Category Archives: Proverbs

Blessing or Curse, Ethics, Generate Income, Greed, Optimizing Life, Proverbs

A Light to Guide My Path

We have probably all experienced a time when we are in true darkness. Perhaps camping in the woods on a very cloudy night? Maybe just in our house when the power goes out at night or we wake up at night and walk around the house without turning lights on so as not to disturb our family. Sometimes we can start to remember our way around if it is familiar circumstances… but how well do we do when there are unexpected obstacles (e.g. toys left out in pathways, etc.) or imagine if someone rearranged all the furniture! Usually we will not do well. We will trip or fall or gather bumps and bruises. It is really hard to get around without being able to see where we are going… to recognize clearly what are the obstacles that could hurt us and which is the safe path to travel.

That is why God has given us the Bible! What a glorious gift to His people to have His written instruction book for life. If we choose to use it, it serves to light up our path so we can safely find the right path for living and avoid the traps and obstacles that could hurt us.

Psalm 119:105

105Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

Proverbs in particular serves to provide timeless wisdom for us in how we should deal with our fellow man and also with God whether or not we are focused on finances or more broadly at life in general. It reminds us of what is good and what is bad. Remember, true goodness is that which is identified by God as right, not that which is identified by man as right. Man often gets it wrong. That is why God wrote it down!

Read Proverbs often, and not as if you are trying to win a race for reading quickly but rather pausing and considering how each verse is relevant not only in life today, but specifically how it may apply to your life. Then allow yourself the humility to admit where you are wrong and work to change your behavior and attitude. Those who are too proud to admit they are wrong, never get the benefit of learning to do better.

Proverbs 16

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

       1The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

      2All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the LORD weighs the motives.

      3Commit your works to the LORD
And your plans will be established.

      4The LORD has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.

      5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

      6By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

      7When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

      8Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.

      9The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.

      10A divine decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not err in judgment.

      11A just balance and scales belong to the LORD;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.

      12It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
For a throne is established on righteousness.

      13Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.

      14The fury of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will appease it.

      15In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.

      16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

      17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his life.

      18Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

      19It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

      20He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

      21The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

      22Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of fools is folly.

      23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

      24Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

      25There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

      26A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his hunger urges him on.

      27A worthless man digs up evil,
While his words are like scorching fire.

      28A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

      29A man of violence entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.

      30He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

      31A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.

      32He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

      33The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.

Many like to believe they are in control of their own life, but we are not in control of our lives. We can influence our path and choose how we react to the unexpected. Truly, the most impactful thing we can do is to submit to God and seek to follow His instructions for how to live our lives. We can seek relationship with Him, obey Him, and then trust in Him even through the tough times.

I recognize I have not focused this article on what is specific to finances, but if you read the scripture carefully, it speaks volumes in regards to how we work hard to earn money, treat people while we earn money, submit to God as priority over our money, recognize God’s sovereignty over our situations, etc. There is much to harvest and all we must do is humble ourselves in submission to the Lord and seek His wisdom and then seek His help to apply it in our lives.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Ethics, Generate Income, Greed, Optimizing Life, Plan Carefully and Seek Wise Advice, Proverbs, Treasures In Heaven

God’s Word Provides Warnings and Advice We Should Heed

Our Father loves us dearly. He has provided us with His word to guide us, His Spirit to fill us and help us, and the death of His Son to make a way to forgive us. Let us never take that for granted, being complacent in our own way of living according to the ways of the world. The world if sinful and not righteous. Let us take His fatherly advice and change how we are living to be more like He instructs for us in financial matters and in all aspects of our life.

Proverbs contains insight we should watch out for and apply in our lives. Its insight is timeless and speaks to our conduct in pursuit of financial matters and wealth and integrity and many other such considerations.

Proverbs 19

On Life and Conduct

1Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

2Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries his footsteps errs.

3The foolishness of man ruins his way,
And his heart rages against the LORD.

4Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.

5A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will not escape.

6Many will seek the favor of a generous man,
And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

7All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his friends abandon him!
He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.

9A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will perish.

10Luxury is not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a slave to rule over princes.

11A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.

12The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

14House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle man will suffer hunger.

16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless of conduct will die.

17One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD,
And He will repay him for his good deed.

18Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire his death.

19A man of great anger will bear the penalty,
For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.

20Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise the rest of your days.

21Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the LORD will stand.

22What is desirable in a man is his kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

23The fear of the LORD leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd,
But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.

26He who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

27Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.

29Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And blows for the back of fools.

Take time and dwell on each verse. Which one or two strike you the most as relevant in your life. Pray the Lord helps you to deal with this area of your life and continue your transformation to be more like Him!

Do not misunderstand the point about poverty and riches relating to “friends”. It is a warning that if you are rich, many will claim to be your friend and try to use you. The poor know who truly are their friends and brothers. They stick with them even when there is nothing in it for them.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way and use it for His glory rather than your own. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Optimizing Life, Proverbs, Treasures In Heaven

The Teaching of the Wise Is the Fountain of Life

There is stark contrast between the upright and the wicked. We are not talking “shades of gray”. Meditate on the guidance offered by our Creator in Proverbs 13 in regards to managing your finances. Pray for His help and guidance to lead you down the right path. Apply this wisdom to your financial considerations in life in how you act, in whom you put your trust, in how you teach your children, in how you treat others, etc.

Proverbs 13

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

3The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

5A righteous man hates falsehood,
But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.

6Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness subverts the sinner.

7There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

8The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
But the poor hears no rebuke.

9The light of the righteous rejoices,
But the lamp of the wicked goes out.

10Through insolence comes nothing but strife,
But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.

11Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But the one who gathers by labor increases it.

12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13The one who despises the word will be in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.

15Good understanding produces favor,
But the way of the treacherous is hard.

16Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool displays folly.

17A wicked messenger falls into adversity,
But a faithful envoy brings healing.

18Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline,
But he who regards reproof will be honored.

19Desire realized is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.

20He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

21Adversity pursues sinners,
But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.

22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
But it is swept away by injustice.

24He who withholds his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

25The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
But the stomach of the wicked is in need.

I urge you to consider Proverbs 13 as truly relevant to your life and decisions today. Think of this wisdom like a handy checklist and use it often for evaluating your behavior and making decisions. Don’t rely on your own “gut feel” or judgment… we are not as wise as we think. Rely instead, on the guidance that God has already provided to contrast the righteous from the wicked.

Proverbs 3:5-7

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

7Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Ethics, Greed, Optimizing Life, Plan Carefully and Seek Wise Advice, Proverbs, Treasures In Heaven

Fatherly Advice from God

Our Father loves us dearly. He has provided us with His word to guide us, His Spirit to fill us and help us, and the death of His son to make a way to forgive us. Let us never take that for granted, being complacent in our way of living according to the world’s ways. The world if sinful and not righteous. Let us take His fatherly advice and change how we live to be more like He instructs us.

Proverbs 19

On Life and Conduct

       1Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

2Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries his footsteps errs.

3The foolishness of man ruins his way,
And his heart rages against the LORD.

4Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.

5A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will not escape.

6Many will seek the favor of a generous man,
And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

7All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his friends abandon him!
He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.

9A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will perish.

10Luxury is not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a slave to rule over princes.

11A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.

12The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

14House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle man will suffer hunger.

16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless of conduct will die.

17One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD,
And He will repay him for his good deed.

18Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire his death.

19A man of great anger will bear the penalty,
For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.

20Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise the rest of your days.

21Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the LORD will stand.

22What is desirable in a man is his kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

23The fear of the LORD leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd,
But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.

26He who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

27Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.

29Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And blows for the back of fools.

Take time and dwell on each verse. Which one or two strike you the most as relevant in your life. Pray the Lord helps you to deal with this area of your life and continue your transformation to be more like Him!

—-

Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way and use it for His glory rather than your own. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Greed, Optimizing Life, Proverbs, Treasures In Heaven

Better is a Dry Morsel In Peace, than a Feast With Strife

No better place to explore an amazing cache of Father’s financial advice than Proverbs. Read and reread it. Pause and consider it. Pray for the Spirit to enlighten your mind to understanding and application in your life. Do not simply read over it quickly and move on.

Proverbs 17

1Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the LORD tests hearts.

—

18A man lacking in sense pledges
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

—

23A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom
To pervert the ways of justice.

Dwell on these. Truly consider each one, one at a time. There is tremendous wisdom contained within… a Father’s gift to His children.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way and use it for His glory rather than your own. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Ethics, Generate Income, Plan Carefully and Seek Wise Advice, Proverbs, Treasures In Heaven

Timeless Wisdom for Prosperity and Fulfillment

I am a believer that everyone would do well to read through Proverbs on a recurring basis. Don’t read it once and walk away for years or even months. It is rich with very actionable advice and warnings to help us in life and often very specifically in finances.

Proverbs 14.

Fools often bring trouble on themselves, while the wise avoid it with a healthy fear and respect for the Lord.

1The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

2He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,
But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.

3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.

It is understandable to look for ways to save time and energy by reducing the work we need to do… but do not let laziness get in the way of your prospering. Some work is required if you are to do well financially.

4Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.

Do not lie.

5A trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a false witness utters lies.

Seek understanding. This means you must be humble enough to admit you don’t already have all the answers. You must be willing to admit mistakes and learn. The scoffer mocks others rather than thoughtfully considering a situation and learning from it and thus finds no wisdom. Similarly, don’t hang out with fools or you will share their folly.

6A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.

7Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

8The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But the foolishness of fools is deceit.

9Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is good will.

Seek God’s way rather than your own. He will lead you through righteousness to the path of life and joy.

10The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.

11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

It is hard to know what someone is really going through or what journey God is leading them on by a quick glance or brief touchpoint. Plug in with those you love and truly engage in a personal way to encourage and support them. Often the Lord leads us to joy at the end of a painful journey.

13Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief.

Those who follow after God find satisfaction, but those who go their own way will find empty and unfulfilling results.

14The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied with his.

God did not give us such a wonderful creation as a mind of a human just to “turn it off” and believe everything someone tells you. In a world full of evil and selfishness we do well to consider our steps carefully in reference to God’s word. If we choose to act as naïve, the sour results are as much our fault as those who take advantage of us.

15The naive believes everything,
But the sensible man considers his steps.

16A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.

17A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of evil devices is hated.

18The naive inherit foolishness,
But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

God reassures us that ultimately the good will be rewarded and the wicked held accountable. We may not see or recognize how and when, but we can trust that it is so.

19The evil will bow down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Be aware of sinful human nature. Many will pretend to be friends with the rich for their own benefit. Few, and godly, are those who truly show God’s love to the poor.

20The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.

21He who despises his neighbor sins,
But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.

Devise good rather than evil. Do so out of motivation to glorify God and not out of your own self interest.

22Will they not go astray who devise evil?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.

The lazy ultimately hold them selves accountable via their own poverty, whether or not they recognize it. It is not exclusively “someone else’s fault”. Work is required to prosper.

23In all labor there is profit,
But mere talk leads only to poverty.

The greatest prize for the wise is godly wisdom itself, rather than financial gain.

24The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the folly of fools is foolishness.

Again… don’t lie. God does not like it.

25A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous.

It is actually healthy to have a reverence or even fear of God. Recognizing that displeasing Him is worse than displeasing men can help us stand in confidence to do what is right and avoid Satan’s traps.

26In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And his children will have refuge.

27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
That one may avoid the snares of death.

Rulers and leaders of nations should treat their people well, for it is from their people that they derive their strength and power and prosper themselves. If the people collapse, the government has nothing.

28In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.

To be slow to anger is to demonstrate a wise and godly trait and follow our Father’s example. It benefits us richly.

29He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

Find peace and contentment in what God provides you. Do not always be chasing something you do not have and do not need.

30A tranquil heart is life to the body,
But passion is rottenness to the bones.

Again… the godly are gracious to the needy.

31He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker,
But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

Again… the wicked will be held to account for their actions and the righteous rewarded.

32The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing,
But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.

Again… seek godly wisdom. Do not be content to remain a fool, even if deemed wise by the world.

33Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But in the hearts of fools it is made known.

Righteousness exalts a nation and sin disgraces it. Remember, however, that God defines what is righteous and what is sin. The people themselves do not get a vote or voice in it. If they redefine righteousness they do so at their own peril as a nation and will fool only themselves and like minded fools.

34Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.

Be not ashamed of being a servant, whether to God or to an employer or to your family. Focus on acting wisely and pleasing your “master”.

35The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way and use it for His glory rather than your own. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Ethics, Generate Income, Plan Carefully and Seek Wise Advice, Proverbs

Seek Wisdom Through God’s Word

Consistently reading and meditating on God’s word in Proverbs, and then actually applying it in our lives can bring a great harvest in our lives. Our Father has provided us with this depth of reference material on our relationships with others, with God, and even in our own personal choices. As human nature (and God’s nature) have not and will not change, this is never obsolete. Take care not to assume it has no relevance for today. Read carefully and with a humble heart such that the Spirit may use the scriptures to guide you personally in its application for your life.

I have included the verses most related to managing our finances, but always encourage you to read through the whole chapter.

Proverbs 13

4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

7There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

8The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
But the poor hears no rebuke.

10Through insolence comes nothing but strife,
But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.

11Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But the one who gathers by labor increases it.

13The one who despises the word will be in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.

16Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool displays folly.

18Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline,
But he who regards reproof will be honored.

20He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

21Adversity pursues sinners,
But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.

22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
But it is swept away by injustice.

25The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
But the stomach of the wicked is in need.

The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite. God will provide for the righteous to have “enough” and due to a righteous attitude they know to be content, rather than always wanting more. It is not a promise that we will have everything we want, but rather that we will simply have enough. With the help of the Spirit… “enough” can satisfy. I believe this applies for more than just food in God’s promises for His people.

Which verse(s) is the Spirit bringing to your attention and focus? Dwell on them and pray about it. Ask God to show you and help you make changes in your life.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way and use it for His glory rather than your own. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Ethics, Greed, Plan Carefully and Seek Wise Advice, Proverbs

Seeking Righteousness and the Path to Abundant Life

We should caution ourselves to be thoughtful, prayerful, and humble while we read the wisdom of Proverbs. Read it slowly, verse by verse, seeking to soak it in and meditate on it. If we read it quickly and without thought we miss the point and we get no wiser. Be as a wise man, who listens to counsel and becomes wiser. I have selected the verses that can relate to finances, but encourage you to click the link and read through the whole chapter.

Proverbs 12

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is stupid.

5The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

9Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant
Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.

11He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.

12The wicked man desires the booty of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.

15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

17He who speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.

19Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a lying tongue is only for a moment.

20Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

21No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.

22Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.

24The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.

26The righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.

27A lazy man does not roast his prey,
But the precious possession of a man is diligence.

28In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.

Reflect on the last verse for awhile… “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.” Should we not all seek righteousness, not only to know it but to live it? Pray for God’s help and be humble enough to admit areas where you need to change and then change. Choose to follow after God rather than our own selfish nature.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way and use it for His glory rather than your own. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Ethics, Generate Income, Greed, Optimizing Life, Proverbs

Beyond Material Wealth: Discover Satisfaction in God’s Wisdom

Proverbs is a timeless book… so relevant for today that it needs little introduction. Pray that God would allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you to understand the message here. Try not to hurry in reading this but pause and reflect after each thought. Ask yourself “How does this apply to me?” and “How does this apply to our nation or the world?”

Proverbs 10

Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked

      1The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

      2Ill-gotten gains do not profit,
But righteousness delivers from death.

      3The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger,
But He will reject the craving of the wicked.

      4Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

      5He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

      6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

      7The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.

      8The wise of heart will receive commands,
But a babbling fool will be ruined.

      9He who walks in integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will be found out.

      10He who winks the eye causes trouble,
And a babbling fool will be ruined.

      11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

      12Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all transgressions.

      13On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.

      14Wise men store up knowledge,
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

      15The rich man’s wealth is his fortress,
The ruin of the poor is their poverty.

      16The wages of the righteous is life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.

      17He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,
But he who ignores reproof goes astray.

      18He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads slander is a fool.

      19When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.

      20The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

      21The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of understanding.

      22It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.

      23Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

      24What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous will be granted.

      25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

      26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him.

      27The fear of the LORD prolongs life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

      28The hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked perishes.

      29The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright,
But ruin to the workers of iniquity.

      30The righteous will never be shaken,
But the wicked will not dwell in the land.

      31The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out.

      32The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.

It is easy to skip through these quickly with a smirk and a recognition that they are true and wise, but fail to apply them personally in your own life. I encourage each of you to read through this more than once and pause on each thought, seeking God’s wisdom to enlighten you on how to apply it to the specific situations in your  personal life and the lives of those around  you.

A few comments regarding verse three that may not be obvious:

      3The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger,
But He will reject the craving of the wicked.

Verse three refers to more than food and physical hunger. We know there are righteous people who are physically hungry. Solomon is referring to “craving” or strong desires. The wicked will never have enough to satisfy what is missing, because they refuse to seek God, which is what they need. No amount of physical stuff can fill the emptiness they feel with the absence of  God in their life. Conversely, the godly will be satisfied in their relationship with God even when they do not have enough to eat.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Control Debt, Ethics, Greed, Optimizing Life, Proverbs, Treasures In Heaven

Beyond Wealth: Embrace the True Treasures of Righteousness

There is often a misconception that the righteous necessarily suffer in this world while evil and wicked men flourish. This is not so. It is good to pause and reflect that living righteously according to the Lord’s instruction also carries much blessing for the current life and not just for eternal life after we die. It is no guarantee for an easy life… that is not guaranteed for any. Quite the opposite. Trials and struggles are promised in this life. But how we navigate these challenges and our attitudes and values for what is important have much influence on whether we experience life with joy and peace or constant striving and struggle. In fact, attitude and values are a much better indicator of someone who will do well in life than just simply possession of wealth. Those who are filled with greed never have enough, never cease striving and find contentment and peace and joy.

It is far better for us to walk in righteousness than to have great monetary treasure.

Proverbs 11

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

     1A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
But a just weight is His delight.

      2When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom.

      3The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.

      4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.

      5The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

      6The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

      7When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of strong men perishes.

      8The righteous is delivered from trouble,
But the wicked takes his place.

      9With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

      10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.

      11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

      12He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.

      13He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.

      14Where there is no guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

      15He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,
But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.

      16A gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.

      17The merciful man does himself good,
But the cruel man does himself harm.

      18The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.

      19He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life,
And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.

      20The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD,
But the blameless in their walk are His delight.

      21Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

      22As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

      23The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

      24There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.

      25The generous man will be prosperous,
And he who waters will himself be watered.

      26He who withholds grain, the people will curse him,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

      27He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

      28He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

      29He who troubles his own house will inherit wind,
And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.

      30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise wins souls.

      31If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!

Read slowly and digest each verse for its full meaning and applicability to your life. Reread it once or twice. Pray for insight from the Spirit. Which path will you choose… righteousness or worldliness and wickedness? How will you let this validate your life choices or lead you to change some?

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.