by Alyssa Shelby | Nov 22, 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.
Photography: @sefisawkward
by Christian Ross | Nov 21, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 11:16-17
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Who do you think of when you read the term “kindhearted woman”? Maybe you think of your mother or grandmother, a sister or friend, the greeters at church, the greeters at Wal-Mart. Many of us probably thought immediately of Mother Teresa. Some people are born kindhearted, but for others of us, it’s a learned trait as we continue in our walk with Christ. Honor, however, is not something we’re born with but something we earn. Honor could be defined as a good reputation or character as judged by other people. We gain honor from each decision we make throughout our days. True, some decisions carry more weight than others, but none-the-less, each decision ultimately amounts to the quality of our character which is measured by honor or lack thereof.
In light of all this, it’s obvious then that ruthlessness might not be such a great trait in the pursuit of honor in this life and right standing with God. Matthew 6:21 (NIV) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Ruthless men gain ONLY wealth, because their ruthlessness is blinding to the good purposes of God. Without a heart after God we lack and lose sight of the wonderfully important things in this life. Ruthlessness might lead to a mansion filled with people, but devoid of love or lead to lacking nothing materially but living like an empty tomb on the inside emotionally and spiritually. Where does your fulfillment come from?
17 Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
We’ve all heard the saying that it’s better to give than to receive. It’s no surprise that this is more than a saying but rather a timeless truth rooted in scripture, straight out of the mouth of Christ. Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’.” There’s something so satisfactory when we give of ourselves to someone in need. Money, gifts, time; It doesn’t matter because giving benefits the giver in a way that lines up with scripture making it edifying to our spirits, and maybe even as an act of worship.
The opposite can be said about us when we are cruel. Think about it. Have you ever spoken short to someone out of frustration and felt terrible about it for an extended period of time? Cruelty, in any capacity, makes us rotten from the inside out where as giving is edifying to our spirits and all those around us.
For more reasons than one, be kindhearted with a giving heart. Jesus is our great example. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Secondly, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
by Shelby Bland | Nov 20, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 11: 14-15
14For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
In the individualistic society we live in, it is not only easy but natural to fall into solitary decision-making. It’s so common to feel like we have community because we have multitudes of good acquaintances—people we say hi to in passing, co-workers we have long small-talk chats with, and followers that we respond to on social media. However, the absence of depth breeds the absence of advisors.
This verse in Proverbs clearly describes the consequences of a lack of advisors. Leaders without advisors trust in their own perspectives and world views and, without the input of others, can make decisions that destroy their realm of influence. This means moms can make over-bearing or too-loose restrictions on children. A teenage girl can enter into a damaging relationship where no accountability keeps an eye on her behavior, and her friends follow suit. The pastor of a church can begin to make decisions that cease to meet the needs of the congregation at large. Even making personal life decisions without the influence and wisdom of God-seeking friends can send a life into a downward spiral that is not easily recovered. Examine your community; if you were to make a decision today that dishonors God, is there anyone in your life who would notice?
15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
Just as a leader needs trusted advisors, he should also keep watch over who he takes responsibility for. Everyone needs the love and guidance of Jesus, but as shepherds over a flock, a leader must keep watch for wolves disguised as sheep. There will be some who enter your realm of influence to destroy the good happening there; be filled with love as you lead, but keep your eyes open to the plot of the enemy.
by Chelsea Rohde | Nov 19, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 11:12-13
In the midst of the social media age, gossip is no longer slotted to a column in a newspaper. With one click of a button you can pull up site after site with tell alls about the latest celebrity wrongdoings. But gossip doesn’t stop at celebrities, it seeps into our lives too. We are living in a culture that cultivates a sense of entitlement to cast judgement about others. Most hide behind the excuse that everyone has the right to their own opinion, but Proverbs warns otherwise.
Proverbs 11:12-13
12 It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;
a sensible person keeps quiet.
13 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.
Throughout the Bible we are warned of the weight of our words and the divisive nature of our tongue. In Proverbs 11:12-13 we see another warning about what we choose to say. Our words are just that, a choice. We can use them to spread loving kindness or use them to infect others. When we say negative things about someone else or share their private matters, we are being foolish and unloving.
Living in a critical culture of all news is my news, how do we combat an age where gossip is all the rage? We have to pursue God. When we learn to follow his ways, our perspective is shifted. As we begin to understand the vastness of God, we in turn and start grasping our own sinful tendencies. With this perspective we aren’t degrading ourselves, but living in the reality that we are flawed and in need of God’s grace. When we understand the extension of God’s grace despite our own sin, we are drawn away from casting judgement on others.
In our quiteness, we are found sensible. In keeping confidence, we are found trustworthy. When we withhold our vocal judgements of others’ transgressions, we become closer to carrying out God’s character.
by Madison McKinzie | Nov 17, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 11:1-11
Have you ever been praised for doing something great? Maybe you got that promotion at your hob for working hard, or maybe you got a good grade on a test that you actually studied really hard for. It’s a great feeling, especially when you feel like you earned it. In Proverbs it states that “the whole city celebrates when the godly succeed.” Can you imagine your whole city giving you a party because you did something worthy of celebration? What we are all thinking is “okay, but that would never actually happen today,” and you’re probably right, but what you don’t realized is that the faithful work you do in your life through Jesus Christ will be praised in eternity. Our purpose in life is not to do good works for our glory and for our celebration, but to glorify His name. Would you rather be know as wicked and have people “shout for joy” when you die? – No need to answer this –
“Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.” As a Christ follower our job is to spread the gospel… that means to OUR city so that we can help “make it prosper.” If we go to church but don’t act like Jesus, we are considered “wicked” who “tears apart” our own city. Solomon talks of this so that we can make a difference in our city, celebrating when the godly succeed, and prospering our city.
by Macy Tiradoegas | Nov 16, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 11:8
“The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead.”
The righteous are rescued. The righteous.
I’ve been sitting here for far longer than I want to admit, thinking about what it means to be righteous. According to the dictionary, righteous means morally upright, or virtuous. God asks for holy living. We can’t argue that. There is a certain standard that Christ followers are supposed to uphold.
I began to think about how those of us who are professing christians aren’t all that different from non-christians sometimes. How we too destroy our neighbor with our words, how we too often walk with little integrity and little wisdom. I started to get mad.
“God, who could this verse be talking about? There are far too many professing your name and walking like the ungodly.” I was going to write about how we need to examine our life and if we profess Christianity we need to start acting like it!
But God reminded me of the way he sees us.
It isn’t fair.
It makes no sense.
The great mystery of the cross is too great for our comprehension.
Romans 4:3 says this: “For what does scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’” And skipping to verse five, “And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”
Our faith is counted as righteous.
It’s unfair.
It’s scandalous.
It’s grace.
I know theres a balance and almost a controversy of faith vs. works. Intact, I wrote a blogpost previously about that tension and about how our works profess our faith. It’s all true. BUT. How sweet it is to know that even when we mess up, even when we don’t have it altogether, when we are fully broken and imperfect; when we are hypocritical and act like the ungodly, that God still counts us as righteous. He still sees Jesus.
Romans 8:1: “For now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”
It doesn’t give us a license to sin. It doesn’t mean that people aren’t turned off to Jesus because of the way Christians often choose to act. But it does mean that our faith is enough to be counted as righteous.
So how are we rescued from trouble? We can have full confidence knowing this:
The ones who put their faith is Jesus Christ are rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked (those who do not put their faith in Jesus) instead.
God, be my rescue. May you count my faith as righteousness like your word says. And may I, in return, bring to you a life that is holy and pleasing and acceptable.
Photography: @brandonnalley
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