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
27:7 (KJV): The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every
bitter thing is sweet.
Proverbs
27:7 (AMP): He who is satiated (with sensual pleasures) loathes and treads
underfoot a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
Thoughts for the Day:
This verse
from Proverbs tells us that a person who has an
abundance of food will not care for an honeycomb; while a person who is hungry,
even food that is bitter is sweet to them. Many people who are rich are also
wasteful. They never think about the crumbs from their table that could feed
others. They simply throw away things that they do not want even things that
are still good and would be a help to someone who had nothing. Western
societies like ours, who have so much abundance compared to the rest of the
world, can be insensitive to the needs of those who are suffering in other parts
of the world. I believe we commit a great sin when we keep indulging our own
desires, while turning away from the cries of the poor and hungry of the world.
If every Christian gave to the poor and the needy, we could reduce hunger in the
world substantially. Jesus went about doing good and ministering to the
poor and we, as His followers, should do likewise. Jesus demonstrated His
compassion for the poor, and also His frugality, in the story of His feeding of
the five thousand.
Matthew
14:14-21:
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with
compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert
place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into
the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five
loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and
gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that
remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and
children.
This miracle of
the feeding of the five thousand demonstrates a principle in the Word of God.
That principle is how God uses small things to bring about big miracles.
People who feel small and inadequate sometimes wonder how God could use them.
God delights in using the insignificant things in this world to confound the
wise of this world. The world has despised and called many of God's
servants "foolish." God takes His weak people and uses them to demonstrate
His power.
1 Corinthians
1:27-29:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and
God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are
mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen,
yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
In today's study,
we can see where abundance could cause us to not be as frugal, where we would
trample a honeycomb underfoot, as it would be too much trouble to get the honey
out of it. Whereas if we were poor or hungry, it would not be trouble for us,
but rather a blessing. In fact, if we were hungry, even the blandest soup
would taste good. Although Jesus fed the five thousand, He instructed His
disciples to gather up the fragments that remained and not waste them. There was
even an abundance of leftovers in God's kitchen. His disciples gathered up
twelve baskets full for a later time!
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I appreciate the fact that You are a Miracle Worker! That brings great
comfort to me as I know, if, and when, I ever need a miracle, that I can call on
You. Lord, You have blessed me so much compared to many in the world and may I be
sensitive to the needs of the poor. Lord, I do not want to be guilty of turning
a deaf ear to the cries of those who are hungry. Direct my giving, and create a
heart of generosity within me, so that I can be used as an instrument of
blessing to the many needy in this world. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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