Prince of King

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

PRINCE OR KING

Prov 22:29

29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.

NIV

We might be tempted to think this is about a person who is diligent in his work or intellect will rise to a high position in society. That such greatest should not be wasted on mean people. But the Hebrew word translated work or business also carries the meaning of deputyship, i.e. ministry, but also generally employment. We could then also see this in a sense that we who are diligent or skillful in our ministry or service to the Lord will stand before the King of Kings. Obscure refers to dark men, mean men and thus we do not serve such, who would be the prince of darkness. Two entirely different persons to serve, the King of kings and the prince of darkness. Because we are skilled in our administration of the gospel message to our hearts, we will serve before God. That skillfulness is accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. That diligence is allowing the Spirit of God to lead us, both into all the truth and in our daily walk, guiding us, ordering our footsteps, as it were. Those who are not skilled in the business of God, who have not administered his truth into their hearts serve the dark side. Although as part of our serving the King of kings we should be bringing his message to those who live in the darkness, we should not serve them, or be involved in their dark domain. Once we lived in that dark domain, but the word of God, Jesus, the Light of the world shone brightly into our darkened heart and open our eyes to see the city of light and love. We crossed over from that darkness into the light and it is, or should be a one way street. Now living in the Light of God, we serve him. Yet also at the same time we call across the bridge to those in darkness, but we do not cross over to live among in their darkness, to serve alongside them to their prince. Why would we serve a prince when we can serve a king?