September 20, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 20
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Following Scripture Verses

1. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7. The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10. Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14. It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15. There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17. Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18. Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19. He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22. Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23. Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24. Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25. It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27. The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28. Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29. The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Today's Pathway:
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"The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head." - Proverbs 20:29

In today's verse Solomon contrasts the advantages that younger and older men have. The benefit that the young man has is his strength. The older man has the benefit of age and experience. The key for both men is that they need to use what they have to serve the Lord.

A young person is normally blessed with stamina and power. He can work for long periods of time without getting tired. He can get up early and stay up late. He has boundless energy. The problem is that many young people take this gift of youth and waste it on unimportant things. The day will come when they are older and can not physically do what they used to. Young people can do evangelistic work, such as door to door soul-winning, that older people may struggle physically to do. They can take missions trips that the elderly can not. They can do labor at the church. They need to use the strength that the Lord has given them for his glory, for someday they will no longer have it.

Likewise the older man, who has lost some of his physical abilities, needs to use his experience and wisdom for the glory of God. He may not be able to do what he used to, but he can teach, whether it be from behind a lectern or simply through his general conversations. He needs to pass on to the younger men what he knows about the Bible and his own experiences of applying it to life's situations so that they can become not only physically strong, but spiritually strong as well.

God uses people in different ways during different periods in life. Take what the Lord has given you now, and use it for Him.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery