Proverbs 30 -- Have you been paying attention?
[4] Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
Like Bill, I was struck by the verses about the importance of being not too poor and not too rich. But he has addressed that topic nicely, so I thought I'd put the focus on another issue in the chapter. The rhetorical question posed in verse 4 is useful not only for Christians but reminds economists of some of the paradox and mystery underlying the workings of markets. There is a substantial and growing literature (usually called "behavioral economics") about the ways that people do not behave as predicted by a narrowly constructed rational model. However, this seeming irrationality can actually help someone's long term best interest, usually by allowing them to overcome short term temptations. As Hebrews 11:11 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." A rationality that goes beyond human rationality seems like a modern economist's restatement of that Biblical truth.
Compare Isaiah chapter 40 (read this chapter aloud to get the full effect):
[12] Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
[21] Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
An Observation
I've spent the last couple of decades in NJ, PA, OH, and MI. Very few people celebrate Texas Independence Day in these states.
Like Bill, I was struck by the verses about the importance of being not too poor and not too rich. But he has addressed that topic nicely, so I thought I'd put the focus on another issue in the chapter. The rhetorical question posed in verse 4 is useful not only for Christians but reminds economists of some of the paradox and mystery underlying the workings of markets. There is a substantial and growing literature (usually called "behavioral economics") about the ways that people do not behave as predicted by a narrowly constructed rational model. However, this seeming irrationality can actually help someone's long term best interest, usually by allowing them to overcome short term temptations. As Hebrews 11:11 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." A rationality that goes beyond human rationality seems like a modern economist's restatement of that Biblical truth.
Compare Isaiah chapter 40 (read this chapter aloud to get the full effect):
[12] Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
[21] Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
An Observation
I've spent the last couple of decades in NJ, PA, OH, and MI. Very few people celebrate Texas Independence Day in these states.
Posted by William T. Bogart on
Friday March 2, 2007 at 8:18am