*** w01 9/15 p. 27 Walk in ‘the Path of Uprightness’ *** Build on the Right Foundation Pointing to the value of building one’s life on a proper foundation, Solomon states: “The thing frightful to the wicked one—that is what will come to him; but the desire of the righteous ones will be granted. As when the storm wind passes over, so the wicked one is no more; but the righteous one is a foundation to time indefinite.”—Proverbs 10:24, 25. The wicked one may cause much fright to others. In the end, however, what he dreads comes upon him. Lacking a foundation in righteous principles, he is like an unstable building that collapses in a violent storm. He caves in under pressure. On the other hand, the righteous one is like the man who acts in harmony with Jesus’ sayings. He is “a discreet man, who built his house upon the rock-mass.” “And,” said Jesus, “the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and lashed against that house, but it did not cave in, for it had been founded upon the rock-mass.” (Matthew 7:24, 25) Such a person is stable—his thinking and actions are solidly founded upon godly principles. Before going further with the contrast between the wicked and the righteous, the wise king presents a concise but important warning. He says: “As vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so the lazy man is to those sending him forth.” (Proverbs 10:26) Vinegar is a source of discomfort to the teeth. The acetic acid contained in it produces a sour taste in the mouth and can cause one’s teeth to feel sensitive. Smoke makes the eyes sting and smart. Accordingly, whoever hires a lazy person or uses him as a representative is bound to be vexed and will suffer loss.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:42:00 +0000
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