|
Simple Pleasures |
|
|
|
15:17: Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it. |
| . Having a lot of money is not worth sacrificing love along the way. It's not worth sacrificing your relationships. Take a look at your priorities. Are you willing to give up the good relationships in your life just to get ahead financially? If so, there will be much disappointment waiting you in the end. There's a lot to be said for enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Having the biggest and the best isn't worth it if it causes strife and unnecessary pressures in your home. A lot of pain can be avoided if you will become willing to learn to be content and enjoy what you already have.
. |
|
|
Working for Thorns |
|
|
|
15:19: The way of the sluggard is overgrown with thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him], but the way of the righteous is plain and raised like a highway. |
|
A lazy person will end up spending a lot of effort just to get out of work. The path of a lazy person is not an easy path. There are snares and traps along the way that slow him down. But the book of Proverbs shows us that the lazy are also foolish and they don't see that with the amount of effort they spend in getting out of work or trying to rise to the top too quick, they could very easily get a job and stick with it and begin to enjoy true prosperity.
. |
|
|
The Humble Path |
|
|
|
15:25: The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but He makes secure the boundaries of the [consecrated] widow. |
|
The Bible tells us that God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Humbling yourself before the Lord will keep Him from resisting you and your efforts. If God is resisting you how can you succeed? If He is tearing down what you are trying to build then you won't get too far. One of the biggest downfalls of the proud is not being able to admit it when they're wrong. You will be so much better off if you will learn to admit your mistakes and take responsibility for them. Nobody is perfect, God knows that and, thank God, He provided a way for us to receive His forgiveness through Jesus Christ. You can continue to receive His forgiveness and mercy as you stay on the humble path.
. |
|
|
The Master Planner |
|
|
|
16:3: Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed. |
|
When your plans agree with God's plans then success in inevitable. When your thoughts line up with God's thoughts then your path becomes a secure path. When you're willing to seek what God's plans for you are then you will find the plans that will succeed. I once heard someone say that much can be accomplished if you just don't care about who gets the credit for it. If you get stuck in a rut of thinking that it has to be your idea and yours alone then you won't get very far. God is just waiting to share His ideas with you. And you can trust the plans He has for you. They are ones that will give you the most peace and security. They are ones that agree with your heart and the gifts He's put within you.
. |
|
|
He Rules |
|
|
|
16:4: The Lord made everything [to accommodate itself and contribute] to its own end and His own purpose--even the wicked [are fitted for their role] for the day of calamity and evil. |
|
Do you know that the Lord created you for a purpose? Jeremiah tells us that His thoughts and plans for us are good plans. God didn't create any of us specifically for wicked intent, but the wicked will suffer calamity and evil in the end. What this means is that God has made the rules and rather than trying to change the rules, just submit to them. When you do things His way things will turn out well for you in the end. Even if you have to go through a difficult time now because of choosing to do things God's way, it will profit you in the end. Seek the Lord and discover the treasure He's buried within you--don't fight your natural giftings! . |
|
|
The Slow Path |
|
|
|
16:8: Better is a little with righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation and right standing with God) than great revenues with injustice. |
|
Have you ever been faced with a temptation to do something wrong in order to make a quick buck? It's not worth it. You're sacrificing much more to do things that way then you are to take the 'slow' way. People may think it's worth the risk because if they don't 'get caught' then they rationalize that it will be worth it. But it's not worth it because there is no true prosperity outside of the ways of God's Kingdom. There are spiritual laws in effect and even if the authorities don't catch you, you have set something in motion spiritually that will eventually catch up with you. In the end you will find that you would have been further ahead to do things the right way.
. |
|
|
Don't Sell Your Integrity |
|
|
|
19:1: Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his speech and is a [self-confident] fool. |
|
Integrity is the ability to stick to your values and beliefs even when they are put to the test. Anyone can say they believe something is right but when faced with a severe loss are you able to stick to your values? Have you ever heard someone say, 'everyone has a price'? Meaning that everyone has a point at which they will give up their values for profit. God is looking for people with integrity. Those who understand the value of integrity. Those who can't be bought. Those who have learned to overcome the lust so prevalent in society today and know the importance of keeping their word. If you sell your integrity what do you have left? The price you pay for it is not worth it. Once you do it then you have opened the door to compromise and confusion. It will be harder to say no the next time. You've started down a path you don't want to go on. |
|
|
Impulsive Influences |
|
 |
19:2: Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overhasty is to sin and miss the mark. |
|
We've all been impulsive in buying things haven't we? When you go out into the world you are bombarded with advertisements trying to get you to buy. People spend a lot of money to learn the psychology of your spending habits. You have to remain aware of what's happening. Impulsiveness in your spending will cause you to sin. It will cause you to veer off the path that God has you on If you have a desire for something, do some research and comparison so you can buy the best product for the best price at the right time--when you can afford it.
. |
|
|
Wisdom for Wealth |
|
 |
19:14: Houses and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but a wise, understanding, and prudent wife is from the Lord. |
|
Wealth is something that is meant to build from generation to generation. An inheritance is wealth you receive from natural means, from your family. It's your inheritance. But the wisdom of how to manage that wealth is from the Lord. The wife here represents the "manager" of the household. From the book of Proverbs we can see the example of the wife running the household as the husband works and brings in an income. You may have wealth, but you also need wisdom from the Lord on how to handle that wealth. That wisdom is from the Lord. Man's wisdom won't cut it.
.
|
|
|
Blinding Laziness |
|
 |
19:15: Slothfulness casts one into a deep sleep, and the idle person shall suffer hunger. |
|
Slothfulness or laziness is when you don't want to exert yourself. You're sluggish or slow to do anything. This kind of attitude will "cast you into a deep sleep." It will make you less alert. Your eyes become blinded and your mind becomes clouded. You're less aware and not so wise. You'll end up suffering hunger because your lack of effort in working will bring you to poverty. You don't want to go there. There is a joy to be found in your work but you need to put off a lazy attitude in order to find it.
. |
|
|
Giving When They Can't Repay |
|
 |
19:17: He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him. |
|
The Lord will repay you for that which you give to the poor. Throughout the book of Proverbs we see a lot of talk about the poor. We see that people avoid the poor, even hate them. But yet everyone loves the rich and those who give gifts. Proverbs talks about having mercy on the poor and giving to them. There is a difference between a poor man and a lazy man. We're not told to give to the lazy or the fool, but to the poor. Of course, someone may be poor because they were lazy or foolish. But that may not be the case with every poor person. The question is, do you only love those who can give something to you, or will you love those who have nothing to offer you in return? Jesus talked about giving a dinner and inviting those who have no way of paying you back rather than inviting your friends and the wealthy who would invite you in return. (Luke 14:12-14).
. |
|
|
Satisfied, Successful and Secure |
|
 |
19:21: Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand. |
|
Of course we all have an idea of how we'd like things to go in our life. And when it comes to our provision or source of income we'd all like to have plenty. Throughout the book of Proverbs we see advice that will bring provision and plenty to us. The scriptures talk about the wise, the diligent and the righteous and how they are satisfied, successful and secure. If you will follow the Lord's purposes then you are on a secure path. That means following His practical instructions like we find in the book of Proverbs and in the teachings of Jesus. And it also means nurturing the individual gifts He's given you. When you look to the Lord for wisdom and advice rather than coming up with a plan in your own mind, then you will be on a successful path. One that brings you peace and fulfills your destiny as well. |
|
