July 4 - Proverbs 14,15
I hope you had a wonderful "unhurried time" with the Lord on this Independence Day. I hope you can spend some time with family and friends today, too. It always makes for a better holiday, when we keep our time with the Lord first.
Proverbs 14 has a couple of my favorite verses in it. Proverbs 14:4 is great for work in the church. So often people complain about the mess left by the people who come to church, but what is the alternative? I guess you could have a totally clean building, and no people. The truth is that when there is much activity, there may not be cleanliness, but there is increase. God is looking for the increase. Then, verse 12 is so important. This verse warns all of us against doing things our way instead of God's way. Our way seems right, but it leads to death, if it is not God's way. None of us can go by feelings or common sense. They will lead you astray.
There is one theme throughout these two chapters that is very important. It is the theme of how to communicate and how anger stops communication. A foolish person rages in anger and is self-confident. (14:16,17) The person who is wise is slow to anger and not impulsive. (14:29) The truth is that a soft answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs it up. (15:1) The wholesome (healing) tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit. (15:4) An angry person will stir up strife, but being slow to anger allays contention. (15:18) The righteous person will consider the right way to answer, but a wicked person pours forth evil. (15:28) I hope you will take time to put all of that together. It is a very needed lesson, because most people and most married couples have trouble communicating. Please, don't just put this aside, because "he who disdains instruction despises his own soul."(15:32)
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 16 and 17.
Proverbs 14 has a couple of my favorite verses in it. Proverbs 14:4 is great for work in the church. So often people complain about the mess left by the people who come to church, but what is the alternative? I guess you could have a totally clean building, and no people. The truth is that when there is much activity, there may not be cleanliness, but there is increase. God is looking for the increase. Then, verse 12 is so important. This verse warns all of us against doing things our way instead of God's way. Our way seems right, but it leads to death, if it is not God's way. None of us can go by feelings or common sense. They will lead you astray.
There is one theme throughout these two chapters that is very important. It is the theme of how to communicate and how anger stops communication. A foolish person rages in anger and is self-confident. (14:16,17) The person who is wise is slow to anger and not impulsive. (14:29) The truth is that a soft answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs it up. (15:1) The wholesome (healing) tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit. (15:4) An angry person will stir up strife, but being slow to anger allays contention. (15:18) The righteous person will consider the right way to answer, but a wicked person pours forth evil. (15:28) I hope you will take time to put all of that together. It is a very needed lesson, because most people and most married couples have trouble communicating. Please, don't just put this aside, because "he who disdains instruction despises his own soul."(15:32)
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 16 and 17.