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 13:17-21 (KJV):
17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

Thoughts for the Day:

The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom in regard to many different issues about practical living.  Verse 17 describes the consequences of hiring a wicked employee, versus a faithful one. The wicked one will invariably fall into mischief and evil, and not get the job done, while a faithful ambassador is a healthy asset to the company.  Faithfulness is an attribute that is sorely lacking in so many today. A faithful employee is one that has learned to be submissive and obedient to the company rules, while the rebellious employee refuses instruction. This will usually cost him his job, which results in poverty and shame.   On the other hand, the employee that heeds correction and accepts reproof, shall be honored because he will eventually become a valuable asset to the company (verse 18).

The first half of Verse 19 states that when one accomplishes something that he has desired to do, it brings a sweetness to the soul. Accomplishment brings a satisfaction to a person, as he is able to look at the completed project knowing that he finished what he started.  Many lazy and slothful people rarely experience this feeling, as they seldom finish the projects that they start. Procrastination is one of the major sins that stops many people from being productive and accomplishing the goals in their lives.  It is a very subtle sin, as the person who commits it, tells himself that he will get around to doing it later. The devil will also give him a perfectly good sounding reason for putting things off.   Those reasons usually involve making the person more comfortable at the moment. Persevering when we do not feel like doing something is a godly trait that we must develop if we are to be an overcomer in Christ.

Ecclesiastes 11:4: "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap."

Perhaps you have heard this old saying: "The highway to hell is paved with good intentions." God has dealt with the hearts of many people asking them to surrender to His will, yet many of those people resist, thinking they will yield at a later time. The Bible warns us not to turn Him away when He is speaking to us.

Hebrews 12:25: "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven."

The last half of verse 19 states the attitude of the foolish person when they are approached to change their ways.  They not only do not want to depart from evil, they consider it an abomination to even think about giving up the evil things they have set their hearts on.

Verse 20 tells us one of the ways that we can become wise is by selecting wise friends and associates.  By taking the advice of people who are wise, one can learn to avoid many troublesome things.  The wisdom of the wise, gained by experience, is beneficial in directing us in the right way so that we will be successful in our endeavors. On the other hand, should we choose to walk with foolish and rebellious people, we will end up facing destruction. Another old saying is very true also, as it states: "Birds of a feather will flock together." Those who desire wisdom will want to be around those who are wise, while the foolish will desire the company of fools.

Verse 21 tells us the outcome of both sinners and the righteous. Evil things will pursue evil people, while good things are the reward of the righteous in God. Those who seek God, in faith, are promised the rewards of the righteous. However, we must be diligent seekers and not half-hearted seekers.

Hebrews 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise you for all of Your goodness to us as Your children. I am blessed to know You and to follow You.   Lord, help me to make wise decisions in all the things that I daily face.   Give me Your love for all that I meet.  Lord, in all of my affairs, help me not to procrastinate in dealing with the responsibilities that are before me.  I do need Your guidance to know the things that should be priorities in my life, as sometime I do not know what needs to be taken care of first. Help me, in all my daily activities at home and at the office, to demonstrate Your nature.  I ask this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen.