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Pathways Through Proverbs
Daily Devotional
March 18, 2008
Today's Reading - Proverbs 18
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Following Scripture Verses
Proverbs Chapter 18
- Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
- A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
- When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
- The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
- It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
- A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
- A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
- The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
- He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
- The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
- The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
- Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
- He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
- The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
- The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
- A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
- He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
- The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
- A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
- A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
- Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
- Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
- The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
- A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
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Today's Pathway:
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In today's verse Solomon points out the similarities between two types of men, the lazy and the waster. We all understand who the lazy man is. He is the fellow who lies in bed all day, or spends his life on the couch taking it easy when there is work to be done. While most of us do not live this way constantly, I am sure that all of us have times when we do not feel like doing what needs to be done, and behave in a slothful manner. However, the next time you decide to be careless about things that need to be done, remember that the Bible equates being a sluggard to being a waster.
What is a waster? This is someone who has something of value and throws it away. Parents regularly remind their children not to waste water or electricity around the house. Food that they leave uneaten is going to "go to waste". They are told not to "waste their money" on some simple trinket that will be broken by the nest day. We remember hearing these things, and we tell them to our own children, but sometimes we fail to understand all the areas that waste can occur. Some people waste their talents by not using them for the Lord. Others waste their lives pursuing that which is relatively unimportant in the spiritual realm. Perhaps the greatest area of waste occurs in missed opportunities. We were given an occasion to witness to someone, but we wasted it by not sharing the gospel. We had an opportunity to learn more about the Word of God, but we wasted it through a failure to attend services or a refusal to have a devotional life. We had a chance to make a difference in someone's life, and we didn't do it. Remember that the opportunities that we waste in these areas may never be reclaimed.
A sloth throws away time, and a waster throws away opportunities that time presents. May we never be guilty of either sin.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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