Today Looking at Proverbs 16
As I read
chapter 16 on the 16th these verses were especially
highlighted. See if they do the same for
you.
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VERSES
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SCRIPTURE
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THOUGHT
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1
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We make our plans but the Lord gives the right answer
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We may come up with a plan, but the Lord has the right one…we need to
go with Him
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5
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The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished
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Going our way and not His.
Honoring ourselves and not Him.
Listening to our wisdom and not His.
Ego. Pride. Arrogance.
The Lord detests it.
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6
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Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the Lord, people avoid
evil.
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The Lord has better for people.
Evil is not good for anyone.
Fearing the Lord is key to avoiding evil. Continuing in evil is an indication that a
person does not fear the Lord.
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8
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Better to have little, with godliness than to be rich and
dishonest.
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This goes against the grain for many.
Having money, influence and power is the ultimate and godliness
something to tag on if forced. To lie,
deceive, cover up is dishonest.
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17
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The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that
path is safe.
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The virtuous are not flawless, but they are on a path that is
opposite of evil.
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20
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Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD
will be joyful.
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People filled with themselves cannot hear life giving
instruction. Prosperity is the fullness
of life not just an increase in profits.
Joy flows in and through those who trust the Lord in good and bad
circumstances.
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24
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Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the
body.
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The way we talk matters. If we
rip and tear into people from anger or manipulation it isn’t good for them or
us. However, kind words are sweet to
the soul and healthy physically.
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25
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There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in
death.
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Human pride and self-made wisdom leads people to think they have got
life by the tail on a downhill grade, but it ends in death.
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32
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Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than
to conquer a city.
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Patience and self-control are values that come from trusting God and
living His way
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God’s Judgment
God has announced a better way of life. It is in Him.
Listening to Him. Being guided
His way to live by His values. It is in
this that people can enjoy the “abundant life” Jesus spoke of in John 10:10.
They may not be people of great wealth or have fancy titles or receive awards
in this life on earth, but they will have an abundant life. God desires that all people be saved and get
to enjoy the fullness of life now and forever.
People don’t always think God tells the truth and come up with their own
plan. Even if they have some things that
appear religious.
They will act religious, but they will reject the power that
could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3:5 (NLT)
Have you noticed the folks who use things like Facebook to
post verses and say religious things, but act like jerks? Have you been around those who add a
Christian verse or saying to point out how spiritual they are, but are mean to
others, self-centered, anxious, angry, denying by their actions the very God they
claim to be all loving, all powerful, all good?
Sometimes they put fish symbols on their cars or business cards, but
they are questionable in skills and honesty.
God has a better way.
People will stand before the Lord. That concerns me. For them.
I am dedicated to helping people do their best now so that their forever
will be better. This is what we all have
to look forward to:
For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will
each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this
earthly body. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)
To stand before the ultimate Judge ought to be a concern for
everyone. He is not going to just hand
out Lollipops and trophies at the judgement.
Settling for a little cabin in the corner of Glory land is an insult to
the name of Christ. He is absolutely
serious. Here is more:
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we
already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a
variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on
the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The
fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives,
that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the
builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone
barely escaping through a wall of flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NLT)
This description of the Judgement lets us know that this is
for those who know Jesus. They are saved
and enter heaven and that doesn’t change.
But the things done in this life can last or be burned up. The Lord won’t be pleased by a large bonfire
of wood, hay and straw. And who would
want to live in such a way that they present to the King of kings such junk? They are saved, but walking in with smoke on
their clothes.
And God also deals with His people on the earth in this
life. This is from the book of
Hebrews.
Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those
who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the
covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have
insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For
we know the one who said, “I will take revenge. I will pay them back.” He also
said, “The LORD will judge his own people.” It is a terrible thing to
fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:29-31 (NLT)
God judges His own people.
People who have claimed Jesus and ought to live for Him in an upright
way and have pushed the power of the Holy Spirit away and do their own thing
are in danger. What God will do to them
I don’t know. It is probably unique to
each situation, but nonetheless it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands
of the living God. And it may end in
death. Take a look at this.
If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a
way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person
life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should
pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every
sin leads to death. 1 John 5:16-17 (NLT)
It is sad to think there is a point at which the Lord just
takes someone out. No need to pray for
them anymore. They get to go before the
Judge and give an account. Not a
pleasant homecoming I expect. I would
like to point people another way. I long
for people to quit playing God and really get to know Him. To stop protecting their kingdom and help
bring God’s Kingdom alive in their world.
Getting Back to God’s Best
God is wonderful. He
is gracious. He is incredibly
patient. God loved us so much He sent
His Son to demonstrate, instruct, and even be a sacrifice on our behalf. It is His heart that we come to Him and experience
life at its best. But like Adam and Eve
we often go another way and turn our backs on Him. But He has provided ways back to His
best. When we or someone we know fails,
sins, falls flat, rebels against God there is hope of a return to the right
path.
We can come to Him on our own and admit how we were going
against Him. We get it right in our head
and our heart and turn our feet around and go His way. Here it is in 1 John 1:9:
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9 (NLT)
The Lord cleans us up, but then we have to stay on the path
to see God’s best. We have to pursue
Him. Let Him work in us to transform
us.
There are times when we need the assistance of another
person to help us get back on the path.
This is good guidance for those times.
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by
some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto
the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share
each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2
(NLT)
People who are walking with God can see someone who has gone
the wrong way and can help them. They
may be doing some things the way God would like but are overcome in some
area. The instruction is not to defame,
throw them under a bus, beat them down, but come alongside and gently and humbly
help them back onto the right path.
Great approach! But there is
more. The law of Christ is to love on
another, right? So doing this is true
love. What is God’s view of those who
say or do nothing for a fellow believer who is overcome by some sin? Is ignoring it, accepting the person’s
behavior no matter what, saying nothing true love? No, it is a violation of the law of
Christ.
As God’s people we are to judge. Didn’t know that? It was a big fail on the part of the
Corinthian church because they didn’t judge or judge properly. We are to do so in order to really help
others. And sometimes that means
disassociating in order to bring about a change of heart. Getting to God’s best and reconnecting is
always the goal. Here is a bit of what
Paul says about this:
I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims
to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols,
or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such
people. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your
responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 1 Corinthians
5:11-12 (NLT)
We are privileged to know Christ and to walk with Him in
this life. We are also privileged to
have brothers and sisters in Christ to share this life with. As we help one another through the ups and
downs of life and help keep them on the right path we are doing right by them
and connecting them with God’s best.
God’s Reception
There is for all believer’s an end to this life either by
death or by meeting the Lord directly upon His return. Following death there is judgment (Hebrews
9:27). This judgment is complete. Everything about you is known. Every idle word. Every motive.
When you spoke of the Lord. When
you kept faithful to the Lord. When you
truly honored Him. All of it. The angels have been watching. And the Lord has been keeping track.
Entering into His presence with joy is the best. Being received into His loving arms is the
best. We have a line from a parable in
Matthew 25:23 which is something to look forward to: “Well done, my good and
faithful servant…let’s celebrate together.”
That celebration includes our being included at the wedding feast of the
Lamb.
Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast
crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise
the LORD! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and
rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding
feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the
finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good
deeds of God’s holy people. Revelation 19:6-8 (NLT)
Having as many as possible of family, friends, acquaintances,
people near and far at the feast is something I look forward to. It is the best. God has such a mighty reception waiting for
His people. We ought to give our best to
Him and to all He has for us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of
witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us
down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with
endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes
on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2
(NLT)
