"I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!"

Scripture Passage

Proverbs 25:1-29:27

Scripture Focus

As the beating of cream yields butter
     and striking the nose causes bleeding,
so stirring up anger causes quarrels.
                          (Proverbs 30:33 NLT)

Observation

The temptation today (because it’s such a well-known passage) is to write about the Proverbs 31 woman—that superwoman who accomplishes it all and surely heightens feelings of inadequacy in all “merely mortal” women everywhere! I do have two opinions about that woman—first, she probably wasn’t as perfect as described, but seemed that way because her husband loved her! (That’s mere conjecture—but the second observation has a Biblical basis). Second, whatever level of “remarkability” she’d obtained, I’m convinced her secret was captured in verse 30—she feared the Lord! That’s where Proverbs started (see 1:7) and that’s how it concludes.

The verse that’s really captured my attention today, though, is Proverbs 30:33—

As the beating of cream yields butter
     and striking the nose causes bleeding,
          so stirring up anger causes quarrels.
                             (Proverbs 30:33 NLT)

I’m reminded that in volatile situations I can stir the pot or I can calm the waters. The easiest thing is to stir the pot, of course. The easiest thing is to take a side…to decide who’s wrong…and take up the offense of another. But the wisest thing is generally a different course. As another Proverb says…

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
     but a harsh word stirs up anger.
                     (Proverbs 15:1 NIV)

It’s a developable skill set, really—not unrelated to what I wrote about yesterday regarding wise counsel. Just as a word fitly spoken requires skill and sensitivity to timing, context, and such, so encouraging peace (versus fomenting dissension) demands the ability to think before acting, to look beyond the obvious, to discern motive and cause, and to speak and act in ways that encourage resolution over rage.

For what it's worth, don't presume that because I'm writing about it, I think I've achieved it—that I possess or exhibit this elusive ability to facilitate peace.  Far from it.  But that's why each morning includes a time of prayer, right?

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