BLUF: Spiritual Harmony

Text: “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife” (Pr 17:1).

Context, Context, Context: This is Proverbs 17 opens. The Book of Proverbs was mostly penned by Solomon and is part of the Wisdom Literature in Scripture. The idea in this section of Proverbs deals with shalom, or spiritual peace that is found in God, through God, and because of God. It’s not just the absence of conflict; it is more than that. It’s an active, systemic well-being and soundness of mind and affections. It’s not something superficial; it’s not manufactured pleasantness. It goes to the core of a person.

Illustration: Recently I was with some of the other men from our church for some fellowship and a meal at one of our local BBQ places. The food was again excellent. But as impressed as I was by the proprietor’s Brunswick stew and ribs, what was tastier was the spiritual harmony among us. No jockeying for position; none of that immaturity. I listened to the other men tell of their backgrounds, what they do and/or did for careers. Some spoke of construction and architecture; others spoke of finance and insurance; others spoke of information technology and finance. And sports came up, as they invariably do when you have men gathered. On and on it went. But there was throughout a spiritual harmony in the tenor of conversation. That is increasingly rare in our day, when the default position seems to be one of dismissiveness. This is one more way in which Christians are salt and light in a world largely characterized by acrimony and dismissiveness.

Encouragement: Solomon uses the analogy of a simple household at peace. Though the family might not have much in terms of money, they have a peace that surpasses human understanding. Why? Because it is founded in God.