Proverbs 21: 9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Sometimes the Book of Proverbs makes me laugh out loud. Today’s verse had me smiling because I know what it feels like to be in the dog house, especially when I’m the one who sent me there.
I’ve got this picture in my mind of the writer being a very wise man who’s sitting at the table writing down all of these great words of advice and feeling very smug with himself, only to realize much too late that he forgot again to take the garbage out. Before he can gather all of his scrolls together, he’s outside sitting on the corner of the roof in the pouring rain, remonstrating himself for being so absent-minded and upsetting his wife. Perhaps his wise instruction might have been better if he had written:
“Better to remember to take the garbage out than end up in the dog house on the corner of the roof.”
This is what makes me love the Bible so much. There’s always a verse or two that is applicable for each and every situation that we find ourselves in, especially when we make mistakes and need to resolve situations of our own creating.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be aware of other people’s feelings and be sensitive to their needs. Teach me the wisdom of patience and grant me gracious opportunities to resolve issues that I have unwisely created. In Your Holy Name, I humbly pray. Amen.
John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s image is John’s latest Scottish drawing of Duart Castle, which was once a 13th century stronghold of the MacLeans. The castle is situated on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. If you would like to view a larger version of the image, please click on the following link: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/5775199608_a5383a5e3e_b.jpg
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