He who tills the land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty. Proverbs 28:19 Empty Pursuits – What’s the most important goal in your life? If you’re like 81 percent of today’s American young people, that answer is obvious – getting rich. A recent survey returned…
Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing. Psalm 37:8 Fret – Why is fretting such a bad thing? Don’t we all worry about the future? Certainly the news is full of things to worry about. That’s what sells newspapers. Why would the Psalmist say that fretting leads to evildoing? It seems to me that…
Those who abandon instruction praise the wicked, but those who keep instruction strive against them. Proverbs 28:4 (Waltke) Strive – The world is divided in two. There is no middle ground. The line cuts through every social and economic group, every ethnic and national background, every political affiliation. You are on one side or the…
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and evil men. Luke 6:35 Is Kind – On one side, the Bible recognizes the need for consequences. Sin…
A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. Proverbs 26:3 Rod – It is all over the news – again. Another celebrity enters rehab for continual illegal actions. Did you reflect on the implication? She is sick, not sinful. She needs counseling, not consequences. She…
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2 Except – Our world is addicted to the cult of self-esteem. Have a problem with relationships? You have low self-esteem? Can’t hold a job? Low self-esteem? Not succeeding in life. Not your fault – you were raised with…
save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh Jude 23 With Fear – Is it possible that contemporary Christians have so watered-down the warnings that we no longer see the danger when we exercise mercy? Jude seemed to think that…
What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted. Ecclesiastes 1:15 Be Counted – When you read this verse, do you say to yourself, “Well, of course, you can’t count what isn’t there. That’s just obvious!” You’re right, but if this is nothing more than a truism, why include it in…
For all their days their task is filled with pain and frustration. Even at night their minds do not rest. This also is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 2:23 Do Not Rest – Ecclesiastes paints a sorry picture of life. “No rest for the weary,” seems to be the author’s conclusion. In stark opposition to the thought of…
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all things. Proverbs 28:5 Justice – Pilate asked one of the truly great questions: “What is truth?” You have a chance to ask another one: “What is justice?” Both questions are answered from the same source. Truth is found in the character…
