Living as a Brother

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

LIVING AS A BROTHER

Prov 17:2

2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

NIV

Once again we could view this in the historical sense when there were servants or slaves as it were, and as in the case when Abram was upset over the fact that he was sonless and had no heir, he determined that his faithful servant would be his heir. It might also been sense in that same story that Hagar, a servant girl became family by giving birth to a son by Abram and therefore should have been entitled to share in the inheritance. But we could also see this as our own self being that disgraceful son. We, being unable to obtain any righteousness of our own, unable to inherit any part of the kingdom of God, must learn to allow the greatest of servants to rule over us. Jesus said that he did not come to be served, but to serve, to be a servant, a wise servant going to the cross in our place. So as he is the true wise servant and we are in fact the disgraceful son, we need to see that he does in fact rule over us so as he shares in the inheritance so do we. We might also see ourselves as the wise servant who rules over self when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, forfeiting the life of sinful pleasures and submitting to his Lordship, then we become co-heirs with Christ, we become as brothers with him. We need to see the need to leave the disgraceful life behind and live as a brother of Christ. 

Contentment

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

CONTENTMENT

Prov 17:1

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.

NIV

We could see this in the context of history whereas it may have been the custom in some places to burn one of the quests as a sacrifice during a very sumptuous feast, but we should consider how this would apply to us today when we would never do such a thing. Perhaps we could see this as an instruction to be content with what we have enjoying it, even if it is not as the rich and famous have. It would seem those who make their goal the accumulation of as much as possible are never quite happy and content with what they have, always wanting more. We need to see the folly in striving for as much as we can get. We need to see the foolishness of not enjoying the peace and quiet of the blessings bestowed upon us by our Lord. God may desire some to have more than others for the purpose of being about to share the gospel with people of the same status in life, but that is for God to decide and whatever place he has planted us we should be content with, be at peace with and enjoy our life in him. What joy can come from all the sacrifices, all the stuff if it brings strife along with it? It would seem that only those who do not trust God, but trust in sacrifices, in treasures here on earth strive to have more of them. Contentment comes from God. 

Lot in Life

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

LOT IN LIFE

Prov 16:33

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

NIV

This is casting of lots is not gambling, actually it is the farthest thing from it. This was the method used in the times the scriptures were written to determine the will of God in a matter. Josiah was told to divide the land up among the tribes of Israel by casting lots. It was understood there would be no disputes once the lot was cast as the providential hand of God was at work in the decision. There might be a lesson for us to learn here in that we might strive and struggle to become more then we should as determined by the providential hand of God. If we are not content with our lot in life could it be we are not content with the will of God for us? Are we concerned about others who have more or those who have less? Does envy or jealousy creep into our thoughts when we are around those whose lot is bigger than ours? If we believe God has a plan for our lives, and that he has directed us to where we are, and where we live and that he provides for the place he has determined us to be, then we should be living in complete satisfaction with our lot. When greed enters, it appears we no longer trust God. As those people of old knew that once the lot was cast, it was by the divine will of God and no disputes would be had between then, we need to see that the lot has been cast by God and we should learn to live where we are planted, seeing the decision is from God, and be content with our lot in life. 

The virtue of Patience

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE

Prov 16:32

32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

NIV

It would appear it is far easier to conquer an enemy without then one that is within. There are records of historic figures who conquered great lands, but who were men filled with such passions they were unable to control, killing even their best of friends in the process. Surely our uncontrolled passions do not result in the death of friends but they certainly can create a whole lot of hurt to them. If we cannot control our temper we have given up on the divine influence upon us and given in to self instead. It is good to have passion, to have spirit, to have an exuberant personality for the purpose of serving the Lord, but if we allow that personality to overpower us for the purpose of self-gain, self-satisfaction, or self-gratification, then we have lost everything. Our words and actions of passion are a result of the condition of our heart. What we say and do is a result of our ability to control of temper. Even in an external battle a warrior filled with passion who wheels his sword out of control will eventually be killed. A thinking warrior will control his blows and follow the training in the art of combat. A thinking person will control his temper, even with all the passion within and will wheel their words with control and follow their training in the art of righteous. A thinking person will consider carefully their words so not to harm their friends. It is far better to speak after then before thinking. In the heat of an argument if we are out of control we may say words we wish we had never spoken, so we must consider the virtue of patience, holding our passion in check, holding our tongue, slipping that bridle on it and thinking before engaging in a war of words, being patient rather than filled with outbursts of rage.  

Being Old

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

BEING OLD

Prov 16:31

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.

NIV

There is enough within the scriptures to suggest that God honors a righteous life with old age, with living a long and in fellowship with him life. There is also enough within the scriptures to suggest that God will cut short the life of those who do not live a righteous life. But there is also a truth which shows that the one who have grey hair, an ancient one, one who is of old age, should be found still living in the ways of God. For the old of age death is coming and coming sooner than later and with death also is the judge coming, we who are older should be found living in a way that brings honor to God. We should not simply think that because we are old we should have the respect of the younger, but it should be because we continue to serve God. All too often those who reach the gray haired age think that because they served God, served in the church, did some sort of ministry, that now they should leave it for the younger ones to do and begin to simply sit and do nothing, resting on their past. But we should be found continuing to serve God as Noah, Moses, Abraham, Gideon, David and a host of others who served God in their old age. Living to a good old age should be our crown of splendor because we attain it by a righteous life, not one of self-indulgence, which sitting back doing nothing, like so many old people do. There is no crown for just being old, but for living a righteous life. 

No Winking

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

NO WINKING

Prov 16:30

30 He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

NIV

This is the last of four proverbs aimed at those who would do harm to others. Some scholars would suggest they are aimed directly at an evil person of the time of Solomon, but then they would not be eternal words for all mankind to take heed of. So we must understand there are still people who would shut their eyes to anything on the outside to mediate inwardly on their plot to do some kind of self-gratifying pleasure that may well bring harm to others in the process. That is the suggestion here and that they mutter to themselves in their plotting evil. Closed off from all ideas, closed off from what is right, closed off from God, scheming within as to how to achieve their plans, their goals, their own gain even at the cost of others. But in another sense this winking of the eye could also be seen as one who would tell a lie in plotting their scheme. As this person tells some story, they turn toward their comrade and wink, as to indicate their intent of evil is working. Whatever the sense we look at this, we need to be aware of this kind and once again avoid them at all costs. There are those who would endeavor to share the gospel with such and try to bring them to righteousness, but this may well be casting our pearls before the swine. There is evil in this world, and it is present in certain people who have given themselves over to Satan. Nothing, but the power of the Holy Spirit can break his spell upon them. But at the same time we should be careful that we do not become so inwardly focused that we pay more attention to our own heart then to the heart of God. We know that our heart is deceitfully wicked, if we refused to admit that we may have already closed our eyes to the truth of God and have begun to plot our own evil ways, speaking our own brand of truth to ourselves. We must never wink.

Users of Enticement

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

USERS OF ENTICEMENT

Prov 16:29

29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.

NIV

Surely we should not have anything to do with violent people, but here we see that it may not be so easy to recognize every violent person in order to avoid them. They are enticers, which indicate they may well be wolves in sheep’s clothing. They are masters of disguise, not permitting others to see their real purpose, their evil intents. This is where we believers need to imply the gifts of discernment and wisdom in order to see through the enticements. Another concept to think about is, if the violent man uses enticements or is an enticer a violent man. That is like saying which came first, the chicken or the egg. If the violent man is the only one who entices his neighbor down the wrong path, then we merely have to avoid him. But if it is possible that one who entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good is a violent man, then it is possible we believers could end up being what is considered here as a violent person. If we imply any methods to entice our neighbors to believe anything but the absolute truth of God, then could we be in danger of being this violent man? Is it possible there are those wolves in sheep’s clothing right in the midst of the body of Christ, preaching their false doctrines, enticing others to believe something that is not good.  We must be careful we do not fall into that trap of trying to entice others. Yes we should instruct, encourage, correct one another in the ways of God, but enticement almost sounds or seems like a form of enchantment, casting a spell over others to lead them astray. This is the fine art of perfect persuasion used by some of those famous wolves in sheep’s clothing. We should be careful, be watchful, and be wise and discerning in order not to fall prey to those users of enticement.