SFJ Bible Reading Plan

Proverbs 11

11:1   A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
    but a just weight is his delight.
2   When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with the humble is wisdom.
3   The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4   Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
5   The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6   The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
7   When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
    and the expectation of wealth¹ perishes too.
8   The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
9   With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10   When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
11   By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
12   Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
13   Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14   Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
    but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15   Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16   A gracious woman gets honor,
    and violent men get riches.
17   A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
18   The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19   Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
    but he who pursues evil will die.
20   Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD,
    but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21   Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22   Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23   The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24   One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25   Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
    and one who waters will himself be watered.
26   The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
27   Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,²
    but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28   Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29   Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30   The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and whoever captures souls is wise.
31   If the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Footnotes

[1] 11:7 Or of his strength, or of iniquity

[2] 11:27 Or acceptance

(ESV)

Going Deeper

Proverbs 10 (3-25-17)

There are so many great lessons and take-aways in this week’s proverb and no central theme, so today I want to mine down and choose two of these prescriptions of wisdom to focus on in our going deeper.  I pray you are truly enjoying your daily time in God’s word and that you are looking not to just be hearers of the word but doers.  First let’s look at:

Proverbs 10:4-5 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

One of the big ways we prove NOT to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us is to be lazy or to practice procrastination. How often have you put off until tomorrow work that should be done today? Probably way too often.  Solomon called it shameful to be lazy or to procrastinate. Procrastination and laziness is a form of slothfulness and is a sin that is offensive to God. Someone once said that procrastination is “the thief of time.”

The procrastinator makes the unwise assumption that tomorrow will surely arrive. No person can make such an assumption. While it is not wrong to plan for the future, this is not the same as putting off what should be done today until tomorrow. Solomon said, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:1).

Proverbs says the sluggard who does not sow in season does not reap at the harvest. Because he was not faithful and diligent in his duties, the sluggard must reap the consequences of loss of reputation, poverty, and shame.

Let’s repent of this sinful practice and instead practice diligence and prudence as Solomon says here in verses 4 and 5.

Second, let’s look at:

Proverbs 10:15 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

Fallen man is guilty of not putting his confidence in God; therefore, he finds it necessary to put his confidence in something. For many, the “something” is material wealth. How often do you trust and hope in worldly possessions? Realize that you don’t have to be rich to fall into this category. A poor person can just as easily make a god out of money as a wealthy person. The poor person can easily think, “If I only had (fill in the blank), then I would be satisfied.”

The reason money so often becomes the idol of our lives is that it does help many things in practical life. But herein lies the deception that while money can provide many things, it guarantees nothing and doesn’t satisfy the deepest longing of our hearts.

When we die, every person will stand barren and empty before the throne of God. Only those who are clothed in the righteousness of Christ will be spared from eternal torment. Only those who put their trust in God will truly know what it means to be rich and to have their portion filled forever.

I love the prayer of Agur later in Proverbs.  He longs for God to be enough, so he prays:

Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:

8Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

May we be content like Paul who said, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Phil 4:12).

Most of all,  may we truly find our deepest satisfaction in Christ alone.

May “the Almighty himself… be your treasure.
 He will be your precious silver” (Job 22:25).

By His grace and for His glory,

Joshua “Shepherd” Kirstine

Soldiers for Jesus MC

Proverbs 10:25-32

25   When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
    but the righteous is established forever.
26   Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
    so is the sluggard to those who send him.
27   The fear of the LORD prolongs life,
    but the years of the wicked will be short.
28   The hope of the righteous brings joy,
    but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29   The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless,
    but destruction to evildoers.
30   The righteous will never be removed,
    but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31   The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
    but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32   The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
    but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

(ESV)

Proverbs 10:17-24

17   Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
    but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
18   The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
    and whoever utters slander is a fool.
19   When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
    but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
20   The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
    the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21   The lips of the righteous feed many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.
22   The blessing of the LORD makes rich,
    and he adds no sorrow with it.¹
23   Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,
    but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
24   What the wicked dreads will come upon him,
    but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

Footnotes

[1] 10:22 Or and toil adds nothing to it

(ESV)

Proverbs 10:9-16

9   Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
10   Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
    and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11   The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12   Hatred stirs up strife,
    but love covers all offenses.
13   On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
14   The wise lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
15   A rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
    the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
16   The wage of the righteous leads to life,
    the gain of the wicked to sin.

(ESV)