Day 369: Shadows or substance? - Proverbs 17 vs 6 -9

6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. 7  Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool – how much worse lying lips to a ruler! 8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn. 9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17:6-9 New International Version

The verses today made me think of how people can be all shadows and shallow, or people of substance. The word substance can mean reality. The New Testament book called Hebrews says: “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1) Our faith gives substance to what God has revealed and the good things He has in store for believers.

This difference between shadows and substance is seen in vs 7 above. There are people who have what’s known as 'the gift of the gab', but their lives and the message they are giving is all foolishness. They make good good con artists – or politicians. When those in leadership can speak eloquently, but much of what they are saying is lies, it’s a tragic combination. Hitler's speeches moved multitudes, but his policies were evil.

The difference between a shallow person and a genuine one is also seen in vs 8. If someone doesn’t have the gift of the gab to get their way then a bribe is the next best thing. Notice that it's the one giving the bribe rather than the one accepting it who is singled out here. This doesn't only happen on one-to-one levels, it takes place internationally. People bribe Governments to get their way. It's worst case, however, must surely be when people bribe others to pervert justice. After Jesus had risen from the grave, we read: “Some of those who had been guarding the tomb went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.” (Matthew 28:11-15) The Pharisees were shallow and their deeds were shady.

Can you see also this difference between substance and shallowness in vs 9?

Genuine friendship, as the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13: 5, “doesn't demand its own way, and it keeps no record of being wronged.” Shallow people are quick to pass on the news when others have made mistakes. True friendships are born when people can share confidences and struggles knowing that the matter won't be spread around.

So is vs 6 an odd one out, or can thoughts of substance or shadows be applied there to?

I don't want to force my opinion into the verse, but I do think that the picture of the glory of grandchildren, and children who take pride in their parents, can only be truly fulfilled when there is some substance to the family and not shallowness. Where marriages are walked into and jumped out of on a few occasions, then even if there are many grandchildren from multiple partners, the picture is not the same. Yes there are times when someone is an innocent victim in a divorce, and if they are able to build a new marriage which honours God that is good. But we live in an age when many relationships are shallow and people are selfish. It's hard to 'take pride' in people living like that.

Is there substance in our life? Are our words reliable? Can we be trusted to seek and do what is right rather than what is just convenient for ourselves? It takes genuine love of Jesus Christ, and a love for God's word, to bring us out of the shadows and shallowness that is so common in the world.