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Pathways Through Proverbs
Daily Devotional
November 21, 2008
Today's Reading - Proverbs 21
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Following Scripture Verses
Proverbs Chapter 21
- The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
- Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
- To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
- An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
- The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
- The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
- The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
- The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
- It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
- The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
- When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
- The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
- Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
- A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
- It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
- The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
- He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
- The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
- It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
- There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
- He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
- A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
- Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
- Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
- The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
- He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
- The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
- A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
- A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
- There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
- The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
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Today's Pathway:
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Today's proverb is certainly timeless, but it is especially relevant in our current turbulent economic situation. One of the chief causes of our national financial crisis is that families have spent money that they didn't have in order to buy things that they didn't need. They took out mortgages that they could not afford in order to purchase homes that were larger or more extravagant than they needed. Rather than attempt to save some of their income, they often spent it foolishly on things that had little lasting value. The end result has been an inability to repay loans and other debts, bankruptcies, and the destruction of the economic wellbeing of individual families and the nation as a whole.
Solomon says that a man who is wise will have both oil and treasure in his home. Oil would refer to the things necessary to meet his daily needs, and "treasure to be desired" would probably refer to special things that could be considered "luxuries". This is apparently because he does not spend his money foolishly. According to the last half of the verse, the foolish man spends everything he has. He doesn't save for a "rainy day", nor does he save in order to be able to someday afford something special. He sees something that he wants, and doesn't have the discipline to determine whether or not he really needs it. His eyes or flesh desire it, so he buys it, never giving any thought to what this expenditure will mean to his financial future. Unfortunately, eventually his money runs out, he has almost nothing to show for the money he has spent, and he winds up in a fiscal mess.
Be wise with your money. Pray before you spend it. Don't be a wasteful fool with your finances, and God will bless you and see to it that you have what you need.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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