by Madison McKinzie | Nov 2, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10: 9-10
Solomon does a great job of giving us practical wisdom for godly living no matter what stage of life we are in. Integrity is just one of those wisdoms that he talks a lot about. Living with integrity will give us a better life and he even says that “people with integrity walk safely,” even when we are in “dark valley’s” as referred to in Psalm 33. Every time Solomon gives us wisdom, he warns us about those who are living a life in the opposite direction. “Those who follow crooked paths will be exposed…” People who are at a constant state of trouble and selfishness do not experience this life of integrity that he is talking about. In the New Testament Jesus tells his disciples to “not be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.” It’s interesting to see that not only did Solomon, in the Old Testament, warn us about those who follow crooked paths, but Jesus, the Son of God, warns us of the same exact thing in the New Testament. In verse 10, it says that “people who think wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace,” and in the Hebrew translation it says, “but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.” Why would we make the choice of living a life of commotion and troubled ways, when we can make the choice every day to walk with wisdom and integrity. It’s not an instantaneous conversion, it’s a daily choice that we all have to make whether or not we are going to choose trouble or integrity. It’s all up to you.
Photography: @jacobnnorris
by Macy Tiradoegas | Nov 1, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10:7-8
“The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. the wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.”
These two verses are about legacy. What we leave behind, what we are remembered by. Not the things we have or even the people we were closest to, but character, integrity, and our standard of holiness.
I ask you today, what would your legacy be?
Would you be remembered for righteousness, for being like Jesus, for treating others with kindness? This kind of person leaves a mark, a “memory.” This memory causes others to want to be like Jesus. This memory blesses the people they marked. This kind of life takes persistence, discipline and intentionality, but this life is only life that leads to fulfillment and satisfaction. It’s like the feeling of giving an unexpected or undeserved gift. Being a blessing is a blessing in itself. Imagine your memory, your entire life, being that blessing.
Or would the memory of you warrant bitterness from those you loved? Would the memory of you be painful? Would you leave behind thoughts of absence, selfishness, wrong pursuits?
Maybe that picture is too harsh and maybe you find yourself somewhere in between. Still, the question remains, are you living the best story you could be living? Are you being the kind of person you want to be remembered for? Does your life point people to Christ?
Verse eight says, “the wise of heart receive commandments,” in other words, they receive correction. They take in the word of God and obey what it says. They know that to live a rich and satisfying life means walking in the way of the Lord, being close to Jesus and obeying his Word.
“But a babbling fool will come to ruin.” This person can’t be trusted. They let gossip control their tongue, ultimately controlling their reputation and their life. This person does not leave a memory of blessing, but their name comes to ruin.
In the small things and the big things, may our memory be worthy of remembering. May it bring honor and glory to the only one worthy. May we be remembered for wisdom and righteousness.
Which memory will you leave?
Photography: @alexamihalla
by Maddie Watson | Oct 30, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10: 5-6
In life, we go through different seasons, some of which are blooming and flourishing and full of life. However, other seasons are dry and painful, it seems as though all energy and soil is depleted of all ability to grow. In the seasons that are bright, joyful, and shiny, it is easy to sit back, relax, and enjoy the abundance of the moment. Solomon reminds us in Proverbs 10:5-6 of the importance of continuing to seek and gather the harvest of God’s goodness.
5 A wise youth harvests in the summer, but the one who sleeps during the harvest is a disgrace.
Even when life is good and God’s blessings are overflowing, we still must be intentional in spending time with the Father, gathering wisdom and love for Him. In doing this, it enables us to be proactive for preparing for the inevitable storms of life. How much more prepared we would be if we gather knowledge of the Word to sustain us while things were abundant, rather than simply glancing at the Lord’s goodness and moving on. It will be very evident whether or not we have harvested in the prosperous time when the drier, less plentiful seasons come around.
Solomon warns us:
6 The godly are showered with blessings, the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
When we have prepared well in continuously maintaining a relationship with the Father, our lives- even in the midst of a storm- will overflow with blessing. While no, we cannot be entirely protected from the trials of life; we will more easily see the blessings when we have been trained in looking for them. In contrast, when we hit the spiritual dry spells, it is very evident when we have not been diligent in time with the Lord. Our hearts are hard and depleted because we have not been spending time with Him, harvesting His love and turning the soil of our heart, mind, and soul.
This passage is a reminder as well as a challenge to seek the Lord through all season of life. Through the excitement and abundance of summer, the vibrant and colorful fall which then begins to fade into the cold and bitter winter, and back around to the new life of spring.
In every season of life, we have a reason to praise and worship our Creator.
He is always near, always Perfect, and always Good.
Photography: @phredman
by Priscilla Bowin | Oct 28, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10:3-4
Proverbs is full of verses comparing the good man with the wicked, the poor verses the rich.
3 The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.
In Psalms 37: 22-23 we read, “23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.”
A godly person is someone who trusts God, who respects God. Godly people still make mistakes and stumble in life, but they love God and God watches out for them.
Does this mean a godly person will never be persecuted or suffer hunger? No. Apostle Paul is a prime example of a godly man suffering for Christ. He was often physically in hunger and thirsty. But he knew God was with him. Paul says in Romans 8, “35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.”
4 Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
Here again is a comparison, poor verses rich. Being poor or impoverished is not evil, unless it is the product of laziness. Laziness is the person who chooses not to work or who works but “cuts corners” to make the easy buck. Whereas hard workers are careful and industrious, who take care to mind their business and do honest transactions.
We can apply this to our spiritual lives also. We can be spiritually impoverished if we are negligent with our walk with Christ. However, those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith.
Photography: @carrlosluna
by Dan A Thomas Jr | Oct 28, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 9:13-18
13 The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.
Admittedly, in our day and time this sounds like a sexist statement. To appear to characterize a woman as the embodiment of folly and clamor seems to be a bit chauvinistic, but remember that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 “concubines” – 1000 women in total and he is providing his personal observations, not about all women per se, but about the folly of foolishness that he experienced in some of his dealings with them. Although this is the case his wisdom is for women and men alike. Being loud and quick to speak does not reveal what you know, but actually produces the exact opposite – what you don’t know.
14 She sits in her doorway the heights overlooking the city. 15 She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business.
Folly calls out to us all to detour us and distract us from our destiny. Notice that it “calls out” to us. The question is what does it call out to? According to James 1:14 temptation comes from our own desires and folly attempts to target the fulfillment of any desire that is not in alignment with God’s will or timing. The best thing to do in this situation is keep minding your own business.
16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says 17 “Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!”
Growing up I used to hear this phrase, “Forbidden fruit always tastes better.” Then my grandmother told me it also causes a stomachache. Folly and foolishness look like acceptable paths in life to those who do not possess the ability to make good decisions. Anything you have to obtain in secret (do in the dark) or manipulate to procure will always end turning sour. It’s the simple route for the simple.
18 But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave.
The bible says that sin has pleasure for a season. No one would ever get caught up in anything if it wasn’t fun or enjoyable. But the fun and the joy don’t last. Not only does it not last it deceives. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief (the devil) comes only to kill, steal, and destroy.” The catch is that he never looks like a killer when he comes. He never looks like a thief when he comes and he certainly doesn’t look like a destroyer. He appears in a package that appeals to your desire, but it’s nothing but good ole okie-doke. Just mind your business.
Photography: @sheasalz
by Morgan Lunsford | Oct 27, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10: 1-2
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother. Proverbs10:1
This may seem like kind of a random thing for Solomon to point out. It almost seems too obvious. Of course, a child who is wise brings joy to a family, and a child who is not so wise brings grief. I think it is important not to overlook who the child is that Solomon is referring to. We are the children and God is the father. When we are wise with our choices and wise in the way that we live our lives, we are living in such a way that brings joy to our Father. When we choose to live in such way that is foolish or unwise, making decisions that dishonor God, we bring grief to our Father. In our Father’s grief, we should feel guilty. It should be the worst thing in the world to dishonor our Father. “It adds to the guilt of those that conduct themselves ill that thereby they grieve those whom they ought to be a joy to”
Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. Proverbs10:2
“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing.” It does us no good to gain wealth that is not pure. What good is wealth if it separates us from God? If we desire wealth because we are greedy or envious, what good does that wealth do us? We should strive to live our lives right and fully surrendered to God and to his plan for us. God is so much more valuable to us than any material richness. Live your life in such a way that values God and who he is and he will bless you with all the wealth you could ever imagine. It may not be money or jewels, but it is and everlasting, never changing wealth that only he can give us.
“Proverbs 10 Commentary Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete).” Bible Study Tools. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Recent Comments