Daily Devotional
Betty Miller shares her daily
devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.
The Wisdom
of God
Verses for the Day:
4 Labour not to be
rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make
themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Proverbs 23:4-5 (AMP):
4 Weary not yourself to be
rich; cease from this your own [human] wisdom.
5 Will you set your eyes upon wealth, when (suddenly) it is gone? For riches
certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
Thoughts for the Day:
These verses in Proverbs
tell us that our goal should not be to become materially rich, but rather to
have God and His wisdom. As Christians, our goal should be to seek to become
like Jesus. We are never told to seek wealth or even the "American dream."
Now this does not mean that we cannot have material wealth, as that may come in
addition to the spiritual things that God does promise us. He promises us in His Word that
we can have His spiritual riches, which far surpass any material wealth. Who can
buy love, joy or peace? Who can buy the faith to see a loved one healed or
see God's power deliver someone from addiction? Money cannot buy
happiness, peace of mind, freedom from fear nor a host of other things that only
come from a relationship with Jesus Christ. He told us not to be concerned about
what we will eat or wear, but to seek His righteousness, and His kingdom and all
of those things would be added to us.
Matthew
6:31-33:
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we
drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father
knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.
When we serve the
Lord, He promises to meet every need of our life. Should that need be one of
money or something material, if we seek Him in humility and faith, He will
provide for us. He doesn't give us things just to satisfy our lust or greed;
however, if it is a real need, He will meet that need. If fact, we are told to
ask Him in prayer and He will give us those things we ask for.
James 4:3:
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your
lusts.
John
16:23-24:
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that
your joy may be full.
In verse 4
of our study, we are also told not rely on our own wisdom. We need God's
wisdom and He tells us in scripture that if we ask for it, He will give it to us
liberally; however, there are conditions with the asking.
James 1:5-8:
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a
wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
In verse 5
of our study, we are told that financial wealth can be fleeting and temporal --
we can have it one day, and the next day it can disappear, like an eagle in
flight to the heavens. Men who look to their money for security will find
it will fail them. Many have found that to be true when their money was
stolen, or when their companies went bankrupt, or their long term jobs
disappeared and their pension funds were wasted. Some faced failed business
ventures, losses in the stock market, long term health problems that ate up
their savings, or natural disasters not covered by insurance. Others may have encountered
dishonest employees who embezzled the company, or a corporate executive who
stole the investment of others. Now, we face terrorist attacks and war, that not
only wipe out businesses and property, but destroy lives as well.
So many people in our
day are having financial problems. Wealthy men are concerned they will
lose their riches because of inflation and the worth of the dollar
dropping daily. Stock markets around the world have been unstable.
People are contemplating bankruptcy and even suicide, due to such heavy
money pressures. Many marriages are also under extreme stress and
divorce has risen, due to unresolved financial difficulties.
Is there an answer to
all the money problems? Yes, the Bible has the answer to this problem,
as well as all others that face mankind. The answer is to put our faith
in Jesus and follow the plan of God for our individual lives. We are not
promised that we will not face troubles, but we are promised that we
will have victory over all of them.
John 16:33: These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world."
Is there a safe
investment? Jesus tells us that in this world there is not an
absolutely safe one, but He does tell us if we invest in His kingdom, we
will have treasures in heaven. Part of those treasures will be to meet
the people that we helped to come to know Jesus, through our giving, our
praying and our witnessing.
Matthew 6:19-21:
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
First of all, I want to thank You for Your provision for all of my needs.
You have never failed to take care of me. I am grateful. Lord,
deliver me from all fear and insecurity about the future. I know You will
never fail me and will continue to meet all of my needs. Lord, I want to be
like Jesus. Do the work in my heart to set me free from looking to the
provision that comes from this world. I know my true source of supply
comes through Your hand. Give me grace to not look to men for the security
I need. You are my security and I set my eyes upon You, Lord. I ask this
in the name of Jesus, my Provider. Amen.
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