Don't Cast Off Restraint, Have Faith In Christ, Proverb 29:18

Through the years, many have misunderstood today's verse. They have come to believe that since the people perish due to a lack of vision what they need to survive is to have a pastor who casts visions or a prophet who shares visions. Thus we end up with many of the false teachers on television who take advantage of young Christians by playing upon their ignorance of the Scriptures. This particular proverb is taken out of context so often, because they fail to understand how this Proverb is constructed.

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But happy is he who keeps the law. Proverb 29:18

Corrupt Lawbreaking Sinners, Proverb 28

We have a name for third world countries, where the leaders steal from, maim, and kill it's citizens indiscriminately, or even worse the people in those nations allow others to do so. We call them Tin-Horn Dictatorships, where the leaders are no better than terrorists, tyrants, and warlords. Throughout the 1900's we have seen plenty, from Hitler, Stalin and Lenin, and now we see them in North Korea, Argentina, and in the Middle east.

They rule over their empires, nations, or blocs with the iron fist, suppressing freedoms and dissent from the status quo. They are lawbreakers of the highest order. We even see them in America, like the Mafia, gang leaders, drug Lords. It also happens in households where a parent, husband or a wife, will rule the home like a despot over a nation. Then, lest I forget, it even happens where politicians will use their power and influence to commit crimes and then their political friends will let them off easy, while the common man and woman will face financial ruin or even life in jail for lesser crimes.

Never Feed The Fires of Gossip, Proverb 26:20

Nothing destroys relationships more than gossip. Often times those who spread gossip never consider full ramifications of what they are saying, even if the trouble they start, as it often times does, comes back to bite them. I found this quote about gossip, it says it so well;

I am more deadly than the screaming shell of a howitzer. I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity pure enough to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. I never forget and seldom forgive. My name is Gossip.

Today I'm sharing Matthew Henry's commentary on Proverb 26:20

Living Financially Smart, Proverb 23:4-5

Here is some good advice I found years ago and saved in a file. Not sure where I gathered it from, but it's good advice on finances on how to survive during good, bad, and especially uncertain times by preparing for the future. It is never too late to change one's ways, since you know not when God will bring you home. So if you are nearing retirement with the understanding that none of your ancestors lived past 85, beware, you could be the one who lives to be 110. that would be 25 years longer than you believe you will live. However, God could also call you home today.

The idea is to always be willing to accept good advice, and never believe it is too late to prepare for the future. One never knows what tomorrow may bring. I am nearing 61, and unemployed. 5 years ago I believed my job was secure and I would retire when I hit 65, or maybe later if I desired to continue working. The company I had worked the last 25 years for was forced to close down from the financial burdens of Obamacre.

A Sordid Affair & The Levirate Law Of Proverbs 20:16

There are many sordid story's with many shocking facts shared in the Scriptures about God's people. One such story is the twisted account of Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar? (Genesis 38:7-26) The story of Judah and Tamar is certainly not the most pleasant story in the Bible. In fact, most commentaries on the book of Genesis don’t spend much time on this chapter. After all, the story of Joseph (Genesis chapters 37-38), has a lot more preaching material and great spiritual lessons!

Customs at the time of the Patriarchs were obviously much different than today. In some ways they may seem archaic, yet when it came to caring for women, the custom of the ancients was that that women were to be cared for, not used and discarded at the will of men. Tamar was one such woman. Through no fault of her own, Tamar was left to fend for herself because her father-in-law refused to follow the custom. In the end of this saga, Tamar would end up becoming one of just four women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ. (Matthew 1:2)

The Power Of Your Tongue, Proverb 18:21

There are 23,145 verses in the Old Testament and 7,957 verses in the New Testament. That is a total of 31,102 verses from Genesis 1:1 to Revelations 22:21

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelations 22:21

In all those verses, there are many ways to interpret what each and everyone means. Without getting into the different ways people study or interpret things, I will just say that it takes the Holy Spirit to lead you to the truth.

That being said, there are many false teachers who haven't a clue as to what they are talking about. They take a Scripture out of context and believe what their lying heart tells them, because they truly do not have Christ in their heart. Take today's Proverb for example, there is a verse in this Proverb that has been used by television evangelists to rake in billions of dollars every year.

Proverb 15

In Proverb 15, Solomon tells us how the peace may be kept, that we may know how in our places to keep it; it is by soft words. If wrath be risen like a threatening cloud, pregnant with storms and thunder, a soft answer will disperse it and turn it away. When men are provoked, speak gently to them, and give them good words, and they will be pacified, as the Ephraimites were by Gideon's mildness (Judges 8:1-3); whereas, upon a like occasion, by Jephthah's roughness, they were exasperated, and the consequences were bad, (Judges 12:1-3). Reason will be better spoken, and a righteous cause better pleaded, with meekness then with passion; hard arguments do best with soft words.

Control Your Anger Christian, Proverb 14:29

Today's commentary is about anger and how, so often, it gets the better of us all. As Christians, we are to be in control of our faculties at all times. Yet we are all guilty of losing control at times. We are told to be patient and understanding, because a quick-tempered personality is a sign of foolishness.

A patient man has great understanding,
but a quick-tempered man displays folly. Proverbs 14:29

We all have the power to chose how we will react in any given situation. When we are expecting something and it didn’t happen, we must accept it and always think positive. Be flexible, and as much as possible remain calm and don't get angry. An explosion of anger at any situation never solves the problem, it just exacerbates it.

Paul tells us that it is OK to be angry, but not to sin.

Is God Your Financial Adviser? Proverb 11

When the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, He said to him;

"Ask! What shall I give you?" 1 Kings 3:5

Solomon could have asked for anything his heart desired; wealth, women, slaves, victory in battle over all of God's enemies, or even a very long healthy life. Yet, he asked for none of those things. Instead, Solomon humbled himself and said to the LORD;

".....give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 1 Kings 3:9

This response pleased the LORD so much that God not only made Solomon the wisest person who ever lived, other than Jesus, but He also made him the richest man ever, and gave him victory over all God's people so there would be peace throughout his lifetime. It is this wisdom that allowed Solomon to give us the great Proverbs we use to this day to properly run our lives in accordance with God's precepts. One of them being, our finances.

Forsake Foolishness & Live Wisely, Proverb 9

Gaining wisdom does not make you arrogant, it makes you humble. That's because when you know the truth you realize how stupid you have been, and then you will desire to help others who are as foolish as you once were. Thus the reason I enjoy sharing a Proverb a Day, while sharing what nuggets of gold I found in this wonderful book. When one understands that Christ is the Wisdom of God, how could you not desire to have that which encompasses the very brain of our Creator?

Infidelity Danger Zones, Proverb 5

Proverb 5 specifically speaks to a man and his ways of wondering, but it should be taken as a warning against both men and women. With families struggling financially to make ends meet, both husband and wife spend significant time away from each other at work. The close proximity with other individuals who are also struggling emotionally and looking for satisfaction from someone other than their spouse can be unbearable at times. Temptation to wonder. is around every corner.

Discipline From God, Proverb 3:11-12

There is no better commentary on Scripture than the Scripture itself.
So I offer Hebrews 12:3-11 as a commentary on Proverb 3:11-12

Why Must I Be So Tested Lord?

Isaiah 48:10
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

Today I was looking back at my journal entries, as I often do, to see how my growth in Christ has progressed through the years. As I read the entry from July 3, 2007 I read about the way I was struggling emotionally and feeling pretty useless. I wrote about the pressure of the world that was upon my shoulders, and about a lower neck vertebrae that was making my arms and fingers numb.

Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, I found myself under a spiritual battle from Satan's minions. Like a grape in a wine press, I was being squeezed a little more. I wrote that I prayed, and even fasted a few days to see if God would give me relief, but the pressure just kept getting worse.

I continued reading my entries from day to day, of how I struggled for almost a week as I dealt with the battle I was in. Then I read an entry on July 8th where I finally received a message from God. It was about 6:30 in the morning, when I had just finished my daily morning quiet time in the Bible. I again prayed for relief from my many troubles when my entry abruptly stopped and I wrote the Psalm below.

It was after I wrote the Psalm, that I then wrote how God reminded me of His response to Paul, when he asked for relief from the thorn in his side.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Why Must I Be So Tested. A Psalm

Isaiah 48:10
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

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