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Post by Unmerited on Apr 2, 2023 13:14:13 GMT -8
Financial Humility
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor…Go—to the point of exhaustion!—and give your neighbor no rest! Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself.
Proverbs 6:1,3-5
It is hard to manage our own debt obligations, much less the debt commitment of another. Therefore, wisdom says to unencumber yourself from financial liability so you are free to serve. Cosigning credit on behalf of another is not smart. If you do, make plans to pay what is due. Or in bold humility, go to the one for whom you partnered or cosigned, and ask if you can get out from under the financial obligation.
Even if you pay a penalty for backing out, what price would you pay for your newfound peace of mind? Financial overextension is unwise. Consider consolidating your credit and making a bold plan to pay down your personal debt. Debt reduction is smart, especially during recessionary times. “The borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7), so in humility and boldness you can break the chain of financial servitude.
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings (1 Corinthians 7:23 NASB).
Limiting credit or abolishing it completely is countercultural. But why make credit convenient to a spender who struggles to stay within a budget? Therefore, apply discipline and sacrifice. You can experience the peaceful result of debt-free living.
There is one other word related to cosigning. You may know a young person who needs someone to vouch for his or her character and credit. The apostle Paul guaranteed the servant Onesimus’s repayment, and you may be led to do the same for someone. Perhaps you ultimately see your assistance as a gift—if you are paid back, it is an unexpected bonus. Relationships are much more valuable than cash. Regardless of the stressful situation, make sure you manage expectations with prayerful prudence and bold humility.
If then you consider me a partner and a comrade in fellowship, welcome and receive him as you would [welcome and receive] me. And if he has done you any wrong in any way or owes anything [to you], charge that to my account. I, Paul, write it with my own hand, I promise to repay it [in full] (Philemon 1:17-19 AMP).
Whom do I need to boldly but humbly approach about dissolving a financial arrangement?
Related Readings
Deuteronomy 8:17-18; Romans 13:8; James 2:6
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 3, 2023 9:59:48 GMT -8
Plan Ahead
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
Wisdom works hard now and is wise about planning for the future. Planners have an innate sense of discipline. Imminently urgent matters do not distract them as they stay focused on important issues. Their discipline determines the choices they make during the day because they are always keenly aware that their actions affect their future. The best planners take the time to process assumptions and the implications of best-case and worst-case scenarios.
Self-motivated and disciplined planners do not require rigid management and control. They thrive in autonomy even while submitting to the accountability of authority. Wise planners save time and money. Their decision-making filter says no more often than yes—even to good opportunities. The Holy Spirit works through a prayerfully crafted plan to guide you into God’s best, so stay aligned with the plan.
Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails (Proverbs 19:21).
Ants are tiny, but their unified effort brings large results. A clearly defined, well-executed plan brings your team together and produces an outstanding outcome. A plan creates credibility and gives courage to those who implement it. So be sensitive to your season of strategic service.
If you are in the preparation phase, be patient and focused on the plan. If you are in the execution phase, remain diligent and focused on the task at hand. As you harvest success, make sure to save for the future. Abundance is not meant to be spent all at once but to be saved for the downtimes. Use your church, business, or home as a platform of provision for others in need. Plan ahead so you can be an ambassador for Almighty God.
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed (1 Timothy 6:18-19 NASB).
What opportunities do I need to put on hold so I can focus on implementing the current strategic plan with excellence?
Related Readings
Genesis 41:28-43; Job 12:7-8; Luke 14:28; Hebrews 6:11-12
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 4, 2023 6:09:10 GMT -8
Lustful Longings
Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
Proverbs 6:25
Lustful longings lead us away from loving the Lord because our affections become attached to something that is not ours. What seems like innocent flattery quickly grows into emotional attachment. Our emotions are meant for intimacy with our spouse and none other. Confiding in a beautiful person other than your spouse may feel good, but it is a problem waiting to happen.
If your coworker or friend makes your heart race and is the subject of racy fantasies, you need to flee. You may need to transfer your assistant to another department or even let him or her go. You are flirting with fire when you forge ahead in relationships that enflame your lust, so douse the flames by walking away and setting up accountability systems.
Can you build a fire in your lap
and not burn your pants?
Can you walk barefoot on hot coals
and not get blisters?
It’s the same when you have sex with your neighbor’s wife:
Touch her and you’ll pay for it. No excuses (Proverbs 6:27-28 MSG).
The Internet can become a contributor to lustful longings, a tool for good that Satan uses for evil. Make sure others monitor your machine so your heart and mind do not meander to illicit images. Install computer software that forces you to be selective in your web surfing, producing a report to be reviewed by an accountability partner.
Moreover, make it your motivation and desire to pursue loving God and loving people. This will crowd out fleshly lusts from your heart. The Bible says, “Flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22 NASB). You can do your soul a great kindness by distancing yourself from sin and detesting the sight of it. Eyes focused on fidelity, faith, and authentic love lead to freedom empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
How can I protect my eyes from lustful images, focusing instead on the beauty of my spouse?
Related Readings
Genesis 39:8-10; Job 31:1-12; Matthew 5:28; 1 Peter 2:11
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 5, 2023 9:13:59 GMT -8
Leaders Learn
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
Proverbs 7:4
Leaders are learners. When they stop learning, they cease to lead wisely. Education is a hallmark of leaders who think ahead and are engaged in effective execution. If a leader does not assess the facts of a situation and operate in reality, he loses any advantage he might possess. Circumspect living characterizes leaders who are ever learning.
A leader continually asks questions like these: “How can we better understand what the customer wants and needs?” “How can I get out of the way as the leader, helping the team to succeed?” “How can our organization go from good to great by integrating and sustaining the industry’s best practices?” Leaders who learn to ask the right questions get the most accurate answers and are able to make the wisest decisions.
Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the LORD” (1 Kings 22:5).
Leaders learn by listening to the Lord and to the wisdom found in His Word. Learning is not a one-time event but the ongoing purging of pride, pretense, and prayerlessness. Wisdom becomes a beloved sister to whom you go for counsel. Humility grows into a trusted friend with whom you can confide.
The Holy Bible is your defense and armor against the assault of unwise thinking. Therefore, read and study the Word of God and apply it regularly to your life. Read books that highlight examples of other leaders worth emulating. Learn by listening to teachers who communicate truth with clarity and conviction. Learn from your mistakes, and do not repeat them. Learn forgiveness from your family, service from your friends, and love from your enemies.
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind (Philippians 2:1-2).
What life lessons do I need to currently learn so the Lord can entrust me with further educational opportunities?
Related Readings
Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalm 90:12; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Timothy 4:13
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 6, 2023 3:19:14 GMT -8
False Spirituality
She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.”
Proverbs 7:13-14
Unfortunately, some folks use religion to get their way. They may be single adults who prey on unsuspecting singles in church. They attend church to take advantage of trusting souls. Some businessmen use the art of Christian conversation to give the appearance of values and principles based on the Bible. However, once they make the sale or close the deal, their self-serving and dishonest ways reveal who they really are.
Spiritual deception—using God to get our way—is one of the worst types of deceit. A husband may use submission to control his wife, or a wife may use grace to withhold herself from her husband. Others, like Simon in the early church, may even try to buy the Holy Spirit for their benefit. Cultivate authentic spirituality in your heart and mind through prayer, worship, and community.
Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (Colossians 2:23).
True spirituality, on the other hand, is motivated and controlled by the Spirit of Christ. It is authentic because Almighty God is the initiator. True spirituality is not just looking out for itself but is sincerely concerned with serving others. You are comfortable with people who are developing true spirituality because you know they care for you. Integrity characterizes their business and religious activities. Their yes is yes, and their no is no. There are no surprises—what you see is what you get.
True spirituality grows over time. It is forged on the anvil of adversity, taught at the hearth of humility, and received at the gate of God’s grace. You know your religion is real when you prioritize love for others above your own needs and you care for the poor and needy. True spirituality inspires others to love God and obey His commands.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world (James 1:27 NASB).
How have I been tempted to appear spiritual while asserting my own will?
Related Readings
Ecclesiastes 7:4; Matthew 25:36; Acts 8:19-20; 2 Corinthians 1:17
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 7, 2023 15:20:44 GMT -8
Travel Temptations
My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.
Proverbs 7:19-20
How do you deal with temptations when you travel? What is your behavior when you are the spouse left at home? Is your house a palace of peace or a prison of confinement? Whether you are the weary traveler or the one left holding down the fort, be wary of wrong behavior. As a couple, consider crafting guidelines of what you will and will not do when you are apart.
Distance can make the heart grow fonder and more faithful, but it can also fan the flames of lust and infidelity. If you travel for your work, you most likely are motivated to meet the needs of your family. However, every assignment is for a season. Maybe it’s time to get off the road and reconnect with your child who is approaching the teen years. Perhaps you need to be there more often for your spouse, who is starved for extra emotional support. Be willing to adjust.
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).
Be careful not to drift into travel temptations that become divisive and deteriorate your marriage. One boundary may be to avoid bars and get back to your room soon after work and dinner. A righteous routine on the road gets the right results. Whenever possible, travel with another person of the same gender who shares your values. Be bold by becoming an influencer of integrity. Enjoy good, clean fun without flirting with sin.
On the other hand, your role in the marriage may be to support the children and manage the home daily. Take pride during this season of unselfish service. Resist the temptation to look for pity. By God’s grace you are conforming your children’s minds to the things of Christ, influencing the culture with His kingdom priorities. As you are working to preserve the family, you are as valuable as the one who is away, working to provide for the family. Stay occupied in prayer, Bible study, and your kids’ school, and be available to those who need you.
Marriage is a team effort. You’ll see outstanding results when you are on the same page of love and obedience to Christ. Travel temptations are terminated on both ends through trust in the Lord and trust in each other.
“He trusts in the LORD,” they say,
“let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him” (Psalm 22:8).
What travel boundaries do my spouse and I need to create?
Related Readings
Numbers 5:11-15; Isaiah 46:6; Luke 12:39-46; 1 John 3:9
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 8, 2023 10:47:10 GMT -8
Hate Evil
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 8:13
The word “hate” makes us uncomfortable. It has a harsh and uncaring ring and reputation. However, Almighty God allows and even expects a holy hatred of evil. Authentic Christianity is not easy on evil, which breaks God’s heart and destroys people’s souls. Evil is the enemy’s encroachment on eternity’s agenda.
Evil takes down leaders who let pride and arrogance seep into their minds and stay there. Indeed, if the rules apply to everyone but the leader, then it is just a matter of time before the humble fear of the Lord gives way to prideful indulgence. Sin is out of bounds for any child of God who abides in the love and grace of God. The wisdom of Christ warms the heart, instructs the mind, and leads the way into behavior defined by truth.
The full assurance of understanding [results] in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-3 NASB).
Gossip, greed, jealousy, and lies are all evil intentions that corrupt a culture of transparency, generosity, contentment, and honesty. Stress can bring out the best and worst in others, so by the grace of God, make sure you rise above the petty politics of blame. Let your wisdom and maturity be on display as you lead others (your children, friends, coworkers…) by choosing to live according to a higher standard. If you do nothing, the naysayers will cause fear and division.
Fight evil without fanfare. By faith and wise work, deliver constant, creditable results, and your antagonists will grow quiet. The humility and wisdom of Christ will defeat evil initiatives. Therefore, give Him the glory, get the job done, and trust the Lord with the results. Hard times can produce hard hearts unless you overcome evil with a humble heart of prayer and bold faith. Evil is extinguished with the fervent prayers of people who are committed to purity.
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with (James 5:16-17 MSG).
What does a holy hatred of evil look like in my life?
Related Readings
Amos 5:15; Zechariah 8:17; Romans 12:9; 2 Timothy 2:19
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 9, 2023 6:51:36 GMT -8
Political Wisdom
By [wisdom] kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by [wisdom] princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.
Proverbs 8:15-16
The wisdom of God overshadows the best and brightest thinking of man. This is why our American ancestors looked to the Almighty for knowledge and understanding when crafting our constitution. Its remarkable effectiveness is contingent on faith in God, faith in government, and faith in the citizens. Indeed, politicians who plead with Providence for wisdom will become the wiser. Rulers who recognize their authority is from God will rule for God.
A humble ambition accompanies the most effective statesmen into public service. They exchange their political pride for humble wisdom. Leaders rule others wisely when religion rules their own conscience and character. Political wisdom is a prerequisite for public servants who would govern in alignment with the principles of Providence on behalf of the people. These wise rulers are able to rest in peace in the middle of a storm.
For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer (Romans 13:4).
A culture thrown into economic chaos especially needs principled men and women to step up, sacrifice, and make hard decisions. In the middle of extreme uncertainty, wise leaders must sometimes make painful prescriptions to prevent further panic. They must determine what is best for the whole in the long term, and the stakes are high. Pray for political leaders to look beyond themselves and to see past short-term relief into the perspective and principles of God found in holy Scripture.
Indeed, wise political leaders pray for intervention and understanding from the Almighty. Perhaps during desperate days, a filibuster of faith is first needed, so these leaders start by looking and listening to the Lord. Just laws follow political wisdom, which does what Christ defines as right. Wise politicians keep their hands of faithfulness on the Bible’s principles and their hearts submitted to the Lord’s authority. Presidents honor Him by never forgetting their sacred inaugural vow, “So help me God.”
Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness (1 Kings 10:9 NASB).
How can I promote political wisdom with the public servants in my circle of influence?
Related Readings
Psalm 148:11-13; Daniel 2:21-47; Romans 13:1; Revelation 19:11-16
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 10, 2023 8:02:52 GMT -8
God’s Favor
Blessed are those who listen to me [wisdom], watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 8:34-35
God’s favor rests on those who find wisdom. They seek wisdom by first watching at the doors of heaven, waiting patiently at the feet of their Savior Jesus. It is humbling to think that each day Almighty God is available to renew our commission to serve the cause of Christ. We pursue Jesus’s wisdom because His is pure and profound.
As in the days of Cain and Abel, the Almighty continues to bless the best offering. Therefore, honor God by offering Him the firstfruits of your day. Just as He deserves first dibs on your money, so He expects the beginning of your day. Get up and go to God first. There you discover a wealth of wisdom, and as you rest in the shadow of your Savior Jesus Christ, you receive His favor.
Then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,
they will see God’s face and shout for joy;
he will restore them to full well-being (Job 33:26).
Happiness comes to those who wait for wisdom. God’s blessing cannot be rushed, so rest in Him. God’s favor is well worth the wait. Like a newborn when it arrives, God’s favor brings joy that is unspeakable. How many times have we rushed ahead, outside the canopy of Christ’s blessing? The Israelites learned to stay under the cloud of God and be led by faith. Indeed, those who step outside God’s favor suffer for lack of spiritual oxygen. However, those who enjoy their heavenly Father’s favor also enjoy deep rest.
His blessing provides strength for the journey, empowering you to persevere as you follow the trail of trust. Jesus experienced the favor of His heavenly Father when He submitted to public baptism, which was His confession of faith, His commitment to public service, and His commission to ministry. What issue of obedience are you facing today? What wise choices can you make that will enable you to continually experience the favor of your heavenly Father? Your life is alive and vibrant because the Lord favors you. You are a favorite of your heavenly Father because you are learning to wait on Him and humbly walk with the wise.
He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 NASB).
How can I continually position myself to receive God’s favor and blessing?
Related Readings
Genesis 4:4; Exodus 33:12; Luke 2:52; Philippians 3:8
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 11, 2023 6:24:57 GMT -8
Choose Your Battles
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
Proverbs 9:7
We all have a limited amount of time and energy. Wisdom says to spend them both on productive people, not destructive ones. Verbal sparring with those who are proud only invites insult. It is better to ignore their rants than try to reason with them. Do your best, stay focused on the task, and trust your reputation with the giver of reputations—your Savior Jesus.
Mockers look to stir up things in the moment. They have no long-term solutions, so avoid their cynical, crazy-making cycle. A mocker’s mind is already made up—he will not change regardless of wise rationale. There are those who return evil for good, so do not go there, or you may end up in despair. Jesus says the caustic cynic is full of pride.
Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14).
What about a family member who seems to be hurtling down a path of destruction? What if teenagers or adult children set their entire focus on friends and freedom and seem to have rejected all common sense and Christlike influences? First, focus on their heart with love and acceptance. If you spar over externals, the battle will be messy and costly. However, if they change from the inside out, the transformation will be beautiful and enduring.
Invite them to pray, asking the Lord what He thinks about their decisions and choice of friends. Direct them back to Scripture as their Savior’s standard for living. Above all, pursue a peaceful and patient attitude in prayer. Our most significant battles are spiritual—they are won or lost on our knees. The Holy Spirit will lead you when to speak, what to say, and when to remain silent. Everyone wins when you value the relationship more than winning the argument.
Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you (Proverbs 9:8).
What relationship do I need to quit striving over and give to the Lord?
Related Readings
2 Chronicles 30:7-9; Proverbs 23:9; Matthew 7:6; 22:4-6
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 12, 2023 7:26:23 GMT -8
Invite Instruction
Rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
Proverbs 9:8-9
Wise people invite instruction. They understand that correction and rebuke are necessary if they are to grow in wisdom and righteous behavior. Without well-meaning instructors willing to get in our faces, we aspire to be average at best. However, an invitation to meddle in our affairs sets the stage for authentic accountability. Effective correction makes us uncomfortable at times, but we become wiser as a result. Indeed, conflict is inherent in accountability.
So if your relationships are conflict free, perhaps no one is holding you accountable in a significant way. Wisdom comes to us in raw relationships that can stand the strain of loving reproof and are characterized by a willingness to change. A rebuke wakes you up and alerts you to the realities you are facing. Your spouse is not nagging, but nudging you to act responsibly. Therefore, invite instruction, and you will increase in wisdom and understanding. Wise recipients of reproof have no regrets.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear (Proverbs 25:12).
Also, be willing to be the bearer of bad news. With love and grace, go to your friend who has asked for your counsel, and give him or her truth. Pray first and then deliver the unpleasant news. It is much better for others to see the error of their ways now than to reach a point of no return. Talk to them, not about them. Pray for them privately, not publically with a pious prayer request.
Love motivates rebuke and then becomes a recipient of love. Your relationship will dissolve in anger or rise to a higher level of respect through righteous rebuke. Take the time to prod another toward perfection because you care. Be respectful and instruct with patience. One day the student’s wisdom may exceed that of the teacher.
The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher (Luke 6:40).
To whom do I need to listen, learning from their correction and rebuke?
Related Readings
Psalm 141:5; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Timothy 4:2; Revelation 3:19
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 13, 2023 12:13:44 GMT -8
The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is fundamental to finding wisdom. Without awe of the Almighty, there is no access to His insights. Reverence for God’s holiness is a requisite for understanding His ways. The first step in acquiring wisdom from Almighty God is to fear Him—to worship His majesty and dread His judgment.
God’s holy Word—the Bible—is to be taken to heart as truth for the purpose of life transformation. At first, the fear of the Lord may be so overwhelming that we struggle to sense His love, and our desire for intimacy goes unmet. Anyone who has been broken understands this process. However, once we embrace a healthy fear of the Lord, the result is peace and knowledge in submission to and love for the Holy One.
He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure (Isaiah 33:6).
We mock God when we move away from the language of fear, and He is not one to be mocked. So as devoted followers of Christ, let’s sow the seeds of respect, reverence, and the fear of the Lord. This discipline of faith results in a harvest of holiness, happiness, and wisdom. Fear of Him leads to knowledge of Him. Therefore, bowing before Him on your knees in prayer, seek His face for forgiveness and relational restoration.
Celebrate together with Christ our conquest over sin, sorrow, and death. What is counterintuitive on earth is intuitive in heaven. Listen to David admonish his son Solomon, who became the wisest man in the world:
As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever (1 Chronicles 28:9 NASB).
What area of my life lacks the fear of the Lord, and how can I make myself more accountable?
Related Readings
Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Matthew 11:27; 1 John 5:20
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 14, 2023 5:39:19 GMT -8
Love Forgives
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
Proverbs 10:12
True love forgives regardless of the infraction because it transcends mistreatment.
What is your standard for forgiveness? Is it conditional, based on the way you are treated, or is it unconditional? Hatred has no hope but to stir up dissension and rally a defense. However, love looks at being wronged as an opportunity to replace insult with encouragement. Love seeks to lead all parties into a better place of health and happiness.
Indeed, hatred finds no home in a heart of love. It sows discord, but love plants peace. It embraces enmity, while love exudes compassion. Hate stirs up, but love calms down. How do you handle those who are hard to be around? Perhaps out of love you serve them. Seek to serve rather than be served.
Through love serve one another (Galatians 5:13).
Love forgives because you have been forgiven by the matchless love of God. The Lord’s love toward you empowers you to lovingly forgive another. Apart from God, human love is unable to love without boundaries. Left to our own limited love, we love only those who love us. Jesus said, “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much” (Matthew 5:46 NLT).
Therefore, look at love as an opportunity to give others what they do not deserve. Lean on the Lord as your source of unconditional love. Christ’s love is all-inclusive and all-forgiving. In the same way, actively and appropriately love those in your life—maybe with a kind word, a nice note of appreciation, a thoughtful gift, or a listening ear. Harness your love into a habit of forgiveness.
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8 NLT).
Whom do I need to love, forgive, and serve in honor of God’s great love?
Related Readings
Leviticus 19:17; Proverbs 17:9; Philippians 1:9; 1 John 4:20-21
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 15, 2023 5:10:07 GMT -8
Tempered Talk
Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
Proverbs 10:19
Tempered talk is a sign of wise conversation. When our words are many, we run the risk of soliciting sin. Increased words increase the probability of improper speech. For example, respectful conversation does not repeat the same words and phrases in a short time. This impatient cadence frustrates.
Perhaps a look of misunderstanding requires questions for clarification or definitions for comprehension. Proud conversationalists can highjack a listener’s understanding with a horde of words without meaning. If your goal is to communicate, take the time to listen to the needs of your audience. People who feel cared for and understood have a keener sense of hearing and understanding.
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues (Proverbs 17:28).
Wise people weigh their words before they speak. They allow their minds to catch up with their hearts. Furthermore, in the face of wrong behavior, emotions sometimes need to be expressed If you feel mistreated or misinformed, let the other person know. Concealed anger leads to living a lie (see Proverbs 10:18), but tempered talk is truthful and to the point.
Reserve your words out of respect for the other person. If you do all the talking, you are the center of attention. We are being condescending when the people we are conversing with don’t feel important enough to speak up. So honor others by speaking less and listening more intently to learn how you can love them. Wisdom can be found in the words of each person you meet. Therefore, intentionally talk less and be wise.
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19).
Whom do I need to listen to more? When am I usually tempted to talk too much?
Related Readings
Job 2:3; Amos 5:13; Titus 1:10; James 3:2
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 16, 2023 10:22:32 GMT -8
Economic Storms
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
Proverbs 10:25
When the ocean tide goes out, rocks and waterlogged driftwood that are normally hidden under the water become visible. In the same way, economic storms expose hidden evil.
The wicked may seem to be prospering, but eventually they will be found out. The Holy Spirit shakes out sin so it can be seen and judged. As the Lord promised His children in the past, “I will shake the people of Israel” (Amos 9:9).
Why make a lot of noise, draw people’s attention, and then lose your creditability under scrutiny? During economic storms, businesses and ministries that depend on debt collapse, and solid churches increase in attendance. There is a purging of pride, and all manner of excess is exposed. The things that really matter in life receive our attention—faith, family, friends, food, and shelter. Storms reveal worth.
Those who cling to Christ are not shaken. He is our cornerstone, which no degree of chaos can challenge. The righteous cannot be moved because their Master is immovable. Therefore, stand firm in the Lord.
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever (Psalm 125:1).
Worldly wisdom has a way of reducing heaven’s wisdom to an afterthought. Sometimes we pray, seeking to discern the Lord’s way, but only after we’ve tried our own way—to no avail. We are often tempted to rely on what seems to work instead of asking what principles to live by based on God’s economy.
Your stability in your Savior provides security for your family, friends, and coworkers. Your unwavering faith during difficult days helps them replace panic with peace, fear with faith, and compromise with conviction. If all you have left is a firm foundation of faith, begin rebuilding God’s big vision. Are you a wise builder?
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24).
How can I build my life, home, and work on the solid rock of Jesus?
Related Readings
Job 20:5; Psalm 37:10; Acts 2:25; Hebrews 12:28
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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