Thought For Today

Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies; for he is like one who is inwardly reckoning. “Eat and drink!” he says to you; but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsels which you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words. Proverbs 23:6 – 8

Lord…often it is hard to discern what type of person we are with. Thank You for Your wisdom that gives us insight and helps us.

Thank You that we can ask and you are there to show us the way.

Thank You Lord.

Amen

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Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist. When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes to itself wings. Proverbs 23:4, 5

Lord …..Solomon went on in this next verse to tell his son how quickly the wealth could vanish. Although I didn’t live during the depression I sure heard the stories of how much of the wealthy was lost during that time. Lives were changed forever. Many took their lives in despair.

We in my generation experienced it in a small measure when all our stock hit rock bottom.

Solomon reminds his son and us too that heaven is our home and that is where we need to store up our treasure. ‘Only one life will soon be passed and only what is done for Christ will last’ …. says it so well.

Thank you for the reminder Lord.

Thank You Lord.

Amen

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Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist. Proverbs 23:4

Lord….Solomon was trying to teach his son balance. Yes it was very important that he work to eat and have shelter. No it was not good to have wealth as his goal to the exclusion of living and enjoying his life. Sometimes Lord there is a fine line there. But I think we as well as Solomon know the difference. Who is first in our live …..You Lord ….or the god of money.

Thank You that when we allow You to be first in our lives and guide and direct us we are on the right pathway.

Thank You for leading us Lord and showing us the way to become more and more like You.

Thank You Lord.

Amen

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When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. Proverbs 23:1 – 3

Lord I think what Solomon is trying to teach his son is discipline and self-control. Yes, sitting with a ruler with all the best of foods could make one over indulge but that certainly would not be the right thing to do. It would not cause the ruler to want to have anything to do with him. Self-control at a time such as that was needed hard as it may be.

Thank You Lord for the insights You provide for all phases of our lives when we ask. You are there to show us the way.

Thank You Lord.

Amen

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Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29

Lord….Solomon believed in working…..working to survive….working to eat….working to be able to give to others….working to bring praise and glory to You. Over and over in this book he reminds his son the value of working.

I’m so glad You placed within me the love of working. It was your gift to me and I thank You. I still enjoy it and thank You for allowing me to work even though I am way past the age of retirement. Thank You!

Thank You Lord.

Amen

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Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set. Proverbs 22:28

Lord….Solomon lived in a time when things passed down had great value and meaning. He wanted his son to keep his heritage. Treasure it. Know what it meant to his ancestors.

Today it seems we live in a throw away society. Tradition for many has lost its luster. It doesn’t really make a difference to so many.

I love traditions and treasures. I love looking at the pictures and scriptures that hung in my home as a child and remembering how You were there all those years ago as I was learning to trust more and more in You Lord. Thank You for my heritage.

Thank You Lord.

Amen

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Be not one of those who give pledges, who become surety for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from you? Proverbs 22:26, 27

Lord …Solomon wanted to be sure his son was not so generous that he would sign for someone else’s debt and then have his own bed taken from him because of it.

Solomon had talked a lot to his son about giving to the poor so it appears here he is telling his son to be wise in what he does. He wanted him to take care of himself too.

Good advice for us today too Lord. We need to listen to You at all times and follow Your leading. Thank You for being with us each step of our lives. You are there and we thank You.

Thank You Lord.

Amen

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Be not one of those who give pledges, who become surety for debts. Proverbs 22:26

Lord it is amazing the extent con artists will go to when they befriend you only to take advantage of you. I think that is what Solomon is warning his son about. Don’t sign for their debt. Be wise. Don’t let them use You.

Thank You Lord for the discernment You provide when we pray. Even good causes can use money foolishly. Thank You that You are only a prayer away in helping us discern how You want us to give.

Thank You Lord.

Amen

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Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Proverbs 22:24, 25

Lord ….. Friendships….. It sounds as if Solomon is reminding his son that it is very important that he choose his friends wisely. He even gives him the reason to choose wisely….’lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.’

Thank You Lord for giving us the option of the friends we choose. When we choose friends that love and serve You we encourage each other. We learn the good things they have to teach us about You. Together we pray for one another and help each other through the difficulties in our lives. We remind one another that You are with us each step of our way. What a gift friends are Lord and I thank You.

Thank You Lord.

Amen

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Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their cause and despoil of life those who despoil them. Proverbs 22:22, 23

Lord ….reading this makes me wonder what it was like in Solomon’s day to be poor. Over and over he warns his son to help the poor and down trodden. Solomon also warns that if you don’t work You don’t eat. Therefore I have to assume he is talking about the poor that are unable to work and those that work but can’t make enough to survive. Certainly they are the ones that we need to help even today. It is so sad to see those that would love to work but are stopped because of health issues. Those are the ones that sat at the gate in Solomon’s time and begged..

Solomon had a desire to please You and he knew by reaching out to them it was pleasing to You. Oh to be like Solomon Lord and help those that need help. Thank You for guiding us to each person You want to use us to bless by helping.

Thank You Lord.

Amen

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