Proverbs

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“Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief” (Proverbs 14:13 NKJV)

April 30, 2015

As we grow older, we know the truth of this proverb. The pure and simple laughter of our youth has become mixed with the sober realities and growing complexities of this life. Rare is the day of unfettered joy that is not muddied with some grief. Yet, we long for an unclouded day, where joy rises like the sun and we leap like a calf released from the stall (Mal. 4:2).

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad” (Proverbs 12:25 NKJV)

April 9, 2015

Are your words a pressure cooker or a pressure release for others? When you see someone struggling with anxiety, do they need something more to worry about? Or do they need a “good word” that lifts them up? Consider how people perceive you. When they see you coming, what do they expect? Does anxiety grow in them, anticipating criticism or trouble? Or do they lean towards you, hungry for the blessing of your words? Of course, the best word is God’s Word. Fill your heart and mind with His Word and you’ll find that it flows from your tongue when needed to bless others.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10 NKJV)

February 14, 2015

Our God is both Lord and Father. Recognizing God’s holy justice and our own sinfulness, we fear Him. A holy terror comes over us as one entering a lion’s lair. But this fear is only the “beginning of wisdom.” Being made right with God through Christ we gain understanding of our relationship with him as loving Father, so that the fear of God is united with the love of God. And so, Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father, which art in heaven (loving relationship), hallowed be Thy Name” (holy, to be held in awe).

“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad” (Proverbs 29:17 NLT)

December 8, 2014

Parenting is a holy stewardship. Our children are a gift from God and He instructs us to “discipline” them. The word “discipline” used here could also be translated “to bind, chasten, correct, instruct, reform, reprove, or teach.” This is a full-time job, which is why many parents struggle. For they themselves are so undisciplined in their personal lives that they find it difficult to hold their children to any standard of behavior. To truly be able to discipline your children, so that you know the blessings of this proverb’s promise, you will need God’s power and wisdom. Submit your own life first to God, then depend on Him for strength to help parent your child.

“Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back” (Proverbs 29:11 NLT)

December 6, 2014

Have you heard someone make excuses about the way they lose their temper? They blame it on a family trait or a situation, but they don’t own the problem. In the book of Proverbs, the words wisdom and foolishness are considered nearly synonymous with righteousness and sin. In this verse, fools (sinners) express uncontrolled anger, while the wise (righteous) keep theirs under control. Is anger sin? No. It is an emotional response to a felt offense. Even God gets angry. Yet, His anger is always under His complete control, whereas, our anger usually is not. Don’t let your anger be an excuse for sin. Believers can put their anger under the Spirit’s control, practicing self-control, which is the fruit of those filled with the Spirit.

“Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger” (Proverbs 29:8 NLT)

December 5, 2014

A timely word from the book of Proverbs for today. Is your goal to “agitate” others with that which has agitated you? Or is it your desire to “calm” others with wisdom, so that the truth of the matter may be revealed? The mocker will incite rioting and destruction in the streets, but the wise will look for solutions without anger. The former may be considered more newsworthy, but the latter will actually take steps towards solving problems.

“A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.” (Proverbs 28:19 NLT)

November 28, 2014

Some bounce from job to job and deal to deal looking for their big break. Others keep their head down and work with what they have. The former often end up empty while the latter prosper. Be thankful and get busy with what you have now.

“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds” (Proverbs 27:23 NLT)

November 17, 2014

This proverb encourages us to be responsible stewards of all that God has given us. This begins with knowing the state of your “flocks.” What are your “flocks?” Another way to ask this question would be to say, “What has God entrusted to you to manage?” Do you know the state of your finances? Do you have a budget and do you know how much you spend monthly? Are you saving for emergencies, retirement, college…? What is the state of your marriage? What is the state of your children? If you are a pastor, the state of your flock is relevant. If you are in business, do you know the condition of your store and its bottom line? Many of us go through life with a blind eye towards our “flocks.” But God would have us open our eyes and “know the state” of that which He has entrusted to us.

“Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2 NLT)

November 4, 2014

Self aggrandizement is unwise. If you praise yourself, others will not only remain silent, they will think you immodest. Praise from a friend is good and praise from a stranger better still. An even greater tact is to humble yourself, so that the Lord Himself might lift you up (James 4:10).

“Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin” (Proverbs 21:4 NLT)

August 11, 2014

This proverbs speaks to the reality that sin is more than an action, but is preceded by an attitude and heart condition. Jesus addressed this reality in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5) when he connected the outward prohibitions of the Decalogue with the attitudes of the heart. Certainly the full understanding of this should drive us to our need for a Savior. For who else can rescue us from this body of death? And as parents, it should also instruct our care for our children, so that our discipline is not just for the action, but aimed at the attitude of the heart. Here again, the desire to shepherd your child’s heart should drive you to your need for Christ’s help.