Partial Blindness

 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Proverbs 28:27

While we may have 20/20 vision, we are often partially blind. We choose to only see what we want not what is visible. While we may easily see a homeless person begging for money or a couple struggling through the early stages leading to divorce, what do we really see? Solomon alludes to us "hiding our eyes" in the verse above and I agree. We only choose to "see" what we want to see.

Do we see the need? Or are we too busy to give of our time or money? Hence we only see another despondent person without hope for tomorrow and we appease our conscience by simply writing another check to an appropriate charity. God doesn't only ask for our money - He wants all of us. This includes our heart, time, experience and comforting words. Many times, money will not suffice but a listening ear that is backed by a compassionate heart is more appreciated.

Ask God to show you how to respond when you actually "see" the struggles of others.

 

Danger Ahead

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Proverbs 27:12

While teaching our children to drive, I stress looking ahead - what posted signs do you see and what obstacles lay ahead that can come into your path. While there may not be anything directly in their path, vehicles, children playing or changing red lights can quickly change their driving path and present obstacles.

The same is true with our spiritual life. While we may be enjoying a closeness with God, there are many obstacles ahead that can quickly change our relationship with our Savior. We need to be able to recognize these challenges and respond accordingly. Solomon gives us great advice in the verse above - when we see evil, we need to hide our self in God's love and protection.

While many of the challenges are easily recognizable, many are not. It is hard for us to discern the subtle snares that lay ahead. It is only through a closeness with God that we are able to recognize them and respond accordingly before it is too late. Jesus promised us the Holy Ghost would "teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). Let God's Holy Spirit warn you of the dangers ahead so that you can avoid them and remain in His loving grace.

Back-Fired Plans

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Proverbs 26:27

Too often, we try to take matters into our own hands instead of letting God be in charge. This is especially true when it comes to our enemies. We feel that we must plan and execute a strategy to get even and seek revenge. Did God not protect the Israelites for thousands of years in the Old Testament? Did He not take care of His chosen ones throughout the New Testament? Does He still not take care of His children today? Then what makes us think we can do better than God? Romans 12:19 states - "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Yet we continue to try to interject our own vengeance. Solomon warns us above that when we plot against others, our plans backfire upon us. Don't we have enough trouble dealing with the issues presented by our detractors without creating havoc for ourselves? Give up on the revenge business and let God take care of it. He knows better than we in all things - especially how to really get at someone where it really hurts. Otherwise, we will only be creating more misery for ourselves when our plans backfire!

 

Too Much Of A Good Thing

 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Proverbs 25:16

Solomon aptly describes the downfall of humans in the verse above. We discover something that is good and good for us. Then we over-indulge to the point that it becomes bad for us. The same is true in many other aspects of our life. People become so obsessed with physical beauty that it ruins them and their appearance. Some sports fans become so engrossed that no one can stand to be around them.

God has provided us many blessings that we can enjoy. However, when we take it to extremes, it has an adverse effect upon our life. As my Dad used to say, "balance is a beautiful thing". Doing without or over-indulging are wrong and can be harmful, but a balance can bring joy.

What areas of your life need a little restraint? Have you become addicted or obsessed with these items? Ask God to assist you in balancing their impact upon your life.

 

What Is Your Name?

 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Proverbs 24:8

We are all given a name upon birth. However, we are often called by many other names over the course of our life. Many of these are based upon our behavior or presumed behavior. Solomon describes the actions associated with a mischievous person in the verse above.

What is your name? Do people recognize the love of Christ within you? Or is it hidden by the human characteristics of your life? It should embarrass us to bring shame upon Christ when we are perceived as something beside Christ-like due to our human nature. After his ultimate sacrifice for our salvation, the least we can do it is to demonstrate His love to others.

Carefully consider how others perceive you. They should see Christ vice our human nature. If not, we need to hide ourselves behind the cross so that only He is shown to others.

 

When The End Is Not The End

 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Proverbs 23:18

In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon defines there is a time to every purpose under heaven. However, in this short verse, Solomon discusses the finality of purposes under heaven. All things must end. We are saddened when joyful events cease but we are relieved when painful events are no more.

We are told in Hebrews 9:27 - And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Pretty final, huh? The end of life as we know it. All of those treasures and accolades: useless. All of the money we hoarded: useless. The lasting relationships we have developed: gone.

But there is one thing that endures - our soul. As stated in Hebrews, life does end but not our future. Where will we spend eternity? It depends upon the choice we have made in this life. Do we have an expectation to spend eternity with Christ in heaven? Or do we just view death as the final end?

Let us change our perspective on "the end". For the end is truly the begining of life-ever-after.

 

Breaking Bread

 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Proverbs 22:9

Solomon assures us that we will be blessed if we share our bread with the poor. He didn't ask us to share the fatted calf, treasures, or land. Just the necessity of life. Seems simple enough. But it is so hard to do. When we have worked hard to gather the fruits of our efforts, the last thing we want to do is to share the bounty with someone who has not lifted a finger to aid us in the toils.

Once again, we are asked to share the necessity of life - bread. It will sustain the hungriest of persons but more importantly, it has a huge connection throughout the Bible. The angel brought Elijah bread and water, twice, to sustain his forty day journey to Horeb (1 Kings 19:6). More significantly, in Matthew 26:26 - And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

When we share bread with the poor, are we simply sustaining them physically? Or are we sharing the love of Christ? The second form of bread will make an eternal impact on their soul. So when you pause to "break bread" with the poor, remember who gave you the riches to share in the first place. Did He not freely give unto us when we were not worthy?

 

Proper Priorities

 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Proverbs 21:17

My father taught me that it wasn't how much money you made but how you spent the money that determines the quality of your life. He stated that everyone has their own set of priorities on how to spend their earnings. Many were wise and had much to show for their meager income while others never seemed to have enough for the necessities of life. He stated that it was determined by how they set their priorities. Some had rather have a new car or boat than to have a bathroom that functioned properly. As he wisely stated, you must make a choice with each dollar you earn.

Solomon alluded to the same in the verse above - those who care about the pleasures of the world will never be rich. You would think we could have learned by now how to resist such temptations. But, alas, we still waste our money on short-term pleasures.

Are we squandering our most valuable treasure? Do we allow our heart to chase after temporary temptations or are we growing a mature heart that is looking forward to the here-after? Much like our financial situation, our heart may be continually broke if we fail to have the proper priorities. If we get our heart right with God, the rest of our decisions will follow his wise guidance.

 

Tooting Your Own Horn

 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Proverbs 20:6

We have a tendency of "tooting our own horn" to gain recognition from our friends. It may be subtle as "My back is sore from helping clean the widow's yard" to flashy as recognition before the whole congregation for a large charitable act. Unfortunately, we have wasted our efforts for serving God for we have just gotten our pubic reward vice a blessing from God.

Jesus spent a major portion of his Sermon on the Mount teaching about such behavior (Matthew 6:1-7). He warns against seeking public recognition but rather seek his reward in private. Which do you prefer - public recognition or private blessings from God? While the choice is simple, the ability to silence our horn of bragging is sometimes hard to do.

We should control our mouth in bragging in our support of others. For God will see our efforts and reward us beyond our wildest imagination. Join me in leaving our horn of bragging in the closet where we seek God!

 

Fast Fleeting Friends

 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
Proverbs 19:7

Solomon paints a pretty grim picture in this verse - the individual is poor and his friends are fleeing from him while he is pleading with them. Quite a dismal situation. Have you ever been is such a situation? All seems lost and no one cares. The harder you try to appease your so-called friends, the faster they disappear.

I am reminded of David's plight after being anointed to be king by Samuel. He was successful in following God's will but unsuccessful in friendship. His closest friend, Jonathan, had to send him away due to the wrath of Saul. David fled across the mountains with a tattered group of men that might have been considered supporters and friends... until they also turned against him on numerous occasions. Each time, we are told that David threw himself down before God. And David defines the results in 2 Samuel 22.

We should follow David's example of not chasing after our friends but falling before God. He is able to sustain us in our times of trials and desertion. Jesus promises us comfort in John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Why should we worry when we have been promised a comforter? Let friends flee, for the Holy Spirit will remain.

 

The Babbling Brook

 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
Proverbs 18:4

I enjoy taking walks in the woods because you can't not miss God's awesome power in all of his creations. One of the most peaceful features in the woods is a babbling brook. Its sound is so soothing and refreshing. Sit down near a stream and close your eyes. The sound soothes and relaxes you to where you troubles seem to melt away. Entrepreneurs have marketed the sound and made small fountains that mimic the sound of flowing water to relieve stress. Clearly, there is a large demand for such sounds and its effects are well known.

Solomon defines the wellspring of wisdom as the same. The wellspring, or source, of wisdom is our creator. And when He gives us wisdom, we are at peace. Many will try to duplicate it but nothing compares to the origional. In fact Jesus tells us in John 4:14 - But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Do you have the well of eternal life within you? Are you providing the stream to others? As it flows from us, it gives peace to those around us. Start your own babbling brook within you so that others may find peace from your Father's wellspring.

 

Put A Finger In It

 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Proverbs 17:14

We are all familiar with the story of the little Dutch boy who stuck his finger in the dyke to avert disaster. Solomon precedes this story with the same description of averting disaster caused by strife with others. If contentions never start, strife never follows. What a simple concept for reducing strife with our fellow-man!

If the practical application was so simple, life would be great. However, we and others fail to stop the predecessor to strife - contention with others. These contentions start by simple acts, sometimes not recognized until too late, or by angry outbursts that produces comments we all later regret. It seems as if it is normal human nature to offend others without recognizing the impact of our actions and words. And it is.

Unless we have the love of Christ in our hearts and allow Him to guide our every thought and deed, we are at risk of offending others. Only through his grace and guidance can we be assured that our thoughts and actions are pure. When we are tempted to do "what everyone else does", we need to stop such action and think how Jesus would have acted in such a situation. He gave us plenty of examples to learn from: scorned, rejected, abused, slandered and crucified. If we truly want to be Christ-like, we need to follow his examples.

So the next time you are tempted to "pop off", stick a finger in the tiny hole so a flood of sinful actions don't follow. It will save you from much pain and strife.

 

The Little Stuff

 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Proverbs 16:8

We live in a society that loves to super-size everything. From our meals to our homes, bigger is better. However, Solomon points out above that sometimes less is more. It is always the context in which the magnitude is measured. Jesus gives us an excellent perspective in Luke 21:1-4. While the widow did not contribute enough to pay for printing of the church bulletins, the context in which she gave far exceeded that of the wealthy.

We need to closely review the verse and Jesus's example - for too often we are not satisfied with what we have. We often strive for a little more income, a nicer house or a newer car. Never did Jesus evaluate a person on the magnitude of his possessions. Rather, we are evaluated by what is possessed in our heart. Are we content with what we have? Or do we want just a little more?

If we possess the peace of God in our heart (Philippians 4:5-7), we have plenty. For through our contentment in Christ, we will no longer be worried about the magnitude but the quality of our possessions.

 

Valentine's Aftermath

 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 15:13

By the day after Valentine's Day, it is obvious who did and did not get the affection and gifts they desired. Those fortunate to be showered with gifts and affection have an extra spring in their step and smiles are seen on their faces. By contrast, those neglected, rejected and ignored walk a little slower and can't seem to make themselves smile. Quite a difference in emotion between the two ends of the spectrum: from bubbling happiness to deeper despair.

But if you really analyze the difference, was is due to the few dollars spent on flowers, cards and candy? Not really, the difference is in the emotions accompanying the gifts. While some may have received hugely expensive gifts, they still may not have that spring in the step, if they don't feel loved. But others who received a simple hand-made card with true emotions expressed may be cheerful all day long. The differentiating factor is love. If we feel loved and respected, we can't help but let it show. Likewise, if we feel ignored and unappreciated, not matter how big the gift, the pain remains.

Let me point out who loves you most and gave the most precious gift - God. It is heralded in the best known verse - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And Jesus predicted this act of love in John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Did you not receive the gift you desired on Valentine's Day? Rest assured that you are loved by the greatest lover of all man-kind - Jesus. So put a spring in your step and a smile on your face. For you have received the greatest gift of all.

 

A Valentine's Gift

 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Proverbs 14:29

Today is the day that we shower those we love with cards, gifts and chocolates. And while we normally receive appreciation for the gifts, it is short-lived. How many of our loved ones discuss or even remember the candy or flowers we gave them by July? Is it because our gifts are insignificant? Not what they wanted? Or were they expected to be given?

Solomon describes a gift that we can give those we love that is certain to be appreciated for not only months but years to come! How comforting and assuring for us to know that our loved one is slow to anger! Living in fear of our loved one snapping with hurtful words or losing their temper at the least little event diminishes the value of the relationship. When we are in a loving and supportive relationship, we look forward to being together. However, if we fear their response, we are not as excited to be in the vicinity of the person.

Why not give a gift of a lifetime? Be slow to anger. Your loved ones will recognize the value of such a gift and treasure it forever. The petals of the flower may fade, but a supportive relationship will put a smile on their face every day!

 

Love Sick

 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12

I can't think of a better example of Solomon's verse above than a romantic relationship.During the dating stage of a relationship, nothing is more devastating than a break up. For at least one in a serious relationship, there are dreams and aspirations of where the relationship will lead. And when the relationship is broken up, devastation occurs. All the plans and dreams seem lost forever. Nothing will cheer them up and they can not see any hope for the future because all of their future plans revolved around the individual they loved.

However, the love of God is even stronger. And when it occurs, we truly do receive a "tree of life". God wishes to draw all people unto him. And when we do commit to Him, great rejoicing and celebrations occur. His relationship continues to grow as we mature as Christians and will remain a source of strength, hope and love throughout our relationship.

Unfortunately, not everyone has committed to follow Christ. Although he has shown them His power and love, they reject Jesus' advances to be a part of their life. I am sure that he is heart broken with the rejection much more than we are when we lose the love of our life. And we should feel the same shame for rejecting Him as we do when we ruin relationships with others. Don't allow Christ to be love sick for us - accept Him today. And you, too, will find your tree of life.

 

Promised Protection

 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
Proverbs 12:21

As we near Valentines Day, and my anniversary, I remember the oath I took to my wife on our wedding day before God and all our friends. It ended with "until death do us part" - a life long pledge of commitment. In the verse above, Solomon provides God's eternal promise to his children.

While we may have trials and temptations, we are assured of God's protection. I am often reminded of Job. The Lord describes him as "a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil" (Job 1:8). I am not sure if it is possible to get a higher recommendation from God than what he bestowed upon Job. And yet, he lost everything but his wife, including his health. If one of God's favorite persons endures this much pain and suffering, why should we complain? I believe we would have a difficult time getting God to approve so well of our behavior.

And yet, in the end, Job is blessed more than ever before. More importantly, he is rewarded with a one-on-one conversation with the Lord. What a true blessing. And the summary? God protected him. And he will do the same for us. While I may fail my wife in providing and protecting her after I have passed on. There is no expiration on God's protection of His children. What a comfort during our meager struggles to know that we are truly protected!

 

An Unfaithful Spirit

 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Proverbs 11:13

Every community has a local gossip. They know all the dirty little secrets of everyone in the area. Unfortunately, they don't just know but share these secrets with others. It often frustrates me to deal such people. They want to know all of the details and have no respect in asking probing questions about areas that are none of their business. I used to try and be polite to the individual - show them Christian love by smiling and talking "around" the situation without providing any concrete information. Of late, I have adopted the attitude that is they have the audacity to ask such personal questions, I have the audacity to respond in a blunt manner that lets them know it is none of their business.

Solomon doesn't tell us that we should not be aware of embarrassing or personal situations. But he does direct us to conceal the matter - not advertise to everyone we know. We have all been impacted by an embarrassing event that spread like wildfire through the community. And we all know how much grief and anxiety is causes us when we are aware that others know our situation. Is this the way of sharing Christian love by sharing gossip? No, we are all appreciative when other who may or may not know of our situation respects our privacy.

While it may be enticing to be the center of attention while we share the juicy gossip. We should resist the temptation to be labeled as an unfaithful spirit like above. Just as Jesus is faithful not to expose our sins and weaknesses to those around us, we should be faithful to others by not revealing all that we know?

 

Strength For The Weary

 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Proverbs 10:29

Fighting a battle is physically tasking. Nourishment is essential for sustained combat. It is the same in our daily battle against temptation. We grow weary and weak of continually fighting the same challenges day after day. Fortunately for us, God strengthens us in our fight against temptation when we trust in Him.

We often feel that no one has experienced the pressure we are under to submit to the temptations of the world. But Paul comforts us best in 1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

We can be assured that God will provide strength for the weary when we trust Him. We are not alone, even Jesus was tempted by the devil. And we are assured the same success when we follow His guidance.

 

Master Carpenter

 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Proverbs 9:1

The bible contains numerous references to construction. Solomon depicts wisdom building her own house in the verse above. What are we building? Our lives are a composite of our behavior and actions. Is our house sturdy and strong? Is it appealing or repulsive?

We can not build a quality house with impure material. It is similar to trying to paint over rotten wood - from the street, it will look acceptable, but under close scrutiny, the decaying wood is easily visible. While we may fool some people part of the time, we can not fool all the people all the time. More importantly, the One who knows us best, knows our heart.

Even with the best of materials and tools, shoddy construction is achieved with amateur skills. Cracks are easily visible in joints and uneven surfaces highlight the poor workmanship. So is the same with our lives when we try to piece together our lives without the skills of our Master. He alone is the true Master Carpenter. He knows how each piece of our life is to be fit together even before they occur.

When we submit our lives to the Master Carpenter, a master piece is created. It withstands the challenges of the elements of this world and draws attention to the builder, not the occupant. Peter was a disciple but more importantly a human who failed his Master, much like us. However, he was blessed to hear these words from the Master Carpenter: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). And Jesus will likewise create a master piece within you only if you submit to his plan for you.

 

A Simple Choice

 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Proverbs 8:36

Sometimes the hardest situations are solved by the bluntest of statements. Such is the description by Solomon above. If you sin, you love death. How often have we heard people complain of all the wrongs life has dealt them? And yet, they continue to believe they are capable of guiding their own life. So they move from one disappointing disaster to another and wonder why they can't succeed.

The simple question remains: Have you truly surrendered your life to God's will? While many of us claim to be followers of Christ, we still want to choose our careers, homes and friends. So what have we truly surrendered to Christ? A couple of hours on Sunday morning or our life?

Joshua make the simple but profound statement in Joshua 24:15 - but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Can we say the same? Are we serving our Savior or are we killing ourselves?

 

Snoopy's Book

 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
Proverbs 7:9

In the cartoon, Peanuts, Snoopy always began his stories on the old manual typewriter in a similar manner to the verse above. The story always started out grim with little chance for success. Isn't our life the same? Often times, we view our challenges and trials with little hope being seen.

And yet, for those of us fortunate to receive God's grace, we can see the silver lining. For we know who is in control not only of our life's challenges but the whole world and every individual in the world. Never once, have I read in the Bible where he was overwhelmed or too busy to care for us. In fact, Jesus promises us that he not only has time for our trials, but also cares for the fowls of the air (Matthew 6:25-26).

I encourage you to pause today and thank God for being in control. Can you even imagine the chaos if we were in charge?

 

Broken Beyond Repair

 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
Proverbs 6:15

Solomon warns against the perils of wickedness. He emphasizes twice that the results come suddenly. It is not a gradual recognition that we have failed but an instantaneous recognition that we are beyond repair. Only when we recognize the our inability to "fix" ourselves are we willing to let God take control. It is at this stage of submission are we able to let God have his way in our life without us trying to fix things ourselves.

After God has intervened and the crisis is resolved, do we recognize His ability and our inability to control our situation. Wouldn't it be easier if we recognized our inabilities before we go into a state of disrepair? If we awake each day and submit to His will, we wouldn't have to suffer the humbling experience of being broken beyond repair.

 

Lost Riches

Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;
Proverbs 5:10

It is not uncommon to desire wealth. We all strive to have just a little more money. We often feel that if we had more money, we could obtain more items that we value. It sometimes seems that no matter how hard we try, we can not get ahead financially.

Solomon proposes a different method of increasing our wealth. By following God's guidance and staying away from the distractions of the world, we will retain our wealth vice it being given to others. A much more grim picture is provided in Leviticus 26:14-38. Simply put, if we fail to follow God, we can be assured that we will not be blessed.

Likewise, in the following versus of Leviticus, God promises unimaginable wealth is we repent and follow Him. So the choice is ours - we can labor hard only to lose our riches or we can follow him and be blessed beyond our wildest imagination. It follows the old saying "work smarter not harder". We need to recognize the source of our blessings: God's grace and not our efforts.

Fatal Distractions

 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Proverbs 4:25

The designers of grocery stores are geniuses. The only place where you have to wait is normally in the checkout line. And there are plenty of distractions to keep your eyes busy. If you are young, there are candy and gum selections galore for spontaneous buying. If you are gullible, there are space aliens, tawdry celebrity stories or amazing flat abs in two days to tweak your interest while waiting. It is so easy to distract us that we fail to recognize our objective of paying for our groceries and moving on to our next errand. Simply, we are easily distracted from our task at hand.

So it is with our life. We truly have one task to focus on but we are easily distracted with relationships, careers and entertainment options. This is why Solomon recommends that we stay focused on the key aspect of life - following God's will. It is when we become distracted that we fail to follow Him. Perhaps we should put blinders on ourselves so that we are not fatally distracted!

 

Refrigerator Magnets

 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
Proverbs 3:33

I wish I had a penny for every refrigerator magnet and plaque that I have seen in homes that states "Lord, Bless This House". I could take off a few weeks and go fishing without missing any bills! While the sign is prevalent, I often wonder if the home owner knows the requirement to receive such a blessing?

Solomon clearly states above that the house of the just is blessed. And throughout Proverbs he ascribes attributes to the "just" over fifteen times. Perhaps he viewed it important to define a "just" individual? Is it obvious when we see a just individual? Is should be. Even Pilot recognized a "just" man when Jesus was presented to him (Matthew 27:24). Do others recognize us as just men? Does God's love and wisdom flow through us to those around us?

Is causes me to wonder is we are asking amiss when we hang the magnets in our homes. Are we truly seeking a blessing from God or are we simply using the magnet to help manage the clutter? If we remove the clutter from our hearts, God will bless us and our home. Regardless if we have a refrigerator magnet or not.

 

Highway Maintenance

 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Proverbs 2:8

The winter snows highlight the dependence we have on local government to keep our highways cleared. Travel becomes treacherous as we attempt to navigate the streets and highways when they are covered by ice and snow. Without the coordinated efforts to de-ice and remove the snow, many routes become impassable.

The same applies to our daily life. Without God clearing our path, it quickly becomes impassable. We are no match against the challenges that face us daily. Eventually, they pile up to the point where we feel we can no longer go forward. Only with God's divine intervention are we able to overcome the obstacles of life. If we cling to Him, he will clear our path and remove all obstacles.

Do you dread getting up in the morning and facing another day of daunting challenges? Does it seem that there is no way around the block wall  firmly planted in your way? Quite banging your head against the wall and surrender to God. He will clear our path for us.

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 1 Samuel 2:9

 

Gospel Bling

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

Proverbs 1:9

Bling is a relatively new word (1999) for the Webster's Dictionary describing flashy jewelry and ostentatious presentations. However, Solomon aptly describes it in the verse above several thousand years ago. The flashy decorations he is describing has nothing to do with wealth or social status. He is referring to wisdom and knowledge. By not forsaking the laws provided to us in God's word, we will be visibly decorated by God's reward for our obedience.

What does our "bling" say about us? Do we show Christian love to others in a honest in caring way? Or do we show a self-centered concern only for the benefit of ourselves? Our actions reflect our heart. While we may hide our thoughts some of the time, we can not hide them all the time. Do we need to change our jewelry? Seek the One who bestows the best "bling" in town - for his decorations will last more than a lifetime!