Category Archives: Proverbial Wisdom

Four Proverbs for Church Life

Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous

Einstein

The truth will out

This proverb recalls the Old Testament ‘Your sin will find you out’ (Num. 32, 33) and the New Testament, ‘For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid that shall not be known’ (Lk 12, 2). Sooner or later your sins will be known. These are terrifying words for all of us sinners.

The chickens come home to roost

This recalls that actions always have consequences, that if you commit or allow injustices, you will have to pay for them sooner or later.

It is shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted

When you let a situation degenerate for a few years, let alone for two or three decades, any action you take is too little, too late. You will have to pay for your negligence and lack of love.

Fine words butter no parsnips

This rather old-fashioned proverb is similar in meaning to ’Actions speak louder than words’. No number of words about ‘love’ etc will help, if your actions do not match up to your words and repair the damage done.