(Further reflections on “When We’re Trapped”—Sunday 19-Feb-2023)
When a verbal promise or a written agreement or vow/pledge/deal is made, it should be carried out, even if it is made hastily or rashly or deceivingly (cf. Judges 11:29-40; Joshua 9; Mark 6:14-29). Most business deals under the sun usually entail a certain ‘trap’, which is usually not easily spotted. The author of Proverbs (6:1-5) used the picture of the hunter and fowler to vividly help readers to really grapple with the reality of being trapped. It’s almost impossible for a bird/gazelle to be freed from the fowler/hunter’s trap which, by good design, is inescapable. So what do you do? Well, God’s wisdom is oftentimes very simple at a glance and yet very profound when we put it into practice (Proverbs 6:1-5). Here are the instructions. 1./ Do not guarantee a loan for someone (e.g. strangers or neighbors or even relatives). And when this is violated, the guarantor is trapped and relationship is ruined. How do we know? Well, it is when someone ignores God’s wisdom and tries out and tastes the “bitter fruits” for themselves. Others heed the word and stay away from it. They have the fear of the Lord, not wanting to try out what God’s word has warned them. They usually do not think- "I will try it but very carefully because I think God is maybe too careful or overprotective of me, and I know it better."
2./ When trapped (not "if trapped" which means that we will all be making a mistake and it’s just the matter of time), the best instruction the Lord gave us is, to “plead” to the creditor, who is somewhat like the hunter/fowler. They intentionally go out their way to build “traps.” Thus, by design they want to gain something. So those who are trapped need to urgently, humbly, and persistently plead/beg for a release or to be freed from promises/vows/pledges/agreement, even if it could cost “an arm and a leg.” In a fair/good business contract or legal agreement, when properly prepared by lawyers, there should always be an exit clause. If there is none, refuse to sign it until one is in place. The exit clause like when “deals go bad” is where we can practice the key words of God’s wisdom: pleading; urgency; humility; and persistency. And when God’s wisdom is being exercised, God-promised results will be the natural outcome.
May we all trust God’s wisdom more than our own eyes.
—
Pastor Lap
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