Daily in the Word Devotional

Planning for the Future

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished."

Proverbs 22:3

Anthropologist Gregory Bateson told an amazing story about the New College at Oxford in England. The college is “new” only by Oxford standards, having been founded in 1379. During the 1400s a great dining hall was built for the students to use. One of the stunning architectural features of the hall is the presence of a number of massive exposed oak beams which are some two feet thick and forty-five feet long.

According to Bateman’s story in the late 1900s the beams were found to be infested with beetles which were destroying their structural integrity. Knowing they needed to be replaced, but unsure where to find such massive trees, the college leaders were stymied. Then the College Forester came forward with the solution. Hundreds of years before, oak trees had been planted on college lands for the specific purpose of providing replacements in the future. While generations of foresters had harvested other trees, they had left the oaks to grow strong and tall. Because the need had been foreseen, a provision had been made to meet it.

God’s children should be characterized by wisdom regarding the future. Someone once said, “If you have failed to plan you have planned to fail.” While none of us knows exactly what will happen tomorrow, and we should never be presumptuous about the future, we should plan for things that can be foreseen. Trusting God does not imply that we fail to make provision for the future for ourselves and our families. In addition to making plans for the material world, we should plan for the spiritual world as well to avoid temptation and sin. It is far easier to keep from sinning if you avoid being tempted. Jesus taught His followers to pray “Lead us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13).

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Carefully evaluate future dangers and do what you can to avoid them so you will not suffer the consequences of failing to plan.

Wandering from the Truth

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead."

Proverbs 21:16

In September of 2012, an Alzheimer’s support group highlighted a news story to point out the seriousness of the problem facing those with this disease and those who care for them. A sixty-seven year old man who was living in a nursing home with what was described as “severe dementia” wandered away from the facility. He had to use a walker to get around, and though it was raining, he was wearing house slippers instead of shoes.

The police and staff focused their search in the immediate vicinity of the nursing home, believing that he would be found nearby. To their shock and amazement, he had somehow made his way to a bus station, purchased a ticket and made the trip back to his former hometown—124 miles away! Statistics indicate that nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients wander from time to time. In that respect the disease is much like the spiritual danger that all of us face—that of wandering away from the Lord without understanding the danger we are facing.

The old hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” contains the line: “Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” The prophet Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). The truth is that no one remains in a close relationship with God by accident—it requires conscious and repeated effort. If we allow ourselves to just drift along, we will begin to wander away from God. Like a ship that has not set an anchor, we will be carried along with the currents, often without even realizing it. Then one day we find ourselves 124 miles away…or even more. Cling to the truth and to God and you will avoid wandering.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Guard your heart carefully against the tendency we all have to wander away from God.

A Faithful Man

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?"

Proverbs 20:6

Late in 1944 with the war going very badly for the Japanese, a young lieutenant name Hiroo Onoda was sent to Lubang Island in the Philippines. His orders were simple. He was to do everything possible to slow the American advance by conducting guerilla attacks. Under no circumstances was he to surrender or to kill himself. Onoda took his orders seriously. Even when the American forces captured the island early in 1945 and most of the other men in his unit surrendered, Onoda continued to fight.

He and three others took to the hills where they continued the struggle. Their continuing attacks alerted authorities to their presence and leaflets were dropped telling them the war was over. Onoda believed it was a trick and continued the fight. Eventually the other members of his party surrendered or were killed, but he continued to launch guerilla attacks on the residents of the island. Finally in 1974, his former commanding officer was flown to Lubang Island to meet with Lt. Onoda. He formally relieved the tenacious solider of his duty so that Onoda could leave the war behind without disobeying his orders and being dishonored.

The war had been over for nearly thirty years, but Lt. Onoda was still faithful to obey the command he had been given decades before. In a day when we see many fall away from following God, we are sometimes tempted as Elijah was to wonder if there are any faithful people left. There are! And we have the opportunity to add to that number by being faithful ourselves. Jesus asked this question, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Each of us should resolve to live in such a way that we will be found faithful when we see Jesus.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

God is looking for faithful men and women to serve Him. Will you be one today?

The Protection of Obedience

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die."

Proverbs 19:16

When the massive Hurricane Charley slammed into Florida in 2004 with 145 mile per hour winds, it destroyed more than 12,000 homes. But a later study by a group of insurance companies found that almost all of those homes had something in common—they had been built prior to 2001. In that year, a strict new building code was adopted which required homes to be strengthened to withstand hurricane force winds.

Jeff Burton, building code manager for the Institute for Business and Home Safety said, “There is very, very strong evidence that buildings built under the 2001 code that were built properly and inspected…fared much, much better than buildings that were built prior. The building code, as it exists today did its job.” There is a reason for the building code, and those who follow it find that it works. The same is true for the Word of God.

When we view the Bible and the things it tells us to do or not do as a set of restrictions that limit what we can do, we are tempted to resent the commandments of God. Many people completely abandon any pretense of holiness or godly living because they don’t want to be tied down by rules. Yet when the storm winds blow, those who have not built their lives according to God’s code find themselves facing destruction and ruin.

It is important that we understand the purpose of God’s commandments. First John 5:3 tells us, “…and his commandments are not grievous.” They are given for our protection. God does not arbitrarily declare some things off limits to make sure we aren’t having fun. The commands of God are given for our own good. When we follow them carefully, we receive both protection from evil and blessings from above as well.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

View God’s commandments as being for your protection, and you will find them a blessing rather than a burden.

Take Time to Listen

Sat, 18 May 2013 07:15:05 +0000

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."

Proverbs 18:13

“Mice in Council” is one of Aesop’s better known fables. A group of mice, tired of constantly living in fear of being attacked and eaten by a cat hold a meeting to decide on a course of action. A number of possibilities were debated and rejected before one mouse stood with a proposal that proved to be very popular. “I think I have hit upon a plan which will ensure our safety in the future, provided you approve and carry it out. It is that we should fasten a bell round the neck of our enemy the cat, which will by its tinkling warn us of her approach.”

The mice were prepared to vote to approve the plan when an elderly mouse stood and said, “I agree with you all that the plan before us is an admirable one. But may I ask who is going to bell the cat?” Often people say things that sound good in the moment, but when they are fully considered, the flaws begin to appear. Other times, only one side of a situation is presented for consideration. The problem comes in when we take action based on the early information without taking all sides into account. That approach leads to foolish decisions and can result in calamity.

We should take time to carefully weigh all aspects of a matter, making sure that we have the full story before proceeding to make a decision. Choices based on partial and incomplete information rarely turn out well. Do not allow impatience or haste to push you toward moving forward unless you are sure you have understood both the current situation and the possible outcomes of any decision you make. Only then are you ready to make a wise and safe decision.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Take the time to make sure you have listened and understood all aspects of a matter before you decide on a solution.

Dangerous Fools

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly."

Proverbs 17:12

In July of 2011, a hiker was attacked by a female grizzly bear near the Wapiti Lake trail in Yellowstone National Park. The man and his wife were visiting the park as hundreds of thousands do each year. Apparently they surprised the mother grizzly and her cubs. The National Park Service issued a statement saying, “In an attempt to defend a perceived threat to her cubs, the bear attacked and fatally wounded the man.” Though the man did not intend to harm the bear or her cubs, she did not know that and responded according to her nature—with fatal results.

As dangerous as it is to cross paths with a mother bear and her cubs, the Bible tells us that it is even more dangerous to cross paths with a fool. The folly in the heart of a fool is not limited to his own life. Instead it tends to spread and infect others and bring devastation into their lives. Think of Achan taking loot from the city of Jericho when God had forbidden it. He no doubt thought he had pulled off the perfect crime. Once they had captured another city or two, he could bring out the things he had hidden in his tent and no one would ever know.

What he forgot was that God knew what had happened. That was the height of folly, and it brought destruction not only to Achan and his family but also to dozens of others. “Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity” (Joshua 22:20). Although you cannot control everyone who is part of your life, you can and should guard against receiving influence from fools.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Beware of the company or influence of a fool. His folly will bring destruction to your life.

Righteous Leadership

Thu, 16 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness."

Proverbs 16:12

It seemed like a fairly simple burglary when a group of five men were arrested on the night of June 17, 1972, while breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. The arrest and subsequent trial were largely ignored during the election that year, and President Nixon was overwhelmingly reelected to a second term in a landslide. But the story was more involved than first appeared, and the Nixon presidency began to unravel.

The revelation that the burglary was connected to the Committee to Reelect the President and that Nixon and his staff had impeded the investigation eventually led to the door of the Oval Office. Tape recordings secretly made in the White House gave investigators evidence of high level involvement. By the time the dust had settled, more than three dozen people, including many top administration officials had been convicted and sent to prison for their role in the break in and the subsequent cover up. President Nixon resigned in disgrace rather than waiting for an almost certain impeachment, and only a pardon from President Ford kept him from facing trial as well.

Often those in leadership (and all of us are leaders and influencers in at least one area or another) are tempted to think that they can afford to cut corners or do things that they would condemn if others did them. They may think that their position entitles them leeway from honesty and integrity—but it does not. Every time a leader approves of or tolerates sin, he is weakening the very framework that supports his position. Because all authority comes from God—“there is no power but of God” (Romans 13:1)—any sinful act is an attack not just on His authority but on the leader’s authority as well.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Any sin tolerated in the life of a leader not only damages him but brings hurtful consequences to his followers as well.

Sharing Knowledge

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so."

Proverbs 15:7

One of the iconic characters of early America was John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Chapman was born in Massachusetts just before the start of the American Revolution. When he was about eighteen years of age, he left home and headed west. For more than fifty years he crisscrossed the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Chapman took apple seeds and planted nurseries across the region. He built fences to protect the new trees, and he contracted with local farmers or merchants to sell the trees as they grew.

But John Chapman was also a missionary. He loved to tell children stories from the Bible. One of his hearers described his voice this way in an article about Johnny Appleseed published in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine: “strong and loud as the roar of wind and waves, then soft and soothing as the balmy airs that quivered the morning-glory leaves about his gray beard.” Along with his supply of apple seeds he also carried tracts and Bible portions to share with those he met.

The life of Johnny Appleseed is a powerful reminder to us of one of the purposes God has for us here on Earth—to share the gospel and the truths of Scripture with those we meet. Rather than being isolated away from the world, we are meant to be “the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

Christians are not meant to be hoarders of the Good News or the blessings we have received from God. Peter said we are to “minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). As we share what we have, God multiplies it to do even more.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

The purpose of wisdom is not just for us to store it up for ourselves but to share it with others as well.

The Way that Seemeth Right

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

Proverbs 14:12

For skiing enthusiasts there are few places that top the rugged Cascade Mountains in Washington state. For “extreme skiers” who look for the most remote and steep locations, one of the best places to ski is the Stevens Pass on Cowboy Mountain. Just outside that ski park is a place known as Tunnel Creek. Though it is not maintained by the ski resort, it is known for deep snow that is perfect for skiing—and for avalanches.

In February of 2012 more than a dozen world class skiers gathered for an excursion down Tunnel Creek. The trip ended in disaster as nearly three feet of newly fallen snow and temperature changes combined to create a deadly avalanche. Three of the skiers—professionals who had spent much of their lives on the slopes—perished in the massive snow slide. The wife of one of the victims asked him that morning if the excursion was safe. She later said, “He looked me right in the eye and said: ‘Of course. I wouldn’t be going if it weren’t.’” They thought that what they were doing was safe, but they were tragically and fatally wrong.

Human wisdom and understanding is fallible. Studies have shown that people routinely underestimate dangers and overestimate their abilities to cope with them. This is true in all aspects of life, but it is especially true in the spiritual realm. The prophet Jeremiah put it this way: “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). God has given us a perfect and inerrant guide to living in His Word. Rather than relying on how things look and feel to us, we should trust and follow His precepts.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Trust God’s Word and His wisdom above your own, and you will be greatly protected from danger.

Loving the Truth

Mon, 13 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame."

Proverbs 13:5

Before he became president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was a successful attorney in Illinois. His specialty was the then-new field of railroad law, but when the son of a friend was charged with murder and put on trial in 1858, Lincoln agreed to defend him at no cost. During the trial a witness named Charles Allen testified that he had seen the accused, Duff Armstrong, hit and kill James Metzker on the night of August 29, 1857. Allen’s testimony was that though he was 150 feet away, the light of the full moon allowed him to clearly see that Armstrong was the killer.

Once he had Allen committed and on the record with his sworn testimony, Lincoln sprang his trap. He pulled out an almanac for the previous year and showed that the moon on that date was not full but only one quarter—and that at the time of the crime it had barely risen. There was no way that Allen could have seen Armstrong commit the crime as he had testified. The jury acquitted William Armstrong on their first ballot. The truth overcame the lie, and justice was done.

When we are honest and truthful, we demonstrate our commitment to following God and obeying His commands. The temptation to shade the truth, to tell “white lies” or to try to get off the hook by lying always leads to disaster. Much of our society has abandoned honesty as a value and virtue, but that does not make it any less important for us to continue to love the truth. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Though it may seem that lying will work out better in the short run, the truth is always the best course in the end.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

If you are committed to the truth, it will protect you and bring you God’s blessings.

The Words of a Godly Mother

Sun, 12 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 12:18

When future president Abraham Lincoln was just nine years old, his mother Nancy died after drinking milk from a cow that had eaten a poisonous plant. Through she had only those few years in which to impact his life, she used them well. Later Lincoln would say, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” But it was not just in her teaching that she touched his life. Lincoln also said, “I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

As we stop today to honor mothers, it is worth taking a moment to reflect on the power of a mother’s words in the life of a child. In contrast to the good example set by Nancy Lincoln, consider another mother. She was angry and abusive toward her youngest son. When classmates teased him, calling him “Ozzie Rabbit” because he was small and had big ears, she told her son that they were right. The boy’s older brother later said, “We learned very early that we were a burden...she wanted to be free of responsibility.” That boy, Lee Harvey Oswald became a household name when he assassinated President John Kennedy.

The words of a mother (indeed the words any of us use toward others) have enormous power. They can deeply wound or they can heal. Knowing this truth, we should be very careful how we speak to others. As Paul wrote, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). Words that we excuse as teasing may cut much deeper than we realize. Words that praise character and effort encourage a child to continue doing right.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

If your mother is still living, take the time to thank her for the investments she has made in your life.

Justice in Practice

Sat, 11 May 2013 07:00:18 +0000

"A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight."

Proverbs 11:1

A Michigan judge found himself in the news recently because of the violation of a courtroom rule—and what happened next. Judge Raymond Voet has long had a policy forbidding the use of electronic devices in the courtroom. Anyone whose phone rings aloud has it confiscated and receives a fine. Over the years, attorneys, police officers, witnesses, and spectators have broken the rule and received the punishment.

During closing arguments at the trial, someone’s smartphone started talking. “I can’t understand you. Say something like Mom,” the phone requested. It was the judge’s new phone! "I'm guessing I bumped it. It started talking really loud. That's an excuse, but I don't take those excuses from anyone else. I set the bar high, because cell phones are a distraction and there is very serious business going on," he said. "The courtroom is a special place in the community, and it needs more respect than that." During the next break in the trial, Judge Voet held himself in contempt, and paid the standard $25 fine that he issues anyone who disturbs a trial. “Judges are human,” Voet said. “They're not above the rules. I broke the rule, and I have to live by it.”

To live a life that is pleasing to God, we need to deal justly both with ourselves and others. The priority God places on justice is very high indeed. The prophet Micah wrote, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). There will always be temptations to cut corners in our dealings with others, or perhaps to let ourselves get by with something we condemn in in others. We should reject these temptations and act justly.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Hold yourself to the same standards to which you hold others, and be just in all your interactions.

Blessing without Sorrow

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

Proverbs 10:22

Fleeing religious persecution in England and seeking a place where they could worship God freely, a small group we now know as the Pilgrims made the treacherous journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the shores of America in 1620. After a difficult trip, they finally reached the New World in November. Before going ashore to establish a new colony, they wrote and signed a document known as the Mayflower Compact. In it they stated that their purpose in founding the colony was “for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith.”

William Bradford, who eventually served as governor of the Plymouth Colony, wrote in his diary that the Pilgrims “came to anchor in the Bay, which was a good harbor...and they blessed the God of Heaven, who brought them over the fast and furious ocean... and a sea of trouble.” Though the Pilgrims endured hardship as they worked to carve a new home out of the rocky shores of New England, the hand of God continued to bless them and meet their needs.

The blessings of God are often misunderstood. Some people teach that if God is blessing you, nothing will ever go wrong and you will have everything that you want. Yet that is not the teaching of Scripture. The blessing of God is not primarily about material things, although it certainly may include those. Instead it is mostly about the things that are eternal and can never be taken away.

In order to properly appreciate the blessings of God, we must first trust that He knows what is best for us and that His power will ensure that we receive what He wants us to have. This kind of faith allows us to be content regardless of our circumstances. With that attitude, we will be grateful for all the good things God gives.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

When we receive the blessings of God with gratitude and thanksgiving, we find true and lasting joy.

What You Do for Yourself

Thu, 09 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it."

Proverbs 9:12

When he was just twenty years old, Benjamin Franklin set out to improve his character. He created a list of thirteen virtues that he wanted to cultivate in his life. They were: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. His plan was to work on one each week and then go on to the next. When he reached the end of the list, he would start over again.

The problem with this approach is that in our own strength we do not have the ability to develop and cultivate the behavior that God expects from us. Though Franklin’s parents were devout churchgoers and he was good friend with noted evangelist George Whitefield, Franklin was not a believer. His lack of reliance on God meant that no matter how diligently he tried, he could never truly improve himself in a lasting way.

The key to success in life and living in a manner that is pleasing God is found only in the power of God. Paul wrote, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). It is not our willpower and strength of character that overcomes temptation and displays godly character, but the life surrendered to the Holy Spirit and operating under His power and influence.

Wisdom teaches us to obey God and His Word with profound and lasting results. In his will, Ben Franklin left 1,000 pounds (about $4,400 in that day) to the city of Philadelphia with the stipulation that it be allowed to accumulate interest for 200 years before being spent. By the time it was used, his bequest was worth some $5,000,000! Wisdom also accumulates, and the benefits last for all of our lives.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

When we acquire and follow wisdom, we greatly enrich our own lives as well as the lives of others.

Leadership and Wisdom

Wed, 08 May 2013 07:34:51 +0000

"Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth."

Proverbs 8:14-16

Because Solomon asked for a wise and understanding heart when God offered him anything he choose, he was granted a measure of wisdom that no one before or since possessed. Early in his reign that wisdom was put on display when he decided between two women, each of whom claimed that a baby was hers. Apparently, the “lower courts” had been unable to discern which woman was telling the truth, so they brought them both to Solomon for him to judge between them. What happened next cemented Solomon’s reputation as a man with great insight and wisdom.

“And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other” (1 Kings 3:24-25). The real mother wanted the child alive, while the false claimant was willing for the child to be killed. Thus Solomon revealed the true mother. The people of the kingdom were astonished. “They saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment” (1 Kings 3:28).

Every person in leadership (and almost all of us are leaders in some aspect of our lives) needs the wisdom of God. The problems that we face and the decisions we must make are beyond our own ability to determine in our own wisdom what should be done. Many people have made tragically destructive choices that have impacted not only their own lives but their followers as well because they trusted their own wisdom. Instead we should seek to apply the principles of Scripture and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit so that we lead wisely.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Seek God’s wisdom for every area of your life so you act rightly and glorify Him.

Your Clothes Speak

Tue, 07 May 2013 07:01:34 +0000

"And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart."

Proverbs 7:10

Cecil Scott was just fifteen years old in 2007 when he walked from his home to his school for band practice. The teenager was wearing blue house slippers as he and a friend took their walk. Tragically for Scott, he wore those blue shoes through the territory of a gang whose colors were red—and his blue was taken as a sign that he was part of a rival gang. Scott was confronted by nineteen-year-old Tywan Ransom, who shot and killed him when he refused to take off his shoes.

Since ancient times people have signaled their allegiance by their clothing and decorations, from the red and white roses of the Lancasters and Yorks during the wars of succession in England to the blue and gray of the Civil War in America. What we wear sends signals about us that other people receive. Of course those messages are not always the ones we intend to communicate, and that places a great responsibility on us to be careful what the clothes we wear have to say. We should not wear anything that conflicts with our commitment to following Jesus Christ. No matter how popular such garments or styles may be, they are not for the believer who desires to reflect the holiness of God.

Paul’s direction to Timothy “that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety” (1 Timothy 2:9) may not be popular in our day, but it is still important. (And the same principle applies equally to men as well.) The clothes we wear, or don’t wear, convey a message. We should not tempt others with our clothing, nor should we dress in garments designed to call attention to ourselves. Instead we should be dressed as becomes members of the “glorious church” that will assemble at Christ’s return, “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27).

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Make sure that what you wear sends a message that is consistent with your Christian testimony.

Sudden Destruction

Mon, 06 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy."

Proverbs 6:15

Despite its location on a low island on the Texas Gulf Coast and the destruction brought by a hurricane on the neighboring city of Indianola, a majority of the residents of Galveston did not see any need for the building of a sea wall to protect their city from a major storm. Though the US Weather Bureau was aware that a tropical storm was passing through the Caribbean, they did not have the means to track it. The warnings that were issued were far too little and too late.

On September 8, 1900, a massive hurricane which caused the deadliest natural disaster in US history struck the thriving Texas town. Modern estimates place it as a category four hurricane. Wind speeds reached over one hundred miles per hour before the measuring equipment was destroyed. A storm surge of more than fifteen feet swept over the low island and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings. Estimates of the total loss of life ranged as high as 12,000. Burial plots could not be found for the massive number of bodies, and after attempts to dispose of them at sea were thwarted by the tides, massive funeral pyres were built to burn the remains.

The residents of Galveston thought they were living in perfect safety when in fact they were in enormous danger. This is also true of those who are casual about their relationship with sin. The fact that God’s mercy may sometimes delay immediate judgment for sin does not mean that it is hidden from His eyes or that it is acceptable to Him. As Moses warned the children of Israel, “be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). Rather than being lulled into complacency we should flee to God in repentance and seek His forgiveness before we fall under His judgment.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Rather than waiting for judgment and destruction, repent of any sin in your life and return to a right relationship with God.

The Eyes of the Lord

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings."

Proverbs 5:21

In August of 2010 a group of thirty-three miners were trapped in a Chilean gold and copper mine by a cave in. Amazingly they managed to survive for more than two months before they were finally rescued. On reaching the surface, one of the miners, Yonni Rojas, discovered that both his wife and his mistress had arrived to hold vigil and watch for his safe return! He thought that he had covered his tracks and that no one knew of his five year affair, but an unexpected mine disaster revealed his sin, not just to his family, but to the entire world.

Charles Spurgeon said, “You say that you can handle your secret sins, that there is no one hurt by them. But you may as well ask the lion to let you put your head into his mouth. You cannot regulate his jaws: neither can you regulate sin. Once done, you cannot tell when you will be destroyed. You may put your head in and out a great many times; but one of these days it will be a costly venture.”

As Christians we must never lose sight of the fact that God sees and knows everything that we do and think. No matter how carefully we may hide from others, nothing is hidden from His sight. Hebrews 4:13 says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” God knows what we are doing and what we desire to do. And He has not changed His mind regarding sin. God hates sin too much and loves us too much to allow us to get away with secret sin.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

It is far better to confess and forsake your sin immediately than to wait until it results in public shame.

Staying on Course

Sat, 04 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble."

Proverbs 4:11-12

The use of the term “red herring” to describe something that distracts someone from their main goal dates back to at least the 1500s. The writer Thomas Nashe penned, “Next, to draw on hounds to a scent, to a red herring skin there is nothing comparable.” Despite this literary depiction, there appears to be little evidence that hunters actually used herring to train their dogs to stay after their prey, but the phrase stuck. It came to be used as a general figure of speech to describe a false trail that led nowhere but instead draws attention away from the main thing.

The devil is a master at using distractions to draw us away from what God intends for us to do. He is perfectly willing to use good things to keep us away from the best things. I once heard a sermon “Rabbit Chasers” in which a preacher with rural roots described how in his childhood they would take their dogs into the woods to hunt opossum but found that the dogs would stop hunting opossums to chase rabbits instead. He talked about how anything that distracts us from God’s best is a waste.

When it comes to avoiding destructive distractions, wisdom offers a great defense. Wisdom chooses the important and long-lasting over the fleeting and temporary. Wisdom rejects the quick fix in favor of the permanent solution. Wisdom shuns the approach of the world for the path of God—even when that path is narrow and not chosen by many others. In short, the more we are in touch with God’s Word and God’s wisdom, the more closely we follow in God’s path.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Stay focused on God’s plan and purpose for your life, and do not allow anything to take you off course.

A Sign of God’s Love

Fri, 03 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

'My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.""

Proverbs 3:11-12

When Christians endure suffering and affliction they often find it hard to maintain a proper perspective toward the goodness of God and His kindness in bringing correction into our lives. Of course not every trial is a result of sin in our lives. We live in a fallen world where the ravages of sin impact both the saved and the lost alike. Yet it is always wise to stop and examine our lives and see if there is correction from our Heavenly Father involved.

Charles Spurgeon said, “It is not every affliction that benefits the Christian; it is only a sanctified affliction. Take heed if God is trying you, that you search and find out the reason. Have you lost that joy you once felt? There is some cause for it. Many a man would not have half so much suffered if he would but look to the cause of it. I have sometimes walked a mile or two, almost limping along because there was a stone in my shoe, and I did not stop to look for it. And many a Christian goes limping for years because of the stones in his shoe, but if he would only stop to look for them, he would be relieved. What is the sin that is causing you pain? Get it out.”

The author of Hebrews quoted this admonition from Solomon because it is a truth that is worth repeating. “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him” (Hebrews 12:5). Instead of allowing ourselves to be discouraged or getting angry with God and giving up, we should view His chastisement as evidence that we are His children and that He loves enough to correct us.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

If you view chastisement as a sign of God’s love, it will be easier for you to respond correctly in repentance.

Rejoicing in Evil

Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;'

Proverbs 2:14

“I should quit texting. I could die in car accident,” twenty-one-year-old college student Chance Bothe wrote to a friend. Moments later, still texting, he missed a curve on the road and plunged thirty feet into a ravine. Miraculously he did not die, but he suffered a serious brain injury and numerous broken bones. It was some six months before he was able to leave the hospital, and he had to relearn how to walk, talk, and take care of himself. He knew what he was doing was wrong and dangerous, but he did it anyway.

The story is shocking, yet each day millions of people do things that they know are wrong, dangerous, and sinful without believing that they will suffer the consequences. Our culture has adopted a casual attitude toward sin—even worse, sinful behavior is often seen as comical and a source of fun and delight. While the world may have forgotten how awful sin is and how much God hates it, believers cannot afford to take that attitude.

A casual approach to sin, or finding humor and pleasure in sin exposes us to danger when it comes to temptation. A fear of sin and the holiness of God protects us from giving in. This was Joseph’s response when he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife. Rather than finding sin attractive, he viewed it as destructive. When Potiphar’s wife approached Joseph with her immoral offer he replied, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)

This attitude is especially important in our entertainment choices. If we are laughing about sin night after night on television or enjoying reading about it in books or online, when temptation comes we will be far more vulnerable. Wisdom keeps the right attitude toward sin—hating it just as God does.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Do not adopt the attitude of the world that sin is a laughing matter. Regard it as God does—as great wickedness.

The Curse of Prosperity

Wed, 01 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

Proverbs 1:32

I read about a young man just starting out in business who told his pastor that he would be faithful to tithe and asked for God’s blessing on his work. The man was faithful to give as he had promised, and his income continued to increase. He became one of the highest givers in the church. But as his income continued to grow, it got harder and harder for him to feel good about writing a check to give so much money to God.

Finally he called the pastor and said, “I made six million dollars last year. I can’t afford to give God six hundred thousand. What can I do?” The pastor responded, “How about I pray that God reduces your income back down to where you can afford to tithe!” It didn’t take long for the businessman to decide that tithing was a better deal. That story illustrates one of the dangers that comes with God’s blessing. As we get more, it can become an idol that we worship and lead to our destruction.

Paul warned Timothy about false teachers who would come in and equate prosperity with God’s blessing, “supposing that gain is godliness” (1 Timothy 6:5). We should not fall into the trap of thinking that because someone has more they must be receiving God’s favor. The popular message that God wants all of His children to be rich and financially well off is not grounded in Scripture. In fact what the Bible teaches is that while God does bless people with prosperity in some cases, in other cases material gain is actually part of His judgment. The destructive power of the love of money leads those who have some to want still more. They are never satisfied or content, thus missing the blessing of God’s peace.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Examine your heart carefully to be sure that money has not taken God’s rightful place.

A Deceived Generation

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

Proverbs 30:12

The Scottish poet Robert Burns’ best known verses is entitled To a Louse, On Seeing One on a Lady’s Bonnet at Church. In the poem Burns describes the audacity of the little creature crawling around with impunity on the fine bonnet worn by a high society matron to the service. The poem concludes with these lines (put in modern English from Burns’ original)

And would some Power the small gift give us
To see ourselves as others see us!
It would from many a blunder free us,
And foolish notion:
What airs in dress and gait would leave us,
And even devotion!

All of us are capable of thinking ourselves as being far better than we actually are. Studies show that people routinely over-estimate their skills, intelligence, and abilities in comparison to others. One study famously found that half of all men rated themselves in the top ten percent nationally in athletic ability!

Often we do not see problems in our own lives, although we can be quite skilled at detecting the problems of others. This tendency to judge others while giving ourselves a pass can lead to both a harsh spirit toward others and a tolerance of sin in our own lives. As the prophet Jeremiah reminds us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 19:7). If we are depending on our ability to evaluate ourselves, we are heading for trouble. Instead we need an absolute standard of truth that is reliable against which we can measure ourselves. That standard is the Word of God. It is “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). To properly judge ourselves we must truly be diligent students of the Bible and apply what we read to our lives.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

We need to make our evaluations and measurements by the unchanging Word of God rather than our thoughts or feelings.

The Fear of Man

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."

Proverbs 29:25

One of the most gifted speakers in church history was John Chrysostom—the name comes from the Greek word meaning “golden tongued.” John was sent from Antioch to what was then Constantinople where he preached fearlessly in the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. His denunciation of the lavish extravagance of the rich and ruling class and his condemnation of excess infuriated many, including Empress Eudoxia who arranged for him to be exiled. When he was told of his fate, Chrysostom responded: “What can I fear? Will it be death? But you know that Christ is my life, and that I shall gain by death. Will it be exile? But the earth and all its fullness are the Lord’s. Poverty I do not fear; riches I do not sigh for; and from death I do not shrink.”

Far too many today are more worried about what people think than about what God thinks. The desire not to offend others (which is not a bad thing in itself) is often elevated to be the most important thing. As a result, many shrink from speaking the truth. In America we have enjoyed a great measure of freedom from persecution, but the proclamation of clear Bible principles is rapidly falling out of favor. There may well come a day when we face persecution and even death for speaking the truth.

The decision we make in that hour will be determined by who we fear more—God or man. As we commit ourselves to following Christ and being faithful to Him regardless of the consequences, we may be persecuted, but we will please the One who matters most. When Stephen was stoned for his fearless preaching he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56).

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

A believer who is obeying and fearing God has nothing to fear from any man.

Prayers God Hates

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 07:25:00 +0000

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

Proverbs 28:9

One of the wonderful attributes of God is His willingness to hear and answer prayer. The Bible is filled with promises about prayer, and we should certainly claim those promises. Yet there are prayers that God will not hear and answer, and as shocking as it may be to contemplate, there are prayers that God actually hates. These are prayers that are offered by those who refuse to submit in obedience to the Word of God yet expect to be heard anyway.

The prophet Amos declared to the people that God was not interested in hearing from them because of the sin that they harbored in their hearts. “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts” (Amos 5:21-22).

In his book Prayer: Asking and Receiving, Dr. John Rice told the story of Charles Blanchard, who followed his father as the second president of Wheaton College. Blanchard’s wife had gotten sick, and doctors were unable to do anything to help. As a last resort they decided to try an operation. As he prayed about his wife’s condition, Dr. Blanchard was convicted of a certain matter in his heart which he had not addressed. He confessed that sin, prayed again, and his wife immediately began to recover and the operation was cancelled.

Many times we wonder why God does not answer our prayers. We bombard Heaven fruitlessly, forgetting the warning of Scripture: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). Sin that we tolerate in our hearts not only breaks our fellowship with God but it keeps our prayers from being answered.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Before you ask God for things in prayer, make sure that your heart is tuned to following and obeying His Word.

Stay in Your Place

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place."

Proverbs 27:8

John Frederick Parker was one of the original officers when the Metropolitan Police Department for Washington DC was established in 1861. He had an undistinguished record, having been reprimanded on more than one occasion for sleeping or being drunk while on duty. Despite his checkered past, Parker was assigned to guard the booth of President Abraham Lincoln during the performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theater that Lincoln attended on April 14, 1865.

During the intermission of the play, Parker and several other men left the theater and went to a nearby tavern for drinks. As a result when John Wilkes Booth arrived at the presidential box, there was no security guard to stop him from entering and killing President Lincoln. Confronted later by Mary Todd Lincoln who blamed him for her husband’s murder, Parker said, “I did wrong, I admit, and have bitterly repented.” John Parker failed to stay in the place where he should have been, and tragedy followed.

It is easy for us to find excuses for not being where we should be and doing what we should do but there is great value in diligence and reliability. Instead of being distracted, bored, or tempted by something else, we must be faithful to our responsibilities. This is true in our families, on our jobs, in the church, and everywhere we belong. A man or woman who is where they should be, doing what they should do, is far safer than one who is not. Think of David staying behind in Jerusalem and seeing Bathsheba on the rooftop. While he should have resisted the temptation, if he had been where he should have been, the temptation would never have happened. Don’t wander away from the place where God has put you in search of greener pastures.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Be diligent about fulfilling whatever assignments God has placed in your life—it can literally be a matter of life and death.

The Lazy Man’s Way

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

Proverbs 26:13-15

I read about a hobo back in the days when they would ride the trains who was making his way west. He stopped in the town of Denver, hoping that people would have pity on him and give him something to eat. But everywhere he went, he seemed to get the same response. Finally in disgust he made his way back to the train station. Under his breath he muttered, “This has got to be the laziest town I’ve ever been to. Every person I met wanted me to do work for him!”

A lazy person can always find some excuse not to work—no matter how ridiculous it is. That’s because he has surrendered everything for sake of avoiding labor. Yet taking the path of least resistance is a guarantee of never accomplishing anything good for this world or the next. Every work of lasting importance requires labor, effort, and sacrifice. Whether the world values work or not, we as believers have a responsibility to be diligent in our efforts and overcome laziness.

It is important that we understand the role God intends for work to play in building and strengthening our character. Adam had assignments and responsibilities even before the Fall. The thing that changed was that work became harder. God told Adam, “cursed is the ground for thy sake” (Genesis 3:17). The necessity to labor and struggle is good for us. Avoiding work is like not taking medicine because it tastes bad. It may avoid temporary unpleasantness, but in the end we are harming ourselves.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Rather than making excuses and seeking ways to get out of work, diligently do the tasks that are set before you.

Slow Down

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame."

Proverbs 25:8

Apparently the first person to be arrested for speeding in the United Sates was a taxi driver named Jacob German. He worked for the Electric Vehicle Company operating an electric powered cab in New York City. On May 20, 1899, he was pulled over for driving 12 miles per hour in an 8 mile per hour zone. A policeman on a bicycle gave chase and took him to jail. According to most accounts German did not actually receive a ticket. The first speeding ticket wouldn’t be issued until 1904 when a man named Harry Myers was caught breaking the speed limit in Dayton, Ohio.

In his famous sermon Payday Someday Dr. R.G. Lee referenced Jehu who the Bible says “drove furiously” and said Jehu had many relatives on the roads of America. But the truth is that our passion for haste is hardly confined to the roadway. In fact, we live in a world that is obsessed with getting things done faster, with reaching goals sooner and with making better time—often without stopping to consider whether we are even going in the right direction.

Often this is true in our personal relationships with very destructive results. A small matter can quickly trigger a large dispute without regard to whether this is a fight worth having or not—or even considering the potential consequences that winning the fight might bring. Many relationships are destroyed because someone is simply too quick to fight. Someone once described a man as “Willing to fight at the drop of a hat…and willing to drop the hat if the other guy didn’t.” That’s not a good approach for a believer. Instead we should be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

If you are tempted to quarrel or fight, step back and carefully consider whether that is the right approach to take.

Preparation

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Proverbs 24:27

In the early 1900s the world watched with excitement and intense interest as the race to be the first to reach the South Pole unfolded. The two frontrunners were Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and British naval officer Robert Falcon Scott. Scott’s expedition set out hoping to arrive first. After weeks of strenuous and dangerous travel Scott and four other men reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912—only to find that Amundsen and his party had beaten them by five weeks. Disappointed in their failure, they set out on the eight hundred mile journey back to safety.

That return journey proved fatal. Scott and his group failed to connect with the dog teams that were meant to meet them on the way and speed their trip to safety. The party was trapped by a massive blizzard, their supplies ran out, and all of them perished. Scott was lauded as a hero and received posthumous honors from the British Empire. But as historians began to study his surviving notes and the accounts of others, they came to realize that the fate of Scott and his party was largely due to his failures as a leader, specifically his failure to plan for the adversity and hardships he and his men would face in the hostile Antarctic.

Wisdom places great value on planning and preparation because of the important connection between how we start and how we finish. Jesus pointed out the importance of planning when He asked, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” (Luke 14:28). Many of the problems we have come because we simply did not prepare to avoid them before beginning our work. Seek wise counsel, pray, search the Scriptures, and determine your direction before you begin—it brings great protection.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Before launching into a significant new project, make sure you have properly prepared for what lies ahead.

Fleeting Wealth

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

"Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven."

Proverbs 23:5

James Marshall left his family’s home in New Jersey as a young man and, like so many others, began a migration west. After contracting malaria while living in Missouri he was advised to go further west, and in 1845 he arrived in California. He worked a number of different jobs and served in the army during the Mexican-American War in 1846. When he got out, a man he had earlier befriended, John Sutter, entered a partnership agreement with Marshall to build a sawmill.

When they discovered that the spillway they had constructed was too narrow to handle the amount of water needed to operate the mill, they began the process of enlarging it. On the morning of January 24, 1848, as Marshall examined the channel, he found large flakes of pure gold, sparking one of the greatest gold rushes in history. But Marshall did not profit from his discovery. The mill project failed. His mines did not produce. A vineyard he bought went bankrupt. In his old age, reduced to abject poverty, Marshall died alone in a small shack.

Wealth is easy for us to trust. If God blesses us and we begin to accumulate financial resources, we must be on guard against them becoming an idol in our hearts. Paul instructed his protégé Timothy to issue a warning to the rich members in his church: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). Riches do not provide security because they can quickly vanish away. Instead our confidence should be in the presence and promises of God which never fail. Only then can we find true security.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

Place your confidence in that which is eternal and certain rather than in riches which soon fade away.

The Blessing of Generosity

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Proverbs 22:9

When 67-year-old carpenter Russell Herman died in 1994, his will included a staggering set of bequests. Included in his plan for distribution was more than two billion dollars for the City of East St. Louis, another billion and a half for the State of Illinois, two and a half billion for the national forest system, and to top off the list, Herman left six trillion dollars to the government to help pay off the national debt. That sounds amazingly generous, but there was a small problem—Herman’s only asset when he died was a 1983 Oldsmobile. He made grand pronouncements, but there was no real generosity involved. His promises were meaningless because there was nothing to back them up.

True generosity is not determined by the amount that we give but by our hearts. When Jesus saw the widow give two mites in the Temple He responded, “Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury” (Matthew 12:43). The sacrificial gift that she gave demonstrated how much she loved God and His work. The best way to determine what we love most is not by our words but by how we use our time and our money.

There is no shortage of need in our world. Some, like the scribe and the Pharisee in the parable of the Good Samaritan pass by without caring enough to get involved and help. No doubt such people would profess their love for God and others, but it is not visible from their actions. Those who obey the command to love God and their neighbor find ways to help. Even if giving requires a sacrifice they are willing to make it because of the depth of their love.

Today’s Proverbs Precept:

What you do to meet the needs of others and support the work of God reveals the things you truly love most.