Proverbs – Page 9

Morning Musings: Proverbs 21:2

September 11, 2017September 6, 2017Leave a comment

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (ESV)

There is absolutely no better salesman on the rightness of what we plan to do than ourselves. We can convince ourselves of literally anything given enough time and motivation. If left to our own devices, we can justify just about any behavior.

One of the most popular slogans of our culture today is to follow your heart. As warm and fuzzy as this advice is made to sound, however (and nobody has worked quite so hard to make it the central thought of every young person than Disney), the truth is that it is awful advice. Absolutely awful.

Because of sin, our hearts are hopelessly corrupt and deceptive. If we follow our own hearts we are going to find our way into nothing but trouble and lots of it. If instead we turn ourselves over to the God who defines right and wrong and let Him be our guide regardless of where our heart is telling us to go, the likelihood of our finding ourselves on the right track goes up enormously.

The Lord weighs the heart. Let us let Him weigh ours so that we stay following after Him on the path to life.

Morning Musings: Proverbs 20:22

August 28, 2017August 27, 2017Leave a comment

“Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.” (ESV)

When we have been affronted by some evil, or when we see someone else who has been affected by it, our natural response is to want to repay it.

Throughout the whole of human history, our natural response has been to repay in kind when we have been dealt an offense. And this is right, isn’t it? If something is wrong, we need to act to set it right. For someone who doesn’t believe in a just god, this is obviously necessary, because who else is going to do it? But even for those who believe in a God who is perfect in justice this should be something that is good and right, yes? After all, this would be our participating in His character of justice. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Proverbs 20:4

August 16, 2017August 17, 2017Leave a comment

“The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.” (ESV)

One of the principles that comes out over and over again in the proverbs is the importance of working hard. Being lazy and relying on others to work for you is not the way to life.

While many today have internalized the mantra that they are “working for the weekend,” and that the real goal of life is to be able to relax and pursue a life of ease (often in retirement), the Scriptures proclaim a different approach. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Proverbs 19:17

August 9, 2017August 13, 20172 Comments

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” (ESV)

Have you ever wasted money and you knew it? That’s a frustrating feeling. Maybe it isn’t at the time (or else you probably wouldn’t have done it!), but eventually that little nagging sense of regret develops and you have to decide you’ll ignore it or else find a way to make amends. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Proverbs 19:3

August 5, 2017August 13, 2017Leave a comment

“When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.” (ESV)

How often is this the case? We do something stupid, face the consequences, and then get mad at God for not keeping us from facing the consequences. Read the rest…