April 9, 2019

Good Morning Fellow Travelers,

Read: Proverbs 20

“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?” Proverbs 20:6

We have a comparison here between most men, and a few hard to find; between men who proclaim their own goodness, and those who are truly faithful.  We find this to be the case as we talk to the general run of men.  Few are faithful to God but somewhere in their past there was a mother or a grandfather whose goodness they are dependent on.

Piety is sometimes looked upon as something we want to avoid. It tends to be regarded with suspicion. Sadly, it is often mocked. Parents have actually turned their children against it as if it were an infectious disease. However, nothing but the grace of God will save us from our temptations to impiety, and help us to the Christ-like, pious life of a godly Christian. There is no fruit without the root.

The snare is self-proclaimed goodness. This is common in the profane man. He does not boast of being good. He just says, “I am as good as others. I don’t hurt anyone, and I mind my own business.” He avoids the spiritual like a plague. He considers humility, contrition, faith and love as eccentric, antiquated.

The religious self-righteous also proclaims himself good. He is one who speaks of the gospel, is zealous in activity, faithful in church attendance, but he holds his religion in his head only; it has not reached his heart. His head believes he is good.

But a faithful man who can find? This blunt question calls us all up short. They are few. Are you a man who is faithful to Christ, to His Word, to His principles? Are we humble and free of self-conceit and of proclaiming ourselves good? Let us be one of the faithful few who know in their hearts what faithfulness means.

–James Baer