God, Man & Woman, And Proverbs

December

PROVERBS FOR JANUARY

January 1

My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. (Proverbs 1:10)

Starting the New Year by reaffirming your resolve to resist temptation seems very appropriate. A lot of problems in life can be avoided by not giving in to those who would drag you into wrongdoing. So often those who have decided to do some-thing sinful want to draw others into their wrong actions. It provides them some moral protection (they think) if others also do wrong. Just going along with the crowd has put more than one person in deep trouble. You need to decide that you are just not going to give in whenever you are enticed to sin. Stay right!

January 2

…then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:5)

Having a heart to learn, to seek and search for wisdom, knowledge, insight, and understanding is a prime characteristic of anyone who really wants a relationship with the Lord. Having such a mindset will bring you into a reverent relationship with the Lord, and will give you knowledge of God. It is very important to rally know the Lord. So many people speculate about the will of the lord, but it is often just speculation, not knowledge. The Lord reveals His will and His character in scripture. Know the Scripture and you will know the Lord.

January 3

…in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:6)

Have you ever known a Sunday only Christian? By Sunday only I mean someone who attends church on Sunday, and doesn’t act like a Christian on Monday. This circumstance isn’t as rare as it should be, and is usually caused by someone trying to be partly converted. Oh, they don’t really think of themselves as being partly converted, but the truth is they haven’t really acknowledged Jesus as the Lord of all their lives. As a result, they are undercover Christians on their jobs, or when they hang with their friends. The fact is these are exactly the places the Lord wants you to acknowledge Him.

Several years ago I met such a man who was a successful salesman. He went to church every Sunday and every weekday he and his cohorts had a table at a coffee shop where they traded off-color jokes. We were blessed to pray with the man, who gave his whole heart to the Lord. Within a month the men at the coffee shop table had become a Bible study group. Stand up for Jesus and watch what He will do.

January 4

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. (Proverbs 4:13)

When I was a kid I lived out on a farm, and it was a common phenomenon to have dog that chased cars. Every so often a car would run over a dog, but the next day the pup of the victim would be chasing the same car. Wouldn’t they ever learn? Didn’t they have any way to pass on the knowledge of the danger? Well, a lot of people are like these dogs. They keep repeating the foolish actions of their forefathers. Instruction breaks the back of such foolish actions. Instruction lets you know the lessons of life without having to experience the consequences of those who learned the hard way. We should treasure instruction, yet the rebellious seed in mankind causes man of us to resist it. Humble yourself and embrace instruction. You don’t have to be run over by life just because your forefathers were. You are wiser than that!

January 5

The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. (Proverbs 5:22)

One of the tricks of the devil is to sell his way of life as one of freedom, and he and his helpers characterize the obedience required by the Lord as life-limiting, or prison. Of course, just the opposite is true. Real freedom is found in the Lord, and the promises of the devil turn out to be lies, and the doorway to a dungeon. One sin may be a thread, but continuing in sin ties a person down as securely as a latter day Gulliver. Make no mistake: evil deeds and sin weave a net that will eventually pin you down like a trapped animal. This is exactly what the devil planned for those he has deceived. The redemption of the Lord breaks those cords; it tears the net apart and sets the captive free. You were created to be free in the Lord, so don’t let the cords of sin entangle you. Live free!

January 6

A scoundrel and villain goes about with a corrupt mouth… (Proverbs 6:12)

What you say tells a lot about who you really are. This proverb is part of a description of an evil man. One of the characteristics of an evil man is a corrupt mouth. His speech reveals his character, and the corruption that flows from his lips comes from his heart. In fact Jesus says that the heart is the source of the words that come out of your mouth. It is important to listen to people, for the Holy Spirit will alert you to their real nature as they speak. Part of becoming the wise person the Lord wants to make of you is understanding people, knowing their character, and being protected from deception. There are several clues that will help you in this process, and one of the least subtle indicators is a person’s speech. Listen and learn.

January 7

I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment. (Proverbs 7:7)

This chapter of Proverbs is the story of the seduction of a young man by a married woman, an adulteress. In our present culture this story would be celebrated as an adventure of the young man and the daring liberation of the woman. Not so according to Scripture! Scripture pulls away the deception of such a perspective and reveals the situation as it really is. The woman is an adulteress, someone who breaks her vow of faithfulness to her husband, and pulls a naïve into her trap. The young man is simple, meaning he lacks understanding. In a society (Israel) that venerates wisdom and learning, being called simple is a serious charge. Nothing has changed in time. Illicit sexual relations still extract a heavy price from the participants. After the thrill of the moment passes, the soiling of the soul is still there, and it is felt. The antidote, of course, is to be wise, not simple, and to have understanding. In so doing, you will have a much more blessed life. Hear!

January 8

I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. (Proverbs 8:12)

Prudence is defined in the dictionary as caution with regard to practical matters. It is no wonder then that it is wisdom’s roommate. Prudence will help you make right choices in life, because it incorporates knowledge, real information about a matter, with discretion, which is wise and cautionary judgment about the same matter. The result, then, is a wise choice that will bless you instead of a presumptive choice that will hurt you. Prudence often seems to be a missing attribute among us, but you will be blessed if you learn to practice it. Hanging around wisdom will help any of us. We should all be so fortunate as to have wisdom as our companion.

January 9

‘Let all who are simple come in here,’ she (folly) says to those who lack judgment. (Proverbs 9:16)

Folly is a plague to anyone who wants to live a good life. It is foolishness, wasted effort to no real purpose. The writer of Proverbs likens wisdom and folly to women who are calling out to young men to come to them. Much like the adulteress in the little drama played out in the seventh chapter of Proverbs, the woman folly calls out to the simple trying to entice them into some fruitless pursuit. She succeeds only with those who lack judgment. The lesson for any of us, men or women, is that wisdom will protect us from foolish acts. We have to be on guard against foolish enticements, and act wisely, as God would have us act. Be careful, be thoughtful, be wise!

January 10

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12)

How we view people affects how we act or react to them. When I was a young man, the company I worked for transferred me to a branch office in Orlando, Florida. I was warned about one person at this office who was considered an obsequious flatterer. True to form, when I arrived this fellow warmly welcomed me. Ha, I though, just what I expected. I was wrong! It turned out that this man was a genuine person and he later became one of my best friends. If we look at people with hatred, we will tend to exaggerate any offense (real or imagined) that they commit. The Lord knows we think like this, which is why He recommends (demands) that we love one another. In extending grace to another, there is a humility shown that God cherishes and blesses. After all, we are all sinners saved by grace, but we can choose to live or hate. It is obvious that we should all choose to love.

January 11

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

Pride is a terrible affliction. One of the problems with pride is that it is a curse of blindness. The proud often do not know they are in the grips of pride. When I was a young man I foolishly thought pride was a virtue. That, of course, was before I embraced my education in the Lord. There is a principle on God’s creation that pride goes before the fall. Over and over I have seen this law played out as I have watched people come and go through the years. First you read of someone’s success, then their excesses, and then their despair. That a fall follows pride is a law that is as sure as gravity. You can avoid the inevitable fall that follows pride by humbling yourself. There are numerous benefits of humility, not the least of which is the favor of the Lord. That is wisdom.

January 12

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food. (Proverbs 12:9)

Putting up a front is a fairly common thing among people. People pretend to be something they aren’t because they are looking for acceptance, approval, and love. Our culture is an accomplice in this deception. We are told that if we drive a certain car, or wear a certain designer’s brand, or possess some object, then others will think we are prosperous or important. All of this effort is wrongly expended. We will always be disappointed if we try to gain our acceptance by pleasing or impressing others. Our identity must be found in the Lord. Being His servant should be enough. Being at peace with that identity will also save you from spending money in a false pursuit of worth. God loves you, that makes you more important than you can imagine.

January 13

Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly. (Proverbs 13:16)

Would you dive into a lake without knowing how deep the water is? Hopefully not, yet some people foolishly do so with disastrous consequences. Life offers many opportunities to dive in, but a prudent person will always investigate the depth of the water. Knowledge is a powerful ally in life. Most of our difficulties are in making right decisions. Foolish people all too often act without thinking about consequences. The Lord would have you be a prudent, thoughtful person who values knowledge. You will be blessed for your prudence.

January 14

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (Proverbs 14:23)

Most of us who have lived for a while have known someone who always has a great idea, or is going to be undertaking some great task in the near future. They temporarily gain the attention of those around them as they boast of their plans. The fact is if you are going to accomplish anything in your life you have to take action. You have to start on the journey you are planning. Anyone who has had an success in life knows that their success began when they rolled up their sleeves and began working to achieve their dreams. Most success has some hard work involved in the beginning; the rewards for that hard work are real. If you work at your dreams you will profit. If you only dream you will end in poverty. I’ve seen it; you probably have, too. So take a step, do something. That’s where you start.

January 15

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. (Proverbs 15:2)

One of the first chores of a farm boy used to be the daily assignment to gather the eggs from the chicken house. I drew that assignment as a lad. I remember being fascinated as I watched hundreds of chickens milling about all clucking at the same time. Mankind seems to behave that way too. We humans gather in crowds and are always talking. With all the talking going on you have to be careful who you listen to. You will be informed and encouraged if you listen to a wise person. On the other hand, if you listen to a fool you will only hear foolishness. Unfortunately there seems to be more fools than wise people out there, so seek out the wise ones. If you don’t you may just hear a lot of clucking.

January 16

The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. (Proverbs 16:21)

If you are a discerning person you are someone who makes wise choices. You make choices between the alternatives that are always offered in life, and you chose correctly. If you are such a person you will be able to pass your wisdom on because you will understand how to teach someone else. You understand that few people ever learn by having someone yell at them, or make rude demands. People are attracted to pleasant words, and are far more willing to be taught when they are approached in such a manner. Another proverb says that a gentle answer turns away wrath. Pleasant, wise words always accomplish more than harsh, brash words. Pleasant words come from wisdom, harsh words come from fools.

January 17

A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. (Proverbs 17:27)

A loudmouth is quick to anger and unrestrained in his speech. A loudmouth is almost universally disdained. The Lord is trying to craft us into people who have knowledge and understanding since the product of knowledge and understanding is wisdom. A wise person uses words carefully, knowing that words contain the power of life and death, the power to scar or heal, To use words this way you have to have control of your emotions. You need to be able to understand circum-stances so that you can be even tempered, not loud and rude one moment and then sullen and silent the next. As you let the Lord make you the person He would have you to be, you will be rewarded with peace and joy. The Lord’s way is full of blessing for you.

January 18

An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. (Proverbs 18:19)

Whenever there is a difference with a