0 Comments
Proverbs 14
How do you know who to listen to or which advice to take when you have a decision to make? Between family, friends, the news, and the Internet, we have access to an overwhelming amount of information. But a hunger for knowledge is only helpful if we’re hungry for truth. The book of Proverbs is full of godly wisdom broken into short, practical sayings. In Proverbs 14:1-12, Solomon tells us the best place to seek truth is in God’s Word. Well-meaning people tell us all sorts of things, some true and some false. It’s up to us to discern the difference between the two. “A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning” (Proverbs 14:5-6). Making any decision requires thoughtfulness. Proverbs 14:15 cautions us not to believe everything we hear, but to take our time and think through the outcomes of our decisions. We don’t have to make decisions quickly based on other’s opinions. After all, what God has to say on the subject matters the most. Take a look at what the Bible says and ask God in prayer to show you your next step. God cares about our plans, and He cares about hearts. He will never tell us to do anything that contradicts His Word. Advice may change over time, but the truth of the Bible remains (Isaiah 40:8). Reflect:
Prev Proverbs 13
Remember the rush of getting away with a little white lie as a child? Maybe you said you cleaned your room when really you stashed the entire mess under your bed. Maybe you said you ate your vegetables as you slid that hunk of broccoli to the family dog under the table. The lies we told as kids seem insignificant now. But left uncorrected, lying is a sinful habit we can carry into adulthood. Lying takes many forms in Proverbs 13 — speaking carelessly and saying things we don't mean, pretending to be someone we’re not, saying we don't need help when we do, conning others to make money, saying one thing and doing another. As adults we’re no longer trying to convince our parents we ate our broccoli, we’re trying to convince others we're a different version of ourselves. We lie when we feel like there is something to hide. Proverbs 13:7 describes this tendency perfectly: “One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.” God made each of us unique and special. It doesn’t matter if we’re rich, poor, happy, sad, if we care about who wins the Super Bowl or not. We are God’s children made on purpose, for a purpose, and with a purpose. And, the sooner we stop striving to make our lives what we think they should be, the sooner we can begin building the life God made us to see. Where the fool’s life is full of pretense and drama, “a God-loyal life keeps you on track” and “a plain and simple life is a full life” (Proverbs 13:6-7, MSG). The wise and godly don’t experience the rush of getting away with a lie, but they also don’t experience the consequences of getting caught in one. Reflect:
Prev Proverbs 12
We have all heard the phrase “guilt by association.” Did you know there is also such a thing as “hurt by association”? The Bible has a lot to say about foolishness and wisdom. The term “fool” is not used as an insult nor does it refer to a person’s IQ. Foolishness describes a state of mind and a matter of character. If respect for God is the beginning of wisdom, the opposite is also true: A foolish person is someone who does not respect God (Proverbs 9:10). While we all act foolishly at times, there is a significant difference between making mistakes and living opposed to Jesus. Proverbs 12 describes fools as quick-tempered, prideful, and manipulative (Proverbs 12:2 and Proverbs 12:5). Fools refuse to accept advice or correction, and they intentionally seek to hurt others (Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 12:5-16). But, those who respect God and follow Jesus make a conscious effort to seek peace, tell the truth, work hard, and encourage those around them (Proverbs 12:17-28). Who we surround ourselves with has a direct impact on our desire and ability to pursue the kind of life Jesus wants us to live. It is not possible to follow Him and ignore His warnings about people we should avoid. The friends we run closely with influence the direction we go in. If we want to be wise, we have to surround ourselves with people who encourage us to make good decisions and help us avoid the deceit of foolishness (Proverbs 12:26). Reflect:
Prev Proverbs 11
Often, we correlate success with how much wealth someone has accumulated. Our lives are successful based on the size of our bank accounts, the size of our houses, how many possessions we have, and our overall net worth. But is that what success really looks like? There is nothing wrong with money. Money isn’t itself evil, but the value we give to it can be. When God gave Solomon, the principal writer of Proverbs, a choice to have anything he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom above all else. In return, Solomon had it all — wealth, wisdom, beautiful women. But as Solomon lays out the true meaning of success in Proverbs 11, those status symbols are nowhere on his list. Instead, Solomon says success comes from working hard and being generous with what we have (Proverbs 11:24-26). We can’t take our stuff with us when this life is over. Everything we gain in life can be taken away, but a relationship with Jesus will never fade away. Solomon also warns us that success that is not rightfully gained is not success at all (Proverbs 11:29-31). It may appear that people who have gained wealth wrongfully are successful, but whether we see it or not, there are always consequences to our actions. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Wealth is a gift, not a goal. All the wealth in the world can’t compare with the true riches that are gained from following Jesus. Trusting in our wealth leads us to destruction, but trusting in God leads us to our destiny. When we realize that true wealth is not something that we can gain but is given to us by God, then and only then, will we truly be successful in life. Reflect:
Prev Proverbs 10
How will others remember us when we are no longer alive on this earth? This question may seem unimportant, but we are choosing how others will remember us by the way we live today. How we live matters so much more than what we do or accomplish. Each day, we make a choice. We can choose to live a life wrapped up in what’s easy, comfortable, and all about ourselves, or we can choose to live a life focused on what the Lord wants for us. Proverbs 10:27 says, “The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.” Fearing the Lord is different from being afraid. Fear of the Lord comes from awe. It’s what happens when we see Jesus for who He is and are filled a deep respect for Him. How we live today is shaping a legacy others will either want to remember or want to forget. When we live a life focused on the Lord, instead of ourselves, we discover how much He loves us. Nothing we could ever do would make Him love us more or love us less. The Lord wants to help us stand firm when life is hard (Proverbs 10:25), to crown our heads with blessings (Proverbs 10:6), and to give us everything we need to live (Proverbs 10:3). How we live in response to God’s love affects our lives today and for eternity. Proverbs 10:16 promises that “The wages of the righteous is life…” When we follow Jesus and do what He says, we are filled with joy (Proverbs 10:28), we have hope (Proverbs 10:24), and we leave a legacy others will want to remember (Proverbs 10:7). Reflect:
Prev Proverbs 9
Ever had a discussion turn into a heated disagreement? You both believe you’re right and want to change the other’s mind. It’s fun when we’re talking about sports or who gets the rose. But it can turn painful with serious topics like politics or religion. First, consider your heart and the goal of the conversation. If either person is looking for a fight, it’s time to walk away. “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you … if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer” (Proverbs 9:7-8and Proverbs 9:12). Arguing for the sake of arguing only brings pain, not godliness. However, if you’re both seeking wisdom and bringing open minds and gentle spirits, you may both come away wiser. God’s wisdom is available to us all (Proverbs 9:1-6). When we start a conversation with humility, recognizing our place before God, we’re in a great place to receive His wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” During the conversation, ask God to reveal His wisdom. Be open to receiving instruction from the other person, while gently offering instruction of your own. If we take this attitude into our disagreements, we’ll experience the benefits of Proverbs 9:9, “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” Imagine what our relationships would look like if we took this approach. We would win every time because we’d either walk away, avoiding unnecessary fights, or we would each come away a little wiser. Reflect:
|
LocationJoin Us!
Sunday Service Time 9:30am Mailing Address: P.O. Box 735 Hackettstown, NJ 07840 Location: 493 Hwy 46E., Hackettstown, NJ |
|
Connecting