Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 How difficult it is to find a person who thinks first and then acts! Most of us usually do the opposite. Equally difficult is helping people maintain proper priorities and to use time wisely. I admire Nehemiah because he […]
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The Pursuit of Insight
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Proverbs 9:10 Then on the second day the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered to Ezra the scribe so that they might gain insight into the words of […]
Read MoreWhen the Godly Are in Authority
When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. Proverbs 29:2 Regardless of the perils of leadership and promotion, I hope you will never forget Proverbs 29:2. In this proverb, Solomon gave us a tremendous truth. When born-again people are promoted to places of increased leadership […]
Read MoreFaith and Careful Planning
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9 Do you know that God honours order and organisation? Can you imagine what had previously transpired in Nehemiah’s mind in order for him to provide an immediate, on-the-spot answer? Nehemiah had a plan. You see, he had been doing more than praying […]
Read MoreThe King’s Heart in God’s Hand
The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases. Proverbs 21:1 There are few areas of life in which we live or work that do not come ready-equipped with a superior—a boss or other authority figure. It is our task to develop qualities of leadership […]
Read MoreTips on Dealing with a Fool
Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips. Proverbs 14:7 So much for analysis. It’s time for application. For the sake of space, I will limit my comments here to a major heartache—being married to a fool. Some people are living with a marriage partner who has turned out to be […]
Read MoreThe Dark Side
To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. Proverbs 29:15 It’s helpful to remember that the deadliest killer of humanity is not heart disease or cancer … it’s depravity. Every one of us has it. Every one of us suffers from the consequences of it. And to make […]
Read MoreThe Downward Spiral of Defiance
Talk about going from bad to worse. Defiance is the classic illustration. First, defiance begins with carnal attitudes. Long before there are carnal actions, there are carnal attitudes. It can happen to adults just as quickly as it can to teens or kids. Perhaps it would help if I spelled out a few of the attitudes by describing some actual thoughts in the minds of the defiant.
Read MoreOvercoming Worry
In Part One, we looked at a couple of New Testament examples (one negative—Martha, the other positive—Jesus) of people under stress. Let’s now go back to the Old Testament and lift out some familiar words of hope to those clenched in the vise-grip of worry. The following passage is so well known to most Christians that we have perhaps missed its significant message. Read slowly the words of Solomon:
Read MoreExcellence in Our Integrity
Many a person proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy person? A righteous person who walks in his integrity—How blessed are his sons after him. Proverbs 20:6–7 NASB Daniel 6:4 (NASB) says: “Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding government affairs; but they […]
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