January 20 ▪ Day 20

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 6:9–11
Genesis 39–40
Matthew 20
Psalms 20

Verse Focus (Proverbs 6:9–11)

⁹How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
     When will you get up from your sleep?
¹⁰A little sleep, a little slumber,
     a little folding of the hands to rest—
¹¹and poverty will come on you like a thief
     and scarcity like an armed man.

Meditation

Hello, again! Welcome. 🙂 So our verse focus from Proverbs 6:9–11 continues yesterday’s topic on the dangers of laziness. But these verses hold a special sting for me. Just about every time I read these verses I can feel the Holy Spirit pricking my conscience because I do love to lie in bed. I admit it: I’m lazy, and that often will make me not want to get out of bed in the morning. What gets to me particularly are the words “a little.” A little sleep doesn’t seem too bad! I just want to put off doing what I should for only a little bit. Just a little bit.

And yet Scripture warns us that our perception of what is “little” is distorted to the point that we will be overwhelmed by the apparent suddenness of want. It takes diligence to avoid poverty and scarcity. Diligence, self-discipline, and steady faithfulness will protect us.

I should note that these verses do not condemn rest when you are ill. Nor should we interpret these verses to mean that taking a break is the wrong thing to do when you’ve been working hard all day. No, these verses are particularly addressed to the sluggard — to the one who wants to delay work, desiring sleep over responsibility. That person is the one who doesn’t realize that habits of a “little” extra sleep can add up very quickly to significant loss. As one who struggles with both productivity and effectiveness in housework, I take these verses very seriously and pray that God will help me overcome my slothful ways.

Father God, I need your grace and help to combat my sinfully lazy nature. Thank you that in Christ Jesus we have what we need for the work that waits for us. Thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Please help me to get out of bed when I should and to move through my days with self-discipline, strength, diligence, and perseverance.

As the story of Joseph continues, we learn that he prospers in Potiphar’s household in Egypt. He is given more and more responsibility and runs the entire household. But Potiphar’s wife is attracted to Joseph since he is young and handsome. She tries to get him to come to bed with her, but he refuses. One day she corners him, but Joseph flees. And so Potiphar’s wife lies. (I think she was angry at being spurned, but the text doesn’t actually tell us her motives.) She accuses Joseph of attempted rape, and so Potiphar has Joseph thrown into prison.

Have you ever been unjustly accused of wrongdoing? Sadly, this is an experience that all too many people know firsthand (my heart grieves for all the people of color who are unjustly treated, detained, punished, and/or imprisoned). For myself, I’ve only had minor experiences of false accusations. But it is a special kind of torment; you are frequently helpless to prove your innocence. So I can emphasize with Joseph’s plight to some degree.

But verse 21 tells us that the Lord was with Joseph and “showed him steadfast love.” Despite his situation darkening, Joseph continues to prosper.

In Genesis 40 we have the two servants of Pharaoh who were temporarily thrown into prison. The chief cupbearer and the chief baker both have prophetic dreams; Joseph interprets them correctly. In three days, the cupbearer is restored to his position, while the baker is put to death. Joseph’s only request of the cupbearer was that he “remember” him, but, of course, the cupbearer forgot.

We all want to be remembered, and all too often we find ourselves forgotten by family, friends, employers, and other people in our lives. Others will disappoint us and let us down. But God doesn’t forget us. It may seem like He has, since His timeline is frequently much slower than we would wish for, but He does not. God remembers us, He accompanies us, and He shows faithful love to us — and, when the time is right, He moves to change our circumstances.

Yesterday’s chapter in Matthew ended with Jesus saying that the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. As today’s chapter begins, Jesus tells us a parable to explain exactly what that saying means. He tells of people hired to work in a vineyard. Some were hired at the start of the day, others half-way through it, and others still hired as the day was drawing to a close. When it came time to pay them for their work, those who were hired last were paid first. And each person received the same amount of pay — a day’s wage — regardless of how much time that person had actually worked that day. Those who had worked all day long were upset, accusing the landowner of making those hired last “equal” to them when they had borne most of the burden of the work as well as the heat of the day. But the landowner tells them he is not being unfair — they are receiving the wage they had agreed upon at the start of the day. As landowner, it is up to him to decide what is right. The landowner asks those complaining, “Are you jealous that I am generous?” The parable concludes with Jesus’ remark that the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.

This is a good parable for understanding salvation. There is only one “prize” in salvation, only one wage that we might get: eternal life. Those who serve God all their lives don’t receive “more” than the one who calls upon God to save him as he is dying. But I am pondering the landowner’s question: Are you jealous that I am generous?

Can we really be envious of those who have a different life experience? Do we begrudge some for not working for the kingdom of God? I think we do sometimes feel this way, but I also think it’s because we don’t really understand what we have actually been given in our own life experiences. So many believers who made professions of faith as children feel like their life story is not dramatic or “exciting,” envying those who have harrowing tales of being saved in the nick of time. On the other hand, I know that those who have lived such “exciting” lives wish that they had had the security and peace that others have taken for granted.

After the parable of the landowner and the vineyard workers, as they are on their way to Jerusalem, Jesus again tells his disciples about his upcoming death and resurrection.

The mother of James and John comes to petition Jesus that her sons be given positions of honor in the kingdom to come. Jesus asks if they can drink the cup he will drink — they say that they can, clearly still not understanding that Christ is soon to drink the cup of God’s wrath. Jesus says that James and John will drink “from” his cup (I note that this is not drinking the whole cup as they claimed they could), but that the positions of honor are not his to grant. He then goes on to clarify that greatness will be measured in terms of how one has served others.

The chapter concludes with Jesus healing two blind men. As it says in the last verse, Jesus was “moved with compassion.” Once they have their vision restored, the men’s response is to start following Jesus. Although I don’t doubt that there were two men who were blind, whom Jesus healed and who then followed Jesus, it seems to me that there is also a symbolic meaning in this story. It is almost as if James and John were the two blind men with their ambition and their desire to be great. But Jesus has explained what it means to be a true leader. Their vision clears; they continue to follow Jesus. James and John will both suffer for the gospel as they drink that small portion from Jesus’ cup in the future.

Psalm 20 is yet another beautiful psalm. To me, it reads like a blessing. I am reminded of how the priests are taught to bless the Israelites in Numbers 6. This psalm is what I might say if I needed to bless a marriage union, a new baby, or a person moving to a far away place. May the Lord answer you, protect you, remember you, give you your heart’s desire and fulfill your plans. Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Father God, there are many things that people place their hope and trust in. It’s less likely to be horses and chariots these days as perhaps bank balances and real estate, but we know that our true security lies in You. Thank you for blessing us and protecting us and being with us in all things. Thank you for sending Jesus to us. Thank you that he was willing to drink the cup of your wrath so that our sin could be washed away and cleansed by Jesus’ blood. Help us to work gladly for your kingdom and not be jealous of those who have different paths than our own. Help us to serve. Finally, please help us to remember one another and to encourage each other through Christ Jesus. I pray in his name, Amen.