Day 21 | 21-Day Growth Challenge | "Straight Talk About Prosperity God's Way"
SELECTED SCRIPTURES & INSIGHTS FROM PROVERBS 23:
Proverbs 23:4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. 5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.
People who only focus on getting rich end up deceiving themselves, wasting time, and losing the few resources they have. People who have worked their way into wealth have done so by focusing on excellence, providing wanted goods and services in the marketplace, working in the most profitable fields of endeavor, well educated in their area of expertise, connected to the right people, talented, hard-working, fortunate, and more. Needless to say, success is not easy.
Knowing what not to do, or to stop doing, is often as important to success as knowing what to do. Some types of wealth, like investments, can come and go in the "blink of an eye." The Great Recession of 2008 showed this to be true. For many people, they're vanishing wealth looked exactly like something that sprouted wings and flew away.
Proverbs 23:9 Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.
This is a harsh, but true statement. The problem this presents for us is that we must consider whether or not we are dealing with a fool. We don't want to judge people, but the Bible teaches us that a tree is known by its fruit. People who reject the word of God, and even common sense, are acting foolishly. Trying to give advice to such persons can be a waste of time. Certainly, we should pray for such persons and wait for God to open their hearts and make them receptive. On the other hand, let us not be the people who behave foolishly and are not open to correction and advice.
Proverbs 23:12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.
This scripture summarizes the key theme for the whole book of Proverbs. We must COMMIT OURSELVES to instruction. We don't simply attend church and say, "Amen!" We don't carry Bibles as accessories or look at preachers as if they are giving us opinions. We wholeheartedly received the Word of God and the wisdom of God, giving the best of our attention so that we might learn, grow, and change to become more Christlike.
Proverbs 23:17 Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.18 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.
Sometimes we look at sinners, consider their outward success, and wonder, "Lord why are you not blessing me?" Do not make the mistake of being jealous of people who do not serve God! As the text states, we should always continue to fear to Lord. The text also states that we will be rewarded for doing so, and our hope will not be disappointed! What a tremendous promise this is!
Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
The most influential people in our lives should be our fathers and our mothers. Even if your parents do not serve God in the way that you think they should, parents have lived longer than you, and they most certainly know more than you know about many things in life. Again, learning to listen is one of the great themes in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 23:29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.
These verses, and those that follow to the end of the chapter, provide a very stark warning concerning drunkenness and spending time in places where people drink.Drinking and getting drunk serve no useful purpose in life. Think of all the people that you know whose lives have been ruined by alcohol and other addictive substances. We can learn from people about things NOT to do.
Closing Thoughts:
I trust you have been blessed over these 21 days of reading through the first 23 chapters of the Book of Proverbs. I've been blessed to seek the Lord and post these daily nuggets of truth for you. We've only touched on a few of the principles contained in this marvelous book of Scripture. I pray you will continue to study God's Word, gain insights, and allow the Lord Jesus Christ to transform your life.
I'm confident that God will help us all to prosper His way, and serve his purposes in our generation!
~ Pastor Bryan Hudson
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"Lord, I bless You for giving me grace to read and study your Word. Help me to continue daily in your Word, learning about your ways. In Jesus' Name, Amen!"
ACTIVATION:
(Use comment section below to share your insights. Record sensitive items in your personal journal. You can login or simply use your first name.)
- What 2-3 key points stand out to you in this lesson?
- How has this 21 Day Growth Challenge, in whole or in part, helped you?
- Do you believe that you will prosper if you go God's way?
COMMENT SECTION:
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