Proverbs

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“Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day or like pouring vinegar on soda.” (Proverbs 25:20 HCSB).

October 18, 2021

HOW NOT TO ENCOURAGE A TROUBLED HEART There are those who have never experienced loss that think the way to cheer up the one who has is by distraction. However, this response is not only inappropriate, but inconsiderate. The one who would encourage, would first seek to understand the feelings of the hurting, and then

“If you find honey, eat only what you need; otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit.” (Proverbs 25:16 HCSB)

October 15, 2021

CAN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? Solomon pondered the question, “Can you ever have too much of a good thing?” In short, his answer was in the affirmative. He advised that you should practice moderation, eating “only what you need,” so that you won’t make yourself sick.   But we have a

“The hearing ear and the seeing eye— the Lord made them both” (Proverbs 20:12 HCSB).

July 31, 2021

THE GIFT OF SPIRITUAL RECEPTIVITY One can have ears and eyes, yet still be deaf and blind. The Lord has made both the physical and the spiritual ability to hear and see. Both are grace. The physical is obvious, but few recognize the spiritual. The first offers awareness of the physical world, the second makes

“Discipline your son while there is hope” (Proverbs 19:18 HCSB).

July 19, 2021

DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILD WHILE THERE IS HOPE There is a short window of time for teaching children obedience. During this time there is hope that parental discipline might eventually become the child’s own self-discipline. It may seem a lot of work to discipline a child of ages 2 through 6, but it becomes nearly hopeless

“Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and He will give a reward to the lender.” (Proverbs 19:17 HCSB).

July 18, 2021

ARE YOU KIND TO THE POOR? This is an astounding proverb! God willingly makes Himself a debtor to the one who is kind and generous to the poor. Someone may hesitate to give to a poor person, but who would not lend to the Lord? Surely the One who owns the cattle on a thousand

“A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on” (Proverbs 16:26 HCSB).

June 8, 2021

BLESSED ARE THE HUNGRY A wise observation by King Solomon: Hunger motivates work. In other words, hunger can act as an incentive for one to labor for himself. Self-employment is hard, but often the most rewarding, for both the stomach and for one’s self-respect. Of course, the opposite must also be true: Full stomachs inspire

“Delayed hope makes the heart sick, but fulfilled desire is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12 HCSB).

April 19, 2021

HEART SICK FOR HEAVEN Having to wait for any expected good certainly affects our attitude. In this sense, the writer of this proverb accurately observed the growing despondency of the heart that waits unfulfilled. Yet, it is even more intense in the spiritual longing that we have for God. It was in this spiritual sense

“One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor” (Proverbs 11:24 HCSB).

March 23, 2021

GIVERS ARE GLAD, BUT MISERS ARE MISERABLE Generosity is a blessing both to the recipient and to the giver. But misers are miserable. This is a spiritual principle that reverberates in the physical world, although its effect is often slow to see. The wealth of the generous is paid in dividends that include more than

“Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death” (Proverbs 11:4 HCSB).

March 10, 2021

WORLDLY WEALTH WON’T HELP ON THAT DAY Wealth is useful when facing human justice. It pays for attorneys and even judges of a certain type. Yet, riches do not profit when we face the judgment seat of God. All the treasure in the world is useless on that day. As one has said, “You never

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 HCSB).

January 10, 2021

WHERE DO YOU PLACE YOUR TRUST? The proverb gives both a positive and a negative command: “Trust God, not yourself.” How many times have you regretted following your own advice? Your understanding was flawed and you suffered the consequences for relying on it. Have you not understood that your own understanding is negatively affected by