Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Tuesday after the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Proverbs 30:1-9, 18-30 (NKJV)

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal: 2 Surely I am more stupid than any man, and do not have the understanding of a man. 3 I neither learned wisdom nor have knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know? 5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. 7 Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die): 8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to me; 9 Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I do not understand: 19 The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin. 20 This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, “I have done no wickedness.” 21 For three things the earth is perturbed, yes, for four it cannot bear up: 22 For a servant when he reigns, a fool when he is filled with food, 23 a hateful woman when she is married, and a maidservant who succeeds her mistress. 24 There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer; 26 The rock badgers are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the crags; 27 The locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks; 28 The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, and it is in kings’ palaces. 29 There are three things which are majestic in pace, yes, four which are stately in walk: 30 A lion, which is mighty among beasts and does not turn away from any.

Devotion

“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” (Prov. 30:5-6)

We know how dangerous it is to take away from God’s Word. He did not speak one pointless word to us. Some truths of Scripture seem more important than others, but all of it points us to Christ. All of it is important; none of it is “safe” to omit.

We know it is not safe to add a whole book to the Bible, but what about just helping God out a little bit? Repentance plus circumcision? Repentance plus tithing? Repentance plus spiritual gifts? Repentance plus psychological or corporate insights? Why not?

The problem, of course, is not the godly use of human wisdom. The problem comes when we pretend our human wisdom carries the authority of “thus saith the Lord.” Whenever we add something to Jesus, we end up with less of Jesus. We treat Him as a Jesus Who is not enough all by Himself, a Jesus Who needs an invented “add on” before the salvation program will work. Dear ones in Christ, trust the Word of the Lord alone. Add nothing, subtract nothing. The Word of the Lord gives you Christ, and with Him comes completely reliable forgiveness and salvation.

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