Scripture
Who can say, ‘I have a clear conscience?’
~Proverbs 20:9, REB
Quote
~Stephen Covey
I am reading through the Proverbs in the REB and it as if I have never read them before. The REB {Prov.20:9} reads, Who can say, I have a clear conscience; I am purged of my sin? The NET reads…Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin”? I love what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 7:20, it like reading Romans three…For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins. You have to admit, Solomons did speak many inspired words of wisdom. But when Solomon’s name comes up, what are the first things that pop in your mind? I bet it is WISDOM and WEALTH. There is a lot in the Bible and in Jewish history about his wisdom and wealth but let me tell you what is hard to find: information on his family, especially his children. We know he had one son Rehoboam but he did not have his father’s wisdom and he had two daughters that are mentioned in I Kings 4. Their names were Taphath {ornament} and Basmath {Spice} but that is all we know.
Naturally, I am curious when a man has 700 wives and 300 concubines and only three children. What is missing? I go to the Jewish Encyclopedia often to get answers but good luck on this question. The following is a list of things in the table of content concerning Solomon…Solomon’s reign, his buildings, his wisdom, his realm, his eagle, his carpet, his wives, his temple, his throne, his hippodrome, and his affair with the Queen of Sheba but not one word about family or children. I find that really odd. Do you want to be remembered for your wealth and wisdom? I sat under the brilliant teaching of Steven Covey: I do confess, it was virtual, we could see him on the screen but he was not in the same room. I had him for SEVEN HABITS and then for WHAT MATTER’S MOST. I suppose wisdom and wealth mattered most o Solomon but not to me. I want to be remembered as a generous man and a good father and grand father. I changed the way I was living in pursuit of this dream. FAMILY and FRIENDS are huge to me: they matter most. I want to live in such a way that I will be remembered for valuing relationships over riches. I know that I do not have the gifts nor the potential to be a Solomon but in truth, I do not want to be like Solomon.
A much younger person ask me Sunday to do her eulogy. I told her that would be a problem since I am close to 72 and she is not even 60. She said, “Just make a recording and we will play it at my service.” June said, “What about your husband, could he do it?” She said, “Are you kidding, he will probably be there with another woman.” Is it socially acceptable to bring a date to your wife’s funeral? Of course she was kidding, I think but I know of a case where this really happened. Sit down and write out your own eulogy and then formulate a life plan to make it happen. If you want to be remembered as a generous giving person, you must begin right now to be that person. If you don’t want to be remembered as a ‘hater’, stop hating or as a miser, stop hoarding and being selfish.
I finally got around to weed eating the ditches. They are too wet to mow with the mower. I need a push mower but I don’t want to buy a new one. Don’t have a thing planted in the garden: too wet to plow.
I hope you have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.