Proverbs14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
When we first read the beginning of verse 30 we think first of the physical aspect of the condition of the heart. We know that if the heart is in good shape we are healthy. More than that though our heart needs to be right with God for it to be in perfect health. Envy eats at a person from the inside out and will totally destroy a person. This verse can relate to next verse in that the envious person persecutes the poor. God dislikes those who neglect the poor. Now when our hearts are right with God we will be good to the poor and aid them when can. If we love God we will also love the poor and be good to them. But for the grace of God the poor one could be us.
In Psalms 10:2 we see, “The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devises that they have imagined.”
Provebs 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Verse 28 is simply saying that if a person rules over a lot people there is more honor to be gained from the people. If someone rules over only a few they are more likely to be overthrown because they may feel they can do a better jo.
Verse 29 can go along with this in that those that are few under a ruler can get ill with the ruler cause discourse and try to overthrow him. While people stay more calm under a ruler over a lot people because they work together more and have a greater understanding of what the ruler is doing. We also are not to angry without a cause and the scripture tells us we can be angry but sin not.
James 1:19-20 tells us: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
I hope everyone had a good nights rest and woke up this morning with a smile and praising God for anther day. Also try to attend church today and let God fill you with more of His wisdom and knowledge.
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
This reverential awe and admiring, submissive fear is the foundation for all spiritual knowledge and wisdom. We read in God,s word of His wrath in the Old Testament and the wrath to come in the New Testament which should instill that reverent fear we should have and helping us to know of our blessed hope. This fear of the Lord helps us to live the life we know we should live because we know it guarantees where we will spend eternity. The only fear that is permissible is the fear of God. All other fear comes from Satan who tries to kill, steal, and destroy everything to try to turn us from the saving grace of God.
Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Proverbs 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
These two verses seem to things in common in that the fool is always up to no good and brings nothing but shame for their action. In the fools folly they are constantly lying to lead people astray and into destruction. They are full of nothing but Satan himself.
On the other hand we see that the wise are true witness of the Gospel of Christ. When we do what God says in spreading the the gospel we are blessed beyond measure in material things as well as spiritual things. We are rich because we are children of God. By being the witness we can be we are also leading souls to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Sometimes I think we too much emphasis on material things of this world when our greatest treasure awaits us when we leave this world and gain our heavenly home.
Proverbs 14:22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
We have talked about the evil person in so many of these verses but it is important for us to realize as evil people work they get further and further away from God. There heart is becoming harder and harder. If they continue it will make it difficult for them to ever come to the Lord and find eternal life. Also in the second verse someone who is all talk and no work and it is people like this that devise evil. There evil leads to same as the other death and destruction and eternal life without God.
We do know though that those who use the wisdom and knowledge of God to do good and labor for the Lord as we should we accomplish the things the Lord has for to do. We will receive form the mercy God shows us the abilities to truthful in all that we do. Just like in any job you do if you work hard you will gain a profit from it.
Proverbs 14;18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
In these verse we see some more comparisons of how people are. Again we the simple are easily led astray because they can not distinguish between good and evil. The wicked have to bow before the before the righteousness of God.When we see people who are rich we see they have plenty of friends but if they loose everything and become poor they are shunned by the people. Also anyone that turns on their neighbor sins because God says we should love our neighbor as our self.
Again we the those that use the wisdom of God will be given the knowledge to accomplish what he can for the kingdom. In the end the evil ones will have to humble themselves before the righteous of God. Also we should never treat any people,whether rich or poor, different in any way. Any good that we do for anybody here we may not see the reward here but will be laying up treasures in heaven for it.
Matthew 25:40 says “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”
In these last 8 verses we have really the the difference between good and evil and we all have the choice to make which one these personalities we will use to direct our lives. What will you choose?
Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
With these verses we see again how there can be differences in the types of people in this world. We have the backslider that is consumed by his own world and are unbelievers. The simple that fall for anything and no one cna change their mind. The fool that believes he can do anything even if it is against God and this gets him into trouble. Lastly we have the person who lets their anger rule them and flies off the handle at anything while the wicked sin and are disliked by all. I fear that our world has more people in like theses than the the ones we are about to look at.
A good man will put his flesh under the rule of the spirit so he does not falter. The prudent man continues with this in that he checks what he says with God’s word. Then we see that the wisdom we gain helps us examine everything to see that it is pleasing to God.
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
This verse is probably one most of us can relate to. How many times have we put on a fake smile when all along we were miserable inside. Too many times there are people who are really hurting on inside but will not show it on the outside because they are afraid of what people might say. The laughter is a cover up a lot of times to keep from crying. If we fail to share with someone our true feelings this is when the mirth is turned into heaviness. We need to learn from this verse that we as Christians need to know how to tell when someone is in need of that person they can relate their true feelings to and be there to listen and not condemn.
Proverbs 14;11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Here in this scripture we see that the wicked of this world love to store up treasures here on this earth and are not thinking of the future and none of what they have will go with them when they leave this world.On the other hand the Christian knows where their true home is and it is not this world but in Heaven. We as Christians are looking to the heavenly city “New Jerusalem”.
Now while the there are plenty of teachings in the world today that say if it feels right do it. Even God’s chosen people only wanted to do what they thought was right in their own sight. If we listen to fleshly desires it will lead to sin and death. There are two paths offered to man a narrow gate and a wide gate. The narrow gate is by faith and leads to true salvation in God’s way that leads to eternal life.
The wide gate includes all religions of works and self righteousness with no way to heaven but leads to hell.
Today it is my prayer again that you find a church that teaches the true word of God and see what He has for you today.
Proverbs 14:10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
We see in this scripture that the feelings of the heart are private. Whenever we are grieving it is difficult for someone to really feel what is in our heart and if it is of a personal nature it is usually deeper than the onlookers. Also we can share our joy with anyone but it is hard to feel the greatness of it if it is not happening to us. We should however never let anyone hinder our joy and if we take those things that grieve us to God , He will give us the strength and comfort to get through any situation and He is the supplier of our joy.
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." I John 5:7
