Proverbs - Our Mouths Must Be Controlled

Proverbs 10:6-7

Blessings are upon the head of the just:

 but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

                    When we live our lives apart from the defining plan of God’s Word and what He says is right we have a very tumultuous existence without any rhyme or reason.  Our lives shake violently under the consequences and influences of sinful seeds sown without regard to our Lord’s will in individual choices we have made.  We must be a people who seek our God and want to honor Him with our choices. 

          Our mouths must be controlled by the Holy Spirit with our heart being filled with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to the Lord.  This will result in not having a wicked heart and help us avoid such unnecessary human conflict as a result of our own wickedness.

          The thoughts of others when they hear your name should bring blessing to their day as hopefully you are a link to their mind being stayed on Christ.  If you or I are forever meddling, gossiping or speaking of things we ought not, our names could very well turn the stomach of someone who hears it mentioned.  We must be just and in order to be just we must be lovers of truth, pleasers of God and not just loyal to men.  This will create scenarios where words will be spoken in order to please man and gain his approval only to result in conflict and inconsistency.

Knowing God - He Rolls Our Reproach Away!

Josh 5:9

And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.

The word ‘Gilgal’ means rolling.  The Lord had taken His people out of slavery, through the wilderness and now welcomes them to the land of promise.  He gives this place a name that will always remind His people of what He has done in their lives.  Isn’t that interesting?  The Lord names a place as a reminder.  Do you have certain places that serve as reminders to you?  Have you seen the Lord roll away things out of your life and set you in a new direction?  Is it a new job?   Could you have begun a new relationship?  Is there a new healthy habit the Lord has set up in you?  Do you find yourself blushing at things you used to think were acceptable?  Perhaps you find yourself having disciplines and commitments that are in great contrast to the ‘Egypt’ you used to live in.  Rejoice in your ‘Gilgals’.  He has rolled away your reproach and has promised lands for you!

Proverbs - Gather Crops When You Can

Proverbs 10:5

“He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,

but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”

There are seasons in our lives and this proverb tells us that we need to gather in harvest. Whenever I found myself pregnant with another child I knew it was my time to gather as much spiritual input as possible.  I knew that once that baby came there would be ”sparse pickin’s” for a while with the nursing, ear infections, sleepless nights and devotion to that child.  Those were the seasons I went to every bible study, retreat and conference I could attend storing up truths that would hold me through the spiritually barren time I was about to face.  We never know when sickness or other demands will come upon us and we won’t be able to gather the Word of God as we might have opportunity now.  It is a wise thing to soak up His teachings, promises and instruction while the harvest is accessible and we have the time to do so.  Every wise woman builds her home and it is with the fine materials of God’s Word that cause that house to stand.

Knowing God - God Will Magnify Us

Josh 3:7

And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

The Lord had already told Joshua that He was with Joshua.  The first measure of confidence Joshua was to have in his calling was that the Lord was WITH him.  God’s presence was to be the foundational motivator for Joshua to walk in all that the Lord had for him.  After Joshua was established in the fellowship he had with his God, then the Lord would begin to reveal His presence in Joshua’s life to those he was leading.  The Lord will be with us and that should be enough for us to face this day and be about all He has commissioned us to do, but the Lord will also be our advocate to those who may not cooperate so easily with His call on our lives.  We are not to convince others of our callings.  He will do this.  He will magnify us in the eyes of those He has called us to influence.  We need to focus on the confidence of His promised presence and allow Him to defend or affirm us in the sight of people.  The Lord will take care of our reputation in the eyes of others as we concern ourselves with our reputation in the eyes of God.

Proverbs - Diligence Brings Profit

Proverbs 10:4

 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand:

 but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

                            

                   Here is a principle that should help all of us feel a bit more empowered in the financial area of our families.  Sometimes if you are a stay-at-home mom you can sense a lack of contribution to the prosperity of your family.  Here we learn that our diligence will result in prosperity and any half-hearted attempts at keeping our home will result in lack.  I find this refreshing.  When we find ourselves lacking we can then ask the Lord to search us and see if we have been dealing with a slack hand in what He has asked us to do.  At times our family had run short on money.  These were times that I set about to be diligent in housework, laundry, preparing meals, cutting coupons, making the beds, showing up to commitments in a timely manner prepared, doing the dishes, mopping the floor, weeding the garden, schooling the children etc.. I have found that my employer, the Lord Jesus Christ rewards diligence.  Not only did I find myself so busy that I didn’t have time to contemplate what I didn’t have, but I found myself satisfied by consistent, diligent labor. In Eccl 5:12 the Lord tells us that “The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much.....”  The Lord is watching our diligence and will provide for us as we are faithful in what He has asked us to do regardless of whether we are being paid for doing it or not by someone else.  Lack can result from many different reasons but let us be sure that it is not from us dealing with a slack hand.

Knowing God - God Uses His Word

Mark 11:17

 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?

but ye have made it a den of thieves.

When Jesus confronted the error of man’s way here, he quoted the written scriptures that the Jews had at that time.  The Lord legitimizes the written scriptures by doing this.  Jesus shows us that the written word of God is to be used to evaluate the practices and paths of His followers.  Revelation is wonderful and when it is from the Holy Spirit it will agree with the written Word of God.  God’s revealed Word will NEVER contradict the written Word of God.  Jesus is showing us that we should know His Word in order to evaluate what is going on around us in His name.  Jesus had it at the forefront of His mind so it could light the path in a preeminent way.  Just like a flashlight should be easy to find when an emergency comes our way, the Word of God should be a sword close at hand ready to be pulled out of its sheath and wielded in skill and discretion.  Jesus teaches us in this confrontation that His Word truly is His Word and we are to use His written Word to measure and illuminate the scenarios we find ourselves facing.

Proverbs - Don't Get ANY thing by Wickedness!

Proverbs 10:2-3

         

 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing:

but righteousness delivereth from death.

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

but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

                    Getting things by doing things against the Lord’s plan will never result in getting ahead over all.   If you believe that the Lord has called you as a woman to look well to ways of your household and train your children in the way that they should go and yet take on a job at the expense of forsaking this calling, it will profit you nothing.  Most likely all of the money you earn will end up being squandered away leaving you tired, your home out of order and nothing financially to show for it.  On the other hand, if you fight to prioritize your life according to the Lord’s standards of importance you will find yourself paced in a way that protects your home from destruction and sinful choices that result in death and decay.

                    When we put the Lord first and seek to do things His way, our souls will not famish.  To be famished is to hunger.  It is not just a desire but a hunger - a true lack of nutrients to be sustained and comfortable.  The Lord will satisfy our hunger with things that truly satisfy and nourish.  He will not allow us to suffer from an inner hunger when we are seeking to do that which He considers righteous.  Any hunger you and I feel must be directed towards seeking the Lord’s will on a matter.  As we do this we will truly be fed and will lie down in green pastures with plenty to take in and share with those around us.