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 11:1-3(KJV):

1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Thoughts for the Day:

These scriptures in Proverbs are dealing with integrity versus cheating. In Bible days much of the trade was done by weighing  items on a pair of scales.  While the item to be purchased was placed on one of the trays, the other tray held a corresponding weight and when the scales were balanced the amount could be determined. Since the item was sold by quantity, and the price was determined by weight, a fair and equitable price was established.  However, just as we have crooks today, there were traders who tampered with the weights causing the customer to pay for more than they actually were getting. The weights were unjust, which resulted in a false balance or standard. The Lord says that a false balance is an abomination to Him because it is cheating. Our God is a just God, so He loves justice and equity.  He wants all of His children to be fair and just too, and never cheat each other in any way.

Cheating is a major problem in our society today. Students cheat on their tests in school, thus failing to gain the knowledge their diplomas say they have. People cheat when they file their income taxes, so they do not have to pay the right amount, leaving others with their share of the tax burden. People cheat in business by overcharging causing the market price of an item to be unstable. People cheat by engaging in unfair contracts that are in their favor and not equitable for both sides. People cheat to win games unfairly. People cheat on their spouses by having affairs. Cheating is a form of dishonesty.  No one likes to be cheated as it is an injustice to our sense of fairness.

However, since we live in a world that is sinful, we most likely have all cheated at some time in our lives.  We also have all been cheated at sometime. The only remedy for this sin, is to ask the Lord to forgive us for our cheating and being dishonest. He most certainly will forgive us and also deliver us of this evil if we come to Him and confess our sin.

1 John 1:8-9: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

After we receive forgiveness, we then should forgive those who have cheated us. We are told to pray for those who despitefully use us and to overcome evil with good. Many people become very bitter and harbor unforgiveness in their hearts when they are misused. This attitude will destroy them unless they learn to give their hurt to Jesus and ask the Lord to forgive those who have wronged them.

Matthew 5:44-45: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

Matthew 6:14: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Romans 12:19-21: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

We must pray for those who have taken advantage of us, or treated us unfairly, or cheated us. The Lord will be their judge, just as He is our judge.  He will judge all men fairly, as He has eyes to see what really happened in every situation. He knows those that cheat. He sees the motives of men's hearts. He is the final judge of men's affairs and He will do that which is right. If we have cheated or defrauded any man we first must repent, and ask the Lord to forgive us; then, we must ask them to forgive us and make it right by restoring the portion that was taken wrongly.

Genesis 18:25: "That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

Verse 2 of Proverbs 11 says that if we humble ourselves and take the lowly position we will gain wisdom, but if we remain proud and arrogant it will bring us to shame. Verse 3 says that if we walk in integrity it will guide us, but sinners who are perverse will be destroyed. Cheating will bring a man down, while integrity lifts him up.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Father, Thank you for the love and forgiveness that You show us daily.  Lord, help us to overcome any sin that the enemy tempts us to engage in.  Lord, forgive us for the times we fail You.  We also forgive those who have hurt us and sinned against us.  May they come to repentance so that they might know Your forgiving love too. We all need Your love and mercy.  Lord Jesus, be merciful to our family and our friends. Watch over our children and our grandchildren and keep them from harm.  Guide us daily in the right path so that we do not stray from the straight and narrow.  I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.