God Speaks
Wisdom from God Is More Valuable Than Great Riches
Verse of the Day: Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. (Proverbs 16:8 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 159
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Proverbs 16-18:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Proverbs 16
1. The LORD God’s actions and perspectives are mentioned in about a third of these 33 verses. After all, He is the source of all true wisdom.
2. People need to take all of their thoughts and plans to the LORD. Those who do not will suffer consequences.
Proverbs 17
1. God is all wise and graciously guides unto the right paths those who turn to Him.
2. People can change from foolishness to wisdom by turning to God.
Proverbs 18:
1. The LORD God is a tower of refuge for those who call on His name as their source of righteousness.
2. People’s mouths often get them into trouble, for example, by speaking before getting all the facts.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Proverbs 16-18?
Dear Father God, I bring my plans to You. You are the One who can make them succeed. Better yet–please show me Your plans and help me to carry out my part in them. You always know and do what is best. Please show me where there is evil or when I am being proud so that I can avoid these situations and Your necessary punishment. Thank You that, through Jesus’ great love and faithfulness, my sins have been atoned for; through the proper fear of You, LORD, I will avoid evil. May the way I live please You so that even my enemies will be at peace with me. Even though I make my plans, may You direct my steps. I trust You, LORD, to help me deal rightly with the “kings” in my life. May I pursue wisdom more than riches. Please help me to follow the high road of righteousness, depart from evil, and preserve my life. Keep my spirit humble by paying attention to Your word; that’s how I will find good and be blessed. I want my heart, the center of who I am, to make the words I say to be sweet and persuasive, imparting knowledge and understanding to others for their benefit. May my hunger cause me to work hard and effectively. May I not pay attention to wicked and violent deceivers. Please help me to be slow to anger as You are and control my spirit. I declare that You are sovereign over every decision. May my whole life bring You glory, LORD. Gracious Father God, please help me to live at peace with members of my household. Test and purify my heart, LORD. Let me delight in the children in my life and may they enjoy my company as well. Additionally, help me to lead them in developing a proper respect for authority, especially Yours. I desire to be wise, an even-tempered person of few but meaningful words. I want to be a loyal friend and a helpful sibling. Don’t let me start or join in mocking other people, especially the poor or those who have some affliction. Give me the courage to stand up for or truly help them instead. Help me to demonstrate Your perfect love by forgiving (on the basis of the cross) those who have wronged me. Instead of starting or perpetuating a quarrel, please help me, Father, to be a calming, quieting influence. As You put me in the presence of a person with a broken spirit, show me how to cheer their heart like a powerful but good-tasting medicine. Keep the eyes of my heart focused on Your wisdom, love, and grace. In everything I say and do may I honor You, LORD God. Please enable me not to seek to fulfill my own desires but Yours and the good of those around me. May I effectively listen to all sides of an issue, but especially Your perspective, before I express my opinion. Help me to show respect and understanding of others’ viewpoints, even if I strongly disagree with them. Please put a guard on my mouth so that I don’t just blurt out whatever I am thinking. Help me to use my words to bring life (particularly eternal life) and not death or some form of harm. Give me a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for wisdom (that comes from You). Please help me to reconcile with family members and to be a faithful and loyal friend. I call on Your name, O LORD. You promise to be a strong place of refuge, to make me righteous, and to keep me safe for eternity. For Your glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Proverbs 16? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will sit down several times a week and discuss my plans with the LORD and ask for help in carrying out His plans.
- I will thank the LORD for how I see His plans being carried out.
- I will gently but firmly refuse to cosign another person’s debt; better to just give the person the money needed if I am able to do so.
- I will not listen to gossip or pass on what I know to be a lie.
- I will ask the LORD to lead me to a friend that sticks closer than a brother and to help me to be one as well.
- I will seek out and consider two or three viewpoints on an issue before making a decision (voting for example).
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.