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:
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.
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