Pastor’s Thought

     I have enjoyed posting blogs for our church people to follow. We will be taking some time off from this blog. I Challenge you to please continue to dig into God’s Word and see what truths God has for you in your life. If you need some direction as to some good Devotional resources, please feel free to talk to me.

Proverbs 31

¹ The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
² What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
³ Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
¹² She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
¹⁵ She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
¹⁸ She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
¹⁹ She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
²² She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
²⁵ Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
³⁰ Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Pastor’s Thought

    As we conclude our study in Proverbs, we end with the greatest chapter in my opinion in the Bible on the topic of womanhood. I preached a message titled “P.R.I.C.E.L.E.S.S.” Women truly are priceless. Below is the outline I preached at our first Mother’s Day at CBF. Enjoy!

Prudent vs. 14 – “careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment”
Vs. 14 “She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.”

1. Prudent- “Marked by wisdom or judiciousness: shrewd in the management of practical affairs.”- Webster
2. Kyle and Deilitsch “she has the art of such ships as sail away and bring wares from a distance, are equipped, sent out, and managed by an enterprising spirit; so the prudent, calculating look of the brave wife, directed towards the care and the advancement of her house, goes out beyond the nearest circle; she descries also distant opportunities of advantageous purchase and profitable exchange, and brings in from a distance what is necessary for the supply of her house, or, mediately, what yields this supply.”

Right Relationships vs. 28-29
Vs. 28-29 “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.”

1. Her children and husband honor her. They praise her. Why? She has the right relationships with them.
2. She teaches her children properly so they desire to show respect to their mother.
3. Clarke- “Her husband is so satisfied with her conduct towards himself, his household, his business, and their children, that he praiseth her.”

Industrious vs. 13 – “diligence: persevering determination to perform a task”
Vs. 13- “She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.”

1. This verse teaches that this woman was so industrious; she didn’t go to Wal-Mart and buy fabric to make clothes. She grew her own cotton, picked her own cotton, processed her own cotton, cleaned her own cotton, and did all of the necessary steps to prepare her own cotton; then made the clothes with her own hands. Now that is industrious!
2. Through out this whole process, this woman does this willingly!

Illustration- Talk show host and investment adviser Ric Edelman decided that because mothers are constantly on call and perform all these functions, the appropriate figure was one that reflected the hourly rate for each of 17 occupations, performed simultaneously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That’s how he came up with an annual worth figure of more than $500,000.

Confident vs. 21
Vs. 21“She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.”

1. This woman is so confident in her preparation that she has made for her family, she knows that when the cold weather comes they will be warm.
2. She gives her family the finest clothes that she is able.
3. This mother is not anxious concerning the health and comfort of her family since she has confidently made all proper preparations.

Elegant vs. 22 – “refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style”
Vs. 22“She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.”

1. This woman is the perfect hostess. She is beautifully attired. She is modest in her decorating and dress.
2. She makes statements, simply. She has great taste and class. There is an air about this woman when she walks into a room.

Loving vs. 20
Vs. 20- “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.”

1. This woman desires to help anyone in need. She diligently looks for them and finds ways to help them.
2. Not only does this woman give the needy money, she gives them her time, talents, and resources.

Entrepreneurial vs. 16 – “someone who organizes a business venture and assumes the risk for it”
“She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.”

1. This woman is willing to take risks. She sees the potential in a situation and does her best to not only see it through, but also watch it become extraordinarily successful.
2. She is always looking to expand her influence for the Lord.

Also notice that this woman was storing and spiritual:

Strong vs. 17
“She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.”

1. This woman takes care of her body. She eats right, exercises, and works hard.
2. It is a beautiful thing to see a woman who works hard, takes care of her body, and is diligent with her diet.

Spiritual vs. 30
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

1. Far more important than her physical appearance is her relationship with her God.
2. It is nice to see a physically attractive woman, but it is far better to see a godly woman.

Proverbs 30

¹ The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
² Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
³ I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
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?
⁵ Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
⁶ Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
⁷ Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
⁹ Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
¹⁰ Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
¹¹ There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
¹² There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
¹³ There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
¹⁴ There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
¹⁵ The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
¹⁶ The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
¹⁷ The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
¹⁸ There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
¹⁹ The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
²⁰ Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
²¹ For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
²² For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
²³ For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
²⁴ There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
²⁵ The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
²⁶ The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
²⁷ The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
²⁸ The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
²⁹ There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
³⁰ A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
³¹ A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
³² If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
³³ Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Pastor’s Thought

    As we are nearing our devotional study in Proverbs, I am always amazed at how many different truths the Lord has for us to learn. Also, I am amazed at how there are some principles that the Lord has for us to learn that he reiterates many times. We need to give special attention to those principles the Lord repeats.

    Do not ever forget verse 5. “Every word of God is pure.” We must embrace all of Scripture.

    Verse 9 reminds us of one of the 10 commandments. Do not take the name of the Lord in vain. Unsaved people are not the only ones guilty of breaking this commandment. Christians curse their Lord regularly; sometimes volitionally, other times ignorantly. We should never curse our God.

    Verses 11-14 teach us about 4 different generations. One generation place curses on their fathers and do not bless their mothers. Another generation believes that they do no wrong and are lost in their sins since they believe they do not need forgiveness. Another generation is so conceited their eyes are stuck in a proud expression. God describes this next generation as consumers of those in financial distress. These people are completely not compassionate to those in need. They devour them. Beware of folks in these generations.

    There are some people that are never satisfied. You give them a little and they demand more. They have insatiable desires. God wants us all to be content.

    God has several lists here that deserve our contemplation. Study them. Ask the Lord for wisdom as to why he placed these items in these lists. Especially notice the critters mentioned in verses 24-31.

    We all are guilty of pride. This is one of the topics that Proverbs deals with repeatedly. We must all humble ourselves and ask God to remove the pride in our lives. How is the pride in your life?

Proverbs 29

¹ He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
² When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
³ Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
⁴ The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
⁵ A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
⁶ In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
⁷ The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
⁸ Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
⁹ If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
¹⁰ The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
¹¹ A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
¹² If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
¹³ The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
¹⁴ The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
¹⁵ The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
¹⁶ When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
¹⁷ Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
¹⁸ Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
¹⁹ A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
²⁰ Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
²¹ He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
²² An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
²³ A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
²⁴ Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
²⁵ The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
²⁶ Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD.
²⁷ An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

Pastor’s Thought

    As God reproves us, we need to be thankful for the instruction. Foolish people despise righteousness. We need to embrace righteousness. When righteous people rule, people rejoice. Wicked rulers hurt the people they rule.

    Verse 5 teaches us that if we are given to flattery we will hurt many people. It is as though we are casting a net to trap people. Flattery hurts people.

    Have you ever known someone that regularly made poor choices and obviously needed some advice? Then you feel the urge to offer some friendly advice. Before you can even get started trying to share something with them they jump all over you. They insult you and treat you as though you hate them. We can not help everyone. Ask the Lord for wisdom in this area. He can direct you to the right people that want help.

    Where there is no dram or vision, people perish. If we aim at nothing we will hit it every time. If we have a goal, we may not always reach it, but at least we will have taken steps in the right direction. Dream big, work hard, give God the glory!

    God teaches us much about leadership in this passage. He wants us all to seek righteousness and forsake corruption. We must remember that there righteous people and corrupt people will never get along. How can they? Two people completely opposite of each other can never get along. Do not be surprised if wicked people are not your biggest fan. We are not fans of the wicked. Embrace righteousness at all cost. Do not give up. Hold on.

Proverbs 28

¹ The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
² For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
³ A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
⁴ They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
⁵ Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
⁶ Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
⁷ Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
⁸ He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
⁹ He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
¹⁰ Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
¹² When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
¹³ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
¹⁴ Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
¹⁵ As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
¹⁶ The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
¹⁷ A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
¹⁸ Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
¹⁹ He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
²⁰ A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
²¹ To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
²² He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
²³ He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
²⁴ Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
²⁵ He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
²⁶ He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
²⁷ He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
²⁸ When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Pastor’s Thought

    Are you bold as a lion? God says that righteous are to be bold. We are bold because of Christ’s boldness in our lives. Trust in His power on our lives. We need to pursue wicked people so that they do not take control of our communities.

    Verse 7 is a great synopsis of our lesson we had tonight at church. God says we should love the law. We should love truth. God calls people that obey the law, wise. Verse 9 says that if we do not heed the law and follow it our prayers are an abomination to the Lord. Do you keep the law?

    Verse 13 is a key verse. We cannot cover our sins. If we cover our sins we will not prosper. We must confess and forsake them. We will find mercy. Secret pet sins will bring us to ruin.

    God warns us about trying to get rich quick. We need to be careful not to get involved with get rich quick schemes. We need to work hard in legitimate businesses.

    Strive for righteousness. Strive for obedience to the Bible. Do not let foolish people ruin you. Forsake sin and follow after righteousness. What has God revealed to you today?

Proverbs 27

¹ Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
² Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
³ A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
⁴ Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
⁵ Open rebuke is better than secret love.
⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
⁷ The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
⁸ As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
⁹ Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
¹⁰ Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
¹¹ My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
¹² A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
¹³ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
¹⁴ He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
¹⁵ A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
¹⁶ Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
¹⁷ Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
¹⁸ Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
¹⁹ As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
²⁰ Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
²¹ As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
²² Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
²³ Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
²⁴ For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
²⁵ The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
²⁶ The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
²⁷ And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

Pastor’s Thought

    There are several verses in this chapter that I deeply appreciate. Verse 1 reminds us not to count on tomorrow. We never know what tomorrow brings. We should say “if the Lord wills” rather than “tomorrow I am going to…”.

    Verse 2 is so convicting. We love to be praised. If we think that we deserve praise we quickly say something to get someone else to notice our accomplishments. If that does not work, we praise ourselves. God does not appreciate proud people. He is the one who is supposed to be receiving praise from our lives and not ourselves.

    God says that being rebuked publicly is better than secret illicit relationships. At some point in our lives, we all need to be rebuked. Accept the rebuke. Do not turn to secret living. Let God change you through the counsel of righteous people.

    Verse 12 if applied will save us much pain and heartache. Beware of people and situations that are wicked. Seek wisdom from the Lord to know how to avoid these pitfalls. If you do fall into wickedness, admit it. Ask for forgiveness. Seek mercy. Get up. Learn from your mistake and do not do the same thing again.

    Verse 17 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. As iron strikes iron to sharpen each other, we need to engage other good Christian friends so that we both can become sharper. We need Godly friends. Wicked friends destroy good people. We are to be salt and light. However, we cannot let our salt to lose its savor and the light to be dimmed due to the world influencing us. I believe that every Christian needs to have some involvement with unsaved people to a certain extent. The line must be drawn differently for each person individually. Some people can not be around some unsaved people because they take up their habits and sins easily. Other Christians can be around the same people and not be tempted and fall into their wicked ways. You must seek the Lord to find out where that line is for you. If you have questions about what I just wrote, please contact me. I would love to explain further. This is the essence of soul liberty and our responsibility to reach the unsaved. Who are your close friends? Are your friends helping or hurting you?

Proverbs 26

¹ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
² As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
⁷ The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
⁸ As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
⁹ As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
¹⁰ The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
¹¹ As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
¹² Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
¹³ The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
¹⁴ As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
¹⁵ The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
¹⁷ He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
¹⁸ As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
¹⁹ So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
²⁰ Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
²¹ As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
²² The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
²³ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
²⁴ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
²⁵ When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
²⁶ Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
²⁷ Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
²⁸ A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Pastor’s Thought

    Much of this chapter is designated to help us identify and understand the fool. Verses 4 and 5 are important for us to understand and live by. When having a discussion with fool; do not come down to their level. Foolish people are brash and irrational. They can not be reasoned with. Do not try to reason with them. When they start a disagreement; do not participate. You will not win. No one wins in an argument with a fool.

    I like verse 7. Foolish people can not relate a story or offer advice. Their illustrations are faulty and misleading. Be careful who you allow to influence you. You could be misled by a foolish person. The worst thing that can happen is to repeat a parable that is not true; a parable that you learned from a fool.

    God continues this chapter by giving us great information regarding the fool. After reading all of this information about the fool, it is hard to think that a foolish person could change their ways. A fool can change their ways. According to verse 12 there is more hope for a foolish person to forsake a lifestyle of foolish living then a proud person to find humility. God hates proud people.

    God addresses the slothful again. Slothful people love laziness. They love their bed. They “cry wolf”. The cure for slothful living is hard work.

    Liars hurt good people and themselves. A flattering mouth ruins people. We really need to watch what we say. God does not want us hurting people with our language. We need to avoid lies and flattery. People matter to God. We need to be careful who we treat them. What did God reveal to you today.

Proverbs 25

¹ These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
² It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
³ The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
⁶ Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
⁷ For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
⁸ Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
⁹ Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
¹⁰ Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
¹¹ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
¹² As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
¹³ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
¹⁴ Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
¹⁵ By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
¹⁶ Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
¹⁷ Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
¹⁸ A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
¹⁹ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
²⁰ As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
²¹ If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
²² For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
²³ The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
²⁴ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
²⁵ As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
²⁶ A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
²⁸ He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Pastor’s Thought

    This chapter has several great word pictures to help us understand the principles that God would have us to learn and live by. As you read this chapter, I encourage you to underline the special metaphors that God gives us. When you see these metaphors displayed in real life, perhaps it will help you remember the proverb.

    God teaches us that we must be careful standing before people of influence. Sometimes we boast about our accomplishments or exaggerate our status to try to impress them. God warns us about this. We must be ourselves.

    Verse 11 is so true. The perfect word spoken at the perfect time is priceless. There is much for us to learn in perfecting our speech. As we grow in our ability to communicate proper speech, we are able to be a blessing to many.

    Have you ever had a guest that overstayed their welcome? Verse 17 explains to us the necessity for us to remember not to intrude on folks. We need to be sensitive to people’s wishes by understanding situations that we are in so not to insult them.

    Verses 21 and 22 demonstrate how we are to treat our enemies. If our enemies have needs we are suppose to meet their needs. In doing so, you will cause them to be ridiculously uncomfortable. Possibly, they will even realize the error in their ways. Most importantly, the Lord will reward you when you do this completely unnatural task.

    This chapter ends with a key lesson for us to live by. We must be people of temperance, control, and discipline. People that live by the moment and their emotions offer no defense to their inner person. They set themselves up to be hurt and destroyed. These people are hard to reason with. We must live by principles and not let our emotions control us. Do you live by principles?

Proverbs 24

¹ Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
² For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
³ Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
⁴ And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
⁵ A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
⁶ For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
⁷ Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
⁸ He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
⁹ The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
¹⁰ If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
¹¹ If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
¹² If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
¹³ My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
¹⁴ So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
¹⁵ Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
¹⁶ For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
¹⁷ Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
¹⁸ Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
¹⁹ Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
²⁰ For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
²¹ My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
²² For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
²³ These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
²⁴ He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
²⁵ But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
²⁶ Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
²⁷ Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
²⁸ Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
²⁹ Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
³⁰ I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
³¹ And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
³² Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
³³ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
³⁴ So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Pastor’s Thought

    We are reminded of the four key steps toward getting wisdom in this passage. Wisdom starts with knowledge. Knowledge must be understood. Understanding must lead to instruction. Instruction leads to wisdom. Wisdom takes work and it does not happen over night.

    Christians need to learn the principle of verse 10. We cannot faint in adversity. That is when we need to trust in the Lord the more. When waves come into our lives, we need to trust the Lord. Do not give up. Do not walk away and let go. Storms define us. Adversity shows how much we really believe in God.

    Remember verse 16. Even righteous people fall and stumble. Only Jesus was perfect. We are being perfected. Part of the perfecting process is learning from your mistakes and getting up again. Wicked people fall and stay down. When you fall; get back up. When you see someone who has fallen; do not rejoice in their calamity. Help them up. Lend a helping hand. Pray for them.

    I have a difficult time with laziness. God created man to work. In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam a job. We all have the same amount of time everyday. We all must decide how we are to use our time. I live by a simple thought: when it is time to work, work; when it is time to play, play. Whatever you do, do it all with your whole heart. Laziness will destroy your finances. God has called us to diligence. Are you diligent?

Proverbs 23

¹ When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
² And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
³ Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
⁴ Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
⁵ Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
⁶ Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
⁷ For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
⁸ The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
⁹ Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
¹⁰ Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
¹¹ For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
¹² Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
¹³ Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
¹⁴ Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
¹⁵ My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
¹⁶ Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
¹⁷ Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
¹⁸ For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
¹⁹ Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
²⁰ Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
²¹ For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
²² Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
²³ Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
²⁴ The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
²⁵ Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
²⁶ My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
²⁷ For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
²⁸ She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
²⁹ Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wound without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
³⁰ They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
³¹ Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
³² At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
³³ Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
³⁴ Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
³⁵ They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Pastor’s Thought

    Have you ever been out to eat with someone and they gorged themselves silly? How gross! I love food. I love good food. It is ok to love food. God gave us food to enjoy. We just need to not be glutens. Eat in moderation.

    It always amazes me how quickly money goes. Money always eludes us. The more you have the more you have to take care of. The more wealth you have the more people want to take it from you. God wants us to seek Him and His kingdom first.

    God commands us to discipline our children. Spanking our children is not PC today. Just because our culture teaches us that children are born innocent and pure and we are the ones that corrupt them, does not make it true. Children are born with a sin nature. As we discipline them, we teach them the differences between right and wrong and the consequences of their actions. This prepares them to be ready to understand the Gospel; understanding the consequences of their actions.

    Every one has a “pet” sin. These are sins that take money, time, and energy from the things that we are suppose to be doing. I remember hearing an old time preacher say “sin will keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you pay”. God tells us that sins will have a price that we will not want to pay.

    God ends this chapter reminding us about what I call the 3 deadly sins. In Bible College they repeatedly warned us preachers about money, women, and wine. In this chapter we see God warning us about these things as well. The love of money is the root of all evil. Sexual sins destroy us and hurt the people we love. Wine and substance abuse controls us not allowing us to be filled and led by the Spirit. God’s desire is that we are free from sin. Free from the sins of death and the sins that hurt us in this life. Has God spoken to your heart? Where do you need deliverance?