Proverbs 13 is filled with financial concepts. It's not relationship advice or being right with God, or even the value of wisdom. So much is specifically about money and how to get it and keep it. It largely boils down to diligence and decency. Work hard and treat people right, and things will probably work out. There's a lot more to it than that, but what stuck out to me today is a famous verse that I never knew was in this context. " He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciples him diligently. " (Proverbs 13:24) At first, I wondered if this was a call to teach financial education to your children, which certainly isn't a bad idea, but I don't think that's really why it's in this section of Proverbs. Raising a child requires the same kind of discipline that applies to your work. You need to be diligent, watchful, and "mind your business" to prosper financially. It requires being faithful now to stay on top of things so...

I've always known that Proverbs includes Lady Wisdom and Woman Folly as personifications of ideas. They each represent a way of thinking. You also can't miss that Proverbs talks a lot about "the adulteress," but I always viewed that as just describing real women. What if it's not? It always seemed a little harsh how the book has so much warning about the dangerous seduction of the adulteress. It makes it sound like immoral women (apparently married women at that) will just be throwing themselves at you left and right, so you need to be on your guard at all times. Maybe someone as impressive as Solomon dealt with that, but I can certainly say that hasn't been my experience in 40+ years of life. What if "the adulteress" is primarily another personification? The Bible frequently describes wandering away from pure faith in God as adultery. Old Testament prophets repeatedly speak to "adulterous Israel," and God uses a marriage covenant as a meta...

How have I never noticed that Colossians 3:16 specifically tells us to use music to teach and correct each other? I've always thought like that, even though I'm pretty sure I've been taught the opposite. Encourage and guide someone with a great lyric. It doesn't have to be a Bible verse to be useful.

Lots of people know Philippians 4:13, but usually out of context. That's why Christian high schools (and even my local YMCA) put it on the weight room wall. Hopefully, I don't need to explain that Paul wasn't talking about a bench press when he said, " I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. " Even those who know the context mostly ignore half of it. Verse 12 says, " I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. " Maybe it's just us greedy, rich Americans that think this way, but I mostly see people focus on the going hungry and suffering need part. Somehow we think we need Christ's help for that, but we feel like we can handle being filled and having abundance on our own. It seems fitting that I came across this passage on the day after Christmas when we "celebrate Jesus' birthday" by spending gobs of money on gifts, decorations, and outfits. We have this insidi...

Paul uses the phrase " in the heavenly [places]" five times in Ephesians. We tend to view that as Heaven, God's perfect dwelling place, perhaps even his throne room. That makes sense at first... 1:3 " ...blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places... " 1:30 " ...seated [Christ] at His right hand in the heavenly places... " 2:6 " ...seated us with Him in the heavenly places... " 3:10 " ...the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places... " But then, in chapter 6, right as we're getting into the Armor of God passage, we get to verse 12, which describes our true opponents. " For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. " If our enemy (or at least one of our enemies), " the spiritual forces of wickedness, " are " in the he...

Ephesians 3 starts with Paul referencing his earlier letter that explains his " insight into the mystery of Christ. " Dang, I'd like to read that one! But for whatever reason, that is not part of what God preserved through the ages for us. Yet he did preserve this letter that expects us to be able to grasp " the hope of His calling, ” " the riches of the glory of His inheritance, " and " the surpassing greatness of His power. " (Ephesians 1:18-19) Evidently, that first letter isn't essential for any of that. I don't know what it might have said, but I do know that " His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. " (2 Peter 1:3) For any nerds like me out there, it's really easy to focus on the piece you don't know yet. This was precisely the issue with the Gnostic heresy that claimed you couldn't be a real Christian unless you knew the extraordinary secrets and mysteries. Stick with what you...

For as long as I can remember, I've been taught that (for a Christian) the Holy Spirit lives within you, and your body is a temple. That's not entirely incorrect, but Ephesians 2 alters the picture. Paul is talking to Gentiles, reminding them how they used to be outsiders to God's covenant with Israel. They were not included in the promise and had no access to God, but Jesus destroyed that division through the cross. By establishing a new covenant, not based on law, with all people, He reconciled both groups to God (see verse 16). Paul specifically states in verse 18, " through Him we both [Jews and Gentiles, the former insiders and outsiders] have our access in one Spirit to the Father ." The remainder of the chapter explains how the Gentile believers are now " fellow citizens " and part of " God's household ." This is the important distinction (verses 20-22): built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (with Jesus as the corne...