by Toni Thrash | Nov 8, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10: 22-23
In Matthew 6.21, Jesus is teaching about money and possessions. He states, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
If the priority of wealth overrides the premise of doing the next right thing, sorrow is there kicking down the back door.
Proverbs 10.22
The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
As we learn to do the next right thing and walk in obedience, God blesses us. It is directly tied together. His blessing, has no sorrow attached to it. There are no strings attached. No hidden agenda.
With all the sorrow in the world, it’s refreshing to know His blessings are free from this.
Proverbs 10.23
Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.
Sin is natural. A fool makes a laughing matter of sin. He is nonchalant and jokes about it. He takes everything wisdom says and laughs at correction.
I’ve done both. Lived like a fool. Now, trying to live sensibly, using the wisdom I’ve gleaned from time. Life is more steady now.
Wisdom is seen. Heard. Lived out. It adds joy and pleasure. The consequences are more tasteful living in wisdom, than those faced in the land of fools.
In the book of James, he gives us permission to ask for wisdom. It is the one thing God will give it generously without finding fault.
Let’s get out of the land of fools and ask for wisdom.
by Lauren McPherson | Nov 7, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10:19-21
Sin is unavoidable when there is much talk,but whoever seals his lips is wise (19). The tongue of a righteous person is pure silver, the hearts of wicked people are worthless (20)The lips of a righteous person feed many, but stubborn fools die because they have no sense (21).
Solomon spares no feelings here, this is funny to me because we deal with the exact same things in today’s culture. Someone with a guilty conscious can offer up to much information making it very easy to spot liars. Sometimes the best answer or response is to say nothing or say just a little. There isn’t any doubt that you can find out a lot about someone just by listening.
We are told about this all throughout Proverbs and in many other books as well, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19). Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, except what is good for building each other up (Ephesians 4:29).” Over and Over again we hear this, I’m pretty sure that if God has put it into writing that many times, he must be pretty serious about it. Or perhaps that is the one thing that is hard to tame and he knew it would be. I am guilty of all of this that I write! It is so easy to talk about someone who has made you mad, or said something stupid and all you want to do is respond, and not in a Christ like way. It is very clear that you will look like the fool, and possibly be perceived as stubborn.
So what happens when the wrong words have leapt from our mouths? We ask God to forgive us and help us to tame our tongues, maybe in addition we apologize to those who we have hurt with our words.
I want God’s words to feed many, and I want to be used as a vessel for them. So when you are slow to respond or slow to anger, it doesn’t mean you are a person that can be walked on, it just means that when you do speak, it’s God through you and in the situation. Let’s apply his words today and pray that people see him in us when we speak.
Photography: @bdebard
by Alyssa Shelby | Nov 6, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10:17-18
Growing up, I rarely ever got into trouble. And in those moments when I would, it was easy to push the blame onto my triplet brothers (who seemed to always be getting out of line). When I moved to college, however, I soon realized that correction is necessary for a healthy life. I no longer got my way, but was challenged and critiqued.
I learned that those who accept correction are people who are always growing and moving forward. Being disciplined is an essential part of life. Without it, we would be left alone with our (sometimes all too strong) sin nature. Can you imagine a world with no discipline? It would be utter chaos. And God knows this.
The Lord loves those he disciplines (Proverbs 3:12; Hebrews 12:6-11). A good father leads his children by training them in the right way, and God is the same with us. If he did not, then he wouldn’t really love us. God’s way and law is for our benefit. He prunes us to make and conform us into his likeness, not only for us but also for God’s glory to be seen throughout the world.
Disciplined people are on a path that leads to a full life. They welcome correction and seek out people who will challenge them. They are not intimidated to be vulnerable and open. They recognize their mistakes and learn from them. They consistently examine themselves and what they need to work on in their inner life. A disciplined person is intentional in their personal growth. They, in turn, build up others rather than tearing them down. They are close to the Father’s heart, knowing and longing to please him and serving him in all that they do. A disciplined person is on the pathway to life.
by Christian Ross | Nov 5, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10:15-16
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like I’m living in very fast times. Time is money and if I’m not making money it must not be worth my time. Right? If you’re cringing at the thought of that statement, you and I have something in common! I don’t want to live in the pursuit of money, afraid of what might happen if I were to suddenly have none or by chasing the “almighty” dollar to the point of exhaustion. I want to live my life to its full potential, serving my God, loving people and reaching full force towards the dreams God’s given me. But how often does the week tick by and we look back and think; Wow, where did that week go? What are we chasing? What are we looking for?
15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
In verse 15 we have two contrasting heart conditions. Where are we putting our focus and our trust? 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. We also read in verse 22 of Proverbs 10 that the blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it. If wealth is a rich man’s security and poverty is a poor man’s ruin then where can we put our focus and our trust that’s truly secure? Proverbs18:10 says the name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. Whether we’re rich or poor, Jesus is our strength and our security.
16 The wages of the righteous is life,
but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
We reap what we sow. Proverbs is absolutely full of verses that illuminate the wonderful blessings of rightful living. It’s also fair in its bluntness to point out the consequences of living a sinful lifestyle. God loved the world and sent His son to die for all our sins. This means that we all have the same opportunity for salvation. If you’re reading this and you’re not right with God, know that you are loved and you are welcome. All you have to do is believe in the name of Jesus. Here’s a prayer to get you started: Lord Jesus, I confess that You are the son of the living God. I believe that You died for my sins and rose again on the 3rd day and are now sitting at the right hand of Your father in Heaven. Please, forgive me of my sins and be forever Lord of my life. Thank You for Your grace that is sufficient!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and focus on Him. He will never leave you or forsake you. His love is better than all the money in the world and His fortress will never come to ruin.
Photography: @fordyates
by Shelby Bland | Nov 4, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10:13-14
13Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.
The most vivid modern-life scenario I can think of this verse is high school. Thinking back, I can remember some teenagers who had maturity. They asked questions in class, read outside of school work, or did community service of their own volition. They were students whose worlds did not focus on their own personal advancement; they had a better understanding of the world around them and usually sought out more insight than they already had.
Then there were other teenagers who couldn’t care less about wisdom if they tried. They did just enough school work to get by or never listened to the perspectives of others, and they certainly didn’t make the wisest of choices.
Students who possessed understanding were the ones whose words counted. Maybe they said little in class, but when they did make a comment, everyone’s ears perked up and heard what was said. People who lived in foolishness at some point suffered consequences of their lack of wisdom. They submitted themselves to the equivalent of a beating by a rod—embarrassment and pain.
14 Wise people treasure knowledge but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.
I expected this dynamic of the wise and foolish dwelling together to disappear into adulthood. Surely with age, everyone would become understanding of each other. This is not the case, however. With every new arena of life comes a fresh crop of people who love wisdom mixed in with those who do not dare seek understanding. Proverbs nudges us again and again to treasure, value, crave knowledge and understanding in order to be truly wise. If we do not, our words will be considered those of a babbling fool.
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