March 24, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 24
Click above for full KJV Online

Today's Pathway:previous - - - - - - - - - - - - next
Click above to go directly to TP
Following Scripture Verses

1. Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3. Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4. And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7. Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8. He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9. The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
11. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12. If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
13. My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14. So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15. Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18. Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19. Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20. For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21. My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22. For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23. These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25. But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26. Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
27. Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28. Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
29. Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30. I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31. And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34. So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Today's Pathway:
You may click on verses for Scripture

"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." - Proverbs 24:10

We all have times of difficulty in our lives. These may be caused by health problems or bereavements. They may be caused by financial worries. They may even come as a result of spiritual opposition and its resulting discouragements. The issues is not whether or not these problems are going to occur; the issue is how we are going to react when they arrive.

When times get tough, many Christians give up. They may have problems in their marriage, so they decide to give up on it and get a divorce. They have financial problems and they decided to declare bankruptcy and start over. They have health problems, or lose a loved one, and decide that God isn't fair and thus they stop serving Him. Perhaps a situation arises in church where a fellow member says something hurtful to them, and immediately they run to the church across town. Pastors in particular are notorious for changing churches when it doesn't seem like the congregation is progressing. All of these incidents involve adversity, and they are all illustrations of fainting.

Running away isn't a sign of strength, no matter how much we may try to convince ourselves that it is. When a man is a quitter, it reveals that he has little strength, for he is unable or unwilling to work through the tough times. Since our strength ultimately comes from our relationship with the Lord, quitting shows the true level of our spiritual commitment. The Holy Spirit produces joy, peace, long-suffering, and temperance in the spirit-controlled man (Gal. 5), and all of these spiritual disciplines will keep us from giving up on that which God has called us to do.

Are you having problems? Don't quit. Instead, work on your spiritual life. As you get closer to God, He will empower you to stay in the place where He wants you to be, and will enable you to ultimately triumph.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery