Proverbs – Day 18
Scripture: Proverbs 18
An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.
When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.
The words of the mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked
and so deprive the innocent of justice.
The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.
The mouths of fools are their undoing,
and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.
One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.
The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
for the ears of the wise seek it out.
A gift opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
Casting the lot settles disputes
and keeps strong opponents apart.
A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the Lord.
The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Devotional:
It’s no accident that the Bible contains about six times as many verses about money than love. It’s easy to lose our trust in God to provide for us and instead start to trust in our own strength and ability to provide for ourselves. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.” (v. 10-11) But this self-reliance is easily swept away. “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” (Prov 23:4-5)
Whether you struggle to make ends meet or you’re unsure how to best manage your wealth, finances can be a source of stress. Yet no matter how much money we have, it doesn’t make us more or less happy. Studies consistently report that, on average, the poor and rich report equal levels of happiness. Biblical authors knew this long ago: “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.” (Ecc 5:10)
Now, you might be thinking that as a very rich man, it was easy for Solomon to say “don’t worry about money”! Yet because of his wealth, Solomon knew that riches come with responsibility…and headache. He lists some things that he valued more than money: “Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.” (Prov 15:16) “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.” (Prov 17:1)
Pursuing a good income isn’t necessarily bad. Money makes things happen in the world, including feeding, clothing, and housing those in need. But placing wealth as your primary focus will lead you down dangerous paths. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Tim 6:10) “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Mat 6:24) Our relationship with God helps us keep our lives “free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Heb 13:5) Guard yourself from letting the desire for wealth distract you from a God-centered life since “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23)
Key Verse:
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.” ~ Proverbs 18:10-11
Question:
- Do you find your security in God or in your ability to provide for yourself?
- How does your view of money impact your generosity?
