13
He winks with his eyes,
He [g]shuffles his feet,
He points with his fingers;
14
Perversity is in his heart,
He devises evil continually,
He sows discord.
15
Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;
Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
16
These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to [h]Him:
17
A[i] proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
Beware of Adultery
20
My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.
21
Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22
When you roam, [j]they will lead you;
When you sleep, they will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.
23
For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
24
To keep you from the evil woman,
From the flattering tongue of a seductress.
25
Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
26
For by means of a harlot
A man is reduced to a crust of bread;
And [k]an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.
27
Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?
28
Can one walk on hot coals,
And his feet not be seared?
29
So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.
30
People do not despise a thief
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.
31
Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.
32
Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.
33
Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away.
34
For jealousy is a husband’s fury;
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35
He will [l]accept no recompense,
Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.
The Wiles of a Harlot
7
My son, keep my words,
And treasure my commands within you.
2
Keep my commands and live,
And my law as the apple of your eye.
3
Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
5
That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.
The Crafty Harlot
6
For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
7
And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the [m]youths,
A young man devoid[n] of understanding,
8
Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
9
In the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.
10
And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11
She was loud and rebellious,
Her feet would not stay at home.
12
At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
13
So she caught him and kissed him;
With an [o]impudent face she said to him:
14
“I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
15
So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16
I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
17
I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18
Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19
For [p]my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
20
He has taken a bag of money [q]with him,
And will come home [r]on the appointed day.”
21
[s]With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
With her flattering lips she [t]seduced him.
22
Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or [u]as a fool to the correction of the [v]stocks,
23
Till an arrow struck his liver.
As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it [w]would cost his life.
24
Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
26
For she has cast down many wounded,
And all who were slain by her were strong men.
27
Her house is the way to [x]hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.
Footnotes:
• Proverbs 6:1 guaranty or collateral
• Proverbs 6:1 Lit. struck
• Proverbs 6:5 One who catches birds in a trap or snare
• Proverbs 6:7 Lit. leader
• Proverbs 6:8 Lit. bread
• Proverbs 6:9 Lit. lie down
• Proverbs 6:13 gives signals, lit. scrapes
• Proverbs 6:16 Lit. His soul
• Proverbs 6:17 Lit. Haughty eyes
• Proverbs 6:22 Lit. it
• Proverbs 6:26 Wife of another, lit. a man’s wife
• Proverbs 6:35 Lit. lift up the face of any
• Proverbs 7:7 Lit. sons
• Proverbs 7:7 lacking
• Proverbs 7:13 shameless
• Proverbs 7:19 Lit. the man
• Proverbs 7:20 Lit. in his hand
• Proverbs 7:20 at the full moon
• Proverbs 7:21 By the greatness of her words
• Proverbs 7:21 compelled
• Proverbs 7:22 LXX, Syr., Tg. as a dog to bonds; Vg. as a lamb . . . to bonds
• Proverbs 7:22 shackles
• Proverbs 7:23 Lit. is for
• Proverbs 7:27 Or Sheol

2 Corinthians 2
Paul Urges Forgiveness
2 But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?
Forgive the Offender
3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much [a]affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For [b]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Triumph in Christ
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a [c]door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us [d]diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as [e]so many, peddling[f] the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
Footnotes:
• 2 Corinthians 2:4 tribulation
• 2 Corinthians 2:10 NU indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes
• 2 Corinthians 2:12 Opportunity
• 2 Corinthians 2:14 manifests
• 2 Corinthians 2:17 M the rest
• 2 Corinthians 2:17 adulterating for gain