“Profitable Toil”
“Profitable Toil”
Blessings folk!
Give close heed to the wisdom and insight from this proverb…
Pro 14:23
In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
Hummmm…
Think carefully on this.
Read closely.
There is profit in toil…
The Hebrew word translated “toil” can mean toil, labor, work, pain, hurt, sorrow, hardship.
Painful toil/work is in view here, though I find the “hurt” and “sorrow” very interesting.
Notice that there is profit in all toil.
Though we may not understand.
Though we may not like it.
Though we may experience pain and sorrow.
There is profit to be discovered in all toil.
That is a different mind-set!
But wait!
What if someone will not/does not toil?
Many are the person that does what this Proverb states - they talk.
They talk about “doing it”.
Such is “mere talk.”
Nothing is done
I’ll give an example.
All readily agree that we as the corporate Body of Christ should pray together more.
Ok.
When are we gonna do it?
It gets “talked to death”.
And nothing is done.
Such is the way in a huge portion of the Body.
Let us determine to toil in the Kingdom in the manner which the Lord releases.
“…to the praise of the glory of His grace…”
“Devise”
“Devise”
Blessings folk!
What is being said here?
Pro 14:22
Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
The word Hebrew word translated “devise” means “to cut in, engrave, plow, devise”.
We see the continued proverbial juxtaposition between evil and good.
The one who plows evil will go astray.
The one who engraves evil upon their heart and life will stray.
The one who plows good will meet…produce…steadfast love and faithfulness.
We need to examine ourselves to see what we are doing and producing.
Are we plowing the field of good to produce love and faithfulness?
Are we plowing the field of evil and going astray?
Many are those that are plowing evil in the name of Good, thereby going astray.
Engrave Good upon your life.
Plow the path of Good.
Let us meet Love and Faithfulness.
“Generous to the Poor”
“Generous to the Poor”
Blessings folk!
The Proverbist continues to speak of good and evil.
These verses (as well as many others) speak of interpersonal relationships with neighbors…
Pro 14:19-21
The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
Facts are stated.
Evil does/will bow down before good.
Wickedness does/will bow before the righteous and the gates.
The poor are disliked by all…even his neighbor.
The rich has many friends.
Such is the way of the world.
But, for those who believe, we are not to despise our neighbor, especially if they are poor.
We are to be generous with the poor, especially our neighbor.
Generosity begins with the closest relationships.
Beware, if you despise a neighbor, you are sinning.
Rather, bless them.
Thereby you will be blessed.
Always be generous in all things.
Things of the natural.
Things of the spirit.
“Crowned With Knowledge”
“Crowned With Knowledge”
Blessings folk!
The Proverbist continues to give more insight into the wise and the fool…
Pro 14:16-18
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The wise are cautious, “fears the Lord”.
The wise turns away from evil.
The wise are prudent…sensible, crafty.
The wise are crowned with knowledge.
The fool?
The fool is reckless.
The fool is careless.
The fool has a quick temper.
The fool acts foolishly.
The fool is a person of evil devices.
The fool is hated.
The fool inherits folly from his foolishness.
Are you hearing what the Proverbs are saying?
Are you choosing well?
Be crowned with knowledge!
“Cautious”
“Cautious”
Blessings folk!
We saw at the beginning of Proverbs that the fear of the Lord is the beginning wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the Lord.
The “fear of the Lord” is a theme throughout the Proverbs.
Now…
Pro 14:16
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
The wise are “cautious”…”cautious” can be translates “fear”…as in “of the Lord”!
The wise fear the Lord.
The wise turn away from evil.
The fool?
A fool is reckless.
A fool is careless.
Pro 14:17
A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
A man of quick temper is a fool.
A man of evil is hated.
What are you pursuing?
The way of the Lord? The wise.
The way of man? The fool.
“Simple. Prudent.”
“Simple. Prudent.”
Blessings folk!
How do you approach things?
Do you seek the Lord?
Do you seek your own way.
Do you react?
Do you act?
Give heed to the Word of the Lord…
Pro 14:15
The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
One who is “simple” (not thinking, not considering) believes everything.
They believe what they are told.
Many, many are like this today.
We have been taught/trained to respond to instruction rather than to “think for ourselves”.
Most fear being called names…”conspiracy theorists”, etc.
Here is a harsh, shocking truth that becomes more real and apparent everyday…
Most of what we “know” is not true…or the complete truth.
Foundational things.
Things we take for granted.
We have been taught them, yet they are not true.
I would give you a list of some things on my mind, but, most are not ready to consider such.
The prudent?
The prudent gives thought to his steps.
He considers.
He “studies over”.
Which are we?