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Post by Unmerited on May 2, 2023 4:46:17 GMT -8
Pursue Righteousness
The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
Proverbs 15:9
What does it mean to pursue righteousness? We know how to pursue happiness or financial security. We may pursue a husband or wife, but what is the pursuit of righteousness?
Righteousness is a standard of behavior that God defines as morally right. We pursue righteousness when we determine to understand what the Scriptures outline as right and integrate that into our behavior. To pursue righteousness is to live intentionally.
The pursuit of righteousness begins with the pursuit of God, for He is the Righteous One. He detests the way of the wicked but loves those who pursue righteousness. He loves those who pursue Him for righteousness’ sake. So we seek Him because we need Him to transform us into the likeness of His Son Jesus. We become like what we pursue.
The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin (Proverbs 21:12).
God makes the path of the righteous smooth—not without bumps along the way, but with clear direction for living. Do you need to know God’s will for school, marriage, or work? Pursue righteousness, and He will direct your steps. Don’t worry and fret over distant steps. Instead, by faith, focus on the next step. “The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth” (Isaiah 26:7).
Without your Lord and Savior Jesus, your “righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Indeed, it is not what you do for Jesus but the work of His Spirit in and through you that produces the fruit of righteousness. Remain in Him, and He will make you righteous—not holier-than-thou, but humble and loving. You become whatever you pursue, so you are wise and loved by the Lord when you pursue righteousness.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me (John 15:4 NKJV).
How can I be more intentional about pursuing righteousness and abiding in Christ?
Related Readings
1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalm 1:6; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 2, 2023 4:50:31 GMT -8
A Happy Heart
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:13
A happy heart aligns with heaven’s perspective. It is based on something much broader and nobler than current circumstances. A heart of delight is not in denial about difficulties, nor is it irresponsible regarding raw reality. Rather, it takes its cheer from Christ. People can encourage us, but Jesus provides eternal encouragement. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1).
A cheerful face is not proof that a heart is not hurting. You may very well be suffering painful rejection from divorce, job loss, or missed opportunity. However, the aching of a hopeful heart is accompanied by assurance anchored in Almighty God. Hurt need not exclude happiness. Go to Jesus for affirmation, and He will make your heart whole and happy.
Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief (Proverbs 14:13).
Sometimes your spirit is crushed in the moment you receive baffling information. Someone may treat you disrespectfully. You later learn of the deep wounds that person is carrying without Christ. Maybe a team member who is a loyal friend and confidant is moving on. You feel betrayed and alone. Use this loss to lead you toward the Lord’s love and healing. Our loss is God’s gain in governing our hearts.
The disciples felt loss and sorrow before the cross. Jesus discerned this and said, “You are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:6-7). He is the emissary of eternal happiness. A happy heart is full of faith in the Lord. Peer into the face of Christ, and you will go away with a cheerful countenance. Follow His commands and find joy.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes (Psalm 19:8).
Is my heart fully controlled by the Holy Spirit? Am I happy and content in Christ?
Related Readings
Nehemiah 2:2; Proverbs 12:25; Acts 27:25-36; 2 Corinthians 2:7
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 2, 2023 4:52:21 GMT -8
Holy Spirit Motivated
All a person’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
Proverbs 16:2
Why do you do what you do? Is it for the glory of God or for personal satisfaction? There is a subtle difference in serving the Lord for His glory and doing our own thing, only mentioning Him as an afterthought. We cannot impartially judge our hearts, but Christ can. We are too close to objectively assess our actions and motives. However, the Holy Spirit has an effective way to weigh what we do.
Sometimes His way does not make sense. He has you in a fruitful situation, and then the Holy Spirit leads you to serve discouraged disciples who have overwhelming needs. “The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it’…Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:29,38-39). Are you willing to leave a place where you are loved and take on a new initiative with plenty of unknowns? Is your heart in it for Him and what is best for the kingdom, or is it about making your name known?
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8).
Jesus experienced this before His intense temptation with the devil. “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil” (Luke 4:1-2). Sometimes God leads us through the desert of temptation to purify our motives. When He eventually delivers us from our adversity, we can lift up a praise offering to Him. Indeed, our gratitude to God gives Him the glory.
In reality, only God really knows your real motivation. The Holy Spirit can provide the motivation you need to sustain your service. Be like the captain of a ship, who serves for the sake of the crew and to keep the pirates at bay. Ask yourself, “Am I willing to do what I do without pay or for lesser pay for a period of time, or is money my true motive?” Begin each project with pure prayers inspired by the Holy Spirit. Motive matters most to your Master.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (James 4:3).
Can I be content when I receive only the consolation of Christ for my efforts?
Related Readings
Deuteronomy 9:4; 1 Samuel 16:7; Luke 16:15; 2 Corinthians 10:12
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 3, 2023 4:03:06 GMT -8
Moral Authority
Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.
Proverbs 16:12
Moral authority gives leaders the creditability to lead effectively. Presidents, judges, congressmen, governors, mayors, businessmen, teachers, preachers, and parents all require moral authority to be leaders worth following. A person’s faith in God’s standard bolsters respect from his or her followers. So what is your standard for conduct? Is your conscience governed by Christ’s character? Is He your baseline of behavior?
When “everyone [does] what [is] right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25 NKJV), the results are cultural chaos and moral confusion. This is true in the workplace that is inconsistent in its accountability, and also in a home environment where the parents do not model the behavior they expect from their children. People are motivated to follow rules consistently when they know the leaders have established them in righteousness.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (James 3:13).
Our Creator has given us wisdom and direction based on His righteous standard of behavior. If, however, we don’t live with integrity, we forfeit these gifts. God’s gift of freedom flourishes only in a faith-based society. Those who are ungrateful to God travel down a path of pride to their peril. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25 NKJV). Moral authority is accountable to Almighty God.
Therefore, I have to ask myself, “Do I detest wrongdoing? Do I stand up to injustice with Christlike character? Do I compromise God’s standards, or do I walk away from unseemly situations and shady deals?” The conscience of a culture changes one heart at a time. Moral authority is the master of a leader’s fate. With it comes creditability and the Lord’s blessing. Without it, we are left with a shell of service at best, corruption at worst.
Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 3:13).
Do I lead with the moral authority of my Master Jesus?
Related Readings
2 Samuel 23:3-4; 2 Chronicles 19:5-7; Luke 12:48; Revelation 19:11
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 4, 2023 4:44:34 GMT -8
Pride Before Destruction
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride is an entrée to destructive behavior. It facilitates foolish actions and undermines relationships. Pride is not afraid to offend anyone and appeases no one. Its demanding spirit may gain short-term results under duress, but in the long term, people loathe its indulgent attitude. Indeed, do not fear pride in others; fear it in yourself.
False humility is a subtle form of pride. “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind” (Colossians 2:18). These are people who use spiritual talk to try to impress others with religious information. False humility speaks softly about its superior spiritual knowledge.
However, heaven is not idle in its attitude toward pride. It is pride that hurled Lucifer out of the presence of the Lord and into hell (see Isaiah 14:11-13). God runs out of patience with those who are proud of heart and set in their ways. He brings down the stubborn and insubordinate. Pride forgets God and marginalizes faith, so He removes the self-absorbed.
Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor (Proverbs 18:12).
Therefore, humble yourself before God and man. Engage in extending and receiving forgiveness. Give Christ the credit for your accomplishments, and take responsibility for your failures. Humility honestly asks, “Do I care more about serving others than indulging myself? Am I a generous giver or a greedy getter?” Replace haughtiness with humility, and the Lord will lift you up.
For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:11).
Do I use my influence to further the success of others or to advance my own agenda?
Related Readings
Leviticus 26:19; 2 Chronicles 26:16; Daniel 5:20; Luke 1:51
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 5, 2023 7:40:01 GMT -8
The Test of Trust
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
Proverbs 17:3
The Lord tests our hearts to build our trust. Resistance to our effort creates a reason to reach out to our Creator. Your test of trust is not a trivial pursuit but a process of purification. Just as the silversmith uses the cleansing crucible to purify his precious metal, the Lord uses tests to extract our pride and replace it with His humility. Tests invite trust.
Indeed, the fruit of refining trials is faith. Perhaps you are facing a financial test. Will you spend less and give more as you watch your net worth shrink? You may have failed the relational test in your marriage, with your children, or with a parent. Be hopeful, for you can find success in failure. Failure strips away the nonessentials so all that is left is raw faith. Failure is not final. It is a stepping-stone for the Lord’s work.
For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver (Psalm 66:10).
Testing is the Lord’s tool to teach you to trust. You may feel humiliated and exposed, as if the Holy Spirit had strip-searched your soul. Refinement is not always pleasant, but it is necessary to prepare you for success at work and home. Christ builds your character to prepare you for your next milestone of achievement. Fire fuels faith.
In the end, affluence may be your greatest test of trust in God. The more you have, the less you feel you need the Lord. “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).
Have I passed the test of prosperity? Do I give Christ the credit for my accomplishments?
Related Readings
2 Chronicles 32:21; Job 23:10; 1 Corinthians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:7
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 6, 2023 3:54:29 GMT -8
The Gift of Grandchildren
Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
Proverbs 17:6
There are privileges to maturing in age, and one of them is the gift of grandchildren. Like a monarch’s crown, their exceptional value is to be displayed proudly. When you look at their hands and feet, you pray for them to handle life prayerfully and to walk wisely with the Lord. When you gaze into their innocent eyes, you see glimpses of God’s glory. You pray for them to look often to the face of Jesus and receive His love.
Grandchildren are gifts from God that invite love and unify families. They are reminders that the Lord is at work extending His legacy. So as you love these little ones, make sure to plant the Word of God in their hearts, modeling grace, love, forgiveness, and the fear of the Lord. Teach them to keep their eyes on Jesus because He will never let them down. Godly grandparents invite their grandchildren into their lives.
May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel (Psalm 128:6).
Invite them to your work so they can see how you relate to people with patience, encouragement, and accountability. Invite them into your home so they soak in your unconditional love and learn respect for their grandmother and grandfather. Make sure they catch you laughing out loud every time they visit with you. Call them on the phone, send them emails and birthday cards, take them on trips, and buy them ice cream, clothes, and their first Bible. Make sure their memories with you bring smiles to their faces.
If you are a parent, honor your parents by helping them to make memories with your children. Take a break from parenting and let your mom and dad spoil them. If you are a grandparent, be extremely grateful to your children for the opportunity to invest in their children. Honor your children by respecting their way of parenting. Work with them, not against them. Indeed, your children still need your time, money, and wisdom.
From everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts (Psalm 103:17-18).
How can I be intentional in my time with my grandchildren? Or how can I help my parents create wonderful memories with my children?
Related Readings
Psalms 78:4-6; 128:6; Proverbs 13:22; Joel 1:2-4
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 7, 2023 4:36:47 GMT -8
Foolish Children
To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.
Proverbs 17:21
Foolish children flail around trying to find themselves. They are often terrible at managing money because they have no concept of conservative spending and consistent saving. They look to Mom and Dad to bail them out. They want their parents to provide for them without implementing a plan for accountability. Childish children become masters of manipulation and guilt, saying, “If you really loved me…”
This grieves the heart of their parents, who want to do the right thing but aren’t sure what is right. The dad may be firm and the mom more merciful, so they must find a unified approach to loving their rebellious child. They cannot allow Satan to drive a wedge of doubt between them. Jesus said, “Every city or household divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25).
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son brings grief to his mother (Proverbs 10:1).
Start with sincere and aggressive prayer for a loved one bound up in foolish behavior. Pray for the Lord to change you, giving you the grace and courage to offer an aggressive love based on the love of your heavenly Father. You can love the unlovely as you ought only after receiving His unconditional love. Remember the joy you had when your child came into this world as God’s gift. Trust their Creator to bring them back to Christ. He can.
Lastly, confide in the Christian community regarding your sorrow and hurt. You may be surprised to discover how many have suffered a similar fate. Move beyond the mistakes of the past and focus on faith in the present. Turn your child over to the Lord’s love and discipline. Pray your foolish child will grow tired of folly and return to faith in God. Thus, in hope of a celebration one day, you can pray, “Christ, give me confidence to let them go and give them to You.” Foolish children especially need the faithful prayers and love of their parents.
“This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate (Luke 15:24).
Lord, help me to see my child like You see me, Your child—with patient love and compassion.
Related Readings
2 Samuel 18:33; Proverbs 19:13-26; 2 Corinthians 2:3-4; 3 John 1:4
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 8, 2023 7:10:42 GMT -8
Strong and Secure
The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10
The Lord is strong and secure. Satan and his demons cannot scale His fortress. Our own fear is unable to undermine God’s protection of us. Our Savior Jesus Christ is not scared in the face of unholy alliances. His name is sufficient for the saints, for there is nowhere else to go, as the apostle Peter declared. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).
So where do you go when you get frustrated and afraid? Do you have a safe place where you are sure to find wisdom and discernment? Or do you flounder in your faith, moving from one false hope to another, only to come up short and disillusioned? Pastors can declare the Word of God, but they are not 100 percent reliable as righteous resources.
Employers who provide for our financial needs are instruments of the Lord, but they are not always consistent sources. Family and friends care, but they are not always there.
Only the Lord longs to always walk with you. Jesus said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
His name is a strong tower, so you can find rest and refuge in Him when doubts and fears rise up against you. Run to His righteous resting place for renewal and strength. This world saps our energy and endangers our soul, but Jesus brings us life. He is your strong tower, and He can restore your trust and peace.
God is more than able to take care of your every need. His tower of trust is impregnable and impenetrable. Go inside and stay awhile in intimacy with Him. Then go back into the world, clothed in your battle fatigues of faith. You are strong and secure in the trustworthy tower of your Lord Jesus. Be confident in Christ and His amazing grace.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10-11).
Do I seek my Savior’s security in the tower of trust in Him? Am I clothed in Christ’s character and power, ready to engage the world?
Related Readings
1 Samuel 17:45; Psalm 9:9-10; Matthew 1:23; Revelation 1:8
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the BibleTM through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 9, 2023 4:03:02 GMT -8
Overcoming an Offense
A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
Proverbs 18:19
What happens when you offend another? How do you deal with the awkwardness? You probably feel embarrassed and regret saying or doing something that has weakened or even severed the relationship. However difficult, there is a process of penetrating hurt feelings and healing the heart. The Lord’s desire is for us to first work out relational differences on earth and then reconcile with heaven. The words of Jesus are clear.
If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God (Matthew 5:23-24 MSG).
An offense is a huge obstacle, especially when you are ignorant of its occurrence. But ignorance is not an excuse.
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
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, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler (Proverbs 6:1-5).
When you approach an offended friend, be careful not to say, “I’m sorry if I offended you.” Instead, own it by confessing, “I’m so sorry I offended you.” Though your offense may have been unintended, taking responsibility with humility and grace opens the door for forgiveness. Be patient, for his or her guard is up, and it will take time for a grudge to go away. Continue to slay the offended friend with severe kindness. Unconditional love lingers long.
Reconciled differences become hopeful examples to others who face similarly strained relationships. Pursue your insulted friend as Jesus pursued you—with unrelenting love. He said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Persistent prayer and love melt away the cold bars of an offended heart.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed (James 5:16).
How can I humble myself and own what I did? Have I clearly confessed my sin and asked for forgiveness? Am I contributing to the healing process?
Related Readings
Genesis 27:41-45; Proverbs 16:32; Amos 1:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:22
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 10, 2023 6:03:15 GMT -8
A Wife’s Blessing
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 18:22
Why is a wife good for a man? How does she bless him? She is good for her husband because she complements and completes him. She is the beauty, and he is the beast. She is finesse, and he is forceful. She is mercy, and he is the protector. She is elegant, and he is earthy. She works on her hands, and he works with his hands. A wife brings life and love to the longings of the one she loves. She is good for a man because this is God’s plan.
A good wife is a righteous remedy for loneliness. “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’” (Genesis 2:18). A man needs help because by himself he lacks the discernment to make the wisest decisions. Alone he is okay, but with the right wife he is elevated to excellence. She facilitates faithfulness to God. She prays for her husband’s full potential to be realized and enjoyed.
May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth (Proverbs 5:18).
A man finds the right wife through prayer and patience. He waits on the Lord to lead him to a woman of character whose life is attractive because she loves Jesus Christ more than her future husband. She is not overly needy, as she is loved by her heavenly Father in a wholesome and healthy way. Since she is full of grace, she is able to give grace. She is like a hidden jewel, and a wise man will cherish and value a woman of this quality as his wife.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44). Praise the Lord when you find the right wife. She is a gift from God to be honored and served. Tell her how blessed you are to be her husband.
In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered (1 Peter 3:7 NLT).
How can I show gratitude to my wife? Do I thank God for her daily, praying for her to feel my love for her?
Related Readings
Genesis 24:44-67; Psalm 128:3; Luke 1:30; 1 Corinthians 7:2
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 11, 2023 6:43:05 GMT -8
Wisdom Yields Patience
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:11
Wisdom brings out patience in a willing soul. We can practice forbearance when we understand and appreciate another person’s perspective. Patience gives the benefit of the doubt and waits on pronouncing judgment. Why does wisdom wait? She learns to wait because she knows that rash responses lead to messy consequences. “Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them” (Proverbs 29:20).
Discretion is able to defer anger until all sides give their perspective. It does not react to part of the truth, but patiently extracts all the evidence. Discretion is protection against pride’s harsh judgment and guards over a heart becoming gullible. “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you” (Proverbs 2:11). Learn to love people despite their imperfections, and you will help them grow into perfection. Assume the best.
What does it mean to overlook an offense? It is a Spirit-led response that practices real-time forgiveness. Rather than focusing on the offense, you choose to create an environment of grace in which you can reach out to see what’s behind the offender’s words or actions. Often people have a hurting heart that has never been healed, and just as if they had a sore spot on their body, they recoil when people bump up against it. Your joy or success may have rubbed against a raw spot of rejection on their soul.
Therefore, wisdom has compassion for an estranged soul and prays for its return to the Lord’s refuge of acceptance, love, and wholeness. Love is a universal language for those languishing in their faith. Love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Wisdom gives us the patience we need to respond to offenses with love and forgiveness.
How can I give a wise and patient response when I’m offended? What current offense can I overlook with forgiveness, love, and acceptance?
Related Readings
1 Chronicles 22:12; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Matthew 5:21-26,38-45; Romans 12:18-21
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the BibleTM through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 12, 2023 4:17:15 GMT -8
Be Kind to the Poor
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Proverbs 19:17
We can lend to the Lord by being kind to the poor. What does it mean to lend to the Lord? It means extending the Almighty’s active, loving concern for the poor and needy. Christ covers their debt with interest, and He extends rewards back to the generous giver. This demonstrates the priority of loving “the least of these” in Jesus’s name. When we extend kindness to those in severe need, we are serving the Lord Himself. You see Jesus in their hopeful eyes, just as He described.
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:35-36,40).
Serving the poor is serving the Lord.
Perhaps you start by praying for the poor. Choose a time of the week and listen to the Lord’s extreme love for the least of these. He may lead you to serve precious poor children by volunteering at an after-school program. He may nudge you to give a day a week to go downtown and help the homeless—serve in the soup kitchen, organize clothes—all the while sharing the good news of Jesus with a smile and encouraging Scripture.
The Lord rewards kindness to the poor. Your reward may be the simple satisfaction of obeying Christ’s command. It may be the fulfillment of seeing your family’s faith lived out in a practical, hands-on opportunity. It may be the joy of seeing someone receive the Savior you modeled. The Bible teaches the motivation of giving in love—“If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3).
Whom can I regularly join in prayer for the impoverished? Where does the Lord want me to be kind to the poor on His behalf?
Related Readings
2 Samuel 12:6; Isaiah 58:10; Galatians 2:10; James 2:15-16
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 13, 2023 4:15:26 GMT -8
Avoid Enablement
A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.
Proverbs 19:19
Watching someone fail is painful. However, failure may be what the person needs to eventually experience success. When we prematurely intervene in someone’s problem, we can unknowingly prolong the pain. Short-term relief can short-circuit long-term solutions. Do you know someone who needs your prayers but not your solutions? Resist the temptation to rush in and rescue. Trust that God is at work and that He will work it out.
We are shortsighted if we think we can be people’s savior when they actually need to depend on their only Savior, Jesus Christ. Perhaps they are victims of drug and alcohol addiction. Their condition may have to worsen before they get better. When we are at the bottom, we have nowhere to look but up. The Lord lifts up the broken.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand (Psalm 40:2).
Anger is especially hard to tame unless there is brokenness in the presence of God and man. Hotheaded behavior justifies its actions with feelings of rejection, self-pity, and hurt. It is a heart issue that only heaven can heal. Your sympathy is simply a surface salve. The broken person’s wholeness will come through confession, repentance, and taking responsibility. Angry people must suffer the painful consequences of their actions, or they will be perpetual offenders.
The best way to help people who have lost their way is to listen and love without enabling their bad behavior. They need your wisdom much more than your money. Writing a check is easier than engaging in passionate prayer for their soul. Money can mask their need for real resolution. Let them go, and let God heal them.
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Mark 10:21).
How can I offer tough love and trust God? Whom do I need to stop enabling so they can take responsibility?
Related Readings
1 Samuel 20:30-31; Proverbs 22:24-25; 1 Corinthians 13:5; James 1:20
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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Post by Unmerited on May 14, 2023 4:28:38 GMT -8
On Purpose
The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.
Proverbs 20:5
What is your unique purpose? Do you live uniquely you, or are you fulfilling a role you really resent? One way to get at these questions is to ask yourself, “What does my Savior Jesus expect of me?” Christ has clearly pronounced His purposes. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). The Lord has already laid out your plan of rewarding activities on His behalf.
Start by examining your passions—not just what excites you, but what roles you are willing to persevere in even when you suffer. Vocational ministry may seem noble, but can you forgive in the face of rejection, and can you serve without people’s recognition and affirmation? A minister’s purpose is to remain a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12 NKJV). He chooses us for His purposes and glory.
Indeed, each season of life is defined by a new set of purposes. When you are single, you lay a foundation of financial and moral responsibility. When you are married, you prepare for a family and develop friendships with people in a similar season of life. When you have children, you serve and teach the ways of God. When you are an empty nester, you enjoy your spouse, mentor younger believers, and aggressively invest in the kingdom of God.
Above all, get before God and allow Him to define your purposes. Then stay “on purpose” with the focused disciplines of prayer and execution. If you’re a teacher, teach; if you’re a student, study. If you’re a mom, mother; or a dad, father. If you’re a leader, lead; or an artist, create. Whatever you do, become the best you can be before God and man.
They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen (Acts 4:28).
Am I “on purpose,” or do I need to adjust my actions? Do my passions, gifts, and skills align around a common purpose, all for God’s glory?
Related Readings
Proverbs 18:4; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Hebrews 3:1-6; 1 Corinthians 2:11
Boyd Bailey, Two Minutes in the Bible through Proverbs: A 90-Day Devotional
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