Wednesday
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
(Proverbs 14:30, NIV)
“A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.”
(Proverbs 14:30, RSV)
The Book of Proverbs was written to give “knowledge and discretion to the young” and to add to the learning of “the wise.” It begins with the foundational statement that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (1:7) and its many wise sayings are grounded in that truth. Following its opening section where the benefits of wisdom are explained and the folly of adultery exposed, the next twelve chapters (10-22) contain the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. Proverbs by other wise men of Israel are contained in the subsequent chapters, with a second section by Solomon preserved in chapters 25-29.
The truth contained in today’s verses, a brief couplet which offers a contrast commonly found in these Old Testament sayings, is a profound one. Fear of the Lord and obedience to his commands results in a “heart at peace.” Internal peace brings good health. The opposite is also true, according to Solomon. A heart that is not at peace because of envy or jealousy, for example, “rots the bones” – a graphic description of a cancerous infection.
Scripture indicates that there is a connection between our spiritual condition and our physical condition. This is a truth which must be studied carefully since it has the potential to be mishandled in a destructive way. When Solomon described the benefits of wisdom, fearing God and avoiding evil, he claimed: “This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (3:8). He subsequently noted that all of wisdom’s “paths are peace” (3:17). Peace with ourselves, because of God’s work in our lives, is a health condition. God’s shalom is life-giving and life-sustaining, because he desires what is best for us. This is not to say that believers will never experience illness, but rather to point out the way in which envy, hate, or jealousy can literally eat away at us and cause physical deterioration. The connection between the physical and spiritual spheres of our lives is evident here. The fact that God’s peace offers restoration for all areas of our lives should encourage us in our daily walk.
Prayer
God of peace, remove the envy from our hearts that “rots the bones.” Release us from the poison that accompanies a heart of hate. We praise you for the life-giving Spirit and the promise of wholeness and health. Teach us to find true peace in you and you alone. Amen.