The Strong Silent Type

Proverbs 28:25-26

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2028%3A25-26&version=NIV;NKJV

 

 

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, the most popular genre for TV shows and movies was a

Western. The shows were literally littered with leading men who all had the same characteristic… the strong silent type. John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Gary Cooper and Randolph Scott, to name a few, were self-made men who forged their way to survive against the bad guys in the western frontier.

 

However, the strong silent type, is just as popular today as it was then. Consider Arnold Schwarzenegger, Matt Damon, Ryan Gosling, James Gandolfini, Denzell Washington, and Liam Neeson. Even in comedy the role has been popular. Ed Asner in The Mary Tyler Moore Show fit the role perfectly.

 

So you might ask, what’s wrong with being a strong silent type? Absolutely nothing! But it does make you wonder, what the fascination with that character role is. I would suggest that, to some extent, it has to do with human pride and the desire to control our lives.

 

Simon and Garfunkel sang a song called “I am a Rock”. They would seem to confirm this reason.

 

I've built walls.
A fortress deep and mighty. That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock. I am an island.

 

“I don’t need your help, thank you very much. I can take care of myself”. In one form or another, we have all said this to others, to ourselves and to God. “Thanks for the offer God, but I’ve got it”. That is, until we end up in a jam.

 

If you’re a parent, you spend your whole life raising your children to become independent; to live on their own; to learn how to be responsible. Those are important skills and attributes for all of us to develop. But human nature goes wild, and we lose track of who we are, whose we are and whom we serve.

 

Solomon gives us wise advice in these two verses. Here are two different translations that give two unique perspectives. Read them; meditate on them; and let God’s Spirit speak to your heart and change you through them.

 

²⁵ The greedy stir up conflict,
    but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

²⁶ Those who trust in themselves are fools,
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.            NIV

 

²⁵ He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

²⁶ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.    NKJV

 

  

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