Food for the poor

An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.

Proverbs 13:23 (Bible.com)

A thought: People are tempted to look after themselves most of time. Israel had some laws in place to make sure landowners left some produce un-gathered for any destitute/needy passer-bys. To not leave something for others from our abundance, is an injustice that God will judge.

A prayer: Dear God, you have given me so much. Help me live rightly, generously, and not selfishly. My life is not my own. It belongs to Jesus. Amen.

Advertisement

Proverbs 13:9 – Bright Lights

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. – The Bible, Proverbs 13:9

Some places where else this is discussed:

Prov. 12:7, 13:6

Light/lamp references: Job 18:5,6, Prov 4:18,19

My thoughts:

Our choices in life often tend to affect what kind of life we have. If we determine to live only for self, pushing others who interfere aside, what kind of life would we end up with? We’ll lose any chance at deep relationships, have a very small view of the world, and be in open rebellion of our Maker.

This proverb talks of life with the metaphorical use of lights and lamps. People’s lifestyles affect the brightness of their life-light. The righteous has a bright lamp, as they are living the life they were created for, loving neighbour and God as best they can. The wicked’s lamp is put out before it’s time, reflecting the dangerous behaviour they exhibit.

Our lives aren’t easy or guaranteed to be long for any of us, but its always worth seeking the One who created us to be righteous. In him our life-light can shine brightly.

 

Thanks for reading! Pete.

—

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Photo Attribution: Tutankhamun_cyrus Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

Proverbs 13:6 – Protection By Doing Good

Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. – The Bible, Proverbs 13:6

Some places where else this is discussed:

Prov. 2:21-22, 11:3, 13:3

My thoughts:

We are often undone by our own actions. Whether it’s at work or home, with our finances or relationships, our mess ups turn back onto us. People have a way of exposing a matter if it’s affected them, revealing our deception, error, or hurtful actions.

This proverb talks of a person saved or destroyed respectively by her good or evil behaviour. The woman of integrity is protected from harsh outcomes because of her obedience to God’s good commands. She sticks to what she knows God would have her do. The sinful woman experiences the full force of her actions and has no help in her fall. Let’s take God at his word and seek righteousness in Christ. It will guard us from many pains.

Thanks for reading! Pete.

—

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Photo Attribution:  Mika Hiironniemi Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

Proverbs 13:5 – Odious Lies

The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves. – The Bible, Proverbs 13:5

Some places where else this is discussed:

Prov. 6:16-19, 8:13, Psalm 119:163

My thoughts:

Hate is a strong emotion. We shouldn’t hate people personally, but we are given free reign in the Bible to hate evil. Evil deserves drastic action. For us to hate our own evil actions or the temptation to do them, we’d need to avoid them, stamp them out, and flee such things.

In this proverb, the man who seeks to be righteous despises any deception; he follows in what God hates. The wicked man has no qualms about lying, as long as it gets them what they want. Yet they bring upon themselves all manner of shame. So often the truth ousts us. We realise it would have been far better to have not lied in the first place.

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Photo Attribution: FLASHFLOOD®  Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

Proverbs 12:28 – Path to Life

In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality. – Proverbs 12:28

Some places where else this is discussed:

Prov. 3:2; 4:10; 11:24

My thoughts:

The promise of a long life or one without sickness or poverty is often hard to believe. Yet the proverbs and psalms of the Bible don’t shy from it. In this proverb, righteousness is seen as the important path to follow, and with it comes life. The life lived in honour of God is also one with hope for the future, and not just for our earthly existence – to live forever in Heaven under the rule of God is our hope, too. Becoming right with God is a path that leads to so much good.

Thanks for reading! Pete.

—

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with references, and difficult concepts and words. Plus he has a real way with words!

Photo Attribution: scsmith4 Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

 

Proverbs 12:26 – Picking Friends

The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. – Proverbs 12:26

Some places where else this is discussed:

Prov. 18:24; 22:24-25

My thoughts:

How do you pick your friends? I know for myself people can come into my life and I’m drawn to them, not thinking about their character too much. It can be easy to connect with people at an emotional or intellectual level, but not delve into all of who they are. Friends do influence us both in good and bad ways, and this proverb speaks of how it is the mark of the righteous to choose them carefully. Let’s be wise with who we hang out with so we aren’t influenced to turn away from God.

Thanks for reading! Pete.

—

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with references, and difficult concepts and words. Plus he has a real way with words!

Photo Attribution: Tuyền Dương Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

Proverbs 12:21 – Filled with Trouble

No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble. – Proverbs 12:21

The context of this Proverb:

Proverbs 12:13-25

My thoughts:

While we can’t often control what happens to us, and it’s up to God in His Will as to that, we can control our actions and words. This proverb talks of the righteous not having harm overcome them and the opposite for the wicked. How can we interpret this? Well in the context of proverbs about how words affect us, the fill of trouble could be self-inflicted. The one who mistreats another could easily find a similar response right back.

Thanks for reading! Pete.

—

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words. Plus he has a real way with words!

Photo Attribution: Jochen Frey Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

Proverbs 12:12 – Stronghold Envy

The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures. – Proverbs 12:12

Some places where this is discussed in Proverbs:

Proverbs 12:3

My thoughts:

It’s quite tempting to want another’s wealth, but what if it’s been ill gained? Would you still desire it? The wicked have no qualms about such a dilemma. This proverb seems to be pointing out how people will desire wealth regardless of where it came from. The alternative is to seek after the “root of the righteous”. Only the things of the LORD last.

Thanks for reading! Pete.

—

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words.

Photo Attribution: Brian Rogers Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

Proverbs 12:10 – Caring for Animals

The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. – Proverbs 12:10

Some places where this is discussed in the Bible:

Proverbs 27:23, Deuteronomy 25:4

My thoughts:

Humans need care to thrive, as do animals. In order to look after an animal you need some decency and sense of respect for them. In this proverb it’s the one who knows what is right who cares for his animals. The so called “kindest acts” of the uncaring will only harm whoever gets their treatment. Let’s look after our pets, but the people around us need our love, too.

—

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words.

Photo Attribution: portable soul Used under Creative Commons licence  CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

 

The Righteous Will Stand – Proverbs 12:7

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand. – Proverbs 12:7

What is this proverb saying?
Where people stand before God makes all the difference in this life and the next, this proverb seems to be stressing. The people who reject God and His ways, who go about their business with no regard of Him, are said here to be overthrown completely. They have no sure future, no way, José. What surety do they have if God can call them to account at anytime? No one knows the hour of their death, and there is only judgment awaiting the lost.
The righteous household has no fear of dangers that might befall it. The righteous person’s surety is in God, and they will stand regardless of whatever happens.
While there is an appearance of all people getting hurt and sick or dying at seemingly random times, the point is that the righteous will find safety in God and the wicked have no such promise.

What can we learn from Proverbs 12:7?
What is your trust in? Do you trust wholly in the things of this world, such as money, locks, police or fire-resistant insulation?
Despite the importance of partly investing in these things, it surely is far better to seek and to put your trust in God, the Creator of this world?
We should not fear anything happening to us if our trust is in God. Make sure you and your whole family are made right with God and not even death will be the end to your house. Amen.

Thanks so much for reading! – Pedrozki (Pete)

–

More Reading:

Check out TWO other posts about surety in God:

Your foundation in life is crucial – On Proverbs 10:24-26

God is an Immovable Foundation- Proverbs 12:3

—

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible Gateway and is either the New King James Version or New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words.

The main image is courtesy of Phil’s Hat and the “More Reading” image is courtesy of Vermont Historical Society / both from Flickr – Creative Commons (Attribution License)
If you want, follow my blog with Bloglovin.