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
25:19 (KJV): Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken
tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Proverbs
25:19 (AMP): Confidence in
an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot out of
joint.
Thoughts for the Day:
This verse
from Proverbs states that when anyone puts their
confidence in someone who is unfaithful in a time of trouble, they will have a
painful experience. A broken tooth or a foot our of joint, is not a pleasant
condition. We need to be careful where we place our confidence. If a man
has been proven to be an unfaithful person, we should never expect to depend on
them when trouble comes our way. We need to develop our friendships with
faithful people who will not fail us in our hour of need. How do we know if a
person will be faithful or not? The Bible teaches us that one way is to observe the
things they do. Even children are known by their actions.
Proverbs 20:11:
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be
right.
Jesus also
outlines in the New Testament some criteria for testing to see if someone is
faithful or not.
Luke 16:10-12:
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he
that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will
commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall
give you that which is your own?
From our
experience in pastoring for many years, my husband and I noticed that the people
who never gave to help the church or to help others (with the excuse that they
just didn't have enough money), never gave when they did have more. They never gave when they got a
raise, or sold something, or came into some money. On the other hand,
those who gave out of their small incomes, would always continue giving when God
blessed them with more and because they did, they would continue to be blessed
more and more. Eventually, many of those who never gave ended up in worse
condition than those who were poor. The Lord outlined in the Bible a pattern of
giving 10% (a tithe) of our income to be used in the work of the Lord;
therefore, if one is poor or rich, everyone can give proportionately which is
not burdensome for anyone.
How people handle
their money in other ways will also reveal if they are a faithful person or not,
for instance, paying bills timely. The Bible says if we are not faithful with
unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money and possessions), we will not be
faithful with the things of God. Also, if we do not take care of things that
belong to another and abuse them instead, then we will not take care of our own
things. However, if we are faithful stewards over other people's property,
then we will be given our own. If we work for someone and we do not do a good
job for them, then we will not do a good job, even if we had our own business.
According to
today's verse, it would be wise not to trust in those who are unfaithful, and
especially not to call on them when you are in trouble, unless you want further
pain. Choose a faithful friend instead. God is the best, faithful friend
anyone can have and He will stand with us even if all others forsake us. We also
need to be good and faithful people, as His children, so that others can come to
us in their time of need and we will be there to help them.
1 Thessalonians
5:23-24:
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole
spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your faithfulness to me. Lord, I have failed You many times
in my life; however, You have never failed me. I am grateful for Your love
and mercy to me when I have fallen down. I appreciate all the times You
have picked me up and helped me to keep on walking on the straight and narrow
path of Your will. Lord, strengthen me to be a faithful witness for You.
Help me not to put my confidence in men, but rather to lean on You and trust You
to help me. I am thankful You have used many people over the years to help me,
but I know it was You who gave me favor with them. Thank you. I ask this in the
name of Jesus. Amen.
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