# 468 The Proverbs – ‘A manual for living’ (MSG). Proverbs 24 (1) How strong and courageous are you?

Can you imagine a bridge over a fast-flowing river being built with material that had never been tested and so not proven to be able to withstand whatever water force comes against it or carry heavy vehicles which are driven over it? It would be very dangerous and I for one would avoid driving over that bridge in my car! In our day this should not happen (although it does) because material is tested as follows:  

“Tensile strength is considered an indicator of how strong a material is… it shows the capability and durability of different materials. Material with less tensile strength would be of low strength and vice versa… Tensile strength is the force or stress that a material can undergo before breaking. Simply, it is a point of stress where the material can no longer sustain the force. As a result, it breaks instead of returning to its original shape. Each material has a unique tensile strength. Materials with higher tensile strength are durable.”                                                                                                                                  https://ots-testequipment.net/blog/what-is-tensile-strength-and-how-to-measure-it/

As much as we don’t like being tested, it is a very important part of life. How will we know what we can cope with in life without being tested through times of hardship, difficulty, pressure and stress?

Proverbs 24 talks of power and strength but also times of trouble which test our strength. We read:

⁵ The wise prevail through great power,
    and those who have knowledge muster their strength…

¹⁰ If you falter in a time of trouble,
    how small is your strength!

In the life of the prophet Jeremiah (who definitely understood what testing was all about), he has an interesting conversation with God. We find this in Jeremiah 12 as follows:

Jeremiah’s Complaint

You are always righteous, Lord,
    when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
    Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
    Why do all the faithless live at ease?  (12:1)

Sounds familiar having just looked at “envy” in my last Post.

God’s Answer

⁵ “If you have raced with men on foot
    and they have worn you out,
    how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,
    how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?  (12:5)

Sounds like God knows that there are even tougher times of trouble and testing in the future for Jeremiah (as he remains faithful to God in the midst of unfaithfulness all around him) and He is challenging him to be courageous now (before the really tough times come) and endure because that will enable him to face whatever else comes. And the tough times did come and Jeremiah stood firm with the strength God gave him.

It is times like these when the difficulties can strengthen us to be able to cope in the future. This is all about growing up, maturing, becoming wiser and more knowledgeable in the ways of God and so learning to trust Him whatever comes.  

Paul wrote concerning this to the Galatian Christians. He said: 

⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6)

Maybe you are going through a time of testing at the moment. Remember, God is able to use these times in your life to build you up, to strengthen you to be able to face even tougher times in the future. But we need to have the right attitude and willingness to trust whatever the circumstances. At such times it is also helpful to consider Jesus, as the author of Hebrews writes:

… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

And then there is that great promise from God for you and me which says:

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

And so back to our proverb:

⁵ The wise prevail through great power,
    and those who have knowledge muster their strength…   Amen.