2020-10-06
Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV
Should you risk investing, or wait for a “lucky break” that could make you rich overnight? Solomon answers, “Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return” (v. 1 NIV). That means invest prayerfully and wisely, and be patient because it may take “many days” before you’ll get a return.
The get-rich-quick mentality isn’t scriptural. “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land” (v. 2 NIV). So invest, but diversify; allow for market fluctuations. This is a play-it-wise approach, not a play-it-safe one.
Be faith-driven instead of fear-driven. Fear allows the unpredictable to determine your actions. Godly wisdom, plus faith, is the key to investing. Waiting for “the ideal time” will keep you paralyzed. Success isn’t in the absence of challenges, it’s having the wisdom to manage them and keep moving forward.
The Bible says, “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” If you let the odds immobilize you, you’ll never sow – which means you’ll never reap.
The bottom line is this: Life is full of unknowns, and just “as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb…you cannot understand the work of God” (v. 5 NIV). You don’t have to know it all or be able to predict the outcome. Just seek God, then act on the wisdom He gives you (See James 1:5). You don’t have to understand how He’s going to work on your behalf – you only need to believe He will!
Soul food: 1 Sam 18:1-20:29; John 1:1-13; Ps 92; Prov 22:24-25
2020-09-06
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV
Three Hebrew words are used to define the word “fool” in Proverbs. (1) “Kesil.” This refers to a hard-headed person who thinks he or she needs no advice. (2) “Ewil.” This word has a root meaning of “growing thick of fluids.” It refers to a thick-headed person who refuses to listen to counsel. (3) “Nabal.” This refers to an empty-headed person who demonstrates his or her lack of wisdom through a foolish lifestyle. So the fool is an empty-headed, thick-headed, hard-headed person who gets a failing grade when it comes to the school of wisdom. They may be intellectually brilliant, financially successful, and socially admired, but they’re morally and spiritually bankrupt. Solomon warns, “Fools die for lack of wisdom” (Proverbs 10:21 NKJV). Just as a body will die from lack of oxygen, a man or woman will ultimately and eternally die from a lack of wisdom. Then Solomon bottom-lines it: “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge” (Proverbs 14:7 NKJV). The message is clear: Only a fool hangs around with fools! So when you’re forming a friendship, here are some questions to which you need answers: Does the other person bring out the best or the worst in you? Do they have a positive or a negative attitude? What other kinds of friends do they keep? Are they involved in things that violate your values? Do they exercise restraint and control their temper? Do they draw you closer to God or drive you farther from Him?
Soul food: Matt 16:13-23; Matt 26:69-75; John 21:15-19
2020-07-30
2 Corinthians 3:5 NIV
When we’ve succeeded in something or something goes well, our natural response is to feel proud of ourselves and maybe even to make sure we tell others about it. We might post about it on social media and wait for the likes to roll in. Or we might take on bigger and better things because we feel like nothing can stop us. It’s not bad to enjoy the feeling of success, but we need to avoid boasting to others and developing a prideful heart. Paul wrote: ‘Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.’ We need to be acknowledging that we can only do what we’re doing because of God. We’re only strong because He’s strong. We’re only able to do things because He gives us gifts and equips us. We’re only wise because He offers us perfect wisdom. We need to stop looking to other people to appreciate and validate our success, and instead turn to God and give Him all the glory. When we do something nice for others, or achieve something great, we need to lead other people to glorify God too. We shouldn’t be encouraging people to glorify us, but to glorify the One who leads, loves, and strengthens us. In Matthew, we’re told to ‘Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5:16 NIV). It’s not about us receiving the glory. The Bible actually tells us to glorify God in everything we do, even the mundane things. ‘So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God’ (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV). So let’s glorify Him today.
Acts 27-28; Luke 10:13-24; Ps 78:17-31; Prov 16:26-30
2020-06-26
James 1:22 NLT
When we study the Bible, we can’t just stop at reading it. We need to then put what we’ve read into practice. To grow and become more mature, we need to obey what God says. ‘Don’t just listen to God’s Word…do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves…if you do what it says…God will bless you for doing it” (James 1:22-25 NLT). Acquiring knowledge and wisdom from the Bible is important, but it doesn’t mean much if we don’t then put it into practice and make changes to our lives. Sometimes the Holy Spirit can show us things about ourselves while we’re reading and studying the Bible. We’re told that: ‘The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires’ (Hebrews 4:12 NLT). When we become aware that we’re not living how we should, we have two options. We can either ignore what we’ve read and keep living how we’ve always lived, or we can ask God to help us change. Putting what we’ve read into action isn’t always easy. Sometimes it requires us to make big lifestyle changes, and to do things which are outside of our comfort zone. Sometimes it will require us to live more sacrificially, and become more humble, which doesn’t always come naturally to us. But we don’t have to make all these changes on our own. God can help us. And He promises to bless us when we obey Him too. The Bible says, ‘blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice’ (Luke 11:28 NLT). So let’s make sure we’re not just reading the Bible, but that we’re living it out too.
Jer 1-3; Luke 2:41-52; Ps 59:1-8; Prov 14:21-22
2020-06-15
Genesis 25:28 KJV
Sibling rivalry in a family is normal, and handling it calls for sensitivity and wisdom. Unfortunately Isaac and Rebekah lacked those two qualities. “Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob” (NKJV). Joseph’s troubles began with these words: “Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colours” (Genesis 37:3 KJV). But it doesn’t have to be that way in your family. It’s neither necessary nor healthy to allow your children to attack each other and make life miserable for those around them. You may not be able to harmonize their relationship entirely, but by practicing impartiality, at least you can avoid making it worse by inflaming the natural jealousies between your children. Ever since time began, siblings have resented each other’s successes and competed for their parents’ attention. So you must be careful to avoid casual comments that favour one child over another, especially in these three areas: (1) Physical attractiveness. (2) Intelligence. (3) Skills and athletic abilities. Those are the three raw nerves on which self-esteem hangs. Referring to a girl as “my pretty daughter” or to a son as “the smart one” can set off raging emotions in other children, who perceive themselves to be ugly or dumb. Sensitivity in those areas will reduce the antagonism between your children and create a more harmonious tone for every member of the family. Paul told Timothy, “Obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favouritism to anyone” (1 Timothy 5:21 NLT). That was a “church rule,” but it’s also a “house rule!”
Soul food: 2 Kings 7-9; Luke 1:1-10; Ps 73:1-16; Prov 13:17-19
