When Genuine Love is Questionable
March 5, 2022
Commentary
This portion of Proverbs refers to poverty and prosperity. Once again we see how trouble comes to the wicked, like an animal chasing him (v.21). One such problem is hunger mentioned in verse 25. When a good man dies he leaves an inheritance to his descendants (v. 22). This may be either an honored name or material gains. But any wealth a sinner may acquire is lost and eventually may find its way into the hands of the righteous. It has been said that the measure of a man’s character is not what he gets from his ancestors, but what he leaves to his descendants. Because he is diligent, a poor farmer will use every corner of his little farm and may enjoy a greater harvest than his wealthy neighbor who has a much larger farm, but allows it to stand untilled (v. 23).
We often see how the man who doesn’t have much often makes the most of what he has, while the man who has a lot often reaps little because of his lack of discipline. The Scriptures declares without hesitation that a parent who loves his children will correct them (v.24). Refusal to spank our children, when they need it, shows that our genuine love and concern for them is questionable. The wicked even though they are surrounded by abundance can never attain true satisfaction (v. 25). It is only the righteous who know the joy of true satisfaction.
Application
Too many parents are not on spanking terms with their children. When you were growing up did you get the spankings you should have gotten from your parents? I certainly didn’t and because of it I have had to deal with many problems that should have been taken care of when I was younger.
Proverbs 13:21– 25 (NET)
21 Calamity pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22 A good person leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren, but the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 Abundant food may come from the field of the poor, but it is swept away by injustice.
24 The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him.
25 The righteous has enough food to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked will be empty.
Illustration: Children’s Footprints in The Concrete
A professor of psychology had no children of his own, but whenever he saw a neighbor scolding a child for some wrongdoing, he would say, “you should love your boy, not punish him.” One hot summer afternoon the professor was doing some repair work on a concrete driveway leading to his garage. Tired out after several hours of work, he laid down the trowel, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and started toward the house. Just then out of the corner of his eye he saw a mischievous little boy putting his foot into the fresh concrete. He rushed over, grabbed him, and was about to spank him severely when a neighbor leaned from a window and said, “Watch it, Professor! Don’t you remember? You must ’love’ the child!” At this, he yelled back furiously, “I do Love him in the abstract, but not in the concrete!”