May 14, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 14
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Following Scripture Verses

1. Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
2. He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5. A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
7. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
8. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9. Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
10. The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
11. The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
14. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15. The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
17. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18. The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19. The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21. He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22. Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23. In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24. The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25. A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
26. In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
28. In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29. He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30. A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
32. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
33. Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
34. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35. The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

Today's Pathway:
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"In all labour there is profit" - Proverbs 14:23

If you talk to the average employer today, he will tell you that it is extremely difficult to find good employees. The biggest problem seems to be that many people out there today simply don't want to work. They want to get paid, but they don't want to put in the labor necessary to receive the paycheck

Solomon states in today's verse that there is profit in work. There are two different ideas here. First, a man will be able to realize financial gain if he will go out and work. Many men sit around and whine about how little money they have, but they refuse to go out and find a job that will provide them with the income. They act like menial tasks are "beneath" them, and they claim that they deserve to have a better job, so they refuse to take whatever they can find. If they would simply work, they would begin to show a profit.

In addition, I believe that the verse can simply mean that it is good to work, regardless of whether you are doing it for the purpose of making money. For example, people in churches may complain about the fact that the church isn't growing, but they never personally go out and invite someone to attend the services. They talk about the poor financial condition of the church, but they never dig down and give a little bit more. They complain about the condition of the facility, but they never help to clean or beautify it. They are refusing to put out the labor necessary to build the church, and thus the church fails to prosper.

God blesses work, for all that we do ultimately reflects back on Him. Get busy at whatever labor it is that God has given you to do, and watch as He blesses you efforts.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery