Proverbs - Envy is Stronger Than Anger or Wrath

Proverbs 27:4

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

Wrath is cruel.  It hurts and wounds.  Anger leads people to do things that are outrageous and we are often left in pieces.  This scripture warns us that as harsh as anger is, envy is much more volatile, powerful and destructive.  It would behoove us to pray that God would deliver us from people who are discontent and envious.  When King Saul began to envy David, it led to a prolonged pursuit that made David’s life miserable and vulnerable to Saul’s attempts to take his life.  We should be careful of how much we say to others about good things in our lives.  Some people cannot handle it and they end up comparing their lot with ours and fall into such a sin as envy.  Don’t just open your mouth and speak.  Be sensitive to the restraining work of the Holy Spirit and if He seems to be telling you to be quiet, be quiet.  We don’t want to contribute to the probability of having to stand before envy.

Knowing God -

Isa 46:10

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

The Lord’s counsel shall stand and He will do ALL His pleasure.  When people make choices, and He allows us to, these choices are under the Lord’s complete ability to use to accomplish His purposes.  We are not subject to the whims of man if indeed we belong to the Lord through the payment of the blood of Jesus Christ.  We are in a place where, like Joseph’s fate at the hand of wicked brothers, we are under the sovereignty and plans of our God.  We need not whine and be embittered at the sins others commit against us.  We had best lift up our eyes with great anticipation of how our God will have His pleasure in the matter.  We need not walk in blame but walk with a hope in a God who declares the end from the beginning.  Our God’s purposes are not thwarted by the mere will of man.  Our God’s counsel SHALL stand!

Proverbs - Carrying the Weight of a Wrathful Person

Proverbs 27:3

A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

Carrying a stone or sand in your backpack is weighty and a burden.  Here we are told that a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.  A foolish person when given to wrath can really make our lives difficult.  A foolish child, husband or acquaintance can come in and weigh our lives down by their anger and venting.  If we sense this weight, we are proving the word of the Lord to be true.  The heaviness and burden of it are expected but what are we to do with things we end up carrying.  We are to cast our cares upon the Lord and He will sustain us.  Our prayer life might have to be upped a bit during the season of experiencing a fool’s wrath.  We might have to run into the bathroom, or take a walk and bring this weighty experience before the Lord.  He is able to lift our heads and He is able to help us carry such a weight.  Cast the fool’s wrath upon the Lord because He cares for you.

Knowing God - He is Our Hiding Place in Strange Places

Ezek 11:16

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.

The Lord deals with His people and sometimes puts us in strange places because we have not put Him first in our lives.  He lets us wander to find out how much we need to stay close to Him and maintain an abiding relationship with Him.  When this happens, He is not forsaking us.  He is disciplining us.  When this happens, He does not leave us in our consequences.  He will be to us a little sanctuary in the midst of the heathen and in the midst of the land we find ourselves in.  Although our choices may have led us to unfamiliar territory and godless pursuits, we can anticipate that the Lord Himself will be a hiding place for us in the midst of our unpleasant consequences.  He will be as a little sanctuary, a little hiding place, in the midst of tough times even though we may deserve them.  Thank You Lord that You will NEVER leave us nor forsake us!

Proverbs - Receiving Compliments

Proverbs 27:2

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;

a stranger, and not thine own lips.

I love this verse.  We are commanded first and foremost to allow someone else’s mouth to say affirming things to us.  The next time someone says something nice to you, do not interrupt, cut off or excuse away such encouragement.  We are people who need encouragement and affirmation and the Lord will send people into our lives to give us such.  When we stop someone from doing this we are in deliberate disobedience to this command.  Receive from another and let those words affirm what the Lord is doing in and through you.  Say thank you.  Give God the glory as well, but don’t stop them from doing it.  We are also warned not to praise ourselves with our own lips.  We will be less likely to do this if we allow others to do this for us.  Sister, receive your Father’s praise and enjoy the times another person’s lips give you affirmation. 

Proverbs - Boasting is a Symptom of Control

Proverbs 27:1

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Boasting implies control.  Boasting tends to root itself in personal lordship.  We have been called to have Jesus Christ as our Lord and we are trusting that the Lord has ultimate sovereignty over all we do and plan.  We do not know what a day may bring forth.  We can plan but it is the Lord that directs our paths.  Boasting is being someone who speaks and believes that their plans are final.  We ought rather to say, “If the Lord wills, we will do this and that.”  Speaking this kind of option keeps us in a place where we understand that we are under the Lordship of Christ and His servants’ chief of all.  If we remain in this place we will not be so anxious or controlling.  We will be yielding and flexible and looking for His will to unfold throughout the day.  We will be considerate of others and loving in the face of interruptions.  Let us not be women who boast about tomorrow.  Let us be women who face this day with an open mind about His leading and face tomorrow with a childlike trust and anticipation of surprises.

Knowing God - God Can Be Robbed

Mal 3:8

 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

The Lord is confronting his people about their finances.  He tells them that they have ‘robbed’ Him of tithes and offerings.  That means that there is definitely a concept here that some of the money we have been given, He has distinctly claimed as marked for Him in a giving sort of way.  Sure, all of our money is His and we are to glorify Him with every penny, but this verse gives us insight into the fact that some of the money we have should be given to Him in a conscious way for His purposes.  How much?  How do we give it to Him?  Could it be as this verse suggests, a tithe, ten percent?  Could it also/or be offerings as we purpose in our heart?  Could it be both?  Is it in giving to our local church?  Is it in giving to mission organizations?  These things are not so clear to every believer.  I encourage you to humbly come before your God and ask Him if you have robbed Him financially in any way and ask Him what He considers the appropriate amount to set aside.  We don’t want to rob from the One who has spared not His own Son and will freely give us all things.