Imitation Treasure
“Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away.” Proverbs 19:4 NLT I enjoy watching those shows where they are searching for lost or sunken treasures. There are many movies and reality programs with the theme of finding something rare or valuable. They go through enormous expense and effort to find some valuable treasures. Occasionally, especially on […]
Consequences of Foolishness
“People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.” Proverbs 19:3 NLT We live in a culture that wants to shift blame. The headlines tell us about foolish, sinful, or evil behavior followed by an explanation or rationale behind the action. It seems like personal responsibility is being replaced with […]
Don’t Be Hasty
“Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.” Proverbs 19:2 NLT The flashy ad comes on, this is going to make my life so much better! QVC has built a whole TV channel and financial empire on flashy ads and impulse buys. The reality is that those things quickly go from “As seen on TV” […]
A Different Kind of Poverty
“Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.” Proverbs 19:1 NLT It could be said that there are different kinds of poverty. In the Proverb this week we see two kinds of poverty. One that is external and one that is internal. The question of where your poverty lies is answered […]
Who Are You Becoming?
“The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 AMP Not all friends are the same. There are those that are casual and those that are close. It is important […]
Words Can Satisfy
“Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.” Proverbs 18:20 NLT I think we can all identify with the satisfaction of a good meal. That feeling of contentment and comfort that we typically not only find in the food, but in the company of others. It is different and not quite as […]
Have you ever lost a friend?
“An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.” Proverbs 18:19 NLT There are those fun ice breaker questions that start with a “have you ever” statement. But there are those that might cause a little more reflection and heartache. Have you ever lost a […]
What Will Listening Do For You?
“Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.”Proverbs 18:15 NLT Recent national surveys report what was originally documented over 50 years ago. 65% of Americans believe they have above average intelligence. How can that be? By definition it cannot be scientifically accurate that most people are above average, yet somehow most […]
Purpose Against Pain
“The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?” Proverbs 18:14 NLT Purpose against pain. I am not speaking about the purpose of pain, but of purpose against pain. There are a few good resources that describe the purpose of pain. Paul Tripp‘s blood on Suffering is one of them. It […]
Judging and Jumping
“Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish…. The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins.” Proverbs 18:13,17 Jumping and Judging. This isn’t a tardy human interest story about an Olympic athlete, but it is an interesting observation regarding Human nature. Perhaps it is our hurried world, or perhaps […]
