Proverbs - Seasonal Honor

Proverbs 26:1

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

The proverb here is letting us know that honor is completely inappropriate for a fool.  We should not honor a fool.  Sometimes people flatter and speak highly of a fool to gain something.  The fool could be in a position of influence and someone might give them honor hoping to gain something.  We must be careful when giving honor and make sure that we are rendering honor to whom honor is do.  If we want to make it easier for our children to honor their father and mother we should seek to be wise women and leave folly aside.  When we conduct our lives in a manner seeking to make the wisest choices, honor will naturally follow.  Honor is to esteem someone highly and put them in a place of high regard.  Who are you honoring?  Are they foolish or are they wise?  Remember that honor to a fool is like lying out on the beach and having the snow fall all around.  It doesn’t fit the scenario and people are not prepared for it.

Seasons have appropriate conditions.  We like the snow but not at the beach when we are clothed for warm seasonal weather.  We like the warmth of the sun but not when Mr. Snowman is trying to maintain his identity.  The Lord is letting us know that honor is not appropriate for a fool any more than the cold snow is appropriate for summer activities.  Our world honors fools all the time.  There are awards given for music containing destructive lyrics. There are honors given to actors who portray characters that lead people to live lives that are foolish and destructive.  As followers of Jesus Christ we must consider who we honor and speak highly of.  Those who give us His truth deserve honor.  Those in authority over our lives should be given honor.  Our parents deserve our honor.  Before we speak highly of someone, consider if their lives are filled with foolishness according to God’s standard and then render honor to whom honor is due and withhold honor from a foolish person.

Knowing God - The Lord Wants a People for Himself

Deut 29:13

 That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers,

 to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

The Lord Wants a People For Himself

The Lord is the same today, yesterday and forever.  He wants to be unto us a God and establish for Himself a people.  As He spoke to the nation of Israel, so He speaks to those who, in Christ, are now sons and daughters.  The things He does in our lives are motivated by His great love and desire to have children who know Him and love Him.  Do you know of this love?  Do you walk in His love?  Do you face the day confident that, through the finished work of Jesus Christ, you are his child and He is your God?  Are you still trying to earn His favor?  Sister, He LOVES you!  He demonstrated this through Jesus on Calvary.  Nothing else has to be done.  You are His child and He wants to be YOUR God.  Enjoy this relationship today.  This brings Him great delight!

Knowing God - He is the HEAD of All Power

Col 2:10

And ye are complete in him,
which is the head of all principality and power:

He is the Head of ALL Power

Jesus is the head of all principality and power.  He is over all that comes our way in demonic or angelic influences.  We must remember this so as not to cower in fright and intimidation.  Jesus Christ is the head and NOTHING takes place without His knowledge and allowance in His disciples’ lives.  He is BIGGER than we have yet to comprehend.  If we truly apprehended this truth we would be in quite a place of rest and security.  This truth should free us from taking the victim role.  This should cause us to maintain a close intimacy with Jesus, seeking His counsel and leading in dealing with spiritual warfare and spiritual onslaught.  Lord, thank You that I am complete in You.  You are the head of ALL principality and power and I am Your child.  You want to guide me in these things that are too high for me. 

Proverbs - Ruling Your Spirit

Proverbs 25:28

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like

a city that is broken down, and without walls.

This is a great proverb.  A city that did not have walls in the Old Testament days was extremely vulnerable and susceptible to bandits, takeovers and looting.  The walls needed to be built and maintained.  If a brick or two began to crumble, someone must be assigned to rebuild and shore up any weak sections of the city walls.  Our spirits must be ruled.  We are to rule over our own spirits.  This refers to our disposition and mood.  Our wills are to be walls.  We don’t just let our moods go wherever they want and submit to the whims and suggestions of our emotions and feelings.  We surround our feelings with the walls of our wills.  We don’t allow the borders of our feelings to flow over into our words and actions.  We must strengthen our walls and keep these things in check.  We don’t want the enemy coming into our days, lives or families, stealing away the precious substance the Lord has put within us.  Ask the Lord to show you how to rule your own spirit and remember that every time you do, your city is being protected with walls that keep the enemy out and safety within.

Knowing God - It is Better to Trust God

Ps 118:9

It is better to trust in the LORD

than to put confidence in princes.

The Lord Has the Authority We Need

Our trust will always be placed in someone or something.  The Lord is much more powerful and influential than any sort of earthly authority.  We have a friend in high places.  He is God!  He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, beyond all that we ask or think.  He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  The Lord is able to do more than we can even imagine.  Do you trust Him?   Are you looking to that boss?  Are you finding your hope in your husband?  Do you believe that doctor more than the One who made your body?  Are you trusting in that which someone in authority can do for you more than what the Lord God Almighty can do?  Truly it is BETTER to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in ANY authority.

Proverbs - Seeking Glory is Sticky Business!

Proverbs 25:27

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Honey is sweet and delicious.  A little honey goes a long way.  If honey is spread too thickly, it usually runs off of the bread and onto our hands.  This stickiness is absolutely troublesome and everything we touch seems to take on this undesirable feel.  This is how glory works too.  When a man is legitimately praised for a talent or job well done, it is good.  People thrive on affirmation and it is sweet.  When a man looks for this praise himself and uses manipulation or leading questions to get it, it is not good.  The ‘honey’ drips all over and what was meant to be sweet is now troublesome and messy.  Let us be women who do not lean in to hear and bring about our own glory.  We will let other men’s lips praise us but we will not be those who instigate and cause such praise to be given.

Knowing God - The Lord is with Those who Help You

Ps 118:7

The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

The Lord is with Those Who Help Me

When people help us the Lord is actually working with them and through them.  Whenever someone comes alongside of us in our trials and troubles we can be confident that the Lord is in this action.  Receive their help and be sensitive to the Lord in it all.  It is the Lord who loves us and moves upon others to be vessels of His love, encouragement and support.  It is much nobler than just human concern.  To the child of God, help given by men is help given by God.  Thank the people, but thank the Lord that He is moving upon those around you to help you.