Under Gods command

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 24:17-18 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.    

Here is a hard test of character. Here is strong evidence if you are a child of God. Here is a real measure of godliness and wisdom. Here is a challenge for your faith, whether you want one or not. Think now. Are you happy when bad things happen to your enemies?

God commands you to love your personal enemies, and it is one of the chief measures of a true Christian. Such love includes being grieved when your enemy falls or stumbles in life.  To gloat over other’s misfortune is to make you the avenger and to put yourself in the place of God, who alone is the real judge of all the earth.  If you are glad or rejoice when he is hit by adversity, you have sinned.This proverb, the Lord God offers a simple rule for spiritual victory in your life. Read on.

The proverb is not complete by itself, for the next verse explains the consequences of rejoicing at his troubles, “Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him” (Pr 24:18). God may switch from your side to your enemy’s side, if He detects you gloating about pain or trouble in your enemy’s life.

If you are happy when bad things happen to your enemy, the Lord will see your selfish and vengeful glee; He will be angry at your wicked attitude; and He will lift His punishment of your enemy (Pr 24:18). You will have stooped lower than your enemy, all the way to murderous thoughts of the heart! A holy and righteous God cannot stand by.

Revenge is sin; vengeance is God’s (Rom 12:17-21). But the proverb is not that simple! The Preacher will not let you escape just because you have not actively sought to injure an enemy.

Do you rejoice – in your thoughts – when your enemy falls? Are you glad – in your secret heart – when your enemy stumbles? Do you feel a sense of vindication and pleasure at hearing of his or her misfortune? Ah, dear reader, the glorious light of God’s word shines deep – all the way to your inner feelings.

There is a right way to exact holy revenge or retribution on your enemy. Are you ready for the secret of inspired wisdom? Treat your enemy with love and kindness,

What if your Father had not loved you through Jesus Christ, even while you were His enemy (Rom 5:6-10)? What if He had restrained His love only to those that loved Him? You would be lost. Can you follow His example a little? A lot? Lord, help.

Jesus Christ showed kindness to His personal enemies and had human compassion on them regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and its children (Luke 19:41-44). He also displayed a merciful spirit by praying for His Father to forgive the soldiers gambling for his garments at the foot of the cross (Luke 23:34).

The noble deacon Stephen, with stones thudding off his body, and the Lord Jesus in His sight, prayed God to forgive the Jews for stoning him to death (Acts 7:55-60). Here was a deacon full of the Holy Ghost and living like it under the most severe test possible. These are your holy examples: think, pray, speak, and act like them today.

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 23:12

Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. 

The people most likely to gain knowledge are those who are willing to listen.  It is a sign of strength, not weakness, to pay attention to what others have to say.  People who are eager to listen continue to learn and grow throughout their lives.  If we refuse to become set in our ways, we can always expand the limits of our knowledge.

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 17:27 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. 

Improve your image and reputation instantly! Anyone can do it, even a fool! Cut your words in half, and others will consider you a wise and knowledgeable person. What a proverb! Here is profound advice to immediately enhance what others think about you.

Hasty speech, unstudied speech, or much speech marks a fool. Closing your mouth and reducing your words will cause others to assume you are a wise and understanding person, even if you are a fool. God and King Solomon, both truly wise, guarantee it.

Speech reveals character (Pr 15:2; 29:11; Eccl 5:3; 10:12-14). Careful, deliberate, profitable, and proper speech marks a wise man. Hasty, impulsive, vain words mark a foolish and wicked man. A fool seldom says anything profitable or suitable (Eccl 10:3); but reducing his words will make others think him careful and deliberate!

It is wisdom to see and hear well, but to say little. You learn by listening, not by talking. You should not talk until necessary or profitable. Other men will presume your silence to indicate your careful observation and deep consideration of the topic and a deep search for the right thoughts and words before speaking! Has wisdom ever been so cheap?

The tongue is dangerous and easily hurts others (Pr 10:19; 18:21; Jas 3:2-12), so wise men limit words to avoid sin (Pr 17:27; Job 13:5), and they study before speaking (Pr 15:28). It is better to be swift at hearing than at speaking (Jas 1:19-20). God gave you two ears but only one mouth. Cutting your words in half will then match your anatomy.

Ah, but the fire to speak burns in some men (Ps 39:1-3). They cannot quench this fire; they cannot reduce the heat; they cannot rule the impulse; they must talk, now! What a curse to have an unruly mouth and tell everyone within hearing distance that you are a fool. Close your mouth, and even though you truly are one, none but you will know it!

This proverb does not apply to all men, as some do not speak enough. Wise men learn the balance, not too much to be foolish, enough to be a tree of life (Pr 10:21; 12:18; 15:4,23). It is this careful application of absolute Bible statements that results in truth and wisdom. If we press this rule on quiet men that seldom speak, they would never say anything.

If this rule is true for men, it is truer for women, whose adorning feature is a meek and quiet spirit (I Pet 3:3-4). A talkative woman should cut her words in half to make sure she is not despised as the odious and clamorous woman (Pr 9:13; 11:16; 27:15; 30:23). With these two inspired reasons to speak less, such a woman will cut her words to a quarter.

President Abraham Lincoln, long after King Solomon wrote his proverbs, confirmed this rule of wisdom and public decorum by his well-known words from a different angle, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

If you do not have anything necessary, profitable, or good to say, why talk? Others do not need noise to be happy or content. Silence is golden. Making conversation to fill a void is disturbing the peace and foolish talking, for which you will be judged (Eph 5:3-5). You are the fulfillment of crackling thorns that Solomon so despised (Eccl 7:4-6).

What a proverb! What practical advice from God and Solomon! Most people do not appreciate the incredible value of the Bible, for they have not read it, or they have not had teachers that read it. Thank God for inspiring a book that covers everything from creation to the effect of speech on reputation to the final judgment and everything in between.

The Lord Jesus Christ warned that you will give an account for every idle word in the Day of Judgment (Matt 12:36). So provide wisely for your future at His judgment seat and protect your present reputation by holding your peace and shutting your lips. Here is a double blessing, at least. Please God and men by reducing your words.

Though men may think you wise for your reduced speech, the living Word of God is not deceived at all. All things are naked and opened before His eyes; He discerns the very thoughts and intents of your heart (Heb 4:12-14). So it is better to forsake your foolishness altogether and seek true wisdom in your heart. You cannot mislead Him.

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 16:3 –Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. 

There are different ways to fail to commit whatever we do to the LORD.

• Some people commit their work only superficially.  They say the project is being done for the LORD, but in reality they are doing it for themselves.
• Others give God temporary control of their interest, only to take control back the moment things stop going the way they expect.
•  Still others commit a task fully to the LORD, but put forth no effort themselves, and then they wonder why they do not succeed.

We must maintain a delicate balance: trusting God as if everything depended on him, while working as if everything depended on us.  Think of a specific effort in which you are involved right now.  Have you committed it to the LORD?

Under Gods Command

Proverbs 15:13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. 

Your face shows your heart. If you are happy inside, it will show outside. If you are sad inside, it will also show outside. Others know your heart by what they can see on your face. The lessons are to choose a merry heart for yourself and to help others get one also.

A cheerful face and energetic body are wonderful things. Glowing features, dancing and happy eyes, frequent and warm smiles, and upbeat movements beautify women and enhance men. These attractive traits are cheap and easy to obtain – choose to be happy.

But a sad face and dragging body are horrible things. Clouded features, dead eyes, cold frowns, and slow, slumping movements disfigure and spoil both women and men. Such outward display shows a hurt or broken heart, for the spirit of joy and energy is wounded.

A smile is the best facial! A joyful soul enhances your appearance more than anything else. A happy face is a wonderful thing, and it is the result of a peaceful and contented heart. But a troubled heart clouds your face, as it saps your features and body of energy and vitality. Wise men guard their hearts, and they learn to perceive the hearts of others.

Women spend much time, expense, and effort to be attractive. Yet a warm and sincere smile does more than any hairdo, makeup, or accessories. A girl or woman can go from a 5 to a 9 with a smile! Cheerful eyes, a relaxed face, a pleasant smile, and contented posture are more appealing than fine clothing and perfect features. And a kind and happy smile is ten times better than a bored look, angry face, furrowed brows, or haughty stare!

Your countenance is primarily your facial appearance, but it also includes your bearing and demeanor. It is your face and body language combined. When you are happy and joyful, your countenance reflects this inner condition. And when your soul is burdened under fear, loss, trouble, or worry, your face and body reveal it as well (I Sam 1:10,18).

When you are happy and excited, whether by circumstances or choice, you have extra energy, light, and life! And this refreshing carriage is often contagious to those around you. In the same way, when you are sad and discouraged, you have little energy, power, or resolve. And this depressed appearance drags those down that are with you.

What is the lesson? A wise man will rule his spirit to keep it from breaking (Pr 25:28). If he is cast down about anything, he will not let it destroy him (II Cor 4:9). He will remember the warning to weep without it seriously affecting him (I Cor 7:30). He will choose a merry heart for his approach to life, for the continual feast it brings (Pr 15:15).

Happiness is a choice. Contentment is a choice. Love is a choice. Hope is a choice. Thankfulness is a choice. Attitude is more important than any circumstances. Ruling your spirit shows greatness (Pr 16:32), and by doing so you can maintain a merry heart for a cheerful countenance. Though self-discipline is not taught any more, you must learn it.

What is the lesson? Wise men will consider and discern the souls of others by their outward countenance. True friends are born for adversity, and they will be ready to help in a time of grief or need (Pr 17:17). It is the duty of Christians to consider when another church member might be hurting (Rom 12:15; I Cor 12:26; I Thess 5:14; Heb 10:23-25).

Wise men learn to spot the tears of a clown. Though there might be an outward smile and physical energy, they consider others carefully enough to measure their spirit better than by a superficial glance. This takes time, emotional energy, experience, and concern – the marks of real love. Do you know anyone today with a broken heart you could heal?

There is only one real heart doctor in the universe. Do you know Him? The rest know so little, and they only deal with the lump of muscle beating in your chest. This other doctor has the power to easily fill you with love, joy, peace, hope, and all sorts of other wonderful traits to enlarge your heart and energize your countenance. Do you know Him?

How do you get a merry heart? It is a choice! The gracious God of heaven expects you to be joyful for what He has done for you (Acts 14:17; Ps 4:7; Phil 4:4). If you know Him, how can you not be content and excited (Ps 73:25-26; Jer 9:23-24; Heb 13:5-6)?

With your heart in the right place, Solomon’s priorities make perfect sense (Pr 15:16-17). With eternal life as a gift of God and heaven waiting, what can get you down! And with a cheerful countenance, you give visual proof of Christianity’s superiority. Smile