Text: Prov 19:18-20 ESV 18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death. 19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again. 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. -Prov 19:18-20 ESV DISCIPLINE PROVIDES HOPE A c…

Text: Prov 19:17 ESV 17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. -Prov 19:17 ESV BE GENEROUS The book of Proverbs is replete with instructions to care for the poor (Proverbs 14:21; 19:7; 21:13; 29:7). Helping the needy honors God. And, a person who does charitable acts does God's will and work. He gives…

God’s Word for Today 13 Feb, 2025 16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die. -Prov 19:16 ESV KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND LIVE The importance of following directions and instructions shouldn’t be taken for granted. Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself. [Prov 13:13] Failure to follow instructi…

God’s Word for Today 12 Feb, 2025 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. -Prov 19:15 ESV THE PERIL OF SLOTHFULNESS A lazy person is one like being in a deep sleep. He is oblivious to his surroundings and accomplishing nothing. The slothful is at great risk of poverty and hunger. “The sluggard does not plow i…

Text: Proverbs 19:13-14 (ESV) 13 A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain. 14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. GRIEF IN A HOME Parents are deeply grieved when children make foolish choices in life. (Prov 4:1–4; 10:1; 17:2). They can "ruin" the paren…

Text: Proverbs 19:12 (ESV) 12 A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. THE KING’S WRATH ‘Do not poke the bear’ is an idiom to not deliberately provoke or antagonize someone, especially someone more powerful than oneself. Those in authority have the power either to help or hurt those under them, haven’t …

Text: Prov 19:11 ESV 11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. -Prov 19:11 ESV DO OVERLOOK AN OFFENSE It's far more honorable to ignore insults than to overreact to them. Overreaction may escalate a volatile situation. However, the wise person dissipates it by remaining calm (Prov 15:1). When a person is eas…

Text: Prov 19:10 ESV 10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes. -Prov 19:10 ESV UNFIT FOR THE TASK Both the fool and slave are unfit for the task of managing riches and kingdom, respectively. The fools, who are immoral and unwise, can become wealthy (Psa 37:7; 73:3] But, when they do, it's an unwe…

God’s Word for Today 6 Feb, 2025 8 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good. 9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish. -Prov 19:8-9 ESV A SENSIBLE PERSON A sensible person cares about the state of their soul (Mark 8:36). That causes them to make wise, spiritually …

God’s Word for Today 5 Feb, 2025 4 Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. 5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape. 6 Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. 7 All a poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his fr…

Text: Proverbs 19:2-3 (ESV) 2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. 3 When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD. HASTE MAKES WASTE A person is putting himself at risk when he will pursue his ambition without diligence or knowledge. Without weighing all the facts…

Text: Proverbs 19:1 (ESV) Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. INTEGRITY How valuable is personal integrity? it is more valuable than any riches or financial gain. The "crooked speeches" in Proverbs 4:24 and 6:12 imply something manipulative, immoral, or deceptive. For having a godly wi…

Text: Prov 18:23-24 ESV 23 The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. -Prov 18:23-24 ESV A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER In verse 23, Solomon mentions a sad reality about how human nature tends to indulge the wealthy while bein…

Text: Prov 18:22 ESV 22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. -Prov 18:22 ESV A FAVOR FROM THE LORD The wife of a man is a ‘good thing’, a favor from the Lord. While the terminology here literally speaks to a man finding a "wife," the same principle applies to a woman who finds a "husband." A God-honoring spouse is…

Text: Proverbs 18:16-18 (ESV) 16 A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. 17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. 18 The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders. GIVING OF GIFTS OBTAIN FAVOR. There is a general observation in life that giving gifts…

Text: Proverbs 18:13-15 (ESV) 13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. 14 A man's spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? 15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. LISTENING BEFORE SPEAKING Solomon understood the wisdom of hearing both sides of a matter …

Text: Prov 18:11-12 ESV 11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. 12 Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. -Prov 18:11-12 ESV A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY Riches do tempt people towards a false sense of security, don’t they? The love of wealth can interfere with our spir…

Text: Prov 18:10 ESV 10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. -Prov 18:10 ESV THE NAME OF THE LORD IS A STRONG TOWER "The name" of God does represent His character, does it not? The righteous person finds security in all that the Lord is. Solomon has been encouraging us to rely on godly wisdom instead o…

God’s Word for Today 23 Jan, 2024 9 Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. -Prov 18:9 ESV THE PRICE OF NEGLIGENCE Negligence is sabotage. Projects, property, and even relationships can be damaged equally through negligence as they can through some deliberate act. In practical ways, this describes someone who fails to maintai…

God’s Word for Today 22 Jan, 2024 4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. 5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. 6 A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. 7 A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 8 The…

Text: Proverbs 18:3 (ESV) 3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. WITH DISHONOR COMES DISGRACE In the Scriptures, the classic example of disgrace is the couple Adam and Eve. Why? They rebelled against God in the garden of Eden. By failing to obey God, they experienced judgment. The death penalty is passed upo…

Text: Proverbs 18:1-2 (ESV) 1Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. 2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion THE FOLLY OF ISOLATION This proverb speaks out against being hardened to the views and experiences of others. The context implies that this "isolation" i…

Text: Prov 17:27-28 ESV 27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. -Prov 17:27-28 ESV THE WISDOM OF SILENCE Where there is restrain, there is silence. The Lord applauds the person who know…

Text: Prov 17:25-26 ESV 25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. 26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. -Prov 17:25-26 ESV A FATHER’S GRIEF Previously, we read in verse 21. “ He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.”…

Text: Proverbs 17:15-16 (ESV) 15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. 16 Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? GOD DETESTS PERVERSION Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent —both are detestable to the Lord. It's especially perverted…

Text: Proverbs 17:12-14 (ESV) 12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. 13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. MUCH DANGEROUS THAN A BEAR How dangerous is a man filled with foolishness…

Text: Prov 17:8-11 ESV 8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. 9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. 10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. 11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel…

Text: Prov 17:5-7 ESV 5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. 6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. 7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. -Prov 17:5-7 ESV DO RESPECT THE UNDERPRIVILEGED Bullying today is…

Text: Proverbs 16:31-33 (ESV) 31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. 32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. 33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. RULE YOUR SPIRIT Having gray hair is a sign of aging and it is honora…

Text: Proverbs 16:28-30 (ESV) 28 A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. 29 A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. 30 Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass. BEWARE OF THE EVIL MAN An evil man is dishonest. He leverages on sp…

Text: Prov 16:25-27 ESV 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. 26 A worker's appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on. 27 A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. -Prov 16:25-27 ESV HUNGER AND DILIGENCE Verse 25 is a repeat of Prov 14:12. When a truth is repeated it must be im…

Text: Prov 16:20-24 ESV 20 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. 21 The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. 22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. 23 The heart of the wise makes his speec…

Text: Proverbs 16:14-16 (ESV) 14 A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it. 15 In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain. 16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. WISDOM IS MUCH BETTER THAN GOLD Mor…

Text: Proverbs 16:11-13 (ESV) 11 A just balance and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are his work. 12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. HONESTY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS During the ancient days, we…

Text: Prov 16:5-7 ESV 8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. 9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. 10 An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment. -Prov 16:8-10 ESV BETTER IS A LITTLE WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS All believers have access to great spiritual wealth…

Text: Prov 16:5-7 ESV 5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. 6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. 7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. -Prov 16:5-7 ESV TH…

Text: Proverbs 15:31-33 (ESV) 31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. 32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. 33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. HUMILITY COMES BEFORE HONOR A humble person is a good listener t…

Text: Proverbs 15:28-30 (ESV) 28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. 29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. THE HEART OF THE RIGHTEOUS A righteous person’s stability …

Text: Proverbs 15:25-27 (ESV) 25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure. 27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PROUD The proud, arrog…

Text: Proverbs 15:22-24 (ESV) 22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. 23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! 24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. WITHOUT COUNSEL PLANS FAIL The benefit of good advice should not be overlooked…

God’s Word for Today 19 Dec, 2024 20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. - Prov 15:20-21ESV A GLAD FATHER The children’s lives either honor or dishonor the parents. The obedient son is respectful of his parents. Thus, he hon…

God’s Word for Today 18 Dec, 2024 18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. 19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. - Prov 15:18-19 ESV BE SLOW TO ANGER A strong person is self-controlled. He is able to contain the pressure of exploding or from o…

Text: Proverbs 15:16-17 (ESV) 16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. THE BETTER LIFE Life can’t be perfect but be better. It is possible by having the right choices. Firstly, it’s the choice of worshipping God regard…

Text: Proverbs 15:13-15 (ESV) 13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. A GLAD HEART Joy is reflected in one’s face. …

Text: Prov 15:10-12 ESV 10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. 11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man! 12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. - Prov 15:10-12 ESV A SEVERE DISCIPLINE A wayward person can expect…

Text: Prov 15:6-9 ESV 6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to…

God’s Word for Today 12 Dec, 2024 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. - Prov 15:3-5 ESV THE EYES OF THE LORD The Lord is a Spirit. Hence, He h…

God’s Word for Today 11 Dec, 2024 1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. - Prov 15:1-2 ESV THE STRENGTH OF SOFT WORDS It is a paradoxical statement to say “A soft answer is strong”, is it not? A soft or gentle answer can diffuse a potent…

Text: Proverbs 14:34-35 (ESV) 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. 35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully. RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION The strength of a nation might come from its military or economic power. But, the source of real strength is in the nat…

Text: Proverbs 14:31-33 (ESV) 31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. 32 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death. 33 Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. HELPING THE POO…