Proverbs - Being Good Pays Off

Proverbs 14:19

The evil bow before the good;

and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Sometimes when people are directly disobeying their Creator’s laws of life, they seem happy and successful.  We can even start to wonder whether keeping God’s Word really makes a difference.  Here we see what eventually happens.  The evil will bow before the good and the wicked bow at the gates of the righteous.  In Psalm 73, David started to be hypnotized and deceived by the apparent success of evildoers.  They seemed so happy and together.

                   

Ps 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

David was going by what he saw and his conclusions led him to envy.  The wicked seemed to be getting away with everything and enjoying life to the fullest.  Ladies, what we see and what is really happening in the hearts of men are often very far apart.  The Christmas card picture always looks like everyone is doing well.  When we meet up for the holidays, everyone is dressed their best, and presenting their polished presence.  In Psalm 73 we learn that David was in a “slippery place” and full of unnecessary pain by looking at others and coming to the wrong conclusions based on what he saw and thought.  Ladies, we are in a good place when we focus on obeying our Maker and doing what is right in His sight.  In the long run we will remain standing no matter how high and lifted up others seem to be.  In the same Psalm the Lord tells us that the wicked are in slippery places as well and that what may appear as success can be over in just a moment.

Ps 73:16 -19 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.  Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Once David went into the sanctuary of God, then he understood how things were going to end up.  We need to come into His presence and bring our observations before Him.  Our own evaluations could very well be rooted in partial truths and be used by our adversary to cause us to question our God’s goodness and truth.  Ps 37:3 says, “Trust in the LORD, and do good ; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”

Knowing God - His Name is Exceleent

Ps 148:13

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

The Lord’s name is excellent and it is His name alone that is.  The Lord’s glory is above the earth and heaven.  There are many famous people, dead and alive.  A name is mentioned and people have a response of awe or wonder. Whether the person is a famous actress, historical figure, a revolutionary, a scientific genius or noble warrior; these all illicit a sense of respect and wonder in those who hear their names.  How much more should the name of Jesus bring about a sense of awe and impress us deep within?  His name ALONE is excellent.  His name represents who He is and all He has done.  A name is known by the reputation behind that name.  Our God’s glory is WAY above anything here on earth or in heaven.  Let us consider the One whose name alone is excellent and come to the place where ALL other name pale in comparison to who He is and what He has done.

Proverbs - Simple vs. Prudence

Proverbs 14:18

The simple inherit folly:

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

The Lord doesn’t want us to be simple women.  This word ‘simple’ means, not knowing anything.  It is equated with ignorance as a result of apathy and laziness.  A simple woman just exists and allows life, feelings and circumstances to blow her in any given direction at any given time.  This kind of woman will inherit folly.  She will make foolish decisions and reap horrible, complicated situations as a result of having the course of her life at the mercy of any number of variables.  This often results in confusion or anger and perhaps drug or alcohol addiction to numb her and help her cope with the myriad of situations she has allowed herself to fall into. 

The Lord wants His daughters to be crowned with knowledge.  Knowledge and understanding help us wear the crown of rulership over the events and circumstances that blow into our lives.  We become the ones who can decide what to do with them rather than have them come in and redirect our lives in the way they would naturally direct.  If we are wearing the crown of knowledge by being prudent, thoughtful and purposeful in our lives, we will make decisions that are guided by the Lord and our lives will reveal what a wise and holy God we serve.  Let us not sit back and inherit folly through our own aimless existences but rather wake up in our inner man seeking the Lord for His judgment on matters.  Let us make our choices of how we handle our lives with discretion and prudence given by Him and the wisdom He promises to give liberally as we ask.  If we lack some sort of life skill, let us rejoice that Jesus is the life and will give us everything pertaining to life and godliness.  Let us rejoice that He is our Teacher in all things and He will crown us with knowledge.  

Knowing God - Our Father Sees Our Works

Matt 6:3-4

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Our Father Sees Our Works

We see that God is watching all we do.  He is the our overseer when no one is around and when we do works in secret He is with us and we have fellowship with Him as we serve.  We are not to be murmuring or complaining.  We need not feel isolated in any work we walk in.  God our Father is watching and our works are to bless Him and bring about His plans and purposes on this earth.  We should not do things to be seen by men but let our works be a sweet offering of devotion and honor to God.  These ‘secret’ times create an intimacy between us and the Lord that no one else shares.  This strengthens that first love relationship with Christ.  We need not post all we do on a social media sight, nor do we need our friends to do works with us.  There is a time to be a quiet servant devoting our actions to the One who sees in secret.  Let us make sure that when we do those things in secret, we remember that our Father sees what is done is secret and will reward us openly.

Proverbs - Being Easily Angered

Proverbs 14:17

 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly:

and a man of wicked devices is hated.

We are reminded again and again that a foolish woman will tear down her home with her own hands and prudent wives are from the Lord.  God is so good to define what foolishness is so that we can move away from that and towards the new man which is created after Him in true righteousness and holiness.  Here we are told that if we are women who are easily angered we deal foolishly.  It is important for us to be in touch with the disposition we might find ourselves in due to a variety of factors.  If we are tired from being up with a colicky baby or perhaps financial pressures are getting to us, we must know that our fuse could be running a little short and we must avoid situations that would want to get the fuse burning.  We must not make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.  We must know that the state we are in is a very dangerous one indeed and not allow ourselves to go with what seems to be coming naturally.  For every temptation there is a way of escape.  If we sense ourselves becoming angered easily we must confess this and seek the Lord to show us the way of escape and anything we can do to renounce this sort of response.  It is not acceptable and it misrepresents our God who is not easily angered.  Moses was not allowed  to enter into the promised land because his anger got in the way and he misrepresented the Lord.  Sister, seek the Lord for His patient love.  Cry out to Him to fill you with it.  Ask Him what you might do to avoid unnecessary factors that could be contributing to your short temper.  And always apologize to the Lord and to those who felt your anger when and if you fall short.  Let us not miss entering into all the land that the Lord has promised us.

Knowing God - God Cares When We're Sad

Luke 24:17

 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

God Cares When We’re Sad

Jesus drew near the two that were walking to Emmaus that day and asked them about what they were talking to each other about and why are they sad.  Apart from the incredible fact that the resurrected Jesus was walking and talking with them, it is so comforting to note that Jesus mentioned that He had observed that they were sad.  Our God cares when we are sad.  He wants to draw near and question us about our sadness.  These questions are not intended to inform Him, for He knows all things, but He knows that talking through things will help bring us comfort, especially talking through these things with Him.  Jesus then takes them to the written word of God to make sense of the recent events and their impact on these two and their emotions.  Jesus will often direct us to the written Word of God to make sense of the seemingly nonsensical events that occur around us.  How precious that our God cares for us when we are sad and wants to walk and talk with us and bring us comfort!  Are you sensitive to this fact today?

Proverbs - Spiritual Fear and Spiritual Ears

Proverbs 14:16

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil:

but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Our days should be those in which we are sensitive to the fact that we do not obey the Lord naturally.  We naturally go our own ways.  This should produce in us a fear – hesitancy and caution when dealing with our natural responses.  We must know that we have the opportunity to destroy and tear down all that the Lord is building in our lives.  This will cause us to take our steps purposefully and with a spiritual ear inclined to His voice.  If we are women who taste of the forbidden fruit of self-confidence, we, like Eve, will hand death and destruction to all those around us.  Ladies, there will be snares and traps your adversary will put before you today.  When we fear the Lord, we depart from evil.  We understand that our days are before us and only our God sees clearly enough to give us the wisdom and direction we need to avoid and depart from evil.  Lord, help us be women who fear You, depart from evil, do not rage and renounce any sort of self-confidence.