Category Archives: Friday Proverb

Friday Proverb – Pride is Followed by Shame

Proverbs 11:2

²When pride cometh, then cometh shame:

It is a fact – the bigger they are – the harder they fall. The Pharisee in the illustration was full of himself, totally unaware that he was doomed. We also, as believers, can fall to this sort of pride.

One pastor of a large and beautiful church, was a very confident man. He had a beautiful family, and was well received by his congregation. He was a learned man, and gifted teacher. This continued on for some time, and his pride grew along with his successes. One day, his teenaged daughter ran away from home. They had no idea where she was. Then his church began to splinter as he attempted to accommodate both progressives and conservatives within his congregation. The “blended” church service ensued, which was followed by uprisings within the sheepfold. Half the congregation left to join a contemporary worship church, while another half left to join a traditional church. His church went bankrupt, whereupon he was fired by the board.

How about us? Are we foolish and prideful enough to think we can accommodate the world in our hearts? The pastor in the story, is the story of each and everyone of us. He allowed his daughter to closely associate with worldly teenagers. He allowed young and fleshly people to hold sway in his congregation. We all try in varying degrees to accommodate the world. Perhaps our teenaged daughter has not run away from home, but put in perspective – we all have our own kind of “runaways,” don’t we? Take your pick – job? marriage? favorite sin? addiction? Do you know where they are?

but with the lowly is wisdom.

Daily, minute by minute, moment by moment, we must strive to keep the world, the flesh, and the devil under complete subjection. Any compromise or accommodation will lead to our shame. If we think we can master the devil without copious prayer and Bible study – we give the evil one mastery over us because we are accommodating him. Don’t think for one second that you can outfox the fox on your own. Humble yourself, and rely only on God’s wisdom and knowledge. Never attempting to put your own thinking or understanding into what you think God thinks. The only wisdom in this world is in God’s Holy Word – the Bible.

sage

Friday Proverb – All Manner of Cheating

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Proverbs 11:1

A false balance is abomination to the Lord:

but a just weight is His delight.

A brother in Christ from the Philippines, once related to me, how rice was sold in the poor village he was raised in. The rice merchant would first measure the rice into a large scoop – hold it up for the buyer to be reassured they were receiving full measure – and then, as he was lowering the scoop to pour the rice into their bag, he would subtly pour a small amount of the rice back into the large bin. This slight shaving resulted in more profit for him, since he did it to everyone.

SINCE MANKIND IS INHERENTLY EVIL< THIS STORY SHOULD NOT SURPRISE US. BUT< IT SHOULD SADDEN US.

We must admit, that we all “shave off,” here and there in our dealings with our fellow man, and with respect to honoring the Lord. Do we give “full measure?” Or, do we hold back somewhat? Just a little here and there? Does He have our whole heart? Or have we kept back a portion for the world? Do we cut corners in our worship and service?

DON’T SHVE OFF OR CUT CORNERS IN YOUR WORSHIP AND WITNESSING, FOR HE HAS GIVEN US THIS PROMISE –

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

sage

The Reward of Heeding Wisdom – 2

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The reward of heeding wisdom, is God Himself. He is our reward! This is in direct contrast to what the prosperity ministries teach. If we seek after Him with the same intensity as a carnal person would seek after buried treasure – He will reveal Himself to us.

We continue on the same theme. This time finding out exactly what happens when we receive this Godly wisdom.

10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

This “evil man” can come in the guise of a co-worker, a friend, TV personality, a worldly book or magazine, employer, family member, class mate, neighbor, internet, or even a passing acquaintance.

16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

Of course, the “strange woman” could be any woman. She could be the neighbor that dresses immodestly in front of your husband, the girl at work, the editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, one of the female false prophets on TV, your hairstylist, or even your kid’s Bible study teacher!

20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Proverbs 2: 10-22

And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

sage

Friday Proverb – Speak Softly and Carry a Big Bible!

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Oh – those loud, attention seekers. They speak without thinking, and put their proverbial feet in their mouths at every opportunity. Well, as annoying as they may be – the jabber mouths will not go on forever. The ones who take delight in mocking and ridiculing the Lord and His people will not get the last laugh!

Proverbs 10:31-32

³¹The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

Recalling that only those who are under the Blood of Christ are considered “just” by God – it does not bode well for those who have a froward tongue!

adjective: froward

(of a person) difficult to deal with; contrary.

In point of fact – our blessed Redeemer made mention of this very thing, while He was here in the flesh:

Matthew 12:36

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

How do we know what is “acceptable?” By reading, studying, and memorizing the Word of God. Being a Christian does not automatically cause you to speak with wisdom! This kind of righteousness comes only with having the mind of Christ, and making His thoughts and Words a part of you. And to prove that our own words can not count as wisdom, we look to our Savior once again, and see how He responded to the Devil during the temptation.

Matthew 4:3-10

³And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

⁴But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

⁵Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

⁶And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

⁷Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

⁸Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

⁹And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

¹⁰Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Notice that the Lord ONLY used Scripture to respond to the Devil. This is especially important for those Christians who somehow think the Old Testament no longer has meaning or importance to the Church! If the Living Christ thought it was important enough to quote – how are Christians confident in not doing so as well? Are we responding to temptation with our own logic and reason? Are we foolish enough to think that our own resources can outfox the Fox? The Devil? The Tempter? This one thing – failing to use the Word of God against temptation – is the greatest weakness of the Church.

Don’t get bogged down in debate with the evil one and his minions – you can’t possibly win against a supernatural intelligence like that using your own abilities. Use the Word of God as the sword of Truth! Memorize it, inhale it, study it, devour it. The wicked will flee. . .

sage

Friday Proverb – Holding the Line

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Proverbs 10:29

The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Once again, the Proverbs make a clear demarcation between the saved and the lost. The pagan world is stymied when Christians repeatedly stand tall in the face of adversity. They would prefer, if when faced with calamity, that we collapse and fall into the abyss of sinful behaviors that they are mired in. But – the Proverb states that the Lord is our strength. We do not need to resort to the world’s accepted methods – we have the Word of God. Nothing more is required to see us through life’s darkest hours.

Psalm 1:6
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Proverbs 10:30

The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

That’s right all you Mother Earth worshipers, you do NOT inherit the earth. No matter how much you do to “save the planet,” it won’t help – because it’s not yours to save. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it – and He will give it to whom He chooses. It will not be given to the unrepentant, that is a fact.

Psalm 37:29

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

Revelation 21:6-8

⁶And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

⁷He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

sage

Friday Proverb – Our Life and Hope

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The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Proverbs 10:27

While the Word of God does not guarantee a long earthly life to truly born again believers, it does follow reason that those who fear Him, and forsake sinful lifestyles will have better health and greater joy in life. While we are in our flesh – we long to be with Him, and having the knowledge of His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence will prevent us from taking a detour into the dark side.

Living the Holy Spirit filled life is a matter of surrendering our wills to His will. It is a matter of getting rid of our household gods and fleshly desires, and allowing the Holy Spirit to completely fill us. And while it seems that the wicked are holding sway at this moment in time – remember – that to God – there is no time! Time only exists here on earth – it is not a part of the heavenly realm.

The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

Proverbs 10:28

Yes – we must fear our Creator – but we must also hope in Him. One need only see the hard, brittle, look in the eyes of the abrasive atheists when they are attacking the Bible and Bible believers. It is a cold, dead expression – void of hope. And if the eyes truly are the window to the soul – what does that tell us? There is death where there is no hope – spiritual death. And then in the not so far off future – eternal death in the Lake of Fire.

We can be truly glad of heart, and take joy in the fact that our futures are already secure, and written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. There is no reason to fret over evil doers – because their future is already determined if they remain unrepentant. What a terrible thought.

The next time you hear news of murders, corruptions, and all the sundry evils that satan has in his arsenal, it would be wise to think where your hope is. It is not here! not in America, not in anything other than our blessed savior – Jesus Christ.

James 4:14

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

[Forgive me. I so wanted to post a video with the classic hymn – “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand,” but was unable to find one without a sensuous back-beat.]

sage

Friday Proverb – The Wicked Fear Death

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Proverbs 10:24-25

²⁴The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

Those that are unsaved and living for the world system, fear death to the point they will do almost anything to avoid it. Because they have no hope for the future, and no concept of an eternity – they cling with fervor to this earthly realm. Being completely self centered, they think nothing of killing the unborn, or using their body parts to extend their own lives.

²⁵As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

As believers, we know that our future is already sealed. That is our hope – something the wicked couldn’t possibly understand. With Jesus Christ as our Righteous and Everlasting foundation, we are known by name, are built onto – and permanently attached to Him. Once we are in heaven with the Lord, the wicked will no more come to our minds. Or to the Lord’s mind! And how grateful we should be for that! Not to think about what the evil are up to anymore – that sounds like heaven to me.

Isaiah 65:11-17

¹¹But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget My holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

¹²Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before Mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, My servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, My servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:

¹⁴Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

¹⁵And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call His servants by another name:

¹⁶That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from Mine eyes.

¹⁷For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

sage

Friday Proverb – What Do You Trust In?

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How many of us think, that if we only had enough money in the bank, or enough food in storage, or enough gold coins, or enough whatever – that we would be safe from impending doom?

Or conversely, how many of us rely on our poverty to sustain us? Believing that some entity or other will always be there to pick us up after we fall, or feed, clothe, shelter, and educate us merely because we exist? Assuming no harm can befall us because “they” will help?

Proverbs 10:15

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city:

This image applies to both aspects of the Proverb – because within a city or any metropolitan area like that – both the wealthy and the poor live within yards of each other. Artificial insulation deceives the dwellers into thinking that all is well. The wealthy thinks his high tower protects him, and the poor thinks the system will protect him. And it doesn’t only apply to cities – think of the wealthy plantations in the South before the Civil War. They were micro-complexes of supra-independence. But many of them were razed and burned to the ground – lock, stock, and barrel.

the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Do people trust in poverty? Absolutely! It is the same assumption that the wealthy make – trusting in the world. Content to let others care for them – the poor will end in destruction says the Proverb.

Not everyone who is poor or wealthy must end this way. It is a matter of where we put our trust. Trusting in ourselves, in money, in “prepping,” in the government, in family, in religion, in education, in the media, in anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ – is folly and destruction for both the rich and the poor.

Psalm 118:8-9

⁸It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

⁹It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Please look at verse 8 above – putting confidence in man – includes yourself! V. 9 – putting confidence in princes is the same as putting confidence in politicians.

Psalm 9:9-10

⁹The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

¹⁰And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.

sage

Friday Proverb – Measured Speech

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There is an entire industry devoted to “prepping,” or the storing up of food and provisions in cases of extreme emergency. But there is something else we need to think about storing up. And it is something that is mentioned frequently in the Word of God – while “prepping” is not. Indeed – it would not be an exaggeration to state that “prepping” has become a religion to many people!

Another way to describe storing up – is laying up.

Proverbs 10:14

Wise men lay up knowledge:

It has been stressed repeatedly throughout these Friday Proverb studies – that the only thing truly worth knowing about – is God’s Word. It is the foundation and cornerstone of all knowledge and wisdom. There is nothing – NOTHING – more important to our earthly sojourn – than to “lay up” knowledge of His Book! If you don’t – you fall into the “but” category of this Proverb-

but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

The fact is – If we posted all the fools featured on television in just one day – from all the different sources such as news and talk shows – wordpress would probably crash!

Thinking before speaking is a sign of wisdom. Laying up knowledge before speaking is another sign of wisdom. Far too many open their mouths to opine on things they know nothing about. By prefacing their opinion with an “I think,” they believe they are qualified to hold forth, often having no more understanding of what they are talking about than a child would. Moreover – they resist any efforts by others to teach them what they do not understand! That is willfully ignorant! And my friends – Christians are guilty of this too. . .

Is ignorance an excuse? Not for believers! We are told again and again to feed on the Word. The more we take in the deep things of God – the more we will know when to speak and what to say, and when to hold our tongues. What should come out of our mouths, is not our thoughts – but His thoughts. And the only way to know His thoughts – is by laying up the Words in His Book!

James 1:19

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath

James 1:26

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

sage

Friday Proverb – Praise or Punishment?

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Unruly behavior is one thing – unruly mouths are another. Using our mouths to glorify Him is wisdom, which only comes from Him.

Proverbs 10:13

In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found:

Any wisdom that comes forth from our mouths comes from Him. Having understanding is different than having knowledge. The depth of our understanding will be commensurate to our walk with Him. Many sheeple devote their energies to earning advanced degrees or to studying the evil antics of politicians. From a humanistic perspective, they could be identified as having great knowledge. Yet – they do not have understanding. No passage in Scripture expresses this difference better than the following:

Job 42:5-6

⁵I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.

⁶Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

In the forty-two chapters of the Book of Job, he makes an arduous journey from the mere knowledge of God – to the true understanding of God. When Job submits – he receives understanding.

but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

At its very essence – the above verse means exactly what it says . . . rejecting Jesus Christ demonstrates a complete void of understanding.

Friday Proverb – Love People, Hate Sin

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Is that a tired and trite old saying – “Hate the sin, love the sinner?” The ecumenical church movement has hijacked the Biblical definition of love, and morphed it into a mushy, weak-willed tolerance. Tolerance is not love! Oh you who say that God is Love, must also recognize that God is Truth – and His Truth can not lie. And His Truth will not allow us to lie to ourselves. We can dig into this even deeper. . .

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes:

The infamous Westboro Baptist Church perfectly typifies this Proverb. Their hatred has consumed them, and causes people outside the faith to make assumptions about others who carry the name of Baptist. Hatred blinds us to the Truth – the Truth of the Gospel, which includes the truth of our own sin. Hatred causes families to fall apart, and continuous strife between people for every reason under the sun. If there is no forgiveness – there is hatred, resentment, bitterness, and misery. Often lasting a lifetime.

Do you have someone you hate? Perhaps you were abused or neglected, and have good reason. But the hatred and bitterness you hold for that person or people, will eat away inside you, causing internal strife – and stealing your inner peace.

but love covereth all sins.

Wow. Take a good long look at the above picture. That is an aged parent and adult child clasping hands. It isn’t always a parent that has hurt us – sometimes it’s a sibling, neighbor, employer, teacher, friend, spouse, religious leader, peers, coworker, some corrupt entity or other . . . no matter what the source – the resentment and hatred is the same. It could be something like a visceral hatred of the government – to the girl who made fun of you in 7th grade. Only when you let that go – and allow yourself to forgive (we’re not saying you will forget) and stop holding so tightly to the hatred that is sustaining you – can you experience the Perfect Love that covereth all sins.

You can’t do it on your own, pray to Him for help, and He will relieve you of that burden. Once you are relieved of that terrible canker eating away at you, you will feel the covering of that sin like a soothing blanket, and the terror and anguish and hatred of whoever or whatever was the recipient of that hatred (deserving or not) will fade away like yesterdays clouds on a sunny day.

It is His love, and His love alone, that makes this possible.

1 John 4:17-19

¹⁷Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.

¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹We love Him, because He first loved us.

1 Corinthians 13:7

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

If you do not forgive – your unforgiveness will grow and fester into hate.

Let His perfect love cast out that resentment, and feel the freedom of His perfect love. Love does not require you to become someone’s doormat – love frees you from hatred. Your view will change – and you will see the the person you hated – as a miserable sinner who needs salvation. Suddenly, things that seemed really important will diminish, and the Gospel and the sharing of it, will become what is most important to you.

Friday Proverb – A Well of Life or a Cesspool of Violence?

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Oh, the power of the tongue to commit good and evil! Wars have been waged over verbal missteps. Studies show that children parrot what their parents say -good or bad. Throughout Scripture, we are taught to speak with measure and care. The unsaved will judge the entire church and the Godhead by what just one Christian says! It is so important, that there are dozens and dozens of verses relating to what people say with their mouths, not just their actions.

Proverbs 10:11

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life:

With our words we can encourage, comfort, teach, edify, and otherwise do great things through the Righteousness of Christ. We can ask Him to speak through us – to use us to glorify Him. The only righteousness the believer can possess is the Righteousness of Jesus Christ – it is His Holy Spirit working through us that allows our words to be a well of life. And done in His Spirit – our words can do the work we are here for. We can worship Him – and we can witness about Him. All with words. And at the Judgment Seat of Christ we will be rewarded for what we have done with words.

When we talk about the gospel to the unsaved – we are giving someone a lifeline – we are giving living water from the well of life – Jesus Christ!

The second half of this Proverb must be fairly important, because it is repeated twice in Proverbs 10.

but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

Once again we see that the wicked will not be able to speak to defend themselves. Right now – it seems that the wicked are in great power, and have control of the air waves, and all media. Scripture assures us that this will not last much longer. And these scorners and mockers of Jesus Christ will not be allowed to speak at the Great White Throne Judgment when the charges are made against them. No lawyers to speak for them, or juries to empathize with them. Jesus Christ is the Judge, and Jury.

Revelation 20:11-13

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Please don’t delay getting right with the LORD. Now is the right time to find Him – not after you are dead. After this life is over – there is an eternity – and it is up to you to choose how you will spend it. That is the free- will given to man by God. We must choose Him. And we must come to Him by the way He specifies in His Word – the Bible. If you would like to talk to us about it – please email at:

vinevigil@gmail.com

Friday Proverb – Complicity and Foolishness

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Is it enough to worry only about our own sins? So many lovely Christians feel they should not ever judge, and allow people to work out their own misery. But where do we draw the line? Do we let someone drown in water? Do we let someone drown in sin? Is there any difference?

Proverbs 10:10

He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow:

In the true understanding of the 1611 KJV, “winketh with the eye,” quite literally means “turning a blind eye.” This is something that everyone is guilty of, including Christians. We need to speak up, not sit on our hands! Just the fact that Christians as a whole have been cowed into passivity in the past does not mean we need to let it continue. If you see something that is wrong – speak out! Yes – especially if it is in your church. . .

God has “turned a blind eye” intentionally to the world’s free-fall into utter depravity, but He will not always do so!

Acts 17:29-31

²⁹Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

³⁰And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

³¹Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.

but a prating fool shall fall.

We all know them, even at church. Give them a mic and they never want to let go. I am saying this as kindly as possible to my brothers and sisters – listening is a great gift that every believer should try to cultivate within themselves. Let’s not think about ourselves, but let us always have in mind the well-being of others. Many times, the well being of others involves listening to them with hearing, understanding and compassion. The less time we spend thinking and talking about ourselves, the more time we will have for others and even more importantly The LORD, and the more filled and empowered with the Holy Spirit we will be.

Friday Proverb – Staying Out of Harm’s Way

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The title pretty much says it all, but on this blog we like to delve into the “deep things of God.” Most Christians make a cursory pass through the Book of Proverbs, especially the chapters consisting of scores of one verse axioms. Is that really how the Lord wants us to study His precious Word? No, it isn’t. We are admonished over and over again throughout the Bible that His Word is paramount to knowing and serving Him. Each Word. Not just the easy passages which “speak to your heart.”

Proverbs 10:9

**He that walketh uprightly walketh surely:**

Merriam Webster: upright – marked by strong moral rectitude <an upright citizen>

Marked by “strong moral rectitude?” That means it should be observable by others. No one should ever be able to say – “why would I want to be a Christian – you’re no better or different than anyone else!” The public failures of prominent Christians have done great damage to the furtherance of the Gospel. We have a great obligation – famous or not – to walk uprightly. Not only for our own safety and well-being; but for a walking testimony. Christians will be held to a higher standard because we are a target of the evil one. Do not let the lusts of this world spoil your testimony! Walk surely and safely on the narrow path – for your own sake, as well as the sakes of those watching you.

**but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.**

Merriam Webster: pervert

a : to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right : corrupt

b : to cause to turn aside or away from what is generally done or accepted : misdirect

This second part of the Proverb is interestingly phrased. How often the sinner thinks that he’s “getting away with it.” The idea of “secret sin” is a misnomer if there ever was one. It is sold to us as a “guilty pleasure,” and that you have a “right to indulge yourself.” One of the most over-used copouts of the porn addict is that “it’s not hurting anyone.” Prominent pastors caught in adultery never go into the affair with the idea that they will be found out!

Famous pervert, Oscar Wilde, gave the practice of “secret sin,” the literary treatment in his classic – The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Wilde and his friends knew the effects of the libertine, perverted lifestyle only too well. In this fantasy novel, the beautiful Dorian Gray makes a deal with the evil one, which would cause all the excesses of his licentious activities to only appear on his portrait – not his own face or body. The catch to this was, that the more his sins were hidden, the more perverted he became, even offending his libertine friends. It has long been a trick of Satan to sell the bills of goods, without revealing the “side effects.” Those most deeply immersed in a sinful lifestyle, are usually the last to know how their choices have caught up with them. There is no hiding it – the Proverb says – “his ways shall be known!”

If you are struggling with an addiction, please realize that it is rooted in sin. And sin is sin is sin. Calling it something else does not change what it is. Face up to it, and call on the Lord Jesus Christ to free you from that bondage. Bondage to sin and perversion is not freedom, even though at the outset – it may seem very freeing to be released from moral constraints. But it is not freedom at all – rather – it is the worst kind of bondage to a very harsh taskmaster known as the Father of Lies. And he does not love you or care whether you live or die. But Jesus Christ loves you so much that He died for all the terrible things you’ve done – so that you can live forever and spend eternity with Him.

John 8:36

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Friday Proverb – How Well Do We Receive Instruction?

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If you are a regular reader of these Friday Proverb studies, you will be well grounded in the fact that true wisdom only comes from God. Intelligence is not to be confused with wisdom! Your IQ is largely a combination of genes, whereas Godly wisdom is a gift from our Creator.

James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Today’s Proverb demonstrates the stark contrast between the wise and foolish.

Proverbs 10:8

The wise in heart will receive commandments:

How much do you love the Word of God? Do you put it aside for sports, soap operas, or other worldly pursuits? How do you feel about Bible Doctrine? Do you find it wearying? Or edifying? Do you think you know all there is to know about Bible doctrine? Or do you feel you could spend your whole lifetime studying the Word and still never know it all? This discussion brings to my mind a rather infamous intellectual, who is completely devoid of wisdom:

This man, Bill O’ Reilly, claimed on numerous occasions that the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is a collection of allegories. How on earth would he know that? While no one could argue that he is indeed intelligent – he is completely bereft of wisdom, because he is completely bereft of the Holy Spirit. He can not understand doctrine because he does not know the Teacher. Nor can he receive doctrine – because he is not even in the classroom with the students of the Word. And, like many others outside the household of faith – he creates his own doctrine!

but a prating fool shall fall.

Millions upon millions of sheeple mistakenly believe that today is “Good Friday,” or the day that our Lord was crucified. Why do they believe that? Because they took the word of a powerful, organized religion – the Roman Catholic Church – over the Word of God. Rather than searching and studying the Scriptures for themselves – they let the Vatican do it for them. Virtually all organized religions now believe this teaching of the corrupt Roman church. We even follow their calendar!

Whenever we receive our doctrine from something other than the Bible – we are fools.

John 5:39

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.

Friday Proverb – How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

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It is endlessly fascinating to me, just how specific the Word of God is on virtually every subject. Most thinking people are aware on some level of the basic human desire to be remembered after passing on. Some call it a legacy – some want their name in the history books – some want a nice eulogy at their funeral. However it is expressed – it seems to exist in all people on some level – and that is why it is addressed in the Bible.

What is notable about the Bible and Its treatment of this subject, is that It is only concerned with God’s memory of our legacies. Not things made with human hands, such as plaques, memorials, headstones, charitable trusts, art work etc. . .

Do you know that to God – there are only two kinds of people? Sheep and goats, or saved and unsaved. That’s right – not good, bad, hard working, lazy, selfish, charitable or greedy – it makes no difference. You are either justified and sanctified by the Blood of Christ or you are not.

Proverbs 10:7

The memory of the just is blessed:

Think about that – if you repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior He has promised that He will not remember your sins, because God will only see His righteousness – and we achieve justification through Him.

Psalm 103:11-13

¹¹For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear Him.

¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.

but the name of the wicked shall rot.

No matter how famous, no matter how much charity, no matter how many good works – the promise for the wicked unrepentant is that every idle deed and word is remembered – none of the record of their world famous deeds will stand – none of their riches – not even a bowling trophy! The only thing, the only thing that matters is that you trust in Him today without delay!

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

⁷And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

⁸In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

⁹Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power;

Friday Proverb – The Wicked Will Not Always Prosper

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As wickedness grows apace in this world, believers sometimes wonder longingly when the LORD will call them home. The Word of God is implicitly clear – He is keeping track – and He will hold all accountable.

Proverbs 10:6

**Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.**

It is extremely important to understand the meaning of the word “just” in the first section of this Proverb. Who are the just? Those who seek after righteousness through saving faith in God’s Christ! No one can be just on their own – because no one can obtain their own righteousness. And Who is our Head? Jesus Christ of course!

1 Corinthians 11:3

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

It is evident in this Proverb that blessings come to us only through Jesus Christ – Who is both our Head and our Righteousness. And what blessings they are! Pardon from sin, limitless peace, rest for our souls, every sanctifying grace, adoption, eternal life. . . need I say more? What joy! What bliss! What a Savior!

The second part of this Proverb is sad indeed. We see the wicked prospering in the world, and it “vexes our souls,” as it should! But look closely at that verse – and you will see it says something far more than most think it does. “Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” Picture this, because this is what the Word is saying – the unrepentant will NOT be able to answer when the charges are brought against them at the Great White Throne Judgment! Their mouths will be “covered with violence.” There will be no pleading or bargaining involved, such as the courts of law hold today. No negotiating – no reduced sentences – no parole. . .no purgatory!

If you belong to an organized religion or cult, or are an atheist or agnostic – please think carefully about this Proverb – because it tells the future in one short sentence. Think about a trial – where you are not even allowed to speak – and every idle word, deed, and thought you ever had is exposed and read aloud for all to hear. You will have no defense – because your mouth will be covered.

Do not think this is some cruel fate – you have had ample time to repent, and the Lord is not willing that any should perish. Now is the time – not next year, or in a couple of years after you get done “living your life.” The time is never going to get better than right this minute. Turn to Jesus Christ, your Creator and Savior, please do it now because you may not get the chance later.

Luke 12:16-21

¹⁶And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

¹⁸And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Friday Proverb – Those Lazy Days of Summer

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The ease with which food can be procured in this country, gives us a false sense of security. The entitlement syndrome has left the populace with the idea that they are owed something. Food, clothing, shelter, education – all are deemed “rights” by a sinful and lazy flock of sheeple. The evil shepherd of our nation, is placed in judgment over us – as we demand more and more – the evil shepherd promises more and more. And leads the lazy sheeple to slaughter.

Proverbs 10:5

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

You need not be involved in agriculture to make a life application out of this particular Proverb. Allow me to give a personal example of how I use it it, and have ignored, it to my great discomfort.

Living in the Great Lakes area guarantees mercurial weather. Thanks to John Coleman, we have the blessings of the Weather Channel, and are able to chart the weather for more than one day. In times past, when looking at the weather, there might have been in winter time, a one or two day window biweekly, where the weather was more amenable to driving (ergo – safer and less stressful.) Did I wisely take advantage of this window? I am ashamed to say that I did not always do so – and found my family on several occasions having to go without some things for days before it was safe to drive again. Shameful and lazy!

When we have plenty, we tend to take it for granted – just as the ancient Hebrews did . . .

Deuteronomy 6:10-15

¹⁰And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which He sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

¹¹And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

¹²Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

¹³Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him, and shalt swear by His name.

¹⁴Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

¹⁵(For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

If you think about it honestly – do you really thing about where your water is coming from? How about your clothing? Do you thank God for every bite of food that goes into your mouth – or do you wish you had something better? How about your shelter? Clothing? Do you take care of and give thanks for what you have? Can you do better at working for the comfort and safety of your loved ones? This could even be applied to shoveling the snow off the roof, sidewalk or driveway – before the ice storm! Or if you live in an arid region – putting out the rain barrels before the rainy season! You’d be surprised how many people put off these things when it is the best time to do them – because of electronic distractions/addictions – like TV, internet, and telephone.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Kc7TVmnZw4E%3Fsi%3DC0SDUGYjyDHdWvEv

Silly Symphony The Grasshopper And The Ants HD (1934)

Friday Proverb – Working Hard? or Hardly Working?

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The Laodicean church mood of today, promulgates the notion that “God loves me no matter what I do.” While that is a true statement, it is incomplete. Just like our earthly fathers when faced with rebellion, He loves us as children, but hates what we do.

Bible believers are commanded in many places in the Word to do their best. Today’s Proverb follows this theme:

Proverbs 10:4

⁴He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Living in the greater Detroit Metro area, we are treated to the frequent teacher’s strikes that occur every few years in that crumbling, once great city.

I am forced to wonder why so many of them are overweight, so much to the point that they are wider than the poster boards they brandish!

It is sinful human nature to gravitate towards pleasure and away from pain and discomfort.

This Proverb applies to all of us – from home maker, to bottom rung corporate employee, to the head of a massive organization. We do not work for money – we work to honor the God we serve!

Homemakers – do you have laundry and dishes piled up? Are you allowing food to go to waste? Are you shopping with care and thrift? If not – then you are dealing with a slack hand.

Hourly worker – are you frittering away time when you could be getting things done? Do you spend time thinking about how the managers aren’t working as hard as you are? Do you help yourself to things at your place of work because everyone else does it? Then you are dealing with a slack hand.

CEO – do you spend hours at the golf course now that you’ve “made it?” Do you take advantage of tax exemptions to make your life more cushy with “business expenses” that aren’t really business expenses? Do you take advantage of underlings? Then you are dealing with a slack hand.

Remember brothers and sisters, we are concerned with treasures in heaven – not here on earth! If you are feeling unappreciated, underpaid, and overwhelmed in your sphere of labor, whether in the home or in a factory – so what! So what if you are unappreciated by your boss. If you work with a diligent hand – you are appreciated by Someone much more powerful than your boss, ( or kids or spouse for that matter.)

Please see the studies on the Rewards of Crowns on our apologetics page to see where and how, you, beloveds, will be truly rewarded for your diligence.

Even if you are working in a situation (very likely) that does not allow you to speak about your faith – your life can be a witness!

1 Peter 2:11-17

¹¹Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

¹²Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

¹³Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

¹⁴Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

¹⁵For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

¹⁶As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

¹⁷Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Friday Proverb – The Position of Souls

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So many Christians can not see past this fleshly world, and only focus on the “rewards” in this life, despite the overabundance of teachings in the New Testament stressing just the opposite.

Our LORD has forever been concerned with the condition and future of our souls. All men (not animals!) are born with a soul that lives forever. Forever is a long, long time. It is the choice we make in this temporal, fleshly life that determines where the soul will spend eternity. If you think we just came through an interminable, desolate winter – imagine eternity without any Light.

Proverbs 10:3

The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish:

but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, if you do not know the wonderful knowledge of peace and hope that only He can give, please, right now, ask Him to be your Savior. Tell Him that you know you are a sinner, and that you know that you can not save yourself. Look at those pictures above? Which one do you want? Eternity forever alone, forever desolate and miserable? Or eternity in the Light with your Creator? Many people worry about leaving a legacy, wanting their names to be remembered in history – notice that the incredibly rich man in the following Parable is nameless. . .

Luke 16:19-25

¹⁹There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

²⁰And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

²¹And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

²³And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

²⁵But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

²⁶And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

²⁷Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

²⁸For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

²⁹Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

³⁰And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

³¹And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though One rose from the dead.

Friday Proverb – Ill Gotten Gains

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Proverbs 10:2

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing:

Some would look at this illustration and think it belongs to another, “less civilized” era. Mankind has not changed, just the dressings have. There are more that will deceive and take advantage of others, than there are that won’t. We all need to be very circumspect in this matter. Even pocketing extra change mistakenly given to you by a cashier constitutes as a “treasure of wickedness.” There may be some people who seem to be “getting away with it,” but they will be judged. Perhaps not in this life, but definitely in the next.

but righteousness delivereth from death.

Not deliverance physical death, perhaps, but deliverance from eternal death in the Lake of Fire – yes. Only those who have admitted their sinfulness, and turned towards Jesus Christ and asked Him into their hearts are considered righteous. In God’s eyes there are only two kinds of people in the world – sheep and goats – or – saved and unsaved.

Matthew 25:31-33

³¹When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:

³²And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

³³And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Friday Proverb – Wise and Foolish Sons

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Chapters 10-15 of Proverbs consist entirely of comparisons made between the wise and the foolish. The Lord Who made us, understands how our minds work. We always crave comparisons. It is part of our very nature. Over the next weeks as we look at these comparisons, we should examine ourselves and question honestly – which category do we fall in – wise or foolish?

Proverbs 10:1

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father:

but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

The pride a man can have in his son is to be expected. Every man wants to make himself over, except “better.” When the son grows up pleasing his father with his behavior and choices, the father’s heart is gladdened in a way that most women have trouble understanding.

At the same time, when a son does things that she deems to be immoral and/or destructive to himself and others, it is a heaviness on the mother’s heart that most men would have trouble understanding. Fathers can usually forgive their son’s moral lapses more easily than mothers can. For her, this child of her body is laying boulders of pressing, hurtful weight. Historically, women have been dependent on their sons, especially in the case of widowhood, which was not an unusual situation.

We can think of the greatest Son who ever lived, Who, in the last few moments of His earthly life, had compassion on His mother, and appointed His most beloved disciple to care for her. He was the wisest Son of all . . .

John 19:25-27

²⁵Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

²⁶When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son!

²⁷Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Are you a wise son? Or are you a foolish son? As an adult – any rifts you have with your parents are not worth nurturing. Not in the bigger picture of eternal life. Do the wise thing – and gladden your father’s heart, and relieve your mother’s .

Friday Proverb – Avoid Foolish Women!

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Today’s Proverb is short and heavy hitting. Last week, Wisdom was inviting us in – this week – Wisdom’s polar opposite opens her door and beckons – she is . . .

FOOLISHNESS

Proverbs 9:13-17

¹³A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

¹⁴For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

¹⁵To call passengers who go right on their ways:

(Nowadays – this woman can beckon from cyberspace)

¹⁶Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

¹⁷Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

Secret? Her claim is ludicrous.

(does anyone seriously think they can hide sin from The LORD?)

Numbers 32:23

**. . . behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.**

Proverbs 9:18

But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Wisdom and foolishness live right across the street from each other. Indeed – they may even dwell in the same house!

Friday Proverb – Wisdom’s Invitation

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Last week, the lesson for us was that godly wisdom is eternal riches – unlike the fading riches of this world. Today – we learn to listen to wisdom’s call. . .

Proverbs 9:1-12

Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

³She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

⁴Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

⁵Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

⁶Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Here, wisdom is likened to a home maker, whose house is well kept, and furnished with comforts of food and drink. Hardly anyone can deny the appeal of a well laid table. In vs. 4 – wisdom pleads with “the simple,” to come and eat and drink their fill of the riches of godly wisdom. Wisdom finishes by adjuring the simple ones to forsake foolishness, and LIVE in wisdom.

The Proverb goes on to give an example for living in godly wisdom. I can’t help but think of the recent debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham in regards to this Proverb. See if you agree with me!

⁷He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

⁸Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

It is unfortunate, but true, that the only thing that was accomplished by that entertaining debate – was funding. Bill Nye is a scorner – he proved that in his ridicule of the Bible. God would call Mr. Nye a fool – yet the world loves him. Scorners are not to be rebuked! If you just look at the eyes of those two men – the difference between the flint hard glare of Mr. Nye and the tender expression of Mr. Ham’s is a good indication of the condition of the heart. Scorners have hearts of stone.

Matthew 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Ken Ham will be blessed by God for his tenacious defense of the Gospel. Was he shamed? In the eyes of the fallen world – yes. Bill Nye will receive the world’s accolades.

¹⁰The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

¹¹For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

¹²If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

Friday Proverb – Sluggish Workers

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I’m sure we’ve all seen it – one or two people actually working – while the vast majority are standing or sitting around doing nothing. While it has always been sinful human nature to be lazy – certainly the death of the famous Protestant Work Ethic has elevated sluggishness to a lifestyle – perhaps even an art form.

Proverbs 10:26

As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes,

Bitter and burning – that is what the sluggard is to employers and those in authority. And the taste of vinegar is long lasting and memorable – as is smoke in the eyes. Never will the sluggard be looked on in any other way, than as a sluggard or potential sluggard.

So is the sluggard to them that send him.

Do we really want the world to see believers that way? Think about that word – sluggard. Not at all a pleasant image to think about. And it is also unpleasant to recognize, that the sluggard does not only hurt himself and the image of the church – he leaves a slime trail.

Which means that though the sluggard is being self indulgent, he really is leaving a sticky trap behind him for others to see where he’s been, where he is going, and where to follow. . .

There are so many behaviors that qualify as sluggish, in the church, it would be impossible to list them all here. We could fully embrace the Lord’s perfection, and even recognize such sins as adultery and gluttony as sluggishness. For example, the lazy spouse will seek outside relationships, or even internet pornography, rather than working on their marriage. A sluggish body will eat copious amounts of easily obtained foods, rather than prepare healthy foods to eat – because the preparation (planning, shopping, cooking) requires effort and – work.

We are to blame for the situations we find ourselves in. Bad decisions are one thing – and sluggishness is its evil twin. Let us strive to put our best foot forward – and show to the sinful, fallen world, the radiance of a Holy Spirit filled life, and reflect outwards – the Light of the Son.

Friday Proverb – Wisdom is Everlasting

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After a thorough examination of the immoralities connected to our flesh, we move to delve into the wonders of godly wisdom.

Proverbs 8:1-5

8 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

²She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

³She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

⁴Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

⁵O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

A cynic would respond to this by saying they do not see or hear wisdom anywhere. They only see and hear the evil doings of men. We would wonder then, at the hardness of the cynic’s heart. The majesty of God and His natural world is available to anyone, anywhere. To be oblivious to His work is to be lost.

⁶Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

⁷For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

⁹They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

Godly wisdom can never be false – it is His truth out of our mouths and actions. Godly wisdom will never be unruly, or ignorant.

¹⁰Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

¹²I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

¹³The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

¹⁴Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

¹⁵By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

¹⁶By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

¹⁷I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

¹⁸Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

²⁰I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

²¹That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

Oh you prosperity preachers – shame! The riches of the Lord are never material!!!!

Friday Proverb – The Wiles of a Harlot

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Proverbs 7:1-5

7 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

²Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

³Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

⁴Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

⁵That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

⁶For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

⁷And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

⁸Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

⁹In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

¹⁰And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

Although the dressings have changed – the behavior of people has not. What Solomon advises his son, still applies today. “The attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart,” could describe millions of immoral women in the world today. They are everywhere now – so much to the point that a man, young or old, would have to put his eyes out to avoid seeing them!

¹¹(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

¹²Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

¹³So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

¹⁴I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

¹⁵Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

¹⁶I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

¹⁷I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

¹⁸Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

¹⁹For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

²⁰He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

This immoral woman is married! And even admits to the foolish fellow with the wandering eye that her husband has taken money with him and won’t be home.

²¹With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

O dear lord – how many are seduced by flattery?

²²He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

²³Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

²⁴Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

²⁵Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

How do the wiles of harlot entrap men now? How about internet porn? “Adult” entertainment? Television? Cheer leaders? Office flirtations? Beaches? Malls? Magazines? Just walking down the street? Church???? Is there any escape?

²⁴Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

²⁵Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

**²⁶For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.**

²⁷Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

The LORD will always provide you with a way out of temptation. The best thing to do is avoid it – entirely. If you can not look without lusting – DO NOT LOOK!!!! Even if you have to throw out your television! Avert your eyes, and your heart will be safer. I know this is easier said than done, but it can be done.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Friday Proverb – More Warnings Against Adultery

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Proverbs 6:20-35

²⁰My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

²¹Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

²²When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

Instruction from godly parents is to be integral to the young Christian. Holding tightly to such counsel, will be a boon to resisting the world, the flesh, and the devil!

²³For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

²⁴To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

²⁵Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

²⁶For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.

Often people blame the man in instances of adultery. Certainly – in cases where the female is underage, he is 100% responsible. But – in the sin of two adults – both are responsible. Women who pursue married men are considered whores in the Bible. Not long ago in our culture – women who did such things were called home-wreckers. Now they are glorified in the media, and money is thrown at them for their evil doings.

²⁷Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

²⁸Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

²⁹So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

The Proverb summarizes in the next six verse, by comparing adultery to stealing bread. If one steals because he is starving, it is more easily forgiven. If one steals when one has plenty – it is deserving of revenge.

³⁰Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

³¹But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

³²But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

³³A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

³⁴For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

³⁵He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Why is fidelity in marriage stressed over and over again in the Bible? Because the marriage between one man and one women is God ordained, and is intended to picture the relationship between Christ and His church.

Isaiah 61:10

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Friday Proverb – Seven Deadly Sins

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Last Friday, we studied that falsehood can ruin our lives. The next passage of Proverbs is so dramatic and intense, that it has received the Hollywood treatment, being featured in a movie, a television series, and a four part mini-series.

**These six things doth the lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him.**

abomination = a person or thing that is disgusting; an action that is vicious, vile, etc.; intense loathing

Sin is a very, very, serious offense against God.

A proud look

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A lying tongue

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

and hands that shed innocent blood.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

feet that be swift in running to mischief.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

a false witness that speaketh lies.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

and he that soweth discord among the brethren.

Proverbs 6:16-19

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All sin is wicked in God’s sight. Humans tend to “categorize” sin by making relative comparisons. In man’s eyes, lying is not as serious of a sin as murder is – but this famous Proverb proves that lying is an abomination to The LORD. Even the “smallest” sin will keep a person out of heaven. That means, even our “little white lies,” and gossiping had to be placed on Jesus Christ at Calvary. We all need to embrace God’s perspective of sin, and completely eliminate man’s perspective.

God treats all sin very seriously.

Proverbs 11:2

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame:

but with the lowly is wisdom.

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Proverbs 11:1

A false balance is abomination to the Lord:

but a just weight is His delight.

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

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22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Proverbs 2: 10-22

And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

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Proverbs 10:31-32

31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Matthew 4:3-10

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

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Proverbs 10:29

The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Psalm 1:6For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Proverbs 10:30

The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

Psalm 37:29

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

Revelation 21:6-8

6 And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

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The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Proverbs 10:27

The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

Proverbs 10:28

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

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24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

Isaiah 65:11-17

11 But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget My holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before Mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

13 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, My servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, My servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:

14 Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call His servants by another name:

16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from Mine eyes.

17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

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Proverbs 10:15

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city:

the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Psalm 118:8-9

8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Psalm 9:9-10

9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

10 And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.

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Proverbs 10:14

Wise men lay up knowledge:

but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

James 1:19

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath

James 1:26

²When pride cometh, then cometh shame:

³¹The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

³And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

⁴But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

⁵Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

⁶And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

⁷Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

⁸Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

⁹And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

¹⁰Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Psalm 1:6
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

⁶And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

⁷He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

²⁴The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

²⁵As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

¹¹But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget My holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

¹²Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before Mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, My servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, My servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:

¹⁴Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

¹⁵And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call His servants by another name:

¹⁶That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from Mine eyes.

¹⁷For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

⁸It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

⁹It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

⁹The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

¹⁰And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.

⁵I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.

⁶Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

¹⁷Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.

¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹We love Him, because He first loved us.

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

²⁹Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

³⁰And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

³¹Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.

**He that walketh uprightly walketh surely:**

**but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.**

¹¹For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear Him.