Parental Encouragement

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
Proverbs 30:11

As parents, we are often discouraged with our parenting abilities. It seems that we are just not getting through to our children. The self-incriminating questions follow: What am I doing wrong? Should I have given in? Am I being too harsh?

The verse above highlights that our children are not the first to be disobedient and disrespectful. From before the Ten Commandments, children have been exhorted to obey their parents. Jesus gives us the parable of the Prodigal Son and Paul reinforces the promise of long life to those who obey their parents. (Ephesians 6:1-3) The Bible is full of admonition to be obedient to your parents - but why? Because it is not the norm. We (too) have rebelled against our parents to some varying degree. And our children will as well.

While rebellion is to be expected, it doesn't have to be accepted. The perfect example is God's love for us. While we all have the option to accept Christ, God does not condone our sinful behavior. As parents, we should not condone our children's behavior either. But we should follow His example of correcting in a loving but firm manner. What a better way to emulate our Christian father than to follow his example in raising our children!

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephisians 6:4

 

Instant Failure

A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Proverbs 29:23

There is no better guarantee for failure than to allow pride to take charge. When we lose focus of Who is in charge, we lose focus of what is important. No sooner do we start patting our back than we should be prepared to fall flat on our face.

Jesus gave us numerous examples and parables of the result in pride being in charge: from the widow's mite to the proud prayer in the synagogue. Jesus repeatedly encourages us to put pride in the back seat and serve Him and others humbly. Perhaps, the best verse to summarize is Matthew 23:12: And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Rather than being consumed with instant success which can lead to instant failure, we should stay focused on humble service to God and others!

 

Infinite Understanding

Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.      
Proverbs 28:5

I have often struggled with this verse for I can not easily explain how bacteria grows or how to cure cancer. So how can Solomon state that they who seek the Lord will understand all things? Have I failed to truly seek Him? Should I be worried about my salvation?

Perhaps, we can approach the verse from a different perspective. While I don't know how to create a universe, I know who did. While I can't explain how to create life, I know someone who did. And while I can't explain a love so strong it would make you willing to give up your life, I know someone who did.

In John 13:7, Jesus told Peter - Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. It is comforting to know that we may not understand everything, but we know who does.

Have you been stumped today? Are things just too hard to understand? Look to Him that has infinite understanding. Trust in Him and He will reveal the secret in due time!

 

The Oven's Aroma

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
Proverbs 27:9

My least favorite place in any department store is the perfume and makeup area. There are just too many scents that are intermingled and my brain becomes overloaded and my stomach churns in confusion. Not a pleasant sight! However, singular scents and aromas evict emotions with vivid memories. I can still remember the scent of my wife's grandmother, even though she has passed on. And the pleasant memories spill forward just thinking of her scent. The same is true during this holiday season - the smell of the turkey coming out of the oven or the chocolate creations my wife makes each holiday surrounds me with a feeling of "home" which is so peaceful for the road-weary traveler I am through out the year.

As Solomon points out above, the same peacefulness is gained by strong counsel by a friend. While they may not always agree with you. You can be confident they are truly expressing their own opinion. And when an issue is resolved, peacefulness is obtained. Such honesty in opinion mingled with a love of friendship is not an ordinary occurrence. If you are blessed with such a relationship - be thankful and let them know your appreciation.

As Solomon states, in order to have such a friend - we must be a friend ourselves (Proverbs 18:24). Commit to give of yourself to others in an honest and caring manner. Then you will be welcomed as the smell of freshly-baked tea cakes coming from the oven!

 

Consider The Source

 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:7

I don't believe Solomon was being demeaning to the lame in the verse but he was highlighting the obvious. Much like the second half of the verse. Parables were used to impart wisdom, so how could a fool impart wisdom? Seems obvious, doesn't it? But is it?

When we are experiencing challenges in our life, we tend to seek advice from others. And most are happy to give advice - it has limited impact on their lives if you choose to follow it. But we should be careful to consider the source. Do they have a biblical basis for their advice? Do they have our best interest at heart? If not, how well will the advice blend with your life's goals?

Why not seek advice from the One who always has our best interest at heart, in this life and forever more? David advises in Psalms 23:3 - He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. When He leads us, it is for His glory not ours or others. Seek his advice and you will never be led astray.

 

Paper-Sack Trucks

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Proverbs 25:14

I was a young teenager when compact pickup trucks were first introduced. The goal was for them to be economical, so they only had a four-cylinder engine. Great for gas mileage but horrible for hauling heavy loads. My grandfather called them "paper sack trucks" since he reasoned they couldn't haul more than one paper sack of goods. Needless to say, he never bought one since he viewed them as a useless mode of hauling.

Do people view us as "paper sack trucks"? Do we boast of our Christianity but fail to demonstrate His love for others? Do we belittle others instead of helping them? Do we freely give our time and resources to others without expecting something in return? If so, we are like Solomon's description above - clouds and wind without rain. We do not provide actual nourishment to the ground but simply get people's expectations heightened without delivering.

Take a close look at your actions - do you actually deliver the goods of Christianity? If not, seek the one who can help you put your actions where your mouth is. It is from Him that our strength flows to carry the load!

 

Gloat Not

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.          Proverbs 24:17-18

We all have a nemesis that continuously frustrates us. They tend to grate on our last nerve based upon their actions or words. While we strive to show Christian love to all, there are some that it seems almost impossible - based upon their behavior towards us. While we know that it would give us great satisfaction just to set them straight, just once, we know it is not the right thing to do.

And then, finally, they get what is coming to them! My immediate reaction is to rejoice in their sorrow or pain. But Solomon cautions us above to refrain from gloating over their misfortune lest the Lord turns His wrath away from them.

Such action on my part is not easy to do but I have taken a slightly different approach. David experienced the same frustrations from his enemies in Psalms 35. However, he did not gloat when the wrath of God fell upon his nemesis. Rather, he praised God (Psalms 35:28). And so should we - when God takes care of our nemesis, we should not gloat but praise Him for answering our prayers of protection!

 

The Proud Rooster

 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.          Proverbs 23:24

I don't think anyone could be prouder of their sons than I am of my three boys. They are healthy, smart, kind and respectful (at least to others). As they continue to mature, I am amazed at their potential and wisdom. But most of all, I am thankful they know Jesus Christ. I have been exceedingly blessed to have such great young men.

Sounds like boasting - doesn't it? Yes, I confess it is. Much like the rooster who struts in the chicken pen admiring his offspring. Nothing causes your chest to swell as much as observing the accomplishments of your children.

While I have never been to heaven, I can imagine that Jesus struts around pointing out the righteous actions of His children as well. No matter how dismal our physical condition on earth may be, if we are following His will, he will be proud of our actions.

 Look closely at the verse above, again. The father of the righteous - while I am the biological father of my children, they are born into righteousness by another Father. And He is the one who struts like a rooster when we follow His will! No matter your family situation on earth, rest assured that your Heavenly Father is always watching and crows proudly when you do well!

 

Heed The Warning Signs

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Proverbs 22:3

In the construction industry, we use signs and barricades to warn passersby of potential dangers. Yet, each year, numerous people are injured or lose their life due to failure to heed the warning signs. Solomon encourages us to recognize the evil and hide from it. He doesn't ask us to challenge evil's ability to ruin our life but simply leave it alone.

How often do we recognize that we are doing wrong but try to justify our actions? "Just this once" or "Everyone else does it" does not provide justification for doing something we know is wrong. Yet, we will cry out to Jesus when we have reaped the fruit of our actions. Why? Did He not twinge our conscience through the Holy Spirit? Were we not informed of the risks?

Take Solomon's advice to steer clear of evil and the results will not follow!

 

The Cart Before The Horse

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
Proverbs 21:31

My father often accused me of "getting the cart before the horse" by making big plans to be rich and famous at an early age. He would gently point out the flaws in my childish plans and explain why they would not work.

Solomon points out the same above. Why would you depend on the horse for protection during battle when the only one that can provide safety is the Lord? Literally, putting the horse before safe battle plans! Don't we do the same with our Christianity? We often make big plans on how we can show God's love to others when he will provide the opportunity with or without our input!

So instead of making big plans, why not submit to His will? That way, we don't have to develop elaborate plans to prove our Christianity. But simply ask, "Lord, what would you have me to do?"

 

Procrastination Prevention

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Proverbs 20:4

I must confess that I don't always bounce out of bed anxious to head to another day of work. There are those days that the alarm clock sounds too early and I would prefer to just pull the covers over my head and stay home. Have you had days like that? There are a myriad of reasons why we don't desire to dash out the door to work - an overbearing boss, looming deadlines, difficult customers or more exciting things to do at home. Regardless, we know that if we don't work, we can't provide for our family. As a result, without working we would have nothing as stated above.

Is it the same in your Christian life? Do you dread serving at church or serving others? Do you feel like the effort is just not worth it? As if, your efforts are not recognized or appreciated. The nagging question creeps in your head: "Why bother?"

What if Jesus felt the same way about us when faced with the choice of crucifixion for our sins. Did we notice? Did we appreciate His efforts? Was there great rejoicing for his actions on that memorable day? More importantly, was He willing to sacrifice himself for a lost and uncaring world?

If our Savior is willing to serve on the day he knew death was coming, how can we possibly refuse to serve Him by showing His love to others? Our reasons for not going to work pale in comparison to the decision he made that morning when he woke up. So prevent procrastination from occurring by thanking Him for setting the ultimate example by giving the ultimate sacrifice.

 

Inverted Standards

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.     Proverbs 19:1

Too often we measure our success by worldly standards vice Godly standards. The world measures a man's importance by his wealth. God measures our worth by our integrity. The press annually updates the list of the richest people in the world. God continuously updates the Book of Life with those who walk in integrity.

Which standard are you using for judging others? Godly or worldly standards? More importantly, which standard is your goal? Are you seeking short term recognition or long term rewards? We need to recognize the value of following God's standard regardless of our position in life.

 

Fly-Paper Friends

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.           Proverbs 18:24

When I grew up on the farm, we used to hang fly papers to catch the millions of flys that harassed us during the summer. They came in small round canisters that you hung up by a tack that was included and you pulled them down to expose the sticky paper. If you ever messed up, you ended up with the fly paper wrapped all around your hand and was hard to get off!

Solomon describes a friend as sticking closer than a brother - what a concept. Your brother knows all about you and your idiosyncrasies but still buys you a Christmas present each year. Your friend is not constrained by family relationships but still chooses to buy you a gift! Truly an indication of their acceptance of you, good and bad habits considered.

But Solomon highlights the requirements for having such friends - being friendly yourself. No one chooses to befriend someone that is unfriendly or unapproachable. We must open up to others in order for them to accept us as we are. Honesty and sincerity are keys to a lasting friendship.

Do you have friends that stick by you better than fly paper? If so, let them know how much you appreciate their friendship! They don't have to stick around but they choose to do so on their own accord. Their kindness should not go unrecognized. Likewise, give yourself a pat on the back for being approachable as well! You deserve it!

 

Tried By Fire

 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.                Proverbs 17:3

While we may treasure silver and gold, the Lord treasures our heart. He knows what is most valuable in our life and works on it rather than the items that we may treasure. Much like the silver or gold must be melted before the artist can render a beautiful creation, so must our Master melt our heart to create his master piece.

Do you feel as if your heart is being melted and poured out? Is it being beaten by a hammer? Recognize that before we can become a dazzling treasure to our Lord, we must be tried by fire and refined by His hands into what he desires vice what we desire. Commit your heart to Him today. While the transition may be painful, the results will astound you!

 

High-Flying Buzzards

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.     Proverbs 16:18

How often have we thought we were doing great only to fall flat on our face? Just when I think I have it all under control, everything falls apart! Such is the description given above by Solomon. When we start trusting in ourselves instead of God, we sink out of control. Kind of like Peter walking on the water (Matthew 14:24-33). And Jesus's answer to Peter? "O thou of little faith". Isn't it the same with us? We start doing swell on what we think is our own, only to realize we are nothing without God.

It reminds me of the image of eagle's soaring - they are graceful and full of strength. Unfortunately, we are often the buzzards my father described to me one day - "They are soaring high and think they are eagles. But eventually, they will swoop back down to reality and eat the rotten flesh vice the fresh food of eagles." There is only one way to transform us from the filthy buzzards to the graceful eagle - salvation. When we become new through Jesus Christ, we put away our old habits and "all things are new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Tired of reverting back to failures and the filthiness of sin? Put your trust in the only one who can truly change us from the inside out!

 

A No-Calorie Feast

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.      Proverbs 15:15

When I think of Thanksgiving Day, a mental image of a huge feast appears! It is the preview of all the great food to follow through New Years. Unfortunately, my wife is an excellent cook and I never leave the Thanksgiving table without over-eating. There are just too many choices that are scrumptious! While I love the food, the calories are my worst enemy in battling the bulge.

However, the feast that Solomon describes above is without guilt or remorse over calories. When we are close to God, we can't help but have a merry or peaceful heart. While the world may be raging about us, He gives up peace in the middle of the storm. You have seen those that retain their composure no matter how devastating the events surrounding them. Such strength can only come from God. He will allow us to feast on His mercy and strength while others struggle to cope.

Do you hunger to feast from the table set for a merry heart? If so, seek Him and He will give you a bountiful feast for your heart without the calories!

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Psalms 13:5-6

 

Love Lost

A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.     
Proverbs 13:5

As a kid, I hated many vegetables. Some were so disgusting that I got physically sick just by them being placed on my dinner plate. While I have grown to enjoy eating most vegetables, I can still remember the physical repulsion associated with just the thought of asparagus being place on my plate! While I had not taken a bite, my body would physically react.

We should be the same about lying - physically repulsed by the use of lies in our daily life. Unfortunately, our behavior mimics that of our eating habits. Little by little, we alter our eating habits until we learn to enjoy vegetables. Likewise, our use of lies has less and less impact upon our conscience. And then one day, we are no longer bothered about lying to others.

Solomon encourages us to hate lying. Not dislike, not favor nor ignore but aggressively focus our energy in physically preventing us from lying. Have you lost your love of "white lies" or harmless lies? Follow Solomon's lead and lose your love for the nasty habit.

 

Rooted In Righteousness

A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.     Proverbs 12:3

David starts off Psalms describing the righteous as a tree planted by the water (Psalms 1:3) and Solomon continues the description in the verse above. What is the significance of being rooted? Anyone that has witnessed a windstorm knows that trees not firmly rooted rarely survive the gusts of wind. It is the same in life, we are continuously buffeted by temptations and hardships. If we are not firmly rooted, we will suffer the same fate.

Are you rooted in His Word? Are you unsure of your convictions or not sure where to turn? Dig in the God's Word and he will strengthen your roots to withstand the gusts in life.

 

The Substitute Recipient

 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.    Proverbs 11:8

Solomon and his father, David, often talks of deliverance from evil and provides numerous descriptions throughout Psalms and Proverbs. But this is the only place where I have found a Substitute Recipient! I definitely want to be on the right side of such a switch!

While it would be nice to think that trouble will never beset us, sadly we know that is not the case. We all know that trouble that Job endured but look closely at the original description of this man (Job 1:1): perfect, upright, feared God and eschewed evil. While I strive to follow God's teachings, I don't think those adjectives aptly describe my performance as a Christian - especially the first one! Should I then complain of my predicament in life?

David pleads for deliverance numerous times throughout Psalms. Another man after God's own heart, David finds himself in situations that causes him to plead for God to deliver him. Of interest, never once does David justify the basis for deliverance upon his human abilities. Rather, he justifies his requests based upon trusting God, following God's word and crying out to Him that hears his prayer. And the Lord will deliver us when we trust, follow and call upon His name.

Do you feel overwhelmed in fighting the challenges of the world? Does there seem to be no end and no way out? Then follow Job and David's example of trusting God, following His will and crying out to the Lord. David promises us in Psalms 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.  Trust in His promise to provide a substitute recipient while he blesses you!

 

The Perfect Stain Blocker

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.    Proverbs 10:12

I am often amazed at what women can do with cosmetics. With deft application of bases, blushes, liners and enhancers, women can quickly hide pimples, wrinkles, blotches and a myriad of other facial flaws. When they have completed their application, they appear flawless and radiant! But in the evening, when the face is cleansed of all coverings, the blemishes remain. They may be hidden for a short period of time - but they return.

So are our sins. While we may be able to hide them for a short period of time, they eventually become visible to others and are always visible to God. But His love for us covers all sins. Not one or two major sins, but ALL sins are forgiven when we confess them to Christ.

What a feeling of relief! When we are cleansed by his love, nothing can compare. David sums it up well in Psalms 32:1 - Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Have you been trying to hide your sin by patching over them or taking care of them on your own? Come to our Savior and he will cleanse all stains.

 

Forsaken Winners

Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.      Proverbs 9:6

Solomon highlights that we must forsake foolishness in order to gain understanding. We all recognize that, in many cases, we must sacrifice something in order to gain items of higher value: athletes sacrifice excessive effort exercising to achieve physical prowess, scientists sacrifice hours of research to develop their inventions, etc.  Nothing we value is easily obtained without sacrifice.

Likewise, Jesus challenges his followers to forsake earthly treasures for his service. And he promises "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." (Matthew 19:29)

What have you given up for Christ? As you forsake your goals to follow Him, he will bless you beyond measure!

 

Immeasurable Treasure

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.                Proverbs 8:11

We often are required to complete a financial statement that determines our net worth. But there are some things beyond measure. Solomon declares that wisdom is more valuable than "all things that may be desired". Quite a bold statement from someone who was quite wealthy. When you read of the riches he amassed for the temple, it puts into perspective the value he placed upon wisdom.

How much have you invested in seeking wisdom? Time, effort, prayer and concentration are all sacrifices  required to achieve wisdom. Have you invested wisely? It is never too late to start! Jesus encourages us in Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. If we prioritize our efforts, the rewards will be immeasurable!

While we may not be as wealthy as Solomon, we can be as richly blessed by simply investing our time and effort seeking after the proper goals that last beyond a lifetime!

 

Poetic Justification

He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.   Proverbs 7:20

Solomon spends the majority of this chapter discussing the fall of a foolish young man to an evil woman. In the verse above, she justifies why it is acceptable for him to spend the night with a married woman. While it appears to be obvious that such a justification is foolish, I am reminded of the famous lines of Robert Burns famous poem To a Mouse - "The best laid schemes of mice and men". Doesn't our plans often go astray?

We build great plans based upon our assumptions and justifications only to have them collapse like a house of cards. Is it simply due to random acts of nature? Or are we missing something during the planning process? Often when we plan, our conscious will twinge at some of our actions or intents. But we quickly justify them based upon the fact that "everyone else is doing it". Then we wonder why we fail.

Jesus explains the problem with our plans in Luke 6:47-49. When we come to Christ, hear his words and do them, we will succeed. If we choose not to follow his guidance, our plans are swept away. Is it not poetic justice that when we plan as men (or mice) we fail, but when we follow God's plan, we succeed? God has a plan for each of us from the cradle to the grave. If we will but listen, we will succeed!

 

Bug Splatter

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:         Proverbs 6:6

No one hates bugs in the house more than my wife. With the arrival of a single bug, the warning is sounded and all-out-war commences! Physical, chemical and sound wave weaponry is deployed with a vengeance rarely seen in her normally calm demeanor. I used to think she was frightened by the critters but I have slowly realized it is not fear but a protection of her domain. They may rule the outdoors but nothing comes into the home without her permission!

But even with such theatrics in our home, we need to closely listen to Solomon's advice in gaining wisdom from observing the ant. While we can often quote the fact that they gather food in the time of harvest, we tend to skip over the verse in between the two: "Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler," (Proverbs 6:7). Now that I think about it, I have never observed coronations, elections or debates among the ants before they were mercilessly splattered. We never hear of political boundaries between ants or democratic resolutions to resolve ant brutality. Why? For they all strive to ensure the benefit of the whole colony. They are not concerned with their position within the colony - they simply go about performing their role without the expectation for promotion or recognition.

Wouldn't it be great if we worked together in the same manner at church? We are working toward a common goal. Right? And what benefit is recognition on earth? Shouldn't the goal be recognition by our Master? Could we function without a guide, overseer or ruler? Nope, I am afraid the old "P" word would get in our way. People take pride in their sacrifices (and are happy to boast about them). People take pride in their honors and recognition. People take pride in their positions held within the church. Yes, pride keeps the church from functioning smoothly without a guide.

Perhaps we should squash our pride instead of the bugs? Then we could also be used as an example of selfless sacrifice to a common goal of glorifying our Savior!

 

Escape From Despair

Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:       Proverbs 5:9

Solomon paints a dismal picture of the price of a sinful life. At some point, reality strikes and exposes our choices for what they truly are. With a sickening sense of hopelessness, we realize that we have squandered our honor and efforts for the benefit of others who could care less for our well-being. In utter despair, we feel that no one cares and we deserve the punishment and degradation bestowed upon our miserable life.

But a faint glimmer of hope beckons with the realization that Jesus is waiting for us to call upon him. David describes it best in Psalms 71:4-5 - Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.  He is able to deliver us from any despair we encounter, if we trust in him.

Have you encountered such a time of despair? I encourage you to read Psalms 34. As God's children, He will hear and answer our pleas. I will leave the closing verses for your encouragement:

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. (Psalms 34:17-22)

 

Dangerous Detour

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.      Proverbs 4:14-15

Solomon is very explicit in his warning to steer clear of evil men and their wicked ways! Not one or two but four descriptions are used to describe how to stay away from evil. Essentially, he is saying don't even come close to it! But why? If you are Godly person, can't you withstand the temptation?

I think Jesus aptly described our situation in Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. And he recognized our weakness to temptation by including it in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:13). Truly Jesus recognized our weakness to resist temptation and encouraged us to seek protection. Hence, Solomon's stern warning not to allow ourselves to get into the position of temptation.

And James describes the results of such evil temptations in James 1:14-15 - But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

An old saying states, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." And Solomon was trying to prevent our fall into sin. So heed his warning and take the detour around the disaster of temptation!

 

Unappreciated Kindness

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.      Proverbs 3:27

We are happy when we can do good for those we love. There is no greater sense of satisfaction than when we bask in the appreciation from someone that we have just done a good deed. Their sincere appreciation causes our chest to swell with pride and our steps a little lighter. But what about those who are not appreciative?

It is difficult to share kindness or good deeds with those who are not appreciative - almost as if it is expected of you. No appreciation is shown and they continue in their same old lifestyle without a moment's hesitation to appreciate your deeds. When the next opportunity arises, if is even more difficult for you to share your efforts with them. For you know there will be no appreciation nor a positive response.

But God has set the example for us to follow. When the Israelites repeatedly turned away, he continued to show his love and mercy. Even when they wished to return to captivity, God did not forsake them. Hasn't he done the same for us? Can any of us claim to be without sin? Even after He gave His Son to die for us?

When we hesitate to share goodness with others, we need to compare the value of our gift against that of God. Does it come any where close to giving up you one and only son? I didn't think so. And it causes us to recognize the lack of love for others. We need to recognize where our blessings originate (not from us) and be happy to be used by our Savior to share goodness with others. Regardless of the appreciation.

 

The Right(eous) Path

 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.                      Proverbs 2:20

We have often heard that we are known by the company that we keep. Solomon alludes to the same above in reference to our walk through life. But the second part is a little more challenging - we know many good men who are not Christians. So how do we differentiate the paths of "good" versus "righteous" paths?

I will defer to the "man after God's own heart" to help us better understand for he refers to our path more in Psalms than any other book of the Bible! In Psalms 25:4-5, David states: "Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." and in Psalms 16:11- Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

It is clear that the righteous path is shown to us by the Lord but I have never seen flashing neon signs highlighting the righteous path. Rather, it sometimes seems obscure and hidden by all of the distractions of the world. But David (again) gives us the guidance in Psalms 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. What a simple but challenging method to find the often elusive path - committing God's word to our heart! I often feel that God was smart enough to recognize our laziness in studying His word, so he made it a prerequisite to receiving his guidance and blessings!

Talking  about blessings, we are all familiar with the 23rd Psalms. David describes a life blessed by God. He also states: "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalms 23:3). Clearly David knew the value of choosing the righteous path - shouldn't we? If you feel that you have stumbled in life, go back to the road map (His Word) and let him light your way to the path of righteousness! You, too, will be able to claim the peace and comfort described in Psalms 23.

 

No Fear

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.   Proverbs 1:33

Halloween is a time for horror movies but no one enjoys when life imitates art (if horror movies count as art). While the flicks give us a sudden burst of adrenaline, we are comforted to know that it is only a movie and will end within a couple of hours. Except for the nightmares!

Does life give you nightmares? Does the same horrible scene, real or imagined, continue to play over and over in your mind? Whether it is from a spouse, child, work or peers, when something horrible occurs, it seems impossible to block it from your memory. Years can pass and the memory will pop up from no where and frighten you, again.

But there is a solution to our fears - God. In Psalms 34:7, David assures us "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." What a concept! Why should we fear when we have angelic protection? I am confident that nothing we face can overcome their abilities!

So why do we still have nightmares? Simply because we choose to handle the issue on our own instead of committing it to Christ. When we turn the issue over to Him, we have peace and confidence that He is capable of taking care of anything besieging us. I encourage you to talk with your Savior today and let his angelic forces protect you vice fighting your own battles. You will sleep soundly with no nightmares and no fear!