November 27, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 27
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Following Scripture Verses

1. Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3. A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
4. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
5. Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7. The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8. As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10. Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
11. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15. A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16. Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
17. Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18. Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19. As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20. Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21. As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so a man to his praise.
22. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
24. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
25. The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27. And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

Today's Pathway:
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"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?" - Proverbs 27:23

It seems that most of us spend much of our lives trying to get ahead in this life. We may not have a large amount of this world's goods, and thus we are continually striving to move forward financially by gaining a little bit more material wealth. However, once we achieve some success there is a tendency to stop "worrying" about what we have and to start spending what we have. It is this condition that Solomon is warning about.

He tells his son that it is important that he knew what he had and what condition his possessions were in. He should not just take it for granted that since he had achieved some measure of wealth that all was now fine and that he had no more responsibilities. He gives the reason for this in verse 24,

"For riches are not for ever."

There are many practical applications of this truth. If a student works hard to get straight "A's" on his report card for one semester, he shouldn't quit studying, for if he isn't diligent he will find that his grades slip the next semester. An athlete who trains hard and wins a starting position on the school team had better keep training or he will find himself sitting back on the bench within a few games. The politician who is elected to office needs to fulfill his promises to his constituents or he will be voted out of office in the next election. The man who wins the love of a woman had better continue to treat her special after the wedding or he will find his marriage on the rocks. The business owner who is finally making a profit had better keep working hard lest his company go backwards into bankruptcy.

Thank God for what He has allowed you to achieve. Then be careful lest you squander His blessings.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery