July 12, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 12
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Following Scripture Verses

1. Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2. A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
3. A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
5. The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7. The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8. A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
9. He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
10. A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
12. The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
13. The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
14. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
16. A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
17. He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
18. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
19. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21. There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22. Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
23. A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
24. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
25. Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
26. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
27. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28. In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Today's Pathway:
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"The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit." - Proverbs 12:5

It is important that we make good choices in determining who we will seek out for advice. In today's verse Solomon points out that righteous people, those who are following after the principles of the Word of God, have correct thoughts. However, those who reject the injunctions of Scripture can give only deceitful counsel.

There are several applications of this proverb that I see. First of all, we need to be careful about asking our lost "buddies" what to do in a given situation. I have found that unthinking Christians will go to work and seek opinions about marital or family issues from unsaved people. Some will go so far as to seek advice concerning church-related matters from the ungodly. This is indeed foolish, for an unsaved person can not give spiritual advice, for he does not have the Holy Spirit to guide him into truth.

Second, I know believers who go to unsaved counsellors or psychologists for advice. Some even go to the television set to find out what some Hollywood celebrity "doctor" has to say. While unsaved doctors certainly have their place, their place is not giving counsel to Christians in areas where the Bible speaks. Again, unbelievers, regardless of how much education they have, can not rightly discern spiritual truth.

A third area of application deals with those of us who preach and teach the Word of God. Often in the course of preparing a sermon or lesson we will go to commentaries to find out what others have written about the verses in question. We need to have discernment when choosing commentaries and study guides, for a man can be a Greek and Hebrew scholar and have extensive training in Biblical subjects, but if he is not born again himself, he can never understand the Scriptures, and thus he can never write about them properly.

Choose your advisors carefully. Find out what they are before you find out what they think

Pastor Mark J Montgomery