Proverbs 21:1-10 – Do What is Right & Just

Read Proverbs 21:1-10

Don’t you love reading a few proverbs of wisdom every day? It’s so refreshing to see so many different ideas being covered. Some really hit home and cause me to re-evaluate my choices. I’m guessing if I read this same passage a month from now a different proverb would speak to me (though I certainly never hope to be a quarrelsome wife)!

Today let’s focus on verse 3 which reads, “The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.” Interesting when you think of all the passages that talk about sacrifices as a way to atone for sinfulness. It’s a chicken and the egg phenomena. If we don’t misbehave and do wrong and unjust things, we don’t need sacrifices anyway. God would rather we lives our lives in a way that is pleasing to him, and it will also be pleasing for us. But even when we give it our best, we still sin. It’s in our nature.

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Proverbs 20:21-30 – Revenge is Not the Answer

Read Proverbs 20:21-30

Have you ever been wronged by someone? I think all of us have at some point in life. It never feels good to be hurt by a friend or even a stranger. What happens next will define us. Do we rush to get even? Or, do we only dream of sweet revenge? How do you react when you are the target of slander and lies?

For me, I always want to set the record straight. I’m so afraid of what people think of me. Yet Solomon’s wise counsel is this, “Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.” Are you kidding me? How can I do that? We might think we look weak if we don’t fight back. But on the contrary, we are much stronger when we are able to bite our tongue and just take the lashing, trust that God has our backs.

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Proverbs 20:1-13 – Avoid Gossip

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Gossip is rampant in our world. There are whole magazines, television shows, and other media devoted to it. Why is it so popular? I suppose because gossip takes the focus off of our own problems and challenges. When we can spread “news” about others and their struggles, feelings, conversations, etc., we somehow feel better about ourselves.

But Solomon warns us in verse 19, “A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.” Avoid them. Don’t be like them. We should seek to build each other up, not tear them down.

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Proverbs 20:1-12 – What Do You See & Hear?

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The gifts God gives us are ongoing. Every breath is a gift. Every bloom is a gift. Every person we encounter is a gift. Verse 12 says, “Ears to hear and eyes to see—both are gifts from the Lord.” Gifts from God are all around us. We are living in his creation, caretakers of all that he has made for us, given to us.

Have you ever thought about how you are using your eyes and ears being they are gifts from God? Do you take them for granted? Not everyone with eyes can see or ears can hear. Are we making the most of these gifts?

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Proverbs 19:15-29 – Fear the Lord!

Read Proverbs 19:15-29

I came across a great explanation of what it means to fear the Lord by brother Jonathan Crosby. He says, “The fear of the LORD is belief in the Creator God of the Bible with an awestruck consciousness of His glory and greatness and a loving desire to obey all He requires to please and worship Him and avoid disappointing Him in any way. It is like the humble adoration and affection that good children give a loving yet authoritative father.”

Think of this as we unpack the verse for today, verse 23.  It reads, “Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.” Unfortunately, this security does not mean we won’t encounter troubles and challenges in this life. The promise here is that when we fear the Lord, we have life with him forever. It is then that we are forever safe and secure, protected from harm.

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