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  • 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟖:𝟐 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬.

    𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟖:𝟐 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬.
    2025/08/07
    Wisdom is not hidden or obscure. It is as visible as the noonday sun. Wisdom does not whisper in dark, secret places. It cries out for a hearing in the middle of human activity. It is not hard to find. Any man with a heart and mind for it can easily discover it. It is not the limited privilege of the elite. It is offered freely and widely to all persons (Pr 8:4).This proverb is part of Solomon’s introduction to personifying wisdom as a woman (Pr 8:1-3). In one of the most elegant pieces of literature in the world, Lady Wisdom is introduced before assuming the first person to describe her character and her benefits to men (Pr 8:4-36). He will continue his personification into the next chapter (Pr 9:1-12).After three chapters detailing the methods and danger of the strange woman and sexual seduction (Pr 5-7), Solomon presented another woman, Lady Wisdom. While whores desire darkness to cover their sins and lie in wait at corners (Pr 7:8-12), Lady Wisdom stands in the open, where human concourse takes all men. While the invitation of whores should be rejected (Pr 9:13-18), the offer of Lady Wisdom should be taken (Pr 9:1-5).God offers wisdom to all men on earth. It begins with fearing the LORD and knowing the holy God (Pr 1:7; 9:10). “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Ps 19:1-3).“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Rom 1:19-20). Yet men do not fear the Lord!Another fabulous piece of literature with real value is Job 28. In that chapter, Job uses a parable to describe the incredible efforts men make to mine precious metals from the earth. The deep, underground mines for gold, silver, and diamonds are extreme enterprises, but wisdom is not there, and wisdom does not cost nearly as much as the capital outlays required for those mines and refineries. Wisdom is by the fear of the Lord.Creation’s universal language calls for all men to repent and humble themselves before their Maker, which is the beginning of wisdom (Ps 19:1-6). But that is not the only medium by which wisdom calls. The written word of God also offers wisdom to the simple, which makes it more precious than gold and sweeter than honey (Ps 19:7-11).Reader, have you not heard parents and pastor calling you to wisdom as well? It is not far off in a difficult place. It is not whispering in the dark. It is out in the open and calling you loudly. What hinders you? Take it now. Accept her invitation. Pursue her friendship. Forsake the foolish. Separate yourself from life’s distractions (Pr 18:1). If you do not do so quickly, she will laugh you to scorn (Pr 1:20-33). Or do you love death (Pr 8:36)?https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-8/proverbs-8-2/
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    4 分
  • Proverbs 7:26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

    Proverbs 7:26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
    2025/08/06
    What did Samson and Solomon have in common? They could not resist whorish women. Are men stronger than women? Yes, ordinarily. No, when the woman is an adulteress. Here is the wise Preacher’s warning about the danger of the strange woman – a woman other than your wife, especially a woman with a whorish heart (Pr 7:1-27). Solomon, a wise father, soberly warned his son about the temptation and danger of a loose woman (Pr 7:1-5,24-27). After describing her seduction of a foolish young man in a lengthy parable (Pr 7:6-23), he summarized the grave danger of going near such a woman two ways – her power over men is great (Pr 7:26), and the results are fatal (Pr 7:26-27). Adam and Eve taught a sober lesson in Eden (Gen 2:18-25; 3:1-6). Though Adam was made first and Eve was his helper, he could not resist her request to eat the forbidden fruit (Gen 3:12). Satan’s lie to Eve did not deceive Adam, but he weakly submitted to his naked wife over God and His commandment (Gen 2:16-17; I Tim 2:14). And Satan has used women to seduce men ever since, whether married or not (Job 2:9; I Kgs 11:1-11). By wise design, God made the woman’s body, flattering speech, physical contact, and eagerness for intimacy to powerfully attract men. Used properly in marriage, it results in the great pleasures of the Song of Solomon. Used outside marriage, only a few men can resist the powerful temptation. As the proverb declares, “Many strong men have been slain by her.” The only sure way to avoid adultery is to stay far from her (Pr 7:6-8,25). Women have altered nations by seducing their leaders. Consider Cleopatra. This conniving adulteress stole Egypt’s throne and undermined Rome’s by seducing Julius Caesar, and then she destroyed the general Mark Antony by adultery as well. These men, renowned for courage, leadership, and strength, were soft putty in her lying embraces. But there was Joseph, who resisted the repeated advances of Potiphar’s wife, to eventually rule Egypt, second only to Pharaoh (Gen 39:7-12). Though never having the strength of Samson or killing a giant like David, Joseph is a greater hero. And the Lord Jesus Christ, tempted in all points as any man, was without sin His entire life (Heb 4:15). What will adultery cost? You will be wounded and slain! Delilah took Samson to an early grave of ignominy and shame. Bathsheba cost David enormously the rest of his life. And pagan women from other nations ruined Solomon’s life and dynasty. Adultery is not the exciting diversion the world claims; adultery is a painful hell and death (Pr 7:27). How can men defeat the adulteress? They cannot go near her, because they do not have the strength to resist. They must avoid her altogether. She has four wiles: looks, flattery, touch, and willingness. Reject pornography, coed swimming, and immodestly clothed women. Reject flirting, phoning, texting, or email liaisons. Reject dancing, embracing, or other physical contact with another woman. And never allow personal or intimate conversation or opportunity where her willingness for sin can be communicated. Good wives grasp the power they have and use it to please their husbands and win peace in their marriages and homes (Song 8:6-7; I Cor 7:1-5). And they rejoice in the wonderful pleasure themselves (Song 1:1-2; 2:3-7; 3:4-5; 5:9-16; 8:1-4). They will use their looks, romantic words, physical caresses, and initiate lovemaking to promote romance at home to save their husbands from whorish women (Pr 5:19-20; I Cor 7:1-5; Heb 13:4). There is another whore in the Bible. The great whore of Revelation 17, which is the false Church of Rome and the churches that came from her. She has also cast down many wounded, and many strong men have been destroyed by her false doctrine and abominable practices. The way to safety is the same – stay far away from her, and find a true church of Jesus Christ where you can meet, worship, and serve in apostolic purity.
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    6 分
  • 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟔:𝟏 𝐌𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫,

    𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟔:𝟏 𝐌𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫,
    2025/08/05
    Friends pose a financial danger, if you are proud, sentimental, or impulsive. Strong and prudent men retain riches (Pr 11:16), but weak men lose money by unnecessary and foolish risks. Proverbs has precious financial advice from God to save you from poverty that may come by exposing your assets or income to risk. Thank you, Father in heaven.As a loving earthly father teaching his son, Solomon warned him against being a surety for friends, which he condemned often (Pr 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26-27; 27:13). There is a very real danger for men to over-commit resources for the benefit of friends.What is suretiship? What is wrong with it? What wisdom can you learn for life? In an age of reckless personal, corporate, and national financial promises, this proverb’s wisdom is crucial. A wise man will not overextend himself or risk his assets by potential liabilities.You are a surety when you guarantee the financial payments or personal performance of someone else. In this case, you promise a third party – a stranger – that your friend will make his payments or do what is expected, and you promise to pay the debt yourself or be held personally liable, if your friend cannot or does not do what is required of him.Such financial deals, before computerized credit analysis and mass personal bankruptcies, when a man’s word was sufficient, were formalized by shaking hands (Pr 17:18; 22:26). Striking hands, or joining them, was a form of entering into contracts in various countries and times (Job 17:3; Ps 144:8,11). Some commitments or deals are made to this day by shaking hands. Without a written contract, personal integrity binds the parties.Today suretiship often occurs by cosigning loans. You go with your friend to his banker, the stranger, and you sign your name and credit as the backup source of payment, if your friend cannot or will not pay the contractual terms of the loan. What a nice gesture of friendship, right? What else are friends for, right? You are the beloved hero of the hour!God warned against guaranteeing others’ debts without careful review of their character (Pr 11:15; 20:16), the extent of the obligation (Pr 22:3; 14:15), and your ability to pay it off (Pr 22:27). He indirectly condemned off-balance-sheet accounting and excessive contingent liabilities, for He knew the crucial but oft-neglected rule of risk management.Sober suretiship may not only be allowable, but prudent, charitable, and necessary (Philemon 1:18-19; Gen 43:8-10; Isaiah 1:17). If a godly friend or poor person is in need for an amount you can afford, then there is no sin in the act of charity and friendship to help them. The folly of suretiship is hasty promises and excessive commitments.Haste and pride cause foolish promises. Haste utters words and shakes hands before knowing the extent of an obligation (Pr 14:15; 19:2; 22:3; 29:20). Pride wants to be seen as a man of means, which is briefly obtained by publicly guaranteeing debts or personal performance, even though the person may have few assets for paying off the obligation.Sentiment and impulse cause foolish promises. Sentimental emotion causes friendship to weigh more heavily than sober consideration of the risk of potential liabilities, so a foolish man cosigns for his underemployed friend’s new car. Impulse hears of his friend’s need and knows he can resolve the matter easily, so he cosigns without evaluating it.Consider the context here. If there was ever a son that could pay off any surety obligations, it would be the heir and prince of the richest king on earth. Yet it is this son that King Solomon warned. Financial success requires more than avoiding catastrophic loss – it also involves the financial discipline and rules to avoid foolish or risky decisions.
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    7 分
  • 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟓:𝟏𝟐 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟;

    𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟓:𝟏𝟐 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟;
    2025/08/04
    It will soon be too late! Why continue to rebelliously disregard instruction and reproof? The day is fast approaching when you will hate your rebellion. You will regret the many times you rejected the teaching of parents, pastors, and other counselors. You will moan the words of this proverb in agony, as you find your sin very painful (Ps 36:1-4).Here is Solomon’s lengthy warning against the strange woman – the whore of casual sex and adultery (Pr 5:3-6). A long sentence covers Proverbs 5:8-13, in which he appealed to his children to avoid her at all costs. He warned them that choosing her now will bring a day in the future when they will deeply grieve for neglecting and rejecting his advice.When a sinner is cut down and faces destruction and death, he mourns the foolish choices he made in his life (Pr 5:11; 7:23; Deut 32:29; Jer 5:31). There are no unbelievers in hell. Few on their deathbeds! The sinner’s complaint will include remorse for ignoring and despising the faithful and kind warnings of those who tried to save him (Pr 5:12-13).Young man, your lust for a beautiful woman is a powerful drug (Pr 6:25; 7:26), but its addicting powers and damning results exceed any chemical narcotic (Pr 5:22; 7:27). She will destroy your soul (Pr 6:32). Stay away from her at all costs. Avoid the places where she goes. Avoid anything that makes you think of her. Fill your life with good and wholesome substitutes. Beg God for a wife and overwhelming passion for that wife.You have been warned. If you slight this warning or continue in a course of sexual lust and sin, you will soon regret your great folly. If you disregard the kind instruction and reproof that could save your life, it will add to your misery when your sin finds you out. Deliver yourself today. Heed the advice. Commit your soul. Run far away from her.How painfully did Samson recall his parents’ warning (Judges 14:1-3)? As he blindly stumbled in a perpetual circle grinding for the Philistines, how many times did he hear, “Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?” But the fool had let lust destroy learning, and now it was too late. The best he could hope for was suicide.A rich man woke up in hell. He had daydreamed while the Scriptures were read in the synagogue. He had silenced the cries of his conscience. He had despised the reproofs of parents, scribes, and teachers. Now Abraham spoke, “Son, remember!” It was too late. Oh, the blessed opportunity of instruction and reproof! It was now gone. Hell was so hot. And so long! Why had he not listened? Why? His teachers had warned about this place.Reader, how is it with you? Have you hated instruction? Despised reproof? Have you thought you know better? Have you dozed during preaching? Despised the preacher? Drowned out his sober warnings and instruction with noise and activity? You sin against kindness from God and men, and you will soon regret your miserable choice. Humble yourself today. Repent of your forwardness. Confess your sin. Choose to obey instead.The blessed God will not put up with your rebellion forever. He will destroy you suddenly, and there will be no remedy for it (Pr 29:1). You are like a brute beast going to the slaughter (Pr 7:22-23; 10:17; 12:1). God will not convict you forever. Those kind pangs of conscience will go away, and you will be left hardened to rot in your sin.Jesus Christ walks among His churches (Rev 1:9 – 2:1). He calls the sensible to recall how they have fallen, to repent, and to do the first works (Rev 2:5). If they refuse, He will come quickly and remove a church’s candlestick, or He will kill sinning church members (Rev 2:1-5,20-23), like He did Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). Remember what happened to Corinthian believers (I Cor 11:28-32). Repent! Love instruction and reproof!
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    5 分
  • 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟒:𝟐𝟑 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞; 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

    𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟒:𝟐𝟑 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞; 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.
    2025/08/03
    Your heart determines your life. This is one of the most important proverbs. Blessing or grief in your life depends on ruling and training your heart. If you direct and instruct your heart with godly inputs, there is no limit to your potential success before God and men.Every sin starts in your heart, and your character and speech reflect your heart. You can only pretend to be different than your heart for a short time, for it will quickly regain control and dictate your actions. Others know your heart by your words and choices.David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). What a description! This should be your life goal. How? David guarded his heart by careful self-examination, confession, prayer, friends, singing, etc. (Ps 4:4; 9:1; 15:2; 17:3; 19:8,12,14; 24:4; 26:2; 27:3,8,14; 28:7; 32:11; 34;18; 37:31; 51:10,17; 57:7; 61:2; 62:8,10; 66:18; 77:6; 84:2; 86:11-12; 101:2-5; 108:1; 111:1; 112:7-8; 119:11,32,36,63,111; 139:23-24; 131:1; 141:4-5).Your heart is your greatest asset, for it can do more for you than anything else. It is much more than the muscle beating 70 times a minute in your chest. You need to consider and prize the inner, decision-making part of you that loves certain things and chooses to do them over other things. Learn to set your affections on good things (Col 3:2; Matt 6:21).You can keep your heart good, or you can let it become bad. You can be diligent in this project, or you can be lazy. God’s children have an old man that tempts them to evil, but their new man calls them to godliness. Your heart must decide between the two often. Every person makes a series of choices each day. What are you going to do today?Whatever is in your heart comes out in your life. If your heart is full of good things, your life will show that goodness; if your heart is full of sinful thoughts, your life will show them. The large tests and decisions you will face many times in life are dependent on your heart, and so are the small choices that you make hundreds of times a day.Is your heart pure? Are you working to keep it pure today? Do you know that laziness in this matter will bring severe trouble and pain to your life? You must eliminate negative inputs to your heart e.g. Hollywood entertainment, foolish or sinful friends, and worldly music. You should feed your heart with the Bible, prayer, godly music, and holy friends.Jesus Christ condemned the Pharisees for emphasizing man’s outward appearance; He emphasized man’s heart instead. He said the following in two different places:O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.Matthew 12:34-35But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.Matthew 15:18-19Sin begins in the heart. Lust for a sin attracts your heart, so you think about it. If you think about it enough, you will do it. The result of this choice is death. Protect yourself by keeping your heart diligently from sinful thoughts (James 1:13-16). God sent the Flood to drown the earth for their wicked imagination (Gen 6:5), so hate any evil fantasies.Think about an evil heart and how it affects the various issues of life. Sexual fantasizing will lead to filthiness, fornication, adultery, or defrauding your spouse – all because you allowed sinful thoughts in your heart. The same is true of bitterness toward others, coveting things you do not have, pride, excess ambition, envy, and other sins like them.
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    8 分
  • 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟑:𝟒 𝐒𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧.

    𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟑:𝟒 𝐒𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧.
    2025/08/02
    What a glorious description! What a noble ambition! Can a man or woman achieve this level of success in life? Yes! Dear reader, do you see the blessing here? It is an incredible privilege to be taught how to obtain this kind of favor and honor. This is the highest measure and standard for a person’s life. You can learn right now how to achieve it.You first want to find favor in the sight of God and man. And if you are also known for good understanding, it is that much better. The proverb describes being blessed and preferred by God and men and having the reputation for wisdom and discretion. These are great goals, and the book of Proverbs teaches you how to obtain them (Pr 3:1-3).Some few think that having a good reputation or loving favor from others is not very important, as long as God approves of them. But God inspired Solomon to write otherwise. A good reputation and loving favor from others is more important and valuable than wealth. Men make great effort and spend much time to acquire financial assets, but being approved, esteemed, and promoted by others is a better choice (Pr 22:1).Samuel and Jesus both grew in favor with God and men (I Sam 2:26; Luke 2:52). They both thought it was an important goal, and they adjusted their lives accordingly. You want to follow these two holy examples. If you keep the two great commandments carefully – love of God and love of neighbor – you will achieve both goals. This means you will keep the golden rule perfectly, adjusted for what others truly desire (Matt 7:12).It starts in the heart. Choose God as the most important object for your affection and attention (I Pet 3:15; Is 8:13). Then choose to purely and sincerely make others more important than yourself (Phil 2:3-4; Jas 3:17). With these pure motives, your speech will be gracious, and even important persons like kings will want you as a friend (Pr 22:11).For you to be gracious, you must learn the wise use of self-consciousness. You need to become sensitive to all those around you in a new and deeper way so as to adjust your speech and conduct to meet their expectations and please them. This is not compromise, if the worship of God is not involved; it is discretion and an excellent spirit like Daniel. It has been said for career advancement that this self-consciousness is greater than genius.Are these your goals today? Will you behave so that both God and men are pleased with your words and actions? Most cannot or will not adjust their conduct to help and please others, for they love their habits. The opportunity and privilege of earning these two great marks of character and wisdom should grip you. They are wonderful goals for your life.Joseph behaved so well that Potiphar, his Egyptian slave owner, put all his assets totally under his care (Gen 39:1-6). When thrown unjustly in jail, he earned the same approval of the jailor (Gen 39:21). And when Pharaoh needed a wise and prudent man to oversee the preservation of the whole nation, he could think only of Joseph (Gen 41:38-45).David behaved so well all Israel loved him and his name was much set by (I Sam 18). King Darius planned to promote Daniel over the whole empire for his excellent spirit (Dan 6:3); even his enemies could find no fault or error in him (Dan 6:4). Mordecai was great among the Jews, advanced by Ahasuerus, and accepted by his brethren (Es 10:3).The Christian life is not petty rules and haughty liberty. It is much more – righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. And the man who does these things is accepted by God and approved of men (Rom 14:16-19), as was the early church (Acts 2:44-47). To be accepted by God and approved by men are the excellent ambitions of a successful life.
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    6 分
  • 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟐:𝟏𝟕 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐝.

    𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟐:𝟏𝟕 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐝.
    2025/08/01
    Girls have up to three protectors, if they obey them. They have God, fathers, and husbands. If they obey them in their proper order, they can and will be saved from painful trouble. Even if a girl has a bad father, obeying God will bring her a good husband.The strange woman, a flattering whore or adulteress, is the subject of this proverb from the previous verse (Pr 2:16). Proverbs warns often in its early chapters against this dangerous seductress. Here Solomon condemned the character of such a woman by two great offences. Every young man and woman should hate this creature with holy hatred.Casual sex and adultery are now acceptable in the world more than ever before, but godly women will abhor both sins. Every father must guard and eliminate influences that lessen a daughter’s horror at the thought of such heinous sins. Two keys areas of life are friends and entertainment, such as books, magazines, television, music, movies, the Internet, and social media. Evil communications most surely do corrupt good manners (I Cor 15:33).The “guide of her youth” is her husband. She forsakes him horribly, when she is intimate with another man. Such a betrayal is heinous, for he has been her companion from youth. They shared the wonderful pleasures of a youthful marriage. A father’s sexual rules may be forsaken, but the father is not truly forsaken by the adultery of a married daughter.Scripture describes the wife of a man’s youth (Pr 5:18; Is 54:6; Joel 1:8; Mal 2:14-15). If marriage occurs not too long after sexual maturity, it allows youthful husbands and wives. The proverb assumed the Jewish practice of marrying early. Today’s delayed ages for marriage are due to foolish thinking and poor child training, resulting in years of sexual frustration and temptation. Most youth today are not mature enough for marriage.Life can be divided into several stages. Infancy covers from birth to age five; childhood covers the time from age five to puberty; and youth covers the time from puberty to majority, where majority is closer to 30, not 18 as many presume today (Num 4:3; I Chr 23:3; Luke 3:23). Marriage for Jews generally occurred during this stage called youth (Lev 27:1-7; Deut 1:39; I Sam 12:2; Eccl 11:10; Jonah 4:11; I Cor 7:9,36; I Tim 4:12).A father guides a girl in childhood by teaching her the fear of the Lord and the rules of godly virtue as taught in the Bible (Pr 4:1; 17:6; 22:15; Ps 34:11; Eph 6:4). It is his duty to preserve her virginity for marriage (Deut 22:13-21; I Cor 7:36-38). The burden should not be the girl’s, but the father’s, for he should protect her from the male lusts and methods he knows firsthand. It is to him any prospective suitor should make his query.Fathers have a great role in training daughters, for he is the main leader and teacher of the family (Gen 18:19; Josh 24:15; Eph 6:4). A mother cannot do as well, though she does have her own perspective and experience about love, marriage, and sex. Let fathers also teach daughters about virtuous conduct and soberly warn about evil men, for fathers have instinctive wisdom regarding such things and care much for their daughters’ futures.Fathers should control courting or dating activities to keep daughters from situations where they could be coerced or tempted to compromise. Jacob failed his daughter (Gen 34:1-5). But if marriage occurred early, as with the Jews, fatherly training and protection would end in the time of youth, when the husband would become the new guide.Every girl who fears God should receive her father’s instruction with a ready heart. And every married woman should remember the guide of her youth and the covenant she made before God. Due to her place in creation and God’s role for her, she will be judged severely for sexual infidelity. But for every repentant Mary, there is a forgiving Saviour!
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    9 分
  • 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟏:𝟐𝟔 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲; 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡;

    𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟏:𝟐𝟔 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲; 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡;
    2025/07/31
    Wisdom laughs. Ha-ha! Wisdom mocks. You are not so tough now, fool! Wisdom laughs and ridicules men suffering calamities and terrorized with fear. There is no cruelty here, just the sound of divine justice making fun of fools and scorners who rejected instruction.He who laughs last, laughs best. Lady Wisdom and the LORD Jehovah laugh last, and best. But this is no laughing matter for you, for these are some of the most sober words in the Bible. Men refusing to listen to instruction will be destroyed without mercy (Pr 1:20-32). In fact, Lady Wisdom declares that those who reject her must love death (Pr 8:36).Fools and scorners laugh at those who try to teach, correct, and warn them. They hate them for trying to spoil their fun (Pr 9:7-8). When a horrible calamity lands on their heads and painful fear floods their hearts, it is only fitting that Lady Wisdom, who offered to save them, should be filled with laughter and ridicule as they are destroyed.This view of wisdom, and the God of wisdom, is not popular in this effeminate and compromising age (II Tim 3:4-5; Heb 12:28-29). Laughter and ridicule at the horrible pain and morbid fear of fools and scorners are right. Do you know this God, reader? Or have you been taught fables about a make-believe sugar daddy in the sky as your God?Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD?” and rejected Moses (Ex 5:2). After ten horrible plagues, including frogs, lice, and flies, and funerals for all the firstborn of Egypt, he was told Israel had left with much of the nation’s wealth. Driving furiously along the dry seabed of the Red Sea, the chariot wheels came off the best chariot Egypt could produce, and Pharaoh had a few moments to think about his disabled chariot in the midst of sea water looking more and more unstable! Surely heaven rang with God’s laughter joining in with Israel’s mocking song and dance over waterlogged Egyptian bodies (Ex 15:1-21)!Space and time do not permit to tell the details of the flood, when those who laughed and mocked at Noah slipped under the waves with gopher wood under their fingernails and their mouths and nasal passages full of water. It was a calamity! It was fearful! But do not think God and Wisdom were wringing their hands in regret. These drowned wretches were intolerable, wicked haters of God and had been disobedient to Noah’s plain preaching for many years (Heb 11:7; I Pet 3:18-20). Now do you know this God, reader?God laughs at the judgment of the wicked (Ps 37:13). He holds the heathen in derision (Ps 59:8), and He laughed derisively when destroying His Son’s enemies (Ps 2:4). It was so bad in that horrific calamity that men’s hearts failed them due to the fear (Luke 21:26).He sent Elijah to mock the prophets of Baal (I Kgs 18:26-27) and Isaiah to ridicule the idiots who made statues of gods (Is 44:9-20). From the lead of their Heavenly Father, the righteous laugh and rejoice at the desolation of the wicked (Ps 52:5-7; 58:5). You can find the holy martyrs in heaven rejoicing at God’s vengeance (Re 6:9-11; 18:20; 19:1-4).When Lady Wisdom, personifying God’s wisdom, offers you instruction and wisdom, you better take it. Irremediable judgment is coming, if you do not (Pr 29:1). You may think you are getting away with your carelessness, but God is about to tear you in pieces (Ps 50:21-22). Humble yourself before His Word and tremble lest you miss a single one!What should you do? Jesus said it perfectly in several different ways, “Take heed therefore how ye hear” (Luke 8:18). And, “Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matt 21:44). And “Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him” (Luke 12:4-5).
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    6 分