Proverbs 17: King James Bible
Fining pot and the Furnace – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter seventeen, Verses 2-3
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. 3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.
Daily Inspiration from These Verses – Fining pot and the Furnace
I included these two verses together for this devotional, because they go so well together. We have a statement in verse two, then the explanation in verse three.
The heart is the theme here, and the Lord has spent a great deal of Biblical real estate, to get this through to us. If your heart is right before the Lord, then there will not be any shameful actions taking root, gaining traction, then finds fruition.
The wise at heart will recognize this as a problem, and work with the Father to get that seed of iniquity before it takes root. The foolish in heart gives no contemplation to the Father or even his presence. He’ll roll in and out with the tide, with every wind and wave of doctrine, or carnal ideas.
All of verse three is akin to the process that the Lord wants for us all to go through, in one way or the other. Because we’re all different, and there being a staggering amount of variables between each of us, the refinement process is different for all.
But there is a refinement process for all. Nobody accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior, and is problem and error free in the blink of an eye. There’s a cleansing process. Not a cleansing process in order to be saved, but rather, because you’ve been saved.
The Lord tries our hearts, and refines us where we need to be refined. A refining process when making reference to silver or gold, is to heat it up till it melts, and impurities boil up to the surface. Then, a rod is placed in the vessel of refinement, and removes as many impurities as possible.
Now, it may take several repeated efforts, to get either silver or gold to be refined to the best qualities. But when the process is over, the gold or silver is melted, and there is no impurity to be found.
I’ve got something to say about the silver and gold, that is going through this refinement process. Neither have any clue what’s going on, nor do either of them have any idea why. Neither had a clue how many different impurities existed within them, nor are they aware that the impurities need to go.
I know, I know. They are inanimate objects. But we’re not. We go through refinement without having a clue, and instead of trying to figure out what’s going on, we beat at the air yelling, “why me God!” We rarely, if ever, know why we are being refined.
We don’t often foreknow the impurities that we may harbor, nor would we always recognize what area of our lives they come from. Worst of all, we’re not always aware that the impurities even need to go!
So as I said, you’re right! Silver and gold are inanimate objects. Well then, what’s our excuse?
Related New Testament Scripture
Matthew 5: King James Bible
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Philippians 4: King James Bible
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
1 Timothy 1: King James Bible
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1 Timothy 3: King James Bible
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
2 Timothy 2: King James Bible
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
James 4: King James Bible
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
1 Peter 1: King James Bible
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Prayer
Father,
Thank you for the special individual care and attention, that you show each of us. Purify our hearts Lord, so that when we are tried, that we may be found refined and free from all spiritual dross that can inhabit our hearts. May we be found clean in your sight, not because we are so good, but by the virtue of the cleansing power of the Blood of the Lamb, and your ability to boil out and remove all impurities. All so that we may be more pleasing in your sight, and better servants. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen
Question
Can you think back to a time, where you were right in the middle of the fining pot and the furnace, without realizing it at the time?