Caring for Our Flock – Proverbs in Practice
Is your plate too full, former procrastinators? Sometimes it’s just a time period; sometimes it’s a way of life. We don’t know what to focus on and what to let go – and we can’t do it all. Today’s proverbs offer help in that area. I wish I’d grasped them better, sooner because I messed up in all three areas. When we’re overwhelmed, we need guidance. These three remind us of where to be alert in terms of our families and others for whom we’re responsible. You can see how they’re related.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Charles Swindoll writes that the Hebrew tradition in Biblical times sheds light here. When a midwife taught a baby to nurse, she’d dip her finger in crushed dates or grapes, then touch it to the baby’s palette. This encouraged the sucking instinct. Extending this application, do we “touch the palette” of our children to help them develop an appetite for scripture, prayer, wise friends, healthy habits? “The way he should go” references the bents, abilities, thinking that God put in that child. We learn those through observation and experience. Obviously, this quick look is inadequate. To gain a rich understanding of this proverb, read Parenting – from Surviving to Thriving by Charles Swindoll.
“Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?” Proverbs 27:23-24
This passage goes on to say we should pay attention to the livestock and fields under our care. A pastor applied it to our families. How easy it is for busy women to overlook the hurting heart of a child, the bewilderment of a teen, or the concern of a husband. It’s easy for a supervisor to miss the fact that a co-worker is distracted. If we slow down our own pace, get help for ourselves, and trust God with what troubles us, we are more likely to notice the needs of others – especially those under our care.
“Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.” Proverbs 29:17
Discipline is training. It’s teaching how, not just serving consequences for mistakes. Discipline takes time and attention we often feel we don’t have. We let things slide until we can get to those lessons. Or we let something slip by “just this once.” If we seek the Lord’s guidance and persevere in leading and training those in our care, the well-learned lessons will result in maturity of thought and action that can surprise and thrill us. Applying this at work, we can be delighted to find that showing patience and training instead of just issuing assignments results in a respectful and appreciative team.
Which of these three is most needed in your situation?
