Foundations: Proverbs - Day 35 - Love Is Found

READ: Proverbs 3:3, 8:17, 10:12, 16:6, 17:9, 25:21-22

The Bible is a book of love. God’s love for us is declared almost chapter-by-chapter. Our call to love Him in response is highlighted. Then there’s our duty to love others extravagantly. Finally, we are told to avoid a “love of the world”, those things that are counter to the spirit of Christ.

Proverbs does not speak much of love, but it is in there. And we can say with complete confidence that love is behind much that is shared because love is wise! In fact, early in the book we’re told to, “let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart” (3:3). Love is to be a constant companion in our life. How much we would gain if we kept God’s love for us and our call to love others before us? The love we’re spurred on to in Proverbs is to extend wide and deep, even to our enemies.

We’re also told in Proverbs to actually love wisdom. To love wisdom is to love God. This is a profound truth if we’ll meditate on it! Wisdom cries out in the book of Proverbs, “I love those who love me and those who seek me will find me” (8:17). Doesn’t this sound like God? Really, it’s God saying to us – be wise!

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Spend some time thanking God for the book of Proverbs. Praise Him for not leaving us without a testimony of who He is, and His Ways. Praise Him for leading you throughout this book.

2.      Spend some time in God’s presence, asking to reveal His love to you in a deeper way, whether through thoughts, words, pictures, verses or even feelings. Ask Him to reveal His heart for others as well. Pray for the power to love!

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 34 - Friendship Can Help Or Hinder

READ: Proverbs 13:20, 17:17, 18:24 27:6, 27:17

Ask any pastor of young people what one of the most important factors in spiritual growth is and you’ll find that they emphasize friendship. Of course, the significance of friendship doesn’t end at a certain age and Proverbs teaches that our friendships can play a huge role in who we become. Put simply, friendships can help OR hinder. What is some specific advice that Proverbs offers?

 First, who we spend time with can greatly impact who we become. Or in the words of Proverbs, “whoever walks with the wise becomes wise but the companion of fools suffer harm” (13:20). When we spend time with those who are mature or maturing, we gain much. On the other hand, when we invest lots of time with the foolish we’ll struggle to stay strong. Instead, we place ourselves in the position of ALWAYS having to fight against the tide. Very few can do this successfully.

Second, our friendship time should involve support and spurring on of each other. These are the valuable friendships! We do need those who will stick by us when troubles come. And who will speak truth into our lives when lukewarmness is setting in, or compromise? Listen to Proverbs - “faithful are the wounds of a friend . . .” (27:6) And truly, “one man sharpens another.”

Finally, Proverbs encourages us against having TOO many friends. When we spread ourselves too thin, the impact of the best ones can be diluted. Certainly, “a man of many companions may come to ruin . . .” (18:24). It is good to regularly evaluate our friendships, for quantity and quality.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Spend some time reflecting on how specific friendships have both helped and hindered your spiritual growth. Praise God for the positive impact you’ve received and ask Him to forgive you for letting others negatively influence you.

2.      Take stock of your current group of friends. How is the quality? What about the quantity? If you’re struggling to find friends, ask God where He wants you to step out in finding friends. Perhaps it’ll involve getting involved more in serving, or cell groups, OR being more open and friendly in the groups you’re in right now. It’s vital that we don’t chase after friends, or demand friendship, but seek to be friends and leave the rest up to God.

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 33 - A Blessed Marriage Requires Work

READ: Proverbs 5:15-20, 21:9, 31:12, 31:25, 31:28

In the previous devotional, we noted that reaching the potential for marriage that God intended involves following His prescription for marriage. It’s important at this point to note what hard work this is! However, it’s hard work that’s MORE than worth it. Do we believe this? Whether or not we actually can affirm this truth will greatly impact whether we’ll persevere through the ups and downs that come with any close relationship.

What kind of hard work does Proverbs emphasize? First, this work includes staying pure and being attentive to each other sexually. Purity in marriage is far more than not having sexual relationships with others. It includes not giving our hearts or eyes over to another in any way. You see, there’s the world’s standard, the standard of our flesh and THEN there’s God standard. God’s standard includes serving our spouses sexually. It’s not just what to avoid, but also what TO DO!

Second, we’re called to do the hard work of working against conflict. Proverbs says, “it is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife” (21:9). Some men love quoting this, but in all seriousness, God is asking men and women to eliminate behaviours that cause unnecessary conflict. This does not mean suppressing our feelings, but with God’s help, expressing them in a godly, gentle and generous spirit.

Third, not only should we seek to eliminate unnecessary conflict, we should also desire to be good to each other! The women in Proverbs 31 is commended with these words, “she does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life” (31:12). This is the CALL that God has for both husband and wife. Are both of them intentionally taking steps to DO good to their spouse? This includes praising each other, before others and to one another. We must speak highly of our spouses!

Finally, the hard work of marriage includes using the strength of our marriages to bless others. Put another way, a blessed marriage will also bless others. Again, we look to the woman of Proverbs 31 as an example, “she opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy” (31:20).

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      If married, ask God to affirm where YOU have worked hard to contribute to your marriage. Look at the various things noted in this devotional as a guide. Then ask Him, where have you been lazy or shown a lack of diligence? Ask Him for some immediate steps to correct this.  

2.      If single, pray that God would work in your life so that if He grants you the gift of marriage, you’ll be prepared. Also spend some time lifting up in prayer those who are married, that God may give them the strength to obey His Word. 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 32 - The Joy Of A Godly Spouse

READ: Proverbs 12:4, 18:22, 31:10-11, 31:30

Marriage is an incredible blessing from God! There’s a consistent testimony throughout God’s Word that, “he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD” (18:22). One of the most significant blessings that come from the marriage relationship is the joy of partnership, of a shared life. It’s good for those who are married to ask – is this my experience of marriage? Is it truly something I thank God for?

Of course, a couple of key things will dramatically impact whether or not we experience the potential of marriage. First, the choice we make in choosing a spouse can greatly impact our enjoyment. Many have discovered this reality. If we chase or chased after only physical attraction or lust, or popularity or matched interests, difficulties can result later on.  Proverbs is clear - a godly spouse is ultimately what brings happiness within marriage. Or as Proverbs puts it, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (31:30). Now some who are reading this may say – “well, it’s too late now.” To this, Proverbs would say “no” and that takes us to a second key.

The second key is that living out the wisdom of the book of Proverbs, is supported by the rest of the Word, prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. Fulfilling the potential of what God intended for marriage is tied to our obedience to wisdom. Even a difficult marriage, or a difficult partner, can be navigated by OUR choice to pursue righteousness. There’s always hope for more in our marriage, if only we’ll seek to live by God’s prescription for relationships.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      If married, think back to the pursuit of your spouse and the decision to get married. What was the decision to marry based on? If needed, confess where you walked this path independent of the Lord. If, on the other hand, if you walked with God in that time, thank Him for what He’s graciously done. Also spend some time thanking God for your spouse. If single, ask God to give you His heart for marriage and YOUR specific situation.  

2.      Reflect on this question, if married, – are you living according to God’s prescription for marriage? Do you have a commitment of regular time in His Word, so that He can speak to you clearly? 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 31 - The Joy Of Godly Children

READ: Proverbs 13:1, 13:24, 15:20, 19:18, 22:6, 29:15

The Bible is clear that children are gift from God. So many blessings flow from having children. Some of the blessings include: they are cute(!), they have an innocence that can be a shining example of the type of faith we’re to have as followers of Christ, they can bring much joy through their enthusiasm, they allow us to multiply ourselves in our goal to further God’s Kingdom, they can help us when we get older (seriously!), they can show us an example of Christ’s love when we make mistakes (very forgiving when they’re young),  they can help us become more like Jesus through the need for personal growth and they cause us to rely on Christ’s strength and wisdom.  

However, this gift and its blessings are harder to receive with joy if our children end up foolish. Or as Proverbs notes, “a wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother” (15:20). The pain that is felt when children go astray is very wide and deep. While they do have free will, Proverbs also emphasizes that HOW we parent can really impact how they develop and mature. When we invest the time as parents (and as churches) to raise godly children, we benefit many times over.

“Train up a child in the way he should go . . .”, Proverbs 22:6 challenges. Training has many elements. It involves being intentional, hard work, prayer, having a plan and regularly re-evaluating the plan.  Effective training is done through both teaching AND modelling. Finally, such training should include discipline. “Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death” (19:18).  All of this can seem overwhelming, but OUR Father can lead us as we seek to shepherd our children. Praise His Name, as He grants us such precious gifts!

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Reflect on the qualities of young children. What is it about young children that God wants us to imitate? Ask God to develop these qualities in you.

2.      If you have children, ask God to show you how you can grow as a parent (even if your children are adults already). Ask Him to grant you both the wisdom and grace for this huge responsibility. Thank Him for how being a parent has shaped you. If you don’t have children, pray for the parents that you know – that God may give them everything they need. Also ask God – is there any way that I can encourage specific parents or children? 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 30 - Cautiousness In Speech

READ: Proverbs 16:23, 18:2, 25:15

In the last number of devotionals, we’ve been looking at a variety of aspects of speech. In this final one on the topic, an overarching key will be highlighted. We should be regularly weighing what we say. Throughout Proverbs, cautiousness is emphasized.  Proverbs 16:23 says, “the heart of the wise makes his speech judicious . . .” (16:23). To be “judicious” means to be careful or thoughtful. We should take time to think before we speak. Ever heard that before? There’s a reason it’s a popular saying because it’s at the core of godly speech.

Our goal must not be to simply state what we think! “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion” (18:2). Oh, the wisdom of listening. Some have transformed their speech by having seasons where they “fast” from words. Some spouses have turned around their communication by deciding to ask what their significant other thinks, rather than simply pouring out their own thoughts.  

Even where we want or need to persuade others, careful speech is the way to go! Or as Proverbs says, “with patience a ruler may be persuaded . . .” (25:15). Cautiousness in speech is a habit to be developed, but we can be encouraged that the goal is possible. Many have done it, with Christ’s help!  

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Take some time to think about your speech – are your words too little or too many? Ask God to show you if you need to make any specific adjustments, in any specific setting.

2.      Is there someone that you need to influence right now, or get a message across to? This can be a good thing, but HOW we do it really matters. Ask God to give you wisdom on the HOW. What words? When? What should you NOT say? (this can be very wise to figure out ahead of time) 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 29 - Honesty Must Reign

READ: Proverbs 6:16-17, 12:19, 12:22, 17:20, 21:6

The book of Proverbs speaks most harshly about lying, or deception. Lying is actually something God hates, or in the words of Proverbs, “lying lips are an abomination to the LORD . . .” (12:22). This is probably convicting to all of us. As followers of Christ, we must commit to truthfulness in every matter. Every human being has fallen into lying and we must face the challenge of rising up to God’s standard. Perhaps it’s useful for us to ask - why do we lie? 

Sometimes we think we can gain advantages by lying. Maybe we can improve what people think of us, or pry open a door where others will want to be our friends, or give us material items. But no advantage is gained long-term! Instead, “truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (12:19). It’s only for a moment that we gain any advantage! Truthfulness has great value long-term and it’s imitating the Truth Himself!

Truthfulness includes the avoidance of exaggeration. For sure, in a joking manner, where people know that we’re not serious, exaggeration has its place – “I feel like I could eat a cow right now!” However, if exaggeration is used to impress or deceive, we have fallen into sin. Thankfully God is SO good at revealing the motives of our hearts! In assessing what lying is we can ask - what is going on in our hearts? Are we trying to manipulate a person’s response?

Truthfulness also involves following through on our promises, or not making promises that we have no intention of keeping. As servants of the ultimate Promise Keeper, we’re called to carefully consider what we commit to AND pay the price of following through.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Are you a truthful person and do you keep your promises? Not only is our own name on the line, but also God’s reputation. Spend some time confessing any dishonesty and make a commitment to truthfulness, no matter how hard it’ll be.

2.      Spend some time interceding for an increase in truthfulness in Canada, in all spheres of society. Also pray that more and more people would come to know Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 28 - Words That Lift Up Others

READ: Proverbs 10:31, 12:18, 16:24, 25:11-12

Just as words can be used to destroy, they can be used to lift others up! Oh what a joy this is as a ministry! This is intentional, not something we simply hope will happen once in a while. Our motivation to be consistent with this is twofold. First, there’s the unconditional love of God serving as a fuel! He rejoices over us with singing and so why wouldn’t we bless others with specific words that uplift?

Second, as God’s love motivates us, so too does our knowledge of what this can do for others. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (25:11), Proverbs declares. Apples of gold in a setting of silver? That would’ve cost a fortune back then AND today. Proverbs is saying that a fitly spoken word is priceless. This is motivating!

At times our words need to be directed to a hurting soul. As people take the brunt of the difficulties of life, we can provide words that make a massive difference. We must be specific, as lead by the Spirit. Sometimes simple words such as, “I’m praying for you” mean much, but at other times, we need to ask God for something that’s way more detailed. Let’s remember that, “. . . the tongue of the wise brings healing . . .” (12:18).  Even where people are hurting because of their own sin or temptations, we must be gracious. We too can identify with their weaknesses, if we’re humble.

Finally, lifting up others can include passing on wisdom, or as Proverbs affirms, “the mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom . . .” (10:31). Of course, our wisdom should be well-timed, and given at a point where it will be received. Nor should we ever assume that we’re meant to pass on ALL our wisdom!

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Think of those times when the words of others have built you up. Reflect on how they made you feel. Praise God for these people, whether family, friends or strangers.

2.      Ask God to show you specific people that you could lift up with your words in the near future. Ask God to show you any specific words, thoughts, pictures or verses that you can use. 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 27 - Words That Destroy Others

READ: Proverbs 10:18-19, 11:12-13, 20:19

There are many ways to destroy others with our words. Maybe all of us have felt the sting of what others have said to us, whether serious or “in jest”. As we consider our own words, let’s not forget the pain of what we’ve received. Such pain can cause us to more seriously consider our ways.

According to Proverbs, it’s foolish to slander. It’s sinful. It’s taking our words, and destroying that which God has created in His image. What is slander? Slander includes intentional efforts to degrade another person, or even careless words that serve to lower them in the eyes of others. Slander often happens when our words are too many, and because of this silence can be VERY good.  As Proverbs declares, “when words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (10:19).

Another way is to destroy others is to belittle them. This is making a person smaller than they are. How dare we do this, as God made them! Proverbs reminds us that, “whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent” (11:12). Again, silence is valued! Slander and belittling are so vile that we need to walk away from such things, even being willing to not associate with those who engage it this behaviour. It’s that important to God!

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Obviously it’s important that we seek to note where we slander or belittle others. Ask God to help you be honest on where you fail in this way. It also may be important to seek to apologize to anyone who has been hurt by your words or to others who have heard such words.

2.      Ask God to show you any pain you’re still carrying from the words of others. Are there things that your parents, in-laws, teachers, spouse, friends or “enemies” have said that have caused pain? Ask God to speak to this pain. Also forgive these people in prayer. 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 26 - Guarding Our Speech As A Part Of Wisdom

READ: Proverbs 4:24, 10:11, 13:3, 15:1

One of the wisest things we can do, according to Proverbs, is guard our speech. This is SO hard to do, isn’t it? Yet we have to intentionally and diligently seek to move in this direction. We’re clearly told, after all, to, “put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you” (4:24). Improper speech should be put away from us and devious talk should be far from us. These are strong words. It means we should double our efforts to change our speech if we’re struggling in this area.

Of course, as in all things that are wise, guarding our speech benefits both others and us. We’ll discuss this more in a later day, but it’s important to note that, “the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life . . .” (10:11). Think of the imagery that’s being used here! A fountain would serve as such a relief and blessing to a thirsty body! Our words can accomplish the same for a thirsty soul. What a wonderful invitation then to use our words in a way that brings life to others. An exciting goal to have! Something powerful to live for! 

On the flipside, much chaos can flow from what people say, or as Proverbs notes, “. . . he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin” (13:3). Because of this, the next four devotionals will go into greater detail about our speech. The time spent is worth it, because of the power of the tongue to do great good or cause great harm.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Spend some time in prayer taking stock of where you feel you use your words in a godly manner, and where you need to grow. Thank God that He’s willing to go on this journey with you. Praise Him for any growth that has taken place in the past.

2.      Read James 3:1-12 and take notes on what it says about the tongue and our use of words. 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 25 - How We Obtain Money Really Matters

READ: Proverbs 11:18, 16:8, 21:17

Since money creates many possibilities for us, Proverbs warns of using improper and ungodly means to obtain more money and stuff. It’s another trap we can fall into, or in the words of Proverbs, “the wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward” (11:18).  What do we want? Money that comes from wickedness, which is fleeting, or the SURE reward that God promises? We may cringe a bit at the use of the word, “wickedness”, but to obtain money in improper ways is wickedness in God’s eyes. This should humble us all.

The starting point in steering clear of this trap is to make sure that we have right motives about money. What is our goal for money? Proverbs warns that personal pleasure cannot be our goal, “whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man . . .” (21:17). When we seek personal pleasure through money and stuff we’re saying loud and clear – “God is lacking.” Greed, is idolatry, the Bible declares. We must ask God to forgive us if we’ve fallen into this, an easy thing to do in our culture.

Once our motive is right, much is taken care of. But we still must guard our hearts and watch for the temptations to gain money through deceit, stealing, or other forms of ungodliness. One day God will reward us greatly if we remain faithful to doing things His way.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Take some time to consider this question – is my hope in stuff and money, or in God? What do your emotions, your desires, your bank account say about this? What would those who are close to you say?

2.      Have you ever stolen from a workplace, or not reported all of your income on your taxes? Have you ever not paid someone what they deserved for work they did? These are ungodly ways of obtaining money. Spend time in confession and repentance, asking God to show you if there are any steps to make things right. 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 24 - Be Careful With Whom You Make Financial Arrangements

READ: Proverbs 6:1-3, 11:15, 17:18, 22:26-27

There are many ways that money can lead us into a trap. Today, we’ll look at two specific ways. First, out of greed or a desire to get ahead in life really fast (even with good motives – “to give more”), we can try to take shortcuts. One such shortcut is to enter into financial partnerships with people who have not chosen to live out consistent godliness. Proverbs warns of this and the amount of stress this can create in our lives is massive. Such unwise financial partnerships can involve entrusting ourselves to the wrong employer, starting a business with the wrong people, or seeking assistance from people without clearly agreeing on the cost of labor, etc. So often a good deal ends up being a bad deal!

A second trap is to continue to provide financial support or security for someone who has an unrepentant heart.  Or as Proverbs says, “do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;  if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you” (22:26-27). Why would we get ourselves in such trouble? At times, we can commit to false compassion. We feel guilty about a person’s situation and don’t want to be accused of not caring. However, in reality, our false compassion is actually an act of selfishness and not out of love. It’s about how WE feel, not what’s best for the person.

There are other traps we can fall into with money. Our awareness of this should cause us to carefully consider our use of almost every dollar or things we have. Proverbs encourages us to be wise in this way. 

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Have you ever taken shortcuts in attempt to get ahead really fast? Have you ever made poor financial decisions that caused you stress? If yes, try to reflect on what went wrong at this time.

2.      Ask God if there are people that you’re showing false compassion towards. Are there people that you are helping because you feel guilty? Are there people who need to experience the consequences of their choices? Since there’s no formula on what we should and shouldn’t do, make sure that you diligently pursue God for His heart. 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 23 - Let’s Honour God With The Wealth We Have

READ: Proverbs 3:9-10, 11:4, 11:24, 11:28, 15:16, 19:6, 19:17

We all have different amounts of wealth, as there is certainly a randomness to what we have. Rather than concern ourselves with the exact number, Proverbs invites us to honor God with whatever we have. This is a consistent command throughout God’s Word and might be best illustrated when Jesus affirms the widow who gave even out of her poverty.  “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of your produce” (3:9), Proverbs challenges us.  

How can we honor God with what we have? Practice generosity – this is the starting point! When we’re generous we imitate God. In doing so, we often gain the favour of others. Or as Proverbs declares, “many seek the favor of a generous man and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts” (19:6). Of course, when we gain influence because of our generosity, the purpose is to then use this influence for God’s glory as well. It’s all about God, but certainly we attain incredible fulfillment in drawing people to His kingdom through our actions.

We also honor God with our wealth by not trusting in what we have. There’s a warning in Proverbs about this, stating that, “whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf” (11:28). At times, God may bless us with certain advantages that we can be tempted to trust in. This is a very slippery slope to find ourselves on! We must realize that, “even little is good, when we combine it with a fear of God.” It’s not wealth that we need, but God. This is a simple truth, but life-transforming if we walk it out.  

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Spend some time in prayer and ask God – do you honor Him with your wealth? (this can include savings, your paychecks, and the material items you have) Also ask Him if adjustments need to be made.

2.      Spend some time praising God for His provision in your life. Also praise Him that He is trustworthy. Confess any lack of trust that you have shown, which is often exhibited in worry and stress. 

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 22 - Be Careful What You Pursue

READ: Proverbs 12:11, 13:4, 21:25

In our culture, we are bombarded with the relentless message that we need more stuff, better stuff, newer stuff. Since we also are encouraged to live in the moment, we can forget that there will be consequences for chasing after things that we don’t need. Many people have ruined their marriages, their health and their witness for God by being unwise about what they pursue.

Proverbs has a stark reminder of what happens when we chase after what the world promotes, “whoever works his land will have plenty of bread but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense” (12:11). How many times pastors have had to sit with people who are in complete despair and financial ruin because of their ungodly pursuits! Let’s exhibit good “sense” as followers of Christ and never allow ourselves to get to this point.  

Proverbs has another related warning, declaring that, “the desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor” (21:25). This refusal to labor can relate to work, but also in our homes. It’s the “desire” of the sluggard that causes great problems. Many boys and girls are growing up without emotional bonds with their fathers and/or mothers due to the desire to chase after many things. They may be home, but they can be absent because of the desire for video games, excessive sports, incredible amounts of time on Facebook. These may seem like trivial matters, but Proverbs is suggesting that we must weigh carefully what we’re pursuing. We are wise if we take this warning seriously. Any changes we make now will be worth it in the present AND for eternity.  

  

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Ask God to show you a time where you: i) pursued something which ended up in an unwise decision AND, ii) when you decided to let go of a pursuit and was blessed as a result. Ask Him to alert you to things that you may be chasing which are unwise.

2.      If you have children, ask God to give you an honest assessment on whether or not you are emotionally available to them. Then, ask THEM if they feel that you’re regularly distracted by something. If anything negative is revealed through this assessment, ask God to give you wisdom on how to make necessary adjustments.

Foundations: Proverbs - Day 21 - Hard Work Honours God!

READ: Proverbs 10:4-5, 12:24, 14:23, 16:26, 18:9, 22:29

Certainly there is an apparent randomness to life and wealth. This can be frustrating at times, but in the New Testament we’re encouraged to be content with the basic things of life (food, clothing, shelter). However, we must not swing to an extreme where we begin to think that hard work doesn’t matter! Generally, there are blessings that flow from being a person who “works unto God.”

As Proverbs says, “the hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor” (12:24). We can find exceptions to this principle in our corrupt world (the book of Proverbs contains general principles). Nevertheless, many end up surprised by raises or promotions if they are a faithful employee or employer. And if things don’t work out this way? Well, we’ll be content if we work for God first, not prosperity.

Another advantage of working hard is that it serves as a shining light to our boss, to our co-workers and to any children we have. Not everyone will enjoy this light, but many will. In a sense, we’ll be making a positive contribution to our society and this too is important to God. Finally, our motivation for hard work can be the food we’re to eat. Brothers and sisters, we may be closer sometimes to poverty than we realize. Rather than panic at this potential, we simply should commit to hard work. Or as Proverbs states, “a worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on” (16:26).

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.      Are you a hard worker? Are you obedient to God’s Word on this? What about at your job? At home? In serving at church? Ask God to give you incredible strength to be one of the hardest workers around.

2.      Spend some time thanking God for providing you with skills and abilities. Even if health has limited you, have you been able to eat? Do you have shelter and clothing? These are blessings from God! Let’s be grateful for these necessary things.