Proverbs for Pastors- why this page? We can learn from the proverbial statements of Solomon and his sages. It is God inspired. Too often we apply the proverbs to teaching others. It is a challenge to seek the wisdom that can be applied to us as pastors. Lets give it a try.
Proverbs 4:23-27 Diligent Body-Life
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Did you notice the various body parts stated in this passage? As men/women of Scripture and intelligent in your studies, I am sure you have or can piece together a message for the people of your flock. Those same principles of truth apply to us as pastors. The focal element is the application of the truth principles.
What happens to our pastorate if our "heart" is not kept, protected? What other than the rivers of life would flow from it?
What would be crooked speech and devious talk? Interestingly, the author says "keep it far from you." Could it be that this may connect more to what our ears want to hear? The crooked is unique. Strong's says: " 6838 עִקְּשׁוּת (ʿiq·qešûṯ): n.fem.; ≡ Str 6143; TWOT 1684b—LN 88.262–88.270 perversion, moral corruption, i.e., a state which deviates from a just, right state, as a figurative extension of crookedness of a physical object or path (Pr 4:24; 6:12+)
DBL Hebrew
The mouth and ears of our living... Even as pastors we need to avoid malicious speaking people. Such can pollute the moral standing of our calling to the church. The passage is not only a connection to what we speak, but also to what we hear. We are to avoid the crooked, perverse speech of others. Paul said, "bad company corrupts good character." A the children's song says, "oh be careful little ears what you hear."
What do our eyes look at? I, personally, have not problems with looking at successful businesses. I can struggle with the looking at other churches, ministries and the like. Again, the look, according to Strongs, is to gaze, to get perspective and observe. We are to look ahead. The proverb says to look directly forward. This reminds me of the instructions given to Joshua in 1:7. It look straight and do what is there to do.
The author concludes with the feet. Scripture tells us to have our feet shoed with the Gospel of peace. The focus of this passage regarding the feet is more of the path that they are walking on. The path of the feet is another idiom for the way of life. The feet will take our life where our eyes are directing it to go. We have a responsibility to control our way of life. Choices are made. V. 27- do not swerve... Paul stated to Timothy in 2 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,” 21which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all. Berean Standard Bible
Pastor, this section of proverbs has great warning for us. Keep YOUR Heart with all vigilance. We so often can be caught up guarding others' hearts, but it ours we must have a disposition of care for. Another word for vigilance could be confinement. Pastor, confine your heart to the straight ahead route. Do not turn your head to hear other voices or see other horizons. Look straight ahead as you walk the journey of ministry. Travel that path listening only for the word's of the Lord, seeking only the gaze of the the Master. Travel with others on the path of ministry. You are not alone.
Proverbs 3:3-4
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. (esv)
Pastor, you love your church. We all desire to have some form of success. Here the proverbs sets boundaries for this desire: "the sight of God and man." We accept the man part, but what of the God part? Pastor, love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The love for your church begins there. The expressions (the work) comes after. Many of us can love the work, but not the reason we are doing the work. We can love to preach, but not love our hearers. We can love to teach, but not love our learners.
"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart—never go or be anywhere without these graces accompanying thee. “Mercy” towards men; “truth,” i. e., sincerity, towards God. These two comprehend all the duties we owe towards God and man."
Other translations replace success with favour and good understanding. These elements redefine the concept of success. Again, Fausset, says, "With “find favour … in the sight of God” cf. Exod. 33:12, 17; Luke 1:30, and especially Luke 2:52, “Jesus (who alone fully realized the picture here) increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Pastor it would be safe to say, by holding true to love and faithfulness, first to God, the to his people, you would be fulfilling the image of Christ in your ministry.
Fausset, A. R. n.d. A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Job–Isaiah. Vol. III. London; Glasgow: William Collins, Sons, & Company, Limited.
Proverbs 2:20-22; So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Along with the image of the two paths, chapter 2 also features the image of two women. The first woman is not an actual human being, but a symbol for the wise counsel of the parents that is encountered and echoed in all of life. This wisdom that begins at home shouts at passersby to turn and be saved. The other woman is a human being, the loose woman who illustrates the kinds of temptations to the path of folly that menace the youth. She and the gang lead only to death; the other woman offers life. This feminine imagery is developed in later chapters.
Schwab, George M. 2009. “The Book of Proverbs.” In Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 7: The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs, 483. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
The elements of life... where we walk & how we walk. As a pastor you know the term walk equates with how one lives. In these few verses we have a summary statement as well as a statement of expectation. As is common, there is the opposite as well, warnings.
Pastor, our living is watched. Our values are on display. We are to be the examples of living in the way of the good. Jesus asked a young man, "why do you call me good?". Jesus stated the path of the righteous is a narrow one. It is different than any other path or trail. It is a challenge for any follower of Christ to live a life that doesn't conform to the values, ways, and means of others or culture.
Along with these challenges, there is the challenge of disposition. Our attitude. How we walk is as important as where we walk. Humble is our challenge. Confident in our choices and Leader. Aware of the Helper (Holy Spirit). This is not to say we wont complain at times. We must be careful not to become known for the complaining that for the gratitude of being led. The enemy of the saints may prompt us to think we deserve better or more of things in this life. Many pastors have ship-wrecked their call by drifting and straying to have such things. Note the last part of v. 21.
The "those with integrity will remain in it." Integrity- the measure of time of how we are living- in public & private. Here it refers to "blameless", "whole", without spot, undefiled. These are the terms used for the sacrifices to the Lord. And that is who & what we are- living sacrifices (Romans 12:1),
Pastor, do not shortcut your journey. Do not forfeit the crowns that are being prepared for your life service. If you need help in some area, call a friend, a pastor or myself. Your are worth it! It is from this foundation of desire that the proverbs focus, to have a presence in the land!