The Sluggard of Proverbs 12:27

Daily thoughts on faith and life: 😏

1. A person wants friendship but refuses to adopt the attributes of a safe person and would rather be toxic.  Sorry Charlie!
2. A bit of snow this morning.  Rather late in the season but we're not complaining.
3. Good sermon in church about Love.
4. Today's proverb was actually for yesterday but I was only partly finished.  Since Sunday is an off day from the Proverbs guru who sends them in email, here you go.  

  Proverbs 12:27:  A lazy man does not roast his prey, but the precious possession of a man is diligence.

Key words/phrases: context: verses

• lazy/slothful H7423lax, idle, slack, sluggard, idle
• man
• does not
• roast H2760 cook
• prey H6718 victuals, game, food
• precious H3368 prized, valuable, splendid, rare
• possession H1952 riches, substance, wealth
• diligence H2742 strict, be alert, determined, eager

What does it say?  (in my own words) - The sluggard does not cook his game.  The determination of the eager is a rare and valued quality.

What does it mean?  Slugs have lots of ideas, start projects but rarely finishes them.  The diligent man is reliable.  Here also is a picture of lazy pew potatoes.  Moved by an emotional sermon, it fizzles when they get home.  Start a blog to get attention and it goes nowhere while squandering their time doing little or nothing.

Study Questions:  

1. What projects do you need to finish?
2. Are you a procrastinator?
3. Are you reliable or are you a purple unicorn who cuts and runs when things get tough?

The next right thing (application):  Finish the job.  Get things done! 

Free resources:  Personal favorite: e-sword.net for free bible study software.  Intothyword.org for inductive study information.  Biblegateway.com is also a great resource.  Tons of free resources on the internet.  😀 

Disclaimer:  I get one Proverb verse in email each day (except Sunday) so these are not selected by me.  I try to stick to the list.  I also don't blog daily.  Just when I've time...

 

Lacking Integrity...

Anyone else looking forward to the peony bloom in spring?

 Daily thoughts on faith and life: 😏

1. So a woman is upset and annoyed that she's odious?  It's a self-inflicted wound from choices made.  Deal with it.
2. ***Why is truth so offensive?  Easy answer.  We have an opinion of ourselves that far exceeds reality and God's truth.  It's usually in the category of denial - "I'm not so bad as all the rest."  Speaking the truth in love does not always go well.  See Proverbs 27:6.  And we are to restore gently - Gal 6:1.  Little spiritual growth indicates being at spiritual milk stage.  Claiming a possible fake addiction certainly raises red flags.  And let's not forget the sin involved in this ridiculous fiasco.  Is salvation even present?
3.  Application:  or as people like to say-the next right thing?  God's Word is clear.  Confess the sin, make it right, repent and produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  Otherwise is blessing and spiritual growth even possible?
4. "The man who clings to his own righteousness is like one who grasps an anvil to keep afloat."  Not too smart!
5. Isn't it fascinating that we'll listen to a pastoral sermon telling us our biggest problem is the person we look at in the mirror when we brush our teeth.  But if someone tells us we have issues, our first response is rage and denial.  Hypocrisy much?
6. Interestingly, the topic of today's Proverb is integrity.

  Proverbs 11:3  The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.

Key words/phrases: context: verses

• integrity
• upright
• guide
• crookedness
• treacherous
• destroy

What does it say?  (in my own words) - The honesty of the obedient will govern them, while the unfaithfulness of offenders will devastate their life.

What does it mean?  God's word is our best guide.  Stay on the path.  Otherwise the result is unpleasant.

Study Questions:  

1. How long does it take to change a habit?

The next right thing (application):  Remember the law of sowing and reaping.  Keep short accounts - confess, repent and produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  That means you need to change your ways.  

Free resources:  Personal favorite: e-sword.net for free bible study software.  Intothyword.org for inductive study information.  Biblegateway.com is also a great resource.  Tons of free resources on the internet.  😀 

Disclaimer:  I get one Proverb verse in email each day (except Sunday) so these are not selected by me.  I try to stick to the list.  I also don't blog daily.  Just when I've time...

Don't shoot the messenger -

 

Daily thoughts on faith and life: 😏

1. There are people, who for various reasons, have issues with God and the Bible.  How is this my problem?  Frankly, it has nothing to do with me.  Except they've taken issue with something I've written.  Sadly, this happens frequently.  First of all, truth does not cause hurt.  Your hurt comes from what someone else did to you.  Don't shoot the messenger.

• Recently I posted something to FB discussing the term odious:  from Proverbs 30:23 KJV.  This translation uses odious woman, NASB uses unloved, while NKJV uses hateful.  I also think hated is an appropriate interpretation.  And the differences caused me to dig in.  Turns out the odious woman is unloved and hated because of her own miserable behavior.  Sadly, it's a self-inflicted wound.
• Here are her descriptors:  obnoxious, disagreeable, offensive, repulsive, possessing rusty steel claws which entrap a man, a wretched woman bringing a life of daily torment, domineering, henpecks her man, has control issues, contrary about most things, always having an opinion, interrupts any conversation, is highly critical, her behavior stinks and is vile, usually looks like she swallowed something foul, deceitful and selfish and tries to hide her ways during courtship.  Marrying this vile creature will result in a life sentence of misery.
• The cause?  Being wounded and making the wrong choices - thinking they're healing and really inflicting more misery on themselves and their family.
• Application:  God's way is far better than anything the world dreams up.  Confess, repent.  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  If you fail, and you may, repeat this step whenever necessary.  

  Proverbs 10:6  Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Key words/phrases: context: verses

•  

What does it say?  (in my own words) - Abundance of blessings for good men.  Not for the wicked.

What does it mean?  

Study Questions:  

1. How long does it take to change a habit?

The next right thing (application):  Remember the law of sowing and reaping.  Keep short accounts - confess, repent and produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  That means you need to change your ways.  

Free resources:  Personal favorite: e-sword.net for free bible study software.  Intothyword.org for inductive study information.  Biblegateway.com is also a great resource.  Tons of free resources on the internet.  😀 

Disclaimer:  I get one Proverb verse in email each day (except Sunday) so these are not selected by me.  I try to stick to the list.  I also don't blog daily.  Just when I've time...

Discernment Checklist

 

Daily thoughts on faith and life: 😏

1. Just about everywhere you look, critical thinking and discernment seem to be in short supply.  Sounds bites for news.  And sadly, their only source for information is main stream media.  Daily devotionals and sermonettes for faith issues which means they are spiritually malnourished.  People are intellectually lazy.  It's no surprise we're suffering from spiritual starvation.  Here's a checklist that should help in the discernment category.

• First step:  are you sure you're saved?
• Check the Bible and find out what it says about your concern or problem,
• Is it forbidden in the scriptures?
• What's your motive?  Look up the word eisegesis.
• Your accountability partners say what about this?
• And lastly, does this violate your conscience?

Let's be honest.  If you're not saved or you don't know, you're not going to get far.  The second two are going to be difficult for many.  You don't know your Bible and you've no clue how to study it.  Consequently you're going to need some help until you get on your feet.  That's where the accountability partners, many counselors, learned people comes in.  You need to ask.  And your motives are a critical issue here.  (Here's one example:  many people desire to remarry so they search for an opinion, whether correct or otherwise that will allow that.  And now we have people on third and fourth marriages.)

  Proverbs 8:10  Take my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest gold.

• receive/take/choose H3947
• instruction H4148 - discipline, correction, reproof, chastening, warning, doctrine, rebuke
• silver H370
• knowledge H1847 - discernment, skill, truth, understanding
• choicest H997
• gold H2742

Key words/phrases: context: verses 

What does it say?  (in my own words) - 

What does it mean?  

Study Questions:  

1. 
   

The next right thing (application):  Your most valuable and reliable insights come from the Bible.  Perhaps it's time to put intellectual laziness away and mature a bit in your faith?

Free resources:  Personal favorite: e-sword.net for free bible study software.  Intothyword.org for inductive study information.  Biblegateway.com is also a great resource.  Tons of free resources on the internet.  😀 

Disclaimer:  I get one Proverb verse in email each day (except Sunday) so these are not selected by me.  I try to stick to the list.  I also don't blog daily.  Just when I've time...