Proverbs December 2015

7/24/2019 Proverbs December 2015

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RefreshingDaily

in Gods Word Emphasis on

Proverbs


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A little knowledge properly applied is

more important than a tremendous

number of facts accumulated and

not utilized.


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Introduction to WisdomDecember 1

Bible Reading: Proverbs 1

Key Verse: Verse 7 - The fear of the LORD is thebeginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdomand instruction.

Key Words: fools despise wisdom

The cry for man to apply isdom is a theme that r!nsthro!gh the boo" of Proverbs# Tenty$five of the thirty$onechapters in Proverbs spea" of isdom#

% have a simple definition for isdom& 'Wisdom is theapplication of "noledge#( Wisdom is simply p!tting intoaction that hich % "no % sho!ld do# )or e*ample& +dam and,ve had "noledge in regard to the forbidden fr!it- b!t henthey failed to apply hat they "ne& they shoed that theylac"ed isdom#

%n Proverbs& chapter one& e are instr!cted to "noisdom .verse to/# We are instr!cted to receive isdom#That simply means that e are to be teachable .verse three/&and then thirdly& e are to hear the cry of isdom# Theprinciple is that isdom is everyhere& b!t e have to beilling to hear it and heed it#

0ever !nderestimate the val!e of isdom# +!toma"er&enry )ord& once as"ed electrical geni!s& 2harlie 3teinmet4&to help repair a man5s generator in his a!to factory# %t seems

as tho!gh none of the other engineers or repairmen co!ld findthe problem#+fter a fe min!tes of 3teinmet4 or"ing on the

generator& it roared bac" to life# )ord told 3teinmet4 to sendhim the bill 6 hich he did 6 for 18&888#88# )ord asastonished at ho high the bill as# 'Why so high9( in!ired)ord#

3teinmet4 replied& '1#88 for tin"ering ith the generator

and ;&;;;#88 for "noing here to tin"er#(Wisdom is orthless !ntil applied& b!t priceless henapplied>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Searching For WisdomDecember ?

Bible Reading: Proverbs ?Key Verse: Verse @ 6 f thou seekest her as sil!er" andsearchest for her as for hid treasures#

Key Words: searchest for her as for hid treasures

+s yo! read Proverbs& chapter to& yo! can see at leastthree great tr!ths in regard to =odly isdom# %n verse si*&yo! find the origin of =odly isdom& $or the Lord gi!ethwisdom. Wisdom comes from =od in to primary ays:nat!rally from is Word and then thro!gh prayer .see Aames1:/# 3econdly& e see the obCect of =odly isdom in verseseven& %e la&eth up sound wisdom for the righteous. Theords %e la&eth up means to hide# The righteo!s& henthey loo" for =odly isdom& ill find it# Then e find theo!tcome of =odly isdom in the remaining verses of chapter

to#% recently misplaced my reading glasses# This is highly!n!s!al for me& as % normally drive people cra4y ithstr!ct!re and organi4ation 6 yo! "no& '+ place foreverything and everything in its place#( 0o& my glasses aree*tremely important to me- for itho!t them % have a veryhard time both reading and riting# % co!ld not rest !ntil %fo!nd my glasses# % loo"ed in things& on things& !nder things#

% fo!nd things that % never "ne e had& b!t no glasses# Tome& this as serio!s b!siness# % recr!ited my ife& mychildren and my grandchildren to assist me in my search- foritho!t the glasses& life o!ld not be totally impossible& b!t itcertainly o!ld become very diffic!lt#


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3o it is hen it comes to isdom# es& % did event!allyfind my glasses beca!se % diligently searched for them-beca!se& to me& they ere hidden treas!res# Do yo! needisdom today9 Then search for her as a hidden treas!re#

What to do:Eoo" for isdom in =od5s Word#Eoo" for isdom thro!gh prayer#%f all of !s co!ld really comprehend the importanceof =odly isdom& it o!ld change both o!r thin"ing

and o!r actions#

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Our Own UnderstandingDecember F

Bible Reading: Proverbs FKey Verse: Verses $G 6 Trust in the LORD with allthine heart# and lean not unto thine ownunderstanding. n all th& wa&s acknowledge him"and he shall direct th& paths.Key Words: own understanding

Hne of the real deterrents to living a life of faith in =odis h!man "noledge# We& more often than not& lean !pon o!ron !nderstanding of things& and act !pon this!nderstanding& rather than living a life of tr!sting =od andacting and living off is Word#

%s this not hat happened in the life of King 3a!l9 eas specifically told to go and destroy +male" and all thatthey had .% 3am!el 1:F/# 0o& e "no he failed to obey and

e "no hy he failed in his obedience# The people of %sraelbro!ght bac" from +male" the best of their sheep and o*en tosacrifice to the Eord .% 3am!el 1:?1/# Rather than simplyobeying =od& they leaned !pon their on !nderstanding#


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3ome years ago& a co!ple came to me and as"ed if %o!ld marry them# % gave my !s!al anser& '%f yo!5ll call theoffice and set !p an appointment& %5ll be happy to tal" ithyo! abo!t it#( They did call and ma"e an appointment# % didnot "no the co!ple# They had only attended o!r ch!rch for aco!ple of ee"s so % had many !estions for hich % neededansers# I!estion n!mber one as& '+re yo! saved9( Thegirl !ic"ly responded& 'es( and gave a clear testimony of hersalvation# The man& on the other hand& as a different story#0o& he as clear on his anser# e said& '0o sir& %5m notsaved and % don5t care to be#(

% informed them that there as a problem 3cript!rally#

% !oted a co!ple of verses: %% 2orinthians G:1@ and +mos F:F#% even ent to =enesis ?@ and tal"ed abo!t %saac andRebe"ah# The yo!ng lady loo"ed at me and said& 'B!t %5veprayed abo!t this& and % believe it5s all right if % marry him# %have peace abo!t this#(

er believing that the marriage as right& and evenher being at peace& came not from =od5s Boo"& b!t from heron !nderstanding# 0eedless to say& % didn5t marry them& b!t

they did get married and are no divorced 6 and the divorceas a bitter battle beca!se she leaned !pon her on!nderstanding#

+braham got in tro!ble beca!se he leaned !pon hison !nderstanding 6 so did Aonah and David& and the listgoes on and on# Don5t lean !pon yo!r on !nderstanding&b!t rather tr!st in the Eord and is Word#

What to do:%f yo!r conscience tells yo! one thing and =od5sWord tells yo! another& obey the Word#+lays remember& =od gives !s a free ill to choose#o! are free to do hat yo! ant& b!t yo! are not free

to choose the conse!ences of yo!r actions#

The Principal ThingDecember @


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Bible Reading: Proverbs @Key Verse: Verse 7 $ 'isdom is the principal thing#therefore get wisdom: and with all th& getting getunderstanding.Key Words: 'isdom is the principal thing

The ord principal is an agric!lt!ral term meaningfirst fr!it# %t carries the idea of being the most prod!ctive& themost fr!itf!l# The principle is that itho!t isdom e5llnever be prod!ctive or fr!itf!l#

There are at least five promises made in Proverbs @ in

regard to isdom: isdom ill preserve yo! .verse G/&

isdom ill protect ."eep/ yo! .verse G/&

isdom ill promote yo! .verse J/&

isdom ill "eep yo! from being straitened.distressed/ .verse 1?/&

isdom ill "eep yo! from st!mbling .verse

1?/#

0o onder 3olomon said that isdom is the principalthing#

We do live in a orld that is void of isdom# Thefolloing as ta"en from Dear +bby& and it proves my pointthat e are void of isdom#

Dear +bby: H!r son as married in Aan!ary# )ive

months later his ife had a ten$po!nd baby girl# They

said the baby as premat!re# Tell me& can a baby thisbig be that early9 6 Wondering# Dear Wondering:The baby as on time& the edding as late# )orget it# Dear +bby: Do yo! thin" abo!t dying m!ch9 6

2!rio!s# Dear 2!rio!s: 0o& it5s the last thing % ant todo# Dear +bby: % am forty$fo!r years old and % o!ld

li"e to meet a man my age ith no bad habits# 6 Rose#Dear Rose: 3o o!ld %# Dear +bby: What5s the difference beteen a ife

and a mistress9 $$ Bess# Dear Bess: 0ight and Day#


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0o onder 3olomon said& 'isdom is the principalthing" therefore" get wisdom.

There is a TV commercial that as"s& '=ot mil"9( y!estion for yo! is& '=ot isdom9(

What to do:Be teachable .verse 1/#Desire to have =odly isdom#+s" =od for isdom daily#

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Your Own CisternDecember

Bible Reading: Proverbs Key Verse: Verse 1 6Drink waters out of thine own

cistern" and running waters out of thine own well.Key Words: Drink waters out of thine own cistern

3e*!al p!rity is the plea from Proverbs& chapter five#%n verse three e are arned not to be ta"en in by smoothords# %n verses fo!r and five e are ca!tioned abo!t the endres!lt of ad!ltery& (ut her end is bitter as wormwood" sharpas a two-edged sword. %er feet go down to death# her stepstake hold on hell.

Then in verse fifteen e are commanded to drin"aters o!t of o!r on cistern# The principle is that e are tobe faithf!l to o!r spo!se and satisfied ith them as ell#Divorce is not an option#

+ man came to his pastor for help beca!se he asconsidering a divorce# The pastor co!nseled him to stay in themarriage and began to sho the man 3cript!res hich spo"eto the iss!e of marital commitment# e first !sed ,phesians:?& %usbands" lo!e &our wi!es. The man responded bysaying& '% don5t love her#( The pastor then t!rned to Aohn1F:F& (& this shall all men know that &e are m& disciples" if


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&e ha!e lo!e one to another. The man responded& '% can5tlove her& e fight all the time# The longer % stay ith her& theless % li"e her#(

The pastor as determined tho!gh& so he !otedatthe ??:F;& )Thou shalt lo!e th& neighbour as th&self.

'Pastor&( the man responded& 'yo! don5t !nderstand&e5re not even friends anymore#(

The pastor5s face lighted !p ith relief& 'Well& then%5ve got C!st the verse yo! need#( Tri!mphantly& he readatthe :@@& )Lo!e &our enemies" bless them that curse&ou" do good to them that hate &ou" and pra& for them whichdespitefull& use &ou" and persecute &ou#.

Eet me enco!rage each of yo! going thro!gh maritaltrials today: stay ith it& be faithf!l& and tr!st in =od#

What to do:Be satisfied ith the ife of yo!r yo!th 6 andh!sband& % might add#

Be faithf!l to yo!r mate#Remember se*!al indiscretion call "ill a marriage#

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What God HatesDecember G

Bible Reading: Proverbs GKey Verse: Verse 1G * These si+ things doth the

LORD hate: &ea" se!en are an abomination untohim:

Key Words: These si+ things doth the Lord hate

=od hates sin# %n o!r 3cript!re reading for today& thea!thor of Proverbs singles o!t seven specific transgressionsthat are an abomination to the Eord .it o!ld be good to readverses 17 6 1; often/# 3in is so horrible that hen the EordAes!s& the perfect 3on of =od& bore o!r g!ilt on the cross& the)ather t!rned is bac" on is beloved 3on# +nd 2hrist& in


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the blac"ness of that dreadf!l ho!r& cried o!t" ,& od" ,&od" wh& hast Thou forsaken ,e .atthe ?7:@G/# %f sinis so terrible in the sight of =od& then e m!st fear it& hate it&and avoid it#

%n )# B# Proctor5s Treasur& of /uotations there is astory told by Aohann Peter Eange& the 1; th cent!ry =ermantheologian and a!thor# e said that a religio!s leader asvicio!sly hated by the emperor of his day# 3ome of the r!ler5sadvisors said to the monarch& 'B!rn him& confiscate hisproperty& p!t him in irons& or have him "illed#(

B!t others disagreed# They said& 'o! ill not gainanything by all this- for in e*ile& he o!ld find a home ith his

=od-Lhe "isses his chains& death opens heaven to him# Thereis only one ay to render him !nhappy- force him to sin# efears nothing in the orld b!t sin#(

0ote that last sentence: 'e fears nothing in the orldb!t sin#( o many people do e "no li"e that9Mnfort!nately& e often become so comfortable in sin5spresence that e practice it rather than fear it# B!t rememberho =od vies it# ay e therefore& as lovers of im& be

haters of sin>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

#oid o$ UnderstandingDecember ;

Bible Reading: Proverbs ;Key Verse: Verse G* $orsake the foolish" and li!e#and go in the wa& of understanding.Key Words: go in the wa& of understanding

There is m!ch spec!lation as to hat these seven

pillars of isdom may be#3ome say that the seven pillars are fo!nd in Proverbs

1G& they are the seven things =od hate# 3till others believethat the oly of olies contained seven pillars and that comesfrom being in the presence of =od# 3till others believe thatthe seven pillars are fo!nd in +cts ?: the pillars of salvation&baptism& doctrine& felloship& comm!nion& prayer& and giving#

%n Proverbs ; e find 3olomon inspired by the oly3pirit of =od riting to his son& Rehoboam# %nside thischapter& yo! find seven solid pieces of advice# %t co!ld be thatthese seven pieces of co!nsel are the seven pillars of isdom#

Pillar 0!mber Hne: prepare in advance

2!erses 3-45.

Pillar 0!mber To: parta"e of it all

2!erses 6-75. Pillar 0!mber Three: isdom is

practical in its advice 2!erses 8-95.

Pillar 0!mber )o!r: isdom is proper

in its attit!de 2!erse 5.

Pillar 0!mber )ive: isdom is

profitable in its application 2!erses ;


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Pillar 0!mber 3even: isdom is

priceless in its association 2!erse ;4-;75.

When e are void of !nderstanding e are bo!nd fordestr!ction#

%5ve been told that in certain portions of +frica thatmon"ey meat is considered a delicacy& and that the men of+frica have a !ni!e ay of capt!ring the mon"ey# Themon"ey has a partic!lar n!t that he loves to eat so the nativesill c!t o!t a hole in the base of a tree C!st large eno!gh forthe mon"ey to fit its fist into# B!t if the mon"ey !nfolds his

fist& his hand ill not come o!t of the hole# The +fricans "nothat the mon"ey ill not t!rn loose of the n!ts- therefore& heis trapped# is choices are simply to t!rn loose of the n!tsand live& or hang onto the n!ts and die# They say on everyoccasion the mon"ey ref!ses to let the n!ts go and th!s hedies

There are those ho ref!se to let go of theirfoolishness and grab hold of isdom& and beca!se of this they

are bo!nd for destr!ction# o sad>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


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#aluesDecember 11

Bible Reading: Proverbs 11Key Verse: Verse 1* = false balance is abominationto the LORD: but a >ust weight is his delight.Key Words:= false balance is abomination to the

LORD

There are at least ten different val!es fo!nd inProverbs& chapter eleven#

There are commercial val!es .verse 1/& conceitedval!es .verse ?/& 2hristian val!es .verses F$;/& city val!es.verses 18$1/& comparative val!es .verse 1G/& contrastingval!es .verses 17$?1/& conf!sed val!es .verses ??$?F/&congenial val!es .verses ?@$?G/& concerning val!es .verses ?7$?;/& and character val!es .verses F8$F1/#

B!t % dra yo!r attention to verse one and theimportance of dealing ith others ith honesty and integrity#D!ring 3olomon5s day& the merchants o!ld often cheat thecons!mer by tipping the scales in their favor#

+ ho!seife ent to the local mar"et and as"ed theb!tcher for a chic"en eighing fo!r po!nds# The b!tcher hadonly one chic"en left and it eighed three po!nds# '%5msorry&( the oman said& 'it isn5t !ite big eno!gh# %5ll have togo to another mar"et#(

The b!tcher& ho as not scr!p!lo!sly honest anddidn5t ant to lose a c!stomer& stopped her& 'adam&( hesaid& '% C!st remembered that % may have one more chic"en inthe free4er# Please ait one moment#( e then carried thethree$po!nd chic"en to the free4er in the bac" of the store&aited a min!te& then came bac" holding the same chic"en#'o!5re in l!c"& madam&( he said# '% fo!nd another chic"en#e placed it on the scale and& !nseen by the c!stomer& slightlypressed the scale ith his finger so that it indicated fo!rpo!nds# 'There yo! are& madam#(

The c!stomer tho!ght for a second# 'Tell yo! hat&(she said# '3ince yo! ere so helpf!l& %5ll ta"e both chic"ens#(


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The story ma"es !s smile beca!se the dishonestmerchant as ca!ght in his fra!d!lent scheme# = falsebalance is abomination. Be honest in all yo!r dealings#

What to do:Be honest#Be s!re yo!r sin ill find yo! o!t#

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The Wor& o$ "eceitDecember 1?

Bible Reading: Proverb 1?Key Verse: Verse * The thoughts of the righteousare right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

Key Words: the counsels of the wicked are deceit

Recently to slic" 'con( men boarded a train that r!nsbeteen 0e or" and Boston and singled o!t a prospero!sloo"ing individ!al as their 'patsy#( 3itting don ne*t to him&they invited him to play a game of cards# 3oon the!ns!specting victim as several h!ndred dollars in the red#The inner agreed to ta"e a chec"& b!t once he had it in his

hands& he acted conscience$stric"en and tore it !p# '% nevertho!ght yo!5d lose so m!ch money# Eet5s call the hole thingoff&( he said# %mpressed ith their apparent generosity& theloser insisted on riting o!t a ne one# Eater& hen hisvo!chers came bac" from the ban"& he fo!nd that not only thesecond b!t also the first chec" had been cashed< The croo"had !ic"ly slipped the first one into his poc"et and had torn!p a blan" one instead# The loser as hoo"ed tice#

We despise that "ind of deception even tho!ghgambling is rong in the first place# B!t do e fail torecogni4e in o!r on lives the same tendency to deceive9ave e faned over others& inflating their egos to gainpersonal favor& or in"ed at rongdoing to advance !p the


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ladder of s!ccess9 We may try to ass!re o!rselves that e dothese things 'to in friends( or to be 'diplomatic&( henact!ally e are motivated by self$interest& not "indness# etbeca!se o!r hearts are evil& e constantly see" to C!stifyo!rselves .Aeremiah 17:;/#

Beare of deceitf!lness# %t originates ith the devil&the 'father( of lies .Aohn J:@@/& and is one of the seven things=od hates .Proverbs G:1G$1;/#

What to do:

+lays remember the ords of Walter 3cott& 'Hh&hat a tangled eb e eave hen first e practice todeceive#(+gain remember& yo!r sin ill find yo! o!t#

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TruthDecember 1F

Bible Reading: Proverbs 1FKey Verse: Verse GRighteousness keepeth him that isupright in the wa&: but wickedness o!erthroweththe sinner.

Key Words: Righteousness keepeth him that isupright in the wa&

2hapter thirteen of Proverbs deals ith the s!bCect oftr!th# There is a tr!th abo!t listening .verse 1/& a tr!th abo!tliving .verse ?/& a tr!th abo!t la4iness .verse @/& a tr!th abo!tlying .verse /& and a tr!th abo!t limits .verse G/& and so itgoes thro!gho!t the chapter#

%t5s the tr!th abo!t limits % o!ld li"e for !s to loo" atin today5s devotion#%f yo! o!ld loo" again at the ord righteo!sness in

o!r te*t verse& it is a C!dicial ord meaning to ma"e =odlydecisions# Then notice the ord !pright& it carries the idea of


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being hole& not divided# % believe the principle is clear 6=odly decisions "eep yo! hole#

,very one of !s needs to set some limits for o!r life:things e ill not do& places e ill not go& ords e ill not!se& clothing e ill not ear# Witho!t limits e findo!rselves in a constant !andary#

+s a boy groing !p in so!th +labama& % lived in anarea that alloed me the space to r!n in open fields& b!t % alsoas able to hide in the oods# %t as certainly a good life for ayo!ng boy# Hne of the things % o!ld do as to catch the fieldlar"s that o!ld fly into the fields for their early morningbrea"fast# % o!ld p!t a cardboard bo* o!t& stic" a stic" !nder

it to hold it !p& tie a string aro!nd the stic"& and then % o!ldta"e the string and hide# %n order to l!re the field lar"s intothe bo*& % o!ld p!t one of other5s homemade bisc!its!nder it# 3!re eno!gh& hen they fle in& they co!ldn5t resistom5s bisc!it# % o!ld occasionally tag the birds % ca!ghtith a little band aro!nd their leg# o! "no& % ascontin!ally catching some of the same birds over and overagain# o! "no& the same thing happens to !s# 3atan

constantly p!ts o!t his l!res and beca!se e have no limits&e contin!ally find o!rselves trapped and in distress#Today % challenge yo! to live yo!r life ith limits# The

only other option is to live a life of spirit!al defeat#

What to do:Write don yo!r limits and stic" to them#

Pray for =od5s poer daily to stay ithin thoselimits#3tay aay from compromising sit!ations#

What To "o With %ngerDecember 1@

Bible Reading: Proverbs 1@Key Verse: Verse 17- %e that is soon angr& dealethfoolishl&: and a man of wicked de!ices is hated.


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Key Words: %e that is soon angr& dealethfoolishl&

We are not told in the Bible that getting angry is sinf!l#

What e do read& hoever& is that e m!st never allo angerto ca!se !s to sin# %nstead& if the pent$!p poer of o!r rathere directed into constr!ctive !ses& e co!ld help right someof the rongs of o!r evil orld#

%n atthe ?1& Aes!s cast the money$changers o!t ofthe temple& b!t e controlled is emotions and accomplishedsomething good# When the hard$hearted Pharisees bro!ghtim a man ith a ithered hand& hoping that 2hrist o!ld

brea" the 3abbath by healing him& e Looked round abouton them with anger .ar" F:/# B!t then e healed theman# Hn the to occasions hen is rath as raisedagainst the money$changers in the temple& e e*pressed it ina p!rposef!l ay by driving these religio!s fra!ds o!t of theEord5s ho!se#

Eeslie B# )lynn tells that after the +merican 2ivil Warthe managers of the infamo!s Eo!isiana Eottery approached

Robert ,# Eee and as"ed if he5d let them !se his name in theirscheme# They promised that if he did he o!ld become rich#+sto!nded& Eee straightened !p& b!ttoned his gray coat& andsho!ted& '=entlemen& % lost my home in the ar# % lost myfort!ne in the ar# % lost everything e*cept my name# yname is not for sale& and if yo! fellos don5t get o!t of here&%5ll brea" this cr!tch over yo!r heads


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There is an old saying that goes& 'Keep yo!r temper&no one else ants it#(

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% So$t %nswerDecember 1

Bible Reading: Proverbs 1Key Verse: Verse 1 - = soft answer turneth awa&wrath: but grie!ous words stir up anger.Key Words: = soft answer turneth awa& wrath

The best ay to !narm an angry man is ith softords# The soft ord doesn5t carry near the sting or the painas something hard does#

2hapter fifteen deals ith o!r ords# Hn at leastseven occasions yo! find the ords tong!e& lips& mo!th& and

ords# 3olomon says that o!r ords sho!ld be ise .verse ?/&holesome .verse @/& "noledgeable .verse 7/& timely .verse?F/& pleasant .verse ?G/& controlled .verse ?J/& and lastly soft.verse 1/#

+s an elderly oman prepared to par" her largee*pensive car& a yo!ng college st!dent c!t her off and stoleher par"ing spot# 0o that as neither chivalro!s nor ise&

b!t it gets orse# The yo!ng driver C!mped from his car andsarcastically said& 'Hh& to be yo!ng and fast


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What to do:Keep yo!r ansers soft& and % might add& brief#Remember& a fool uttereth all his mind.

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God Is In ControlDecember 1G

Bible Reading: Proverbs 1GKey Verse: Verse FF $ 'The lot is cast into the lap- b!t

the hole disposing thereof isof the EHRD#(Key Words: The lot is cast into the lap

)lipping a coin& draing stras& or even ta"ing an!mber o!t of a hat have alays been ays of resolving adisagreement hen other ays have failed# Hne of thesemethods as recently !sed to decide the inner of anelection# %t seems as tho!gh to men tied ith 1@8 votesapiece in a city co!ncil election in a small ton o!tside0orman& H"lahoma# Rather than go thro!gh the e*pense ofanother election& city officials !sed a chance method to decidethe inner& and apparently everyone accepted the o!tcome#%n case yo!5re ondering& they act!ally dre stras to decidethe inner#

any people vie all of this as nothing more than amatter of chance& of gambling and playing the odds- b!t3olomon said that !ltimately the hole matter o!ld bedecided by =od#

%n Bible times this as not an !n!s!al ay of resolvingsit!ations# )or e*ample& remember in Aonah here theyanted to cast lots to see ho had angered =od and ca!sedthe storm .Aonah 1:7/9

3o sho!ld e resort to casting lots or flipping coins to

resolve conflicts& or to find =od5s ill& or to see" isdirection9 +bsol!tely not< We have is Word& is 3pirit& andis ass!rance that e is g!iding !s#

Then hat does all of this say to !s9 % believe it saysthat from the 2hristian perspective there is no s!ch thing as


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chance or l!c"# =od is either directly or indirectly involved ineverything that happens to !s# e can& therefore& be tr!stedand obeyed in any circ!mstance beca!se =od is in control#

What to do:T!rn everyday and every sit!ation over to =od#)ollo =od5s direction as e spea"s to yo! thro!ghis Word#+nd remember& lots o!ld never have been cast inAonah& had Aonah been in =od5s ill#

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

% 'o(ing FriendDecember 17

Bible Reading: Proverbs 17

Key Verse: Verse 17 $ = friend lo!eth at all times"and a brother is born for ad!ersit&.

Key Words: = friend lo!eth at all times

Proverbs chapter seventeen deals ith the s!bCect ofcontentment# We see in verses one thro!gh five that 3olomondeals ith contentment from possessions# %n verses si*thro!gh ten& he deals ith contentment from having right

priorities# %n verses eleven thro!gh tenty$one& he tal"sabo!t being content ith people& and sometimes beingcontent in spite of people# Then in verses tenty$to thro!ghtenty$eight& he tal"s abo!t contentment that comes frombeing pr!dent#

B!t in verse seventeen& 3olomon to!ches on beingcontent in o!r friendships hen he says a friend lo!eth at alltimes. + real "ey to loving someone is in really being theirfriend# Eet me e*plain#

Hn A!ly ?;& 1;J1& Britain5s Prince 2harles marriedEady Di in a grand royal edding# The glamoro!s eddingas a 'fairy tale come tr!e( for both Prince 2harles and Eady


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Di& or at least that5s hat e ere led to believe# )or theiredding Eondon as a city dressed li"e a large stage# 2ityb!sses ere painted the color of the edding# There ere@&88 pots of floers that lined the edding ro!te of Eady Di#+ll the floers ere& there again& the color of her edding#

That day it is said that three million people lined thestreets of Eondon to get a glimpse of Eady Di# The eddingas carried live on television in seventy$five co!ntries#+ppro*imately one billion people atched the edding#

%t as indeed a glamoro!s edding- b!t !nfort!nately&it asn5t a glamoro!s marriage#

)ifteen years and one month after Prince 2harles and

Eady Di said '% do&( they ere divorced# 3omeone as"edPrince 2harles hy the marriage failed# is anser as& tosay the least& shoc"ing# e said& 'Eady Di and % ere loversand admired each other& b!t e ere never friends#( Hh


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%n a boo" by enry D!rbanville& the a!thor!nderscored the importance of friends as a means ofovercoming the dreaded enemy of loneliness# e incl!ded thefolloing e*cellent !otes that are orthy of repeating: RalphWaldo ,merson said& '+ friend may ell be rec"oned themasterpiece of nat!re#( + small boy defined a friend as'someone ho "nos all abo!t yo! and li"es yo! C!st thesame#( +nd an old +rab saying goes li"e this: '+ friend is oneto hom e may po!r o!t all the contents of o!r hearts& chaffand grain together& "noing that the gentlest of hands illta"e and sift it& "eep hat is orth "eeping& and ith thebreath of "indness blo the rest aay#( D!rbanville himself

made this observation: '+ friend is the first person to come inhen the hole orld goes o!t#(3olomon rote in Proverbs 17:17& = friend lo!eth at

all times. We can5t improve on that definition# To havesomeone ho remains tr!e to !s !nder all circ!mstances isindeed one of life5s choicest blessings# The s!pport andenco!ragement that only an intimate personal friend can offeris sorely needed hen the b!rdens and press!res of life eigh

heavily !pon !s# B!t today5s 3cript!re ma"es a veryimportant point# %t says that = man who hath friends mustshow himself friendl&. The implication is clear $ friendlinessm!st begin ith !s# We m!st ta"e the initiative in developingrelationships ith others#

Eet !s be to others hat e desire for o!rselves# Whenit comes to friends& to have one yo! m!st be one>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

% *uttermil& *athDecember F8

Bible Reading: Proverbs F8Key Verse: Verse FF- Aurel& the churning of milkbringeth forth butter" and the wringing of the nosebringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringethforth strife.Key Words: Aurel& the churning of milk bringethforth butter

% recently sa an ad in the nespaper hich bro!ghtbac" a flood of memories#


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%t as an old$fashioned b!tter ch!rn# aybe yo!remember them# This one as a tall ooden vessel ith ahole in the cover& thro!gh hich a ro!nd handle protr!dedith paddles on the loer end# By patient& hard or" 6pl!nging the paddles !p and don in the cream 6 yo! canma"e b!tter provided the temperat!re is right# o ell %remember 6 it seemed li"e ho!rs before the b!tter o!ldseparate< B!t +!nt 3arah o!ld alays say& '%f yo!5ll only"eep on& it ill come sooner or later#( es& the secret as in"eeping on 6 not giving !p# B!tter comes only from ch!rningand ch!rning# To stop is to fail

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Proverbs December 2015

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