My Daily Pause

Category: Uncategorized

  • Proverbs 8:12-21 – Wisdom’s Promise

    Proverbs 8:12-21 – Wisdom’s Promise

     12 “I am wisdom, and I have good judgment.
    I also have knowledge and good sense.
    13 If you respect the Lord, you will also hate evil.
    I hate pride and bragging,
    evil ways and lies.
    14 I have good sense and advice,
    and I have understanding and power.
    15 I help kings to govern
    and rulers to make fair laws.
    16 Princes use me to lead,
    and so do all important people who judge fairly.
    17 I love those who love me,
    and those who seek me find me.
    18 Riches and honor are mine to give.
    So are wealth and lasting success.
    19 What I give is better than the finest gold,
    better than the purest silver.
    20 I do what is right
    and follow the path of justice.
    21 I give wealth to those who love me,
    filling their houses with treasures.      – Proverbs 8:12-21 NCV

     

    Proverbs 8 is wisdom personified – Shouting loud and demanding attention. She has to, those without her discourage others from looking. She invites us to seek her both in divine and secular areas. While this passage shows us the many physical rewards of wisdom, where do we start looking for the divine? This too, God has provided! See 1 Corinthians 1:24-25 for details.

  • Proverbs 6:6-11 – Get Busy

    Proverbs 6:6-11 – Get Busy

    6 Go watch the ants, you lazy person.
    Watch what they do and be wise.
    7 Ants have no commander,
    no leader or ruler,
    8 but they store up food in the summer
    and gather their supplies at harvest.
    9 How long will you lie there, you lazy person?
    When will you get up from sleeping?
    10 You sleep a little; you take a nap.
    You fold your hands and lie down to rest.
    11 So you will be as poor as if you had been robbed;
    you will have as little as if you had been held up.  – Proverbs 6:6-11 NCV

    The ant is the typical figure of industry and efficiency in the ancient literature (Think Aesop’s Ant and the Grasshopper). In any area of life there are things we know that need to be done. No need to wait on a boss or a leader or approval. We have been given the proverbial permission to get them done.

    Now GO. (Mark 16:15 KJV) DO. (Philippians 4:9 KJV)

  • Proverbs 5:1-6 – Charmed

    Proverbs 5:1-6 – Charmed

     1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
    listen to my words of understanding.
    2 Be careful to use good sense,
    and watch what you say.
    3 The words of another man’s wife may seem sweet as honey;
    they may be as smooth as olive oil.
    4 But in the end she will bring you sorrow,
    causing you pain like a two-edged sword.
    5 She is on the way to death;
    her steps are headed straight to the grave.
    6 She gives little thought to life.
    She doesn’t even know that her ways are wrong.     – Proverbs 5:1-6 NCV

    Proverbs 5 contrasts the rewards of straying and the rewards of working on ones marriage. The lure of sin – any sin, is so convincing, so reasonable, that we often find ways to justify following it.

    For those unable to resist, the results are clear. Reread verses 5 and 6 and compare to Romans 6:23 to find an alternative.

  • Proverbs 4:1-9 – Seek Wisdom

    Proverbs 4:1-9 – Seek Wisdom

     1 My children, listen to your father’s teaching;
    pay attention so you will understand.
    2 What I am telling you is good,
    so do not forget what I teach you.
    3 When I was a young boy in my father’s house
    and like an only child to my mother,
    4 my father taught me and said,
    “Hold on to my words with all your heart.
    Keep my commands and you will live.
    5 Get wisdom and understanding.
    Don’t forget or ignore my words.
    6 Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you.
    Love it, and it will keep you safe.
    7 Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom.
    If it costs everything you have, get understanding.
    8 Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great;
    hold on to it, and it will bring you honor.
    9 It will be like flowers in your hair
    and like a beautiful crown on your head.”     – Proverbs 4:1-9 NCV

    The modern versions of this passage seem to dance around the fact that verse 2 is talking about the Torah. The King James says 2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

    Solomon’s advice to seek wisdom, specifically God’s law, is passed down from his father and he considers it his family responsibility. What if more families remembered this and taught their children the thing that will take care of them, honor them and make them great?

    Those of us in the New Testament age have been given the wisdom we are to seek and pass on. Take a look at 1 Corinthians 1:30 for details!

  • Proverbs 2:9-11 – Rewards of Wisdom

    Proverbs 2:9-11 – Rewards of Wisdom

     9 Then you will understand what is honest and fair 
           and what is the good and right thing to do. 
     10 Wisdom will come into your mind, 
           and knowledge will be pleasing to you.
     11 Good sense will protect you; 
           understanding will guard you.

    Proverbs 2 lists five fruits of wisdom. This second paragraph is about the many precious rewards wisdom provides.

    Read about the first fruit, Finding God, here.

    Read about the third fruit, Delivered from Evil, here

    How do we reap the benefits of understanding God’s plan for us? We take the knowledge from our head and insert it into our heart by living it and allowing it to have dominion over us.

    How can we earn these benefits? Study! 2 Tim 2:15 KJV

  • Proverbs 1:10-19 – Refuse to Follow Evil

    Proverbs 1:10-19 – Refuse to Follow Evil

    10 My child, if sinners try to lead you into sin,
    do not follow them.
    11 They will say, “Come with us. …

    17 It is useless to spread out a net
    right where the birds can see it.
    18 But sinners will fall into their own traps;
    they will only catch themselves!
    19 All greedy people end up this way;
    greed kills selfish people. – Proverbs 1:10-11a, 17-19 NCV

    Contrast the birds’ ability to avoid an obvious trap with someone that enters willingly into sinful adventures – The easy score … The fast buck … “One upping” someone…

    History is littered with the failure of those who thought they could avoid falling into their own trap. For the ultimate example of avoiding temptation, read about Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11.