One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. Proverbs 27:7

Recently I was at a restaurant and the waitress gave me a choice between a biscuit and a corn muffin. She added, “if you don’t like it, I can bring you out the biscuit.” Well I tried it and it wasn’t corn bread per se but it did have corn flavor. I gave a piece to my wife and asked her if she recognized the taste. She did but couldn’t place it.

As many of you know, my wife and I went to Sudan in 2006 for a medical missions trip. The corn bread we ate at the restaurant that night was identical to what the Sudanese eat every day. It’s a main staple food for them. They eat it daily. What we considered bland and tasteless, they consider it their daily bread.

South Sudan, the newest country in the world, is being tried and tested daily. They have plenty of oil but little in the way to defend it. They separated from the North this past fall but they face many many obstacles. Their neighbors to the North hate them and want their oil desperately. They have little in the way of solid infrastructure, once again thanks to the North’s bombing and pillaging. They are landlocked.

But the good news is, many of our Brothers and Sisters there believe they are on the front lines for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Islam would love to overtake South Sudan but there are many there willing to risk their lives for the Gospel.

Pray for them. Pray that they will be bold in their faith and witness. Pray that they will stand firm despite the obstacles.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:6

Friends can hurt you without even knowing it. They can and should be able to say things to you that no one else will be able to. Why? Because unless they have a bitter spirit against you, they will tell you things about yourself that will initially hurt but in the long run is helpful.

Case in point: I was chatting with someone and for some reason I mentioned that I can be harsh at times. Without missing a beat, the person agreed. At the time I didn’t think much of it, though it stopped me in my tracks for a second. Within a month two similar incidents occurred, and the people (both friends) agreed. It was then that I had to sit down and analyze what I had been saying (or how I was saying it) to make these people think that way. I could have made all sorts of excuses but I didn’t. I took the unsolicited “advice” for what it was worth: advice. Had it come from someone other than a friend I would have immediately rejected it.

It’s not often that we get to see such glimpses of our lives, but when we do we should pay close attention for it helps us to grow in our faith.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Proverbs 27:5

When there’s an elephant in the room and no one is talking about it, there’s a problem that people are avoiding. When we are all looking around its legs and trying to talk over the noises it makes, it’s also a problem. When we refer to an elephant being in the room, it’s a polite way of saying we’re intentionally avoiding talking about obvious problems. Often when the root of the problem surfaces, it’s not a pretty scene because anger, resentment, and bitterness has had a chance to grow.

This could be the alcoholic or the drug abuser in the family, though it doesn’t have to be so grandiose of a problem. The smaller problems can hinder relationships just as easily. All those involved die slowly inside from not resolving the issue.

What’s your “elephant in the room?” Is there something you need to say out in the open that you’re not saying. I know from past experience that getting things out in the open is not as easy as it sounds. At all.

But there will be a time and place to do it. The question is, when the time comes, will we be courageous enough to deal with it? Pray for the wisdom you will need at that time.

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? Proverbs 27:4

I read a quote today that made sense: “If my friend fails, I feel sad. If my friend succeeds, I feel sadder.” It’s humorous but there’s often an element of truth in it. It doesn’t help us at all to be envious or jealous of someone else’s successes. Nor is it good to be jealous of someone’s set of skills and talents.

We are all given a unique combination of talents and gifts. Some are born to sell; others are born to complete what the salesmen sells. Some are born to write; others are gifted at music or art. Some are great sportsman; others love to cook. Some are great speakers; others are great with the written word.

No two individuals are gifted the same, and it’s often difficult for us to admit that. We do just need to step back and be grateful for the talents we have, and admire the talents of others (without coveting them).

Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. Proverbs 27:3

You see it sometimes in professional sports, two opponents “mixing it up” during and after plays. The other players on both sides pull the two apart. The altercation normally starts by someone provoking the first punch. From there it doesn’t matter who threw the second or third or fiftieth punch. You can sense the anguish on the players’ faces as they prevent the fight from escalating further. It’s as if they’re saying, “the game is hard enough without you two getting penalties called against us.”

We all know first hand how difficult it is to walk away from the person who threw the first punch, whether it be the first punch of words or with a fist. We all know what will happen if we don’t walk away and ignore the comment or the fist. Certainly we should defend ourselves against abuse but sometimes situations and words thrown at us are just not worth the effort and grief of a proper defense.

Knowing when to walk away and when to remain is what wisdom is all about.