Proverbs 27:23-27 English Standard Version 23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, 24 for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? 25 When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered, 26 the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field. 27 There will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls. Solomon tells his son to tend to his own family and house, though he uses the picture of a shepherd or rancher needing to know the condition of his flocks and herds to do so. It's clear he's talking about people because he comments on their eternal state verses the temporal state of riches, but flocks and herds are just as temporal as riches. Solomon is telling his son, and us, that we need to focus first and foremost on the people God has entrusted to us--our wife, children, and any other dependents that live in our household. Their souls are much more valuable than riches and there is eternal significance to you taking care of your own family. If you don't husband your wife, the world will be happy to do that for you. If you don't father your children, the world will be happy to do that for you too. You are responsible to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the LORD (to disciple them).
At some point, your children and grandchildren will be taking care of you, and you want to have left a loving example of what a caretaker is supposed to do and be and what love looks like (for love is expressed in action). In that day, without descendants, there would be no one to take care of you when you got old. There were no nursing homes. You worked until you could not work anymore, and hopefully a combination of your savings and the profits of your children and grandchildren were enough to take care of you. There was no Social Security because everyone took care of their own family members. Soon, they will be controlling all your assets and will need the wisdom and understanding of how to use them properly. Comments are closed.
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Daniel WestfallI will mostly use this space for recording my "journal" from my daily devotions as I hope to encourage others to read the Bible along with me and to leave a legacy for others. Archives
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