Last night in Tribe we discussed Proverbs 10:26 which reads, "As
vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the
lazy man to those who send him." King Solomon employed a couple of interesting similes to describe a lazy messenger from the perspective of the one who sent the message. If you have ever taken a swig of vinegar, you know it is difficult to do so without wincing. The high acidity in time also weakens tooth enamel and can lead to decay. Most have had the unpleasant experience of sitting around a warm fire only to have the smoke follow you around. Smoke irritates eyes and makes them water and burn, and this makes it difficult to see clearly. A lazy messenger is unsuited for the task, a tooth-grinding irritant to those who sent him.
Whilst reading the Bible before bed I came across a striking contrast in Proverbs 25:13: "Like the cold of snow in time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters." Harvesting crops is taxing work, and a cool breeze or icy drink provided welcome relief in the heat of the day. To have the cold of snow in a time of harvest might have been wishful thinking for perspiring labourers bearing burdens, but a faithful messenger is compared with the great refreshment a frosty drink would provide. Those who send a faithful messenger find their souls refreshed with a well-communicated, timely report.
Perhaps we know the annoyance of laziness or the refreshment of faithfulness well. For personal application this is a fair question: what sort of messenger would we be classified by our Master Jesus Christ who has sent us out into all the world as His ministers and ambassadors? Are we the equivalent of smoke in the eyes of our King or are we faithful messengers who refresh His soul? It is reasonable the faithful messenger will be provided additional responsibility and more important messages to deliver. How precious the Gospel ought to be in our eyes! Proverbs 25:25 says, "As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country." Our LORD never grows tired or faint as we do, but how it must please Him to have the Good News proclaimed faithfully by the lives and lips of His faithful servants.
Whilst reading the Bible before bed I came across a striking contrast in Proverbs 25:13: "Like the cold of snow in time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters." Harvesting crops is taxing work, and a cool breeze or icy drink provided welcome relief in the heat of the day. To have the cold of snow in a time of harvest might have been wishful thinking for perspiring labourers bearing burdens, but a faithful messenger is compared with the great refreshment a frosty drink would provide. Those who send a faithful messenger find their souls refreshed with a well-communicated, timely report.
Perhaps we know the annoyance of laziness or the refreshment of faithfulness well. For personal application this is a fair question: what sort of messenger would we be classified by our Master Jesus Christ who has sent us out into all the world as His ministers and ambassadors? Are we the equivalent of smoke in the eyes of our King or are we faithful messengers who refresh His soul? It is reasonable the faithful messenger will be provided additional responsibility and more important messages to deliver. How precious the Gospel ought to be in our eyes! Proverbs 25:25 says, "As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country." Our LORD never grows tired or faint as we do, but how it must please Him to have the Good News proclaimed faithfully by the lives and lips of His faithful servants.
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