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 28:8-9 (KJV):
8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Proverbs 28:8-9 (AMP):
8 He who by charging excessive interest and who by unjust efforts to get gain increases his material possession gathers it for him  (to spend) who is kind and generous to the poor.
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law (of God and man), even his prayer is an abomination, hateful and revolting (to God).

Thoughts for the Day:

These verses from Proverbs tell us those who use unjust means to make money will see their fortunes, in time, fall into the hands of those who will pity the poor and give to them; and those who are rebellious and refuse to hear God and man's laws - their prayers are an abomination to God.

Verse 8 tells us that usury and the unjust means of making money are wrong.  What is unjust usury? It is the act of lending money at a rate of interest that is excessive or unlawfully high. The Hebrews were given instructions about lending money and other things to a brother. They were not to charge interest when a loan was made to another Hebrew brother. A stranger could be charged interest, but not a brother.  

Deuteronomy 23:19-20:
19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

In the New Testament, Jesus gave us a higher way in regard to lending.  He told us it was better to give, than to lend. We are instructed to give not only to our brothers, but to sinners as well. Not only are we to help when people are down and need money, but we are also to give mercy and compassion to others as well. Our heavenly Father will pay us back for anything we give to others.  At one time in our lives, the Lord spoke to us to cancel all monetary debts that anyone owed us personally. He told us He would repay us. At that time, the people who owed us were not able to pay us anyway. This was very liberating for us, as when we released them, the Lord released finances to us in a different way, which more than compensated for the thousands that we lost. 

Luke 6:33-38:
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Sinners who get their riches by unjust means, may heap them up; but God makes a way that the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just, who will consider the poor and help the needy.

Proverbs 13:22: A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Psalm 49:6-7 & 10:
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

Job 27:16-17:
16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

Verse 9 of today's study declares that those who will not listen to God's commandments, and the rules of man, will not have his prayers answered, as they are an abomination to God. We must come to God with a submissive attitude and a with repentance in our heart, if we want God to hear our prayers and answer them.

Psalm 66:18-20:
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

Proverbs 15:8: The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your mercy and kindness to us.  Lord, may we be like You, and show that same mercy and kindness to others. Lord, may we be able to trust You with our financial affairs, should You tell us to forgive a debt that someone owes us. Lord Jesus, You paid a debt You did not owe, and I owed a debt I could not pay.  Thank You for releasing me, and Lord, I release others today by forgiving them and blessing them and extending mercy to them. May all of Your children have the Father's love and mercy toward one another.  I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.