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Listening and Conveying
Proverbs 13
Andy Nagahara
Today, I would like us to focus on the word “word” in Proverbs chapter 13 and think about how we should live as people who believe in Jesus as God. Let’s begin by reading the central proverb for today, which is verse 13.
He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.
A. The concept of “words” as conveyed in the Bible
The NIV paraphrases the word “words” here as instructions (from God). In addition, many Japanese translations prior to the New Interconfessional Translation use the term “Word of God.” The Interconfessional Translation that we use, as well as many English translations, simply use the word “words,” following the original language. I believe the reason for this is to preserve the breadth and depth of the concepts conveyed in the Bible.
Of course, the words referred to here are God’s “words.” However, the “words of God” is not as narrow a concept as many people think. When most people hear the phrase “God’s Word,” they probably think of the Bible. This is reflected in the translation “God’s instructions, teachings, and the Word of God.”
Yet, you all know well that the meaning of “God’s Word” is not limited to the Bible. The Bible itself speaks for it.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. （John 1:1,2,10-12)
What we can see here is that the essence of the “word” is God/Jesus Himself, not written code.
Why did Jesus criticize the powerful and religious leaders of his time so harshly? This is because, while claiming to follow the laws written in the Old Testament, they went against God’s will and imposed on people a system that they had arbitrarily constructed based on their own interpretation of the law, causing them suffering.
Unfortunately, there are people in modern Christianity who are repeating the same mistakes, causing chaos not only in the church but in society as a whole. They claim to be righteous Christians who believe the Bible is the word of God, but they falsely represent their own desires as God’s commandments and deprive sojourners and minorities of their human rights. They encourage their soldiers to launch unilateral attacks as a holy war commanded by God, and say that the lives of their own unborn children must be protected even if it means punishing the mothers and doctors, yet they show no remorse or even feel any pain when they take the lives of more than 160 children from an enemy country in an instant.
This means that both in Jesus’ time and today, people can misinterpret the Bible and become pawns of the devil, even while firmly believing they are following God. Paul said this:
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2COR 3:6)
Instead of God who is the essence of word, it is those who follow the letter of the Bible—or more precisely, those who idolize the letter of the Bible and teach it arbitrarily—who are causing people suffering. But as today’s proverb says, they cannot rule for long. The letter kills, the Spirit gives life.
Are you a servant of the letter or of the Spirit? The correct way for those who serve the Spirit to read the Bible is to accept it as the word of God, while being aware of the time and cultural limitations of the written word and the limitations of translation. So, then, do you know the essence of God, which is the essence of the word? Take a quiz from 1 John.
And so we know and rely on the God has for us.
God is . Whoever lives in lives in God, and God in him.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. （1John 4:16 ）
“God is love.” Words, God, and love are all connected. The “word” that the Bible conveys is God and love. But that’s not all the text tells us. Although we cannot see God or hear His voice, God is a being who acts on us as “love,” who abides within us, and who comes out of us and communicates with others.
Once you realize this, you will feel a deeper reality in the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospels than ever before. For example, Jesus said:
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:20）
In the past, we may have misunderstood these words of Jesus to mean that when Christians gathered together to discuss something, they would “pretend that Jesus is there.” But, since it’s hard to really feel it otherwise, I have heard that during the meeting people deliberately add an extra chair to make a seat for Jesus. There’s no need to do that.
For when people gather in the name of Jesus, the “words” exchanged there are Jesus, Jesus’ words, and Jesus’ love. Jesus would not be pleased if someone did not acknowledge this and said, “I have prepared a chair for you, so just sit there quietly.” Words become reality when they are communicated. By receiving and sharing the Word that comes from God, Jesus, the Word, and Love become a reality in our lives.
B. Listen to the words
Let’s first look at receiving words. Let me read some Proverbs.
1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.
18 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
There are many ways to hear Jesus speak. We are now listening to the words of Jesus speaking to us individually through the words of Scripture, but this opportunity doesn’t just come on Sunday morning. Of course, when we are praying alone, reading the Bible, or attending mini-church, but even when we are talking to someone who does not have faith, we can feel God’s love through that person. Likewise, even when reading books that have nothing to do with faith.
Verse 10 says that we can receive love through our Father who admonishes us. Just as there are limitations to the words of the Bible, there are also limitations to those who convey them. Our pride and prejudice cause us to look at people and become complacent, thinking that God would never speak to us through such people, and we close our ears to hear.
As I’ve told you before, God even speaks to us through our own children. So go into this week expecting Jesus to speak to your heart in many different ways, no matter what you are doing.
Finally, let’s think about sharing the word, love, and Jesus that we have been given with someone.
C. Communicate the Word
2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.
3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
5 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
There is a big misunderstanding in the Christian church about spreading God’s word. It is a misconception that this is something only theologically educated pastors do. However, as you have probably realized from what I have said so far, this is too narrow-minded a view. God does not just communicate His will to people through the pastor on Sunday mornings. If that is the case, then Matthew chapter 18, which we read earlier, should be written as “When two or three people gather together…at least one of them must be a pastor.”
But the reality is that each of you introduces someone to Jesus just as you were introduced to Jesus. You don’t need any theological knowledge to do this. When you comfort or encourage someone, Jesus is comforting and encouraging that person. Where we struggle to make our own weak love work, Jesus’ powerful love works. This happens even in our close relationships.
Verse 24 warns that true parental love means rebuking and admonishing when necessary, and that neglect is the same as hating one’s children. This is true whether it’s between friends or between spouses.
Let us receive Jesus’ love from many different people and use that love to love the people we spend time with this week.
(Prayer) God, thank you for revealing yourself as Jesus, always speaking to us, and always listening to us.
Please open the eyes and ears of our hearts so that we can fully receive the words that you speak to us in various ways.
And may you help us to generously share the words of grace you give us with those in need.
As we read the Bible, help us not to interpret it based on our own prejudices, but to receive your intention correctly with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Summary
It is true that “he who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.” This is the choice of lifestyle that is placed before us: will we choose the grace of living with Jesus himself and his justice and love, or will we live according to our own desires and perish? Those who receive the words of Jesus, which are conveyed in various ways, and who share the Jesus that dwells within us, are those who follow Jesus, true Christians.
For Discussion
1) In what sense is the Bible the word of God?
2) How do you share God’s word with others?