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
29:5-7 (KJV): 5 A man that flattereth his
neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth
sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not
to know it.
Proverbs
29:5-7 (AMP): 5 A man who flatters his
neighbor spreads a net for his own feet.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare, but the
(uncompromisingly) righteous man sings and rejoices.
7 The (consistently) righteous man knows and cares for the rights of the poor,
but the wicked man has no interest in such knowledge.
Thoughts for the Day:
These verses from Proverbs tell us people who use
flattery have the wrong motives and their intentions are to set a trap for
others, while a righteous man is a man free from guilt; therefore he can sing
and is happy. He also is unselfish, as a good person cares for the plight
of the poor, while a wicked man could not care less.
Flattery is really
a lie, as it is excessive or insincere praise. It is also a form of manipulation
to get someone to do something they may not really want to do. People who
manipulate are really setting a snare or a trap for someone. In verse 5
the reference to spreading a net is referring to setting a trap to catch
animals. The animal does not see it and walks right into the trap. Verse 6
says that when an evil man sins, it is just like a snare, as their sin will also
influence others to sin with them. Many people have fallen into a snare of
drinking and partying this very way. They really would not have been tempted to
drink alone, but a good buddy will encourage the wrong behavior in them. They
end up indulging in sin themselves. That is why it is very important to
choose friends wisely. Bad companions will corrupt good people.
Isaiah 1:23:
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts,
and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the
cause of the widow come unto them.
In this verse we
can see that those who become companions of thieves that love bribes, will also
not be concerned about the plight of orphans and widows. Because wicked people
are selfish, their world revolves around their own desires. They do not
care about the poor, and they have no interest in helping them. As
Christians, we are told to have compassion, not only for the poor, but also for
one another.
The Bible tells us
the poor shall never cease out of any land, so God commanded us to help take
care of them. This is why we are called to be compassionate as Jesus was. The
strong are to help the weak. The reason the poor will never cease is
because as long as there is sin in the earth, the devil will cause men to do
things that create poverty. Only when the millennium reign of Christ comes
in the earth, will sin and poverty cease.
Deuteronomy 15:11: For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee,
saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to
thy needy, in thy land.
Romans 15:1-2:
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to
please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your great mercy and compassion toward us. Lord, create in
us that same heart of compassion that You possess, not only for Your children,
but for the poor and needy in the world. Use us to reach out and help them
physically, as well as spiritually. Give us heart-felt love for those who
are suffering in the world, and anoint us to share the gospel with them so that
they might know You. Forgive us for our selfishness, and deliver our land from
the curse that abortion and murder bring on a nation. May this evil cease in
this country and all others nations in the world. I ask this in the name of
Jesus.
