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Bible Daily Devotional from Proverbs
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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:

Proverbs 24:27 (KJV):
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Proverbs 24:27 (AMP):
27 (Put first things first.) Prepare your work outside and get it ready for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house and establish a home.

Thoughts for the Day:

This verse in Proverbs gives wise instruction to build your business before you build a new house. The book of Proverbs not only gives good advice in the area of relationships, it also gives some good advice in the area of finances.  In fact, the entire Bible has a great deal to say about business and finance.  Although much of it relates to farming and agriculture (the main businesses in that day), the principles are applicable to any business. Here we are told to put resources into the  planting and harvesting of the field before using them to build a big home. Many farmers built their barns first, with small living quarters attached, until they produced enough crops to then pay for a nice house. This particular verse is one that many Jewish immigrants also implemented when they arrived in this country, and is attributed for the success of many Jewish businesses.  They would build or rent a building for their business or store front, that had a small apartment upstairs and would put their funds into building up the business. Later, after successfully establishing their firms, they then would use revenue to build a nice home elsewhere.

Many young couples today are going bankrupt because of lack of knowledge in regard to good business principles, as relayed in this verse.  They buy nice big homes and have such high personal overhead each month that they are not able to support their new company along with their lifestyle.  If they had just rented a small place until the business was going well, then they could have that nice home they wanted later when things were not so tight financially. Those who want the American Dream, without the basics of hard work and sacrifice, usually end up losing it. The Lord wants to bless us with material blessings, but He doesn't want us to be consumed with the cares of this life to the degree that we do not take time for Him.  When we do not have time to pray with our families, and read our Bibles, and fellowship with like believers, then the devil has opportunity to come and destroy our marriages, our children, our homes and our finances.  We are warned about this in the Bible.

Deuteronomy 6:10-19:
10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for all of Your provision for me.  I do appreciate Your goodness and love to furnish all my needs each and every day. I am looking to You to guide me in the financial affairs of my life.  Lord, I resist greed and materialism, and ask for contentment with the things that I own today.  I know that You will bless me more and more as I learn of Your ways and follow You. Help me to be a good steward over my finances, my home and all of the things that You have given to me. I do appreciate the material blessings You have given me, but most of all, I appreciate the spiritual blessings that are mine, which money cannot buy. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.