PT-3 "Diligent" (Various Verses)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/18/2013 8:32 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  Diligent PT-3

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Proverbs

            Message of the verses:  I really want to finish this section on the diligent in Today’s Spiritual Diary.  We left yesterday’s SD talking about the diligent and wealth and that is where we will pick up in today.

            Dr. Wiersbe writes the following on this subject:  “We must not think that the way of the wealthy is always easy, because there are also perils that accompany wealth and success in life.  Wealthy people face problems that people of ordinary means don’t face, for an increase in wealth usually means an increase in decision-making, risk-taking, and possibly physical danger.  ‘A man’s riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat’ (Pr. 13:8 NIV).  Kenneth Taylor aptly paraphrases this verse, ‘Being kidnapped and held for ransom never worries the poor man!’ (TLB)  Thieves will break into a mansion but not a hovel.”

            People who put all of their trust in riches will one day have a big surprise, and that surprise is that riches give a sense of false security.  I think of the story that is found in the fifth chapter of the book of Daniel where we find a king who has a very great false security in his riches and is giving a party for the rich and famous of Babylon when all of a sudden he sees a man’s hand begin to write on the wall.  The KJV says that his knees knocked one against the other when he saw this man’s hand.  The message was explained to him by Daniel who told him that he had been weighted in the balance and found wanting and that he would not live throughout the night.  That is what happened to him and his false sense of security in riches caused him to not think about other important things in his life like defending his kingdom and so he died and the kingdom was given to another just as God had prophesied through his grandfather and explained by Daniel.  Proverbs 11:28 says “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.”  “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death (Pr. 11:4).”  This verse explains that riches cannot save you, but God through the death of His Son on the cross can save you.  Riches cannot buy you peace as Proverbs 15:16-17 tells us, “16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure and turmoil with it. 17 Better is a dish of vegetables where love is Than a fattened ox served with hatred.”  They cannot give us a good name as Pr. 22:1 shows us, “A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.”  Proverbs teaches us that riches have a tendency to fly away when we least expect it, “4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it. 5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens (Pr. 23:4-5).”  “23 Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds; 24  For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations (Pr. 27:23-24).”

            Another problem with riches, even riches that we earn with hard work is that they can cause pride to sneak into our lives, and that is not good at all.  “The rich think their wealth protects them; they imagine themselves safe behind it (Pr. 18:11 Message).”  Jesus gave a story in the book of Luke about a rich man who was very proud of his hard work and felt that he did not need to work any longer, but Jesus said of him that he was a fool because his very soul would be required of him that night.  Not only can the rich become proud but they can also begin to mistreat people because of their riches, “He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor (Pr. 14:21).”  “The poor speak in soft supplications; the rich bark out answers (Pr. 18:23 Message).”  The rich have many friends; however those friends may not stay faithful if he becomes poor. “When you’re down on your luck, even your family avoids you—yes; even your best friends wish you’d get lost. If they see you coming, they look the other way—out of sight, out of mind (Pr. 19:7 Message).”  Dr Wiersbe states that “Wealth is a wonderful servant for humble people but a terrible master for the proud.”

            The diligent person will have the right attitude about riches, but those who are not diligent will have the wrong attitude about it and it can cause them to wreck friendships and even cause them to destroy homes.  “He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live, Pr. 15:27).” There are people who desire to get riches so much that they put it ahead of other things that are important like their relationship with the Lord and their relationship with family and friends.

            Wealthy people have another concern and that is that they have to be concerned to what their children will do with their wealth.  Solomon discussed this situation in the book of Ecclesiastes, “18 Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity. 20 Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. 21 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity. 24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? 26 For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind (Ecc. 2:18-26).” 

            Dr. Wiersbe writes “Rich man, poor man, beggar man thief.”  “God has a word for all of them.  Are they willing to receive it?”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As for the rich man and the poor man they both must be content with the lot that they have.  The poor can work hard in order to obtain wealth, but he must be content with that once he gets it.  We said yesterday that we must be happy with the life style that we have, and contentment is a good way to do that.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to learn contentment.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 32:1-3

            1 How blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sin is covered!  2 How blessed is the man in whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!  3  When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. 

Turning Points Wisdom for Today:  “The more we trust the sovereignty of heaven, the less we fear the calamities of earth.”  (Author Unknown)  “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?  My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”  (Psalm 121:1-2)

2/18/2013 9:40 AM

PT-2 "The Diligent" (Various Verses)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/17/2013 8:57 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  The Diligent PT-2

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Proverbs

            Message of the verses studied:  We will continue to look at diligence in Today’s SD as we will first look at the how the Lord blesses the diligent for their generosity.  “There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.  The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered (Pr. 11:24-25).”  “He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor (Pr. 22:0).”  Let’s now look at the difference between the diligent worker and the one who is slothful.  “25 ¶  The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor. 26  He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare (Pr. 21:25-26).”

            One of the huge problems in our country and for that matter around the world is that people do not know how to live within their means, and the same is true with governments around the world too.  Diligent people know how to live within their means and do not get in over their heads finically:  “The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender (Pr. 22:7).”  Dr. Wiersbe writes “While a certain amount of honest debt is expected in today’s world, and everybody wants to achieve a good credit rating, we must be careful not to mistake presumption for faith.  As the familiar adage puts it ‘When your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep is your downfall.”  Too bad our government does not understand this.

            Dr. Wiersbe also writes the following which is something that I believe is very true:  “It’s a dangerous thing for people to become greedy for more and more money and to overextend themselves to acquire it.  Each of us must discover at what financial level God wants us to live and be content with it.  ‘7 Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: 8  Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, 9  That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God (Pr. 30:7-9).” 

            We must understand that we do not have to have everything that we desire.  We must live within our means.  John Henry Jowett said “The real measure of our wealth is how much we’d be worth if we lost all our money.”  What he is saying is that our character is more important than position, and also wisdom more important than possessions.  When we look at the Lord Jesus Christ while upon the earth we find that He was born in a stable, His parents gave the least expensive sacrifice after His birth, He never had a home of His own after leaving His parents home.  All of the needs that He needed were provided for Him from outside sources, (the woman cared for Him financially), and so He is an example of how we are to live.  Jesus said and He also followed His own words “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  I am not saying that Jesus needed to seek righteousness for He is and always has been righteous, but as believer we are to seek this in the same way that Jesus sought to do His Father’s will.

            We will have to pick up on this in the next SD as I am running out of time now.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Not to ever live above my means is something that I need and want to continue to do.  Give more to those who are in need is also something I want to do more of.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Seek first the kingdom of God.

Memory verses for this week:  Psalm 32:1-3

            1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  2 How blessed is the man in whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!  3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. 

Turning Points Wisdom for Today:  “Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions.  Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”  (Mark Twain)  “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”  (Romans 14:19)

2/17/2013 9:30 AM

           

PT-1 "The Diligent" (Various Verses)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/16/2013 9:48 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  The Diligent PT-1

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Proverbs

            Message of the verses:  We have been looking at the commentary from Warren Wiersbe’s book on Proverbs, and the title of the seventh chapter in his book is called “Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief.”  We are about to begin looking at the third main point from this chapter in Today’s Spiritual Diary.  Proverbs is a difficult, if not impossible book to study in a verse by verse study other than perhaps the first nine chapters.  It seems that the best way to study it is by looking at the different topics that are found scattered throughout the book.  I have to say that I am not too comfortable in this type of study, but since it is the best way to look at it I will pray that the Lord will open my eyes to understand the different topics that are found in this book of Proverbs.

“The Diligent”

            In order to help us understand the direction we are going here I wish to quote Dr. Wiersbe:  “Diligent hands are directed by a diligent heart and this means the discipline of the inner person.”  “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life (Pr. 4:23, NKJV).”  “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life (Pr. 4:23, NASB).”  This section makes me think of Romans 12:2 which says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  The reason that it makes me think of this verse is because of the statement in it which say “by the renewing of your mind.”  If we are to keep our hearts clean and pure we have to do it by the study of the Word of God so that our minds and our hearts are filled with it in order to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

            Jesus teaches that the faithful work of one of His children will be rewarded with more work!  “"His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’ (Matthew 25:21).”  16 “The first appeared, saying, ’Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 “And he said to him, ’Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ 18 “The second came, saying, ’Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ 19 “And he said to him also, ’And you are to be over five cities’ (Luke 19:16-19).”  “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men (Pr. 22:29).”

            The story of Joseph shows that one of the blessings that are seen in diligent labor is the joy of developing the kind of ability and character that others can trust.  Like Joseph who was faithful in the first things that God had given him to do he was elevated in the next things that God had chosen for him to do.  I realize that going from being a favored son of his father to being the second in control of the most powerful nation of the world at that time took almost sixteen years, and also took a lot of suffering on Joseph’s part, but we must remember that first comes the suffering and then the glory.  Joseph’s life was a life that shows diligence and also shows that he knew the promises of God and believed them.  We see this type of diligence also in the life of David who began as a faithful keeper of his father’s sheep to become the most noted king of Israel, but not without suffering first.  Joshua was a successful helper of Moses and then became the successor of Moses.  We see in all of these lives that wisdom had a big part in making them the men God wanted them to be.  “7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. 8 “Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her (Pr. 4:7-8).”  “The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor (Pr. 3:35).”

            We can see that one of the qualities of the diligent person is that they plan their work and also work their plan.  The Bible teaches us about hard work, and also teaches us about the balance of hard work, not working so long that we neglect our families and think more about our work than our relationship with the Lord and with family, but having a balanced life in this area.  “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty (Pr. 21:5).”  “Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established (Pr. 16:3).”  Thomas Edison said:  “I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.”  We may think that some scientific breakthrough came through an accident, but the person with the breakthrough was working hard when the breakthrough came.  Ben Franklin wrote the following in his Poor Richards Almanac, “Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry.”

            On thing that God will bless is the labors of people who are honest and diligent people are honest.  “Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it (Pr. 13:11).”  God expects us to be honest in our words as we speak to others, “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight (Pr. 12:22).”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have mentioned in this study of Proverbs that the wise person is the person who has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and their Lord, and that is the wisest thing a person can do.  That is the first and best thing that a wise person does, and then he must begin to follow the things that are written in the Word of God.  A believer may not have all the qualities that are seen in the book of Proverbs, but it should be the goal of all believers to learn about these things like we are studying in today’s SD, and to put them into practice.  It is difficult, but worth it just as we have seen in the life of Joseph, David, and Joshua.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  To be more diligent in my life.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 32:1-2

            1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!  2 How blessed is the man in whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! 

Turning Points Wisdom for Today:  “Do you love life?  Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of. (Benjamin Franklin)  “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  (Psalm 90:12)

2/16/2013 10:39 AM

 

           

 

PT-2 "Poor and Needy" (Various Verses)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/15/2013 9:34 AM

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Poor & Needy PT-2

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Various Verses in Pr.

            Message of the verses:  We will be looking at the second sub-point from the second main point in the seventh chapter from Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary on the book of Proverbs in today’s Spiritual diary.  We have been looking at the poor and the needy mostly from the book of Proverbs, and today we will try to conclude this section.

            How do we help the poor?  This is a question that I need to find the answer to and so this section will be interesting to me.  I mentioned in yesterday’s SD that there are many people out there in this world who do not work because they are too lazy to and therefore depend upon others to help them when they could work if they were not so lazy.  There are others who really need help and so we all need to find out how is the best way to discern between those who really need help and those who are just lazy.

            We cannot look down on the poor as if they are second class people:  “He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor (Pr. 14:21).”  We know that God looks upon the poor with special concern and so it is not good for someone to exploit them:  “22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate; 23 For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them Pr. 22:22-23).”  “7 “If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; 8 but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks (Deu. 15:7-8).” 

            As believers we should use our influence to make sure that there are laws that take care of the poor and not exploit them:  “The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, The wicked does not understand such concern (Pr. 29:4).”  “A poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a driving rain which leaves no food (Pr. 28:3).”  “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy’ (Pr. 31:0 NIV).”  “If a king judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever (Pr. 29:14).” 

            When we help the poor we are actually investing with the Lord and He will see to it that we get our dividends at the proper time.  “Of course, we don’t give to others in order to get something back, because that would be selfish.  We must be motivated by love and a desire to honor the Lord.”   (Endnote by Dr. Wiersbe)  “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed (Pr. 19:17).”  “There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want (Pr. 11:24).”  “He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor (Pr.22:9).”  Dr. Wiersbe writes “Before the church helps, however, the family has an obligation to assist their own needy (1 Tim. 5:4, 8).  This leaves the church free to help those who have no one to share their burdens.  If we shut our ears to the cries of the poor, God will shut His ears to our prayers.” “He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered (Pr. 21:13).” 

            In order to help answer the question I posed at the beginning of this SD I will quote the following portion of Dr. Wiersbe commentary:  “Having pastured three churches, I know some of the problems congregations can have with ‘con artists’ who pose as ‘believers passing through town who need help.’  In over forty years of ministry, I recall very few instances when strangers we helped wrote and thanked us when they got home or repaid the gift.  Certainly pastors and deacons must exercise caution and wisdom lest they do more harm than good, but we must also remember that we’re helping truly need people for Jesus’ sake (Matt. 25:34-40).  Bernard of Clairvaux, composer of ‘Jesus the Very Thought of Thee,’ gave wise counsel when he said, ‘Justice seeks out the merits of the case, but pity only regards the need.’  If our Lord dealt with us today only on the basis of justice where would we be?”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I know that I do not want to get coned in trying to help someone who is a con artist, but if I understand what Dr. Wiersbe wrote and quoted I must do my best to help those who are truly in need and if I help someone who is a con artist then I will have to leave that to the Lord to deal with them.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I have been wrestling with a number of things in my mind and one of them is to send some funds to a friend of mine who ministers and lives in a foreign country.  He plants churches and also has an orphanage where he lives and so I know that if I send him some funds it will be used of the Lord and be for His glory.  After studying this I believe that I will make that move.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 32:1-2

            1 How blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sin is covered!  2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!

Turning Points Wisdom for today:  “Faith:  The art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”  (C. S. Lewis)  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is , and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  (Hebrews 11:6)

2/15/2013 10:34 AM

The Poor and Needy (Various Verses)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/14/2013 8:43 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  The Poor & Needy

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Proverbs

            Message of the verses:  When God began the nation of Israel by calling Abram out of idolatry and brought him into the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, He had a plan for the children of Israel that if they followed it then the poor and the needy would be cared for.  As Israel left the captives in Egypt through the ten miracles that God did to show Egypt that He was God, He brought Egypt to Mt. Sinai to give them the Law of God and in this law God would tell Israel how they could care for all the people.  First thing that they were to do was observe the Sabbath day which was each Saturday, the last day of the week.  In this way the people and their animals would have a day to rest.  Next we come to the Sabbatical year, which was every seventh year.  It was during this year that the land was to rest for one year as God promised to care for all of His people during this time period.  This took faith on the part of the children of Israel to believe that they would be provided for.  Next was what is called the Year of Jubilee, and that came every 50^th year, and it was during this time that all of the land would go back to the original owners.  In doing this there would be no large land owners to control the land and the people.  How did Israel do in keeping these laws?  “20 Those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept Sabbath until seventy years were complete (2 Chron. 36:20-21).”  We see here that Israel did not keep these Sabbatical years and so God allowed the land to rest for seventy years to make up for it not being done over the previous 490 years.  If they would have kept these laws there would have been less poor and less needy.

            What are the causes of poverty and need?  The first reason for the poor is that of laziness as we saw in our last SD.  “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth (Pr. 10:4).”  “Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food (Pr. 20:13).”  Maybe the enemy is pleasure:  “He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich (Pr. 21:13).”  How about the drunks and gluttons:  “For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags (Pr. 21:13).” 

            When I was growing up my parents would teach me the importance of working at an early age, and this was not forgotten by me or my two sisters.  Some parents do not teach their children this.  “Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, But he who regards reproof will be honored (Pr. 13:18).” 

            There are some who talk the talk, but do not walk the walk: “In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty (Pr. 14:23).” 

            Next we see that people can become poor because of unwise financial dealings:  The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty (Pr. 21:5).”  Another reason is surety for others, which is forbidden:  “1 My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have given a pledge for a stranger, 2  If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth, 3  Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor. 4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids; 5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler (Pr. 6:1-5).”  “He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe (Pr.11:15).”  The Jewish people were permitted to lend money to other Jews, but they were not to charge interest.  However they were allowed to charge interest to Gentiles.

            Another reason for people to become poor happens when events out of their control happen to them which cause the poverty:  “A poor man’s field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away (Pr. 13:23 NIV).”  Dr. Wiersbe writes “When there’s justice in the land and people fear the Lord, then the poor have a voice and protection from oppression.”

            Oppressing the poor is a reproach to God our Maker:  “He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him (Pr. 14:31).”  Some may think, and the Pharisees did think that God loves the rich more than the poor.  “The rich and the poor have a common bond, The LORD is the maker of them all (Pr.22:2).”  James speaks of how at times those in the Church treat the poor and the rich differently:  “1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? 8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well.  (James 2:1-8)

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have not done a really good job in helping those who are truly poor.  I suppose that it is difficult to sometimes tell why a person is poor and therefore one is reluctant to help people.  There are those who act like they are poor just to get a hand out, and there are those who act like they are poor because they don’t want to work, but are lazy.  In our church as in many churches we collect money for the poor in our church and it is put into a “deacon’s fund” and they are in charge of giving it to those who are in need.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to led me into doing what He wants me to do with any excess money that He has provided fro me.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 32:1-2

            1 How blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered!  2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, an in whose spirit there is no deceit!

Turning Points Wisdom for the day:  “God’s part is to protect us by giving us wisdom.  Our part is to want to be protected by seeking it.”  (David Jeremiah)  “He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.”  (Proverbs 2:8))

2/14/2013 9:43 AM

PT-2 "Thieves" (Various verses)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/13/2013 11:51 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  More on the Thief

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Various Verses

            Bible Reading & Meditation:  In Today’s Spiritual Diary we will continue to look at the thief as how he is described in the book of Proverbs and also in other places in the Scriptures.

            Some of the ways that a thief is described in the book of Proverbs may not be the way that many people think about as a person being a thief.  For instance think about a person who has plenty of things and in a time of need will not help others with what he has, this is being a thief.  The Bible teaches that everything belongs to the Lord, “For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  (1Cor. 4:7)  “John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven (John 3:27).”  Dr. Wiersbe writes “While everyone expects that a businessman will make a profit, nobody wants him to ‘make a killing’ and hurt others.”  “25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.  26 People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.”  (Pr. 11:25-26)

            Now we will look at another way that we might not think of being thievery by looking at the lazy person.  Dr. Wiersbe reports that the “sluggard” and the “slothful” are found at least seventeen times in the book of Proverbs and there is not one good thing that is said about them.  I mentioned that this is a great problem in our country as many people fit into the category of being a sluggard or being slothful, for many in this country think that people owe them something and so they refuse to work and complain when they do not get what they deem as “their fair share.”  People really do not want what is fair for if all people got what is fair we would all be heading for hell because none of us deserve to go to heaven, but for the grace and mercy of God along with taking out His wrath on His Son, no one would be able to enter heaven.

            As we go back to the very beginning of time right after God created Adam we will find that God gave him work to do, for it was his job to care for the beautiful garden that God had created.  My point here is that work is not a curse for it came before the fall.  When Jesus came to earth in the form of man and always being God, he worked as a carpenter until His public ministry began.  We also read of the Apostle Paul being a tentmaker, having to not only work to make tents, but also taking time to preach the Gospel and to lead the churches that God gave him to start.  We see in the very first chapter that it was the work of God to create the earth in six days, and then He rested on the seventh, not because He was tired for all the work, but because He had completed His work.  Dr. Wiersbe writes “When we engage in honorable employment we’re cooperating with God in caring for and using His creation, we’re helping to provide for others, and we’re growing in character.  The work God has called us to do ought to nourish us (John 4:34), not tear us down; ‘the laborer is worthy of his hire’ (Luke 10:71; 1Tim. 5:18).”

            Let us look at some of the marks of a sluggard.  “6 ¶  Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, 7  Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, 8  Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest. 9  How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10  "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest"- 11  Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man (Pr. 6:6-10).”  “As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed (Pr. 26:4).”

            Proverbs and other Scriptures do not tell us not to get our sleep, but we have to remember that there is much balance in the Word of God, and therefore we need to get the proper amount of sleep in order to do the work that God has called us to do.  “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet (Pr. 3:24).”   “The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep (Eccl. 5:12)”   Dr. Wiersbe quotes Ronald Sailer and David Wyrtzen from their book The Practice of Wisdom:  “Laziness could run a competitive race for the most underrated sin.  Quietly it anesthetizes its victim into a lifeless stupor that ends in hunger, bondage, and death.” 

            What happens when you put a sluggard?  “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him (Pr. 10:26).”  A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble; it’s vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes (Pr. 10:26 Message).”  “The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work; All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back (Pr. 21:25-26).” 

            Next we will look at another trait of the sluggard and that is he is a know-it-all.  “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer (Pr. 26:16).”  The sluggard live in a fantasy world which will prevent him from being useful in the real world, “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat (PR. 13:40).”  (See Pr. 21:25-26 from above.)  “The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway (Pr. 15:19).” 

            We will not look at what will finally happen to the sluggard.  First if others don’t look out for the sluggard he will live in poverty and hunger.  “Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry (Pr. 15:19).”  When we look at what Paul writes in the NT letter of 2Thes. we will see that he left no room for sluggards “6 ¶  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. 7  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, 8  nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9  not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. 10  For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11  For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12  Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. 13  But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. 14  If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15  Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”   More on what will happen to the sluggard:  “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labour (Pr. 12:24).”  The sluggard wastes God-given resources:  “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys (Pr. 10:9).” 

            Finally the sluggard also wastes God-given opportunities:  “He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son (Pr. 10:5).”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The flowing is what Jesus said about the spiritual harvest to His disciples:  “27 ¶  At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why do You speak with her?" 28  So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, 29  "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?" 30  They went out of the city, and were coming to Him. 31  Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32  But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." 33  So the disciples were saying to one another, "No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?" 34  Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. 35 "Do you not say, ’There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36  "Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37  "For in this case the saying is true, ’One sows and another reaps.’ 38  "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.’”

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to give me the grace and the strength to win the battle that I am in at this time of my life.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 32:1-2

            1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!  2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!   

Turning Points Wisdom for Today:  “Not until we have become humble and teachable…Distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours.”  (J. I. Packer)  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  (Proverbs 1:7)

2/13/2013 12:52 PM

           

           

PT-1 "Thieves" (Various Verses)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/12/2013 9:10 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  The Thieves-PT-1

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Various Verses

            Message of the verses:  We will once again be back in the book of Proverbs today as we have been following the outline provided by Warren Wiersbe from his commentary on the book of Proverbs.  We will begin looking at his seventh chapter in which he entitles “Rich Man, Poor man, Beggar man, Thief,” in today’s SD.

            Those who have read the Bible know that it tells us much about money, and as we think about the three classes of people that Paul describes in Ephesians 4:28 which reads “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”  We see that there are thief’s in the world, there are those who work for a living, and there are those who are poor and need help from those that work.  Dr. Wiersbe sites another group of people that fits into what we are talking about today, and that is what the Proverbs describes as a sluggard.  We seem to have an abundance of these in our society today, they are the lazy ones who do not want to work, are too lazy to steal, but expect others to care for them.  This is more prevalent in our country than ever has been and one day (probably soon), our country will run out of money trying to take care of the sluggards that live here.

            Solomon who was probably the riches man who ever lived writes the following in Proverbs 16:16 “How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.”  Here is the richest man who ever lived and he says that wisdom is better than wealth.  We have spoken about those who are wise and they are the ones who realize that they were born sinners, and were in need of a Savior, and who also believed that Jesus Christ is the Savior and so they believe that He paid the price for their sins and they accept His pardon and began then to read and understand the Bible where it is there that they will receive much wisdom in order to walk with the Lord.  Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, but at the middle of his life he did not follow all the wisdom that he had learned, and therefore made many mistakes.  I believe that Solomon was an older man when he penned the book of Ecclesiastes where he comes again to the conclusion that serving the Lord was the best thing a person can do.

1 The Thieves

            Let us begin to look at this topic by looking at Proverbs 1:10-19 where we learn that Solomon began his book by giving a warning against schemes that break the law. 
            “10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse," 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors.”  Solomon is talking about people who break the law and work as schemers trying to scam people out of their hard earned money.  I know people like this in a very personal way.  Dr. Wiersbe writes the following in an end note about the word “scam.”  “The origin of the word ‘scam” is obscure.  It comes from carnival jargon and may be a variation of the word ‘scheme.’  Before the law stepped in to control such things, some carnival workers were notorious at fleecing the unsuspecting public with get-rich-quick offers.  Alas, what was once confined to carnivals is not found on Wall Street.”

            In Proverbs 21:5-7 we learn there are three ways “NOT” to get wealth:  “5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.  6 The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.  7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they refuse to act with justice.”  We see hasty schemes, lying people, and those who rob (violence of the wicked), in these three verses, all ways not to get rich.

            We know that God desires us to be honest in all that we do, and sometimes there are temptations that we face that may cause us not to do the most honest things, sometimes we do them even not realizing we have done them and then later the Spirit of God, perhaps using the Word of God convicts us and we are then in need of repentance and forgiveness from the Lord (1John 1:9).  Proverbs 11:1 states “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.”  We see this all the way back in the book of Leviticus 19:35-36 and then repeated in Deut. 25:13-16:  “35 ’You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measurement of weight, or capacity. 36 ’You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin; I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt.”  “13 "You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. 14 “You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. 15 “You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 16 “For everyone who does these things, everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the LORD your God.”  Israel did not always follow these laws as the Prophet Amos states in Amos 8:4-5 “4 Hear this, you who trample the needy, to do away with the humble of the land, 5 saying, "When will the new moon be over, So that we may sell grain, And the Sabbath, that we may open the wheat market, To make the bushel smaller and the shekel bigger, And to cheat with dishonest scales.”  The prophet Micah adds “"Can I justify wicked scales And a bag of deceptive weights? (Micah 6:11).”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Stay away for those who bring scams for it can be very disastrous especially when they come through the doors of the Church to try and steal your money.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Remember that contentment is a precious thing to learn.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 32:1-2

            1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

Turning Points Wisdom for Today:  “Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received—fading symbols of honour, trappings of power—but only what you have given:  a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.” (Francis of Assisi)  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  (Matthew 6:19-21)  

2/12/2013 10:21 AM