|
Pathways Through Proverbs
Daily Devotional
June 24, 2008
Today's Reading - Proverbs 24
Click above for full KJV Online
Today's Pathway:previous - - - - - - - - - - - - next
Click above to go directly to TP
Following Scripture Verses
Proverbs Chapter 24
- Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
- For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
- Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
- And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
- A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
- For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
- Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
- He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
- The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
- If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
- If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
- If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
- My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
- So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
- Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
- For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
- Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
- Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
- Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
- For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
- My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
- For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
- These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
- He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
- But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
- Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
- Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
- Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
- Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
- I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
- And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
- Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
- Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
- So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Back to Top
Today's Pathway:
You may click on verses for Scripture
In today's verse Solomon warns against taking vengeance upon a neighbor. He forbids his son to treat someone harshly even if that man has been guilty of being harsh himself. This principle is repeated throughout the Scriptures. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said,
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
In Romans 12:19 Paul wrote,
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves."
Vengeance is something that many Christians struggle with. We tend not to start trouble with others, but if someone else starts the fight we are more than happy to get involved and finish it. When people speak ill of us, it is our natural tendency to reply in kind. When someone yells at us, we yell back. If someone hurts us, we hurt them. This may be very natural, but it is not at all spiritual. Remember, in the Scriptures, the natural man is unsaved (I Cor. 2:14). We don't want to behave like unbelievers; we want to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit, and He will lead us to not seek revenge.
Not only should we not want to avenge ourselves, we do not need to avenge ourselves, because the Lord can handle it and He has promised to do so. In today's proverb we see that the Lord will render to every man according to his work. In Romans 12:19 Paul concluded the verse by saying,
"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
He knows exactly what the offender needs, and He will carry it out to perfection. Our responsibility is to love our enemies, do right to them, and pray that they will repent and come into a proper relationship with the Lord.
How do you respond to the "problem people" around you? Don't lower yourself to their level. Be Biblical, and let God handle the rest.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
|
|