23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. 24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. 25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful. 26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. 28 In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined. 29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Proverbs 14:23-29 English Standard Version

Being 'religious' or 'God fearing', or even just a 'Christian', is often seen in a negative way by people who aren't interested in God. Their view is that anything religious takes all the fun out of life. Perhaps those of us who are Christians are sometimes to blame for people thinking like that. But look again at the seven verses above and pick out any positive words you see that are used to describe those who seek to live in a way that honours God.

I saw words such as as profit, wealth, saving lives, strong confidence, a refuge for one's children, life-giving fountains, glory and great understanding. Those all sound to me like things worth having. And when it speaks of profit and wealth, we mustn't limit that to money in the bank. Yes, hard work can bring financial rewards – but Christians have a far greater wealth than money. The apostle James (whose book we started in yesterday's post) said: “Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5) And what better inheritance can anyone leave their children than to live in a way that they discover the refuge that there is in God, and the strong confidence they can have in God's promises? (vs 26) We see too that those who love Christ have a message of truth that can save people from death's eternal snare. (vs 27)

An opposite lifestyle is described in words such as ‘mere talkers’ (vs 23), ‘foolishness’ (vs 24), ‘liars’ (vs 25), ‘ruin’ (vs 28) and ‘hasty tempers’ (vs 29). That doesn't describe the way all people who are not Christians live, but it's often true of those who mock God-fearing people. They sometimes refer to Christians as 'God-botherers'. They don't realise that it’s people who don't repent of sin that 'bother' God. Looking again at the verses, what are some of the things that will be part of the life of people who are religious in the right way?

Vs 23 speaks of a willingness to work hard. That's true of their walk with Jesus as well as their work in the world. They are not lazy when it comes to trying to grow in God's word. Vs 25 spoke of being a truthful witness. Honesty is important to them – even if it means giving evidence to their disadvantage. Vs 26 speaks of fearing the Lord. They recognize God's awesome power and holiness so they don't want to offend Him. It doesn't result in being terrified, but in great confidence and the water of life Jesus said He would give to those who believe on Him. And vs 29 spoke of having the understanding that realizes it is better to be 'slow to anger' than to be short tempered.

So being a person who loves and fears God is not a negative way to live. It's wonderfully positive! Remember how Jesus put it. “On the last day of the Jewish feast of booths, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' He said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.” (John 7:37-39) And in John 10:9-10 Jesus said: “I am the door - if anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and  find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” No wonder the writer of Psalm 118:8 says: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord  than  to trust in people.”