Posts Tagged ‘human-rights’

Spiritual Training 23 May 2013

Posted: May 23, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 12:14-16 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Many people use their contacts and relationships for selfish ambition. They select those people who will help them climb the social ladder. Christ demonstrated and taught that we should treat all people with respect-those of a different race, the handicapped, the poor, young and old, male and female. We must never consider others as being beneath us. Paul says we need to live in harmony with others and not be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people.

Lets Bring it home: Are you able to do humble tasks with others? Do you welcome conversation with unattractive, non-prestigious people? Or do you relate only to those who will help you get ahead?

Wisdom for the Soul: Proverbs 22:09

Posted: May 22, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 22, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 22:09 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

Generosity guarantees blessings. Here is priceless wisdom. Do you look for opportunities to give? Do you give liberally? Do you get excited about giving? God loves generous givers. If you pity the poor, you lend to Almighty God, and He repays well (Pr 19:17)!

This financial secret is unknown to the world. No business school in the world teaches it. You will get ahead farther and faster by giving money away to God-approved needs than saving and investing. Guaranteed! King Solomon proved it (Pr 11:24-26; 28:8,27).

God will bless the man who gives eagerly and generously. God looks out for the poor, because He withheld from them abilities and opportunities He gave others. It is not enough to think kindly about them; you must actually give (II Cor 8:11; Jas 2:16). He is pleased to see a successful man giving cheerfully and liberally to help those in trouble.

Who could you give to today? Who has a legitimate need due to an act of God in his or her life that you could help? Get excited about the opportunity to make a poor person happy, make God happy, and give a boost to your assets and income. It is called win-win-win. When you do things God’s way, there are many more winners than even those listed.

Solomon wrote about caring for the poor elsewhere (Pr 14:21,31; 19:17; 21:13; 28:8,27). Charitable thinking and giving is a key part of godly wisdom that makes a few people more noble and virtuous than the rest. Compassion and love are traits of Christianity, so the true children of God and followers of Jesus Christ give mercifully and bountifully.

Solomon also wrote about financial returns to generous men, “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself” (Pr 11:25). Contrary to math and man’s thinking, giving money away is a simple way to get ahead. Give, and it shall be given back to you in equal or greater degree, so give generously (Luke 6:38).

The LORD Jehovah provided for the poor in the Law of Moses, when He commanded Israel to keep their hearts tender and their hands open wide to any brother in need (Deut 15:7-11). And there also He promised a blessing on those who would give. Job knew these principles well, and he appealed to his careful attention to the poor (Job 31:16-23).

David described many blessings on those who help the poor. Consider them. He wrote, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness” (Ps 41:1-3).

David also identified giving to the poor as a mark of a righteous man (Ps 112:1-9), which will bring many and precious rewards on a man and his family and descendants. Isaiah warned that the true worship of God required mercy on the poor, and he promised many wonderful blessings for the effort (Is 58:7-12). God is well pleased with such sacrifices (Heb 13:16), and He is able to repay in proportion to a man’s liberality (II Cor 9:6-11).

Capitalism motivates the most to produce the best for the highest standard of living, while punishing the foolish and lazy. Yet God warns against charging whatever price the market will bear, if you control a needful commodity or service (Pr 11:26). God and men will reward fairness and liberality, though free market economics may allow gouging.

Mathematics and personal finance are only true to a point. If you withhold money that you could give to someone in need, you are heading to poverty. If you scatter your money to godly charitable causes, you are heading toward increase (Pr 11:24). Though you cannot calculate it or explain it, giving money away without worrying works (Ec 11:1-6).

How about a long life and good life? The surest and fastest way is to honor your parents (Eph 6:2-3), and verbal respect and birthday cards are not enough. Full honor includes financial honor, or giving money to provide for them or make their lives comfortable and pleasant (I Tim 5:3-4). To not do this is to deny the religion of Jesus Christ and be worse than an infidel (I Tim 5:8). If your parents are in need, have a bountiful eye to them.

God loves liberal thinking – and He does not mean politics! He loves creative thoughts of generous things to do for those in need. Listen to the prophet Isaiah, “But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand” (Is 32:8). Generous persons think about generous giving, and God commits to bless them in this life and the next.

Such giving proves eternal life. Paul told the rich to be “ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” By so doing, they could lay “up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (I Tim 6:17-19). Jesus Christ will remember any act of charity done to the least of His brethren (Matt 25:31-46).

God’s rules for giving start with your family (Pr 13:22; I Tim 5:8), then the poor in your church and your faithful pastor, if you have one (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37; Gal 6:6), then the poor in other true churches (Rom 15:26), and then the poor God puts in your ordinary course of life (Luke 10:25-37). You need not look for poor outside these places, and giving to the money-begging televangelists is cursed (Pr 22:16; Luke 14:12-14).

Who can you generously help? Think hard. It ought to be a priority of your life to help those in need. It should be exciting! God has not charged you to help all the world’s poor, but He will bring opportunities your way (Luke 10:25-37). And He loves a cheerful giver, so be sure you do not begrudge the giving at all (II Cor 9:7; Acts 20:35; Rom 12:8).

The most bountiful eye in the universe belongs to the blessed God of heaven, the LORD Jehovah. He sends sunshine, rain, and fruitful seasons on all men, even His enemies (Matt 5:45; Acts 14:17). The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all His works (Ps 145:9). But far beyond daily natural blessings, He gave His only begotten Son to die for those who had no strength to help themselves (Rom 5:6; II Cor 8:9; 9:15).

Spritual Training 21 May 2013

Posted: May 22, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

We can honor others in one of two ways. One involves ulterior motives. We honor our bosses so they will reward us, our employees so they will work harder, the wealthy so they will contribute to our cause, the powerful so they will use their power for us and not against us. God’s other way involves love. As Christians, we honor people because they have been created in God’s image, because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and because they have a unique contribution to make to Christ’s church.

Lets Bring it home: Does god’s way of honoring others sound too difficult for your competitive nature? Why not try to outdo one another is showing honor? Put others first!

Proverbs 21:19 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 22, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 21, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 21:19  Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

Young man! Being single is bad, and you are frustrated and lonely, but marrying an odious woman is worse. Save yourself! Marrying a difficult woman can give you more grief than you can imagine. Do not get near a woman that likes to debate or has a temper.

The Bible is not just theology. God created women and ordered how they should behave, and Solomon had seen and felt the pain of bad wives, so they warned you often to avoid certain women (Pr 12:4; 14:1; 19:13; 21:9,19; 25:24; 27:15-16; 30:21-23; 31:10-12).

Solomon knew what he wrote about. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines (second-class wives). The grief of a contentious and angry wife for one day can cure a man of desiring marriage. Solomon had 1000 women! God inspired this expert to give you marriage advice: do not marry a disagreeable woman. Marriage can be worse than being single.

Young man! Do you like camping in a hut in the woods by yourself? If you do not, you are normal. Most men would dread such a lonely situation. But remember, such camping is better than living in a fine home with luxurious furnishings and fare, if the woman in that house with you is a critical, negative, overbearing, tense, or easily-irritated woman.

What is a contentious woman? One that likes to contend – who likes to argue, criticize, disagree, fight, oppose, or question. She is full of questions, reminders, and suggestions – all to help, of course. Rather than dote on you, she will nag; rather than sweetly agree, she will question and suggest alternatives – until you wish you were single in the woods.

What is an angry woman? She cannot rule her spirit and likes to fight. She is easily angered, dissatisfied, irritated, negative, or resentful. She can find something negative about any event, and she frets and talks most about that. She is not satisfied. She is hardly ever content, seldom your sweet lover, but always irritated and stressed about something.

Young man! These odious women – hateful and repulsive – will deceive you (Pr 30:21-23). They will lure you into marriage, and then it is too late. Solomon warned that they can appear nice when courting and dating, but then the marriage trap shuts on your neck. You need to be very wise by knowing both positive and negative traits to measure.

Remember the rule of ten. Any hint of a difficult or overbearing spirit before marriage will be ten times worse afterward. Test her. Ask her to do something she dislikes. If you see her face fall, detect negative body language, or even smell irritation, run for the woods. Be single for life rather than married to her. Let her be single until she grows up.

No wonder the apostles responded the way they did when Jesus taught His strict rules about divorce. In light of little room for divorce, it would be better not to marry. They were afraid of getting trapped in a marriage with a contentious and angry woman. Young men should consider the grave seriousness of marriage and carefully examine a prospect.

There are many agreeable, cheerful, gracious, submissive, sweet, and reverent women. They can make you feel like a king in seconds, and marriage to them is royal bliss. They are warm, kind, charming, and pleasant. They have no harsh or rough edges. Reject any woman that is even slightly critical, moody, opinionated, or questioning. She does not deserve a husband. You do not deserve such pain. You deserve a real woman. Find one.

The odious woman cannot smell herself. She thinks she is helpful by prodding, asking questions, stressing over details, giving reminders, expecting perfection, or disliking a choice. If you were to ask her, she would say she is a good woman and wife. If you were to ask her mother, she would praise her as well (Ezek 16:44). But all others must hold their noses at the smell her husband cannot hide to his own shame (Pr 27:15-16)!

Here is the first rule to save you. Only consider or date a girl or woman that has an independent fear of God. Do not be influenced by her looks or kindness (Pr 31:30). This girl or woman loves God and will live by the Bible in every part of her life with or without your help. She loves Jesus Christ, godly living, hard preaching, and hates worldliness. She will treat you for her entire life the way the Bible tells her. You win!

Here is the second rule to save you. Learn the character traits of godly women from the Bible and expect all of them. Look for extreme diligence or hard work (Pr 31:13-27). Look for graciousness, especially in speech (Pr 11:16). Look for great respect to her parents (Eph 6:1-3). Look for love and kindness to others without any critical edges (I Cor 13:4-7). Look for a forgiving spirit that overlooks the faults of others (Col 3:12-15).

Young man! Your future is at stake. Learn the warnings in these proverbs about odious women. Believe them. Fear the pain of marriage to such a creature. Be prudent. Test a prospect, and watch her reaction closely. Is her mother a charming, desirable, and gracious woman, or not? Ask married men their opinions, for their sense of smell is finely tuned. Do not rush to marriage. Never take a chance with a fifty-year, horrible fate!

Christian girl or woman! Learn to love your place and role in the world – you were made for a husband (Gen 2:18; I Cor 11:9; I Tim 2:13). Get rid of your own opinions, for your desires are to be your husband’s (Gen 3:16). Learn and maximize graciousness, and you will always be loved (Pr 11:16). Learn the wisdom of Abigail (I Sam 25:21-35). Godly women do not contend with their husbands; they submit, obey, and reverence them (Eph 5:22-24,33; Tit 2:3-5). Godly women are not irritable or negative (Pr 31:26; I Pet 3:1-4).

Christian parent! It is your duty to train your children from Solomon’s proverbs to learn wisdom for great marriages and great families. Boys should be taught and shown by clear examples the differences between a gracious woman and an odious woman, so they will know what kind to marry. Girls should be shown and taught the same differences and required to live the godly way, so that some noble prince of a Christian man will want to marry them. Lead and rule their marital decisions in light of this wisdom for their profit.

 

Proverbs 10:23 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 10, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 10, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 10:23 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

Wisdom is gentle, good, kind, and loving. Hurting others is never amusing. You should provide comfort, health, peace, and security to those around you. Harming another by words or actions is cruel, foolish, and wicked. Wise men are always gracious and helpful.

Sin is a joke to most today. Mischief that harms others is celebrated. Consequences of sin are ignored, and reprovers are despised. Sin is the delight of many. They cause trouble without fear, guilt, or shame. They jest and joke about evil; they mock the righteous. But such men are fools. Those with understanding know such dysfunctional conduct offends God and men. Wise men know there is honor and reward for sobriety and righteousness.

Solomon warned, “Fools make a mock at sin,” and, “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom” (Pr 14:9; 15:21). This generation uses sin as content for entertainment. Mischievous boys in school are often the most popular; the bold and flagrant are considered brave and strong; the wildest actors are called stars. Others rap brutishly and foolishly about whores and violence. Men of understanding grieve about such mischief.

The segment of society most susceptible to this disease is young men. They have the folly of youth bound in their hearts, but they have the abilities and liberties to be out and about in mischief. Solomon feared their draw and influence on his son (Pr 1:10-19; 2:10-22; 13:20). Paul warned young men with one single piece of advice that would make them great, if they could do it, “Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded” (Tit 2:6).

Compulsory education, a terrible joke of social do-gooders, crams young fools hating learning into classrooms, where out-of-touch teachers present ridiculous topics with no bearing on life. What is the general effect on young men, who should be working a man’s day, at a man’s job, under a man’s rule? Folly, frustration, mischief, rebellion, and sin! They goad each other on in sinful pranks until society reeks of their noxious insanity!

What happens when these fools get home? Television offers profane entertainment at the expense of God and others. Sitcoms, consuming evening programming, are from hell in their disregard for God, morality, sobriety, and other virtues. Even so-called innocent cartoons, with constant efforts to harm and mock others, are foolishly bad. What will you do to protect and direct your children away from such character-corrupting influences?

Young fornicators take advantage of girls, without regard for them, their fathers, or their future husbands. They laugh about their exploits. Young gluttons have eating contests, and roar hilariously when one throws his food back out. Young drunkards laugh about who has the worst hangover from their binge drinking. Others put sugar in the gas of the principal’s car, and celebrate when he must replace his engine. But God is not mocked!

Fools think only of the moment; they miss both tomorrow’s consequences and God’s judgment at death. They neither consider their future nor do anything toward it. The magistrate eventually puts them in prison; their public records then include a felony or two; a bigger fool molests them in a prison shower; they contract a deadly pestilence; and death will bring a reckoning with the infinite God of heaven. What a sport, huh! Ha! Ha!

What kind of person thinks and acts this way? Fools! There is no fear of God before their eyes (Ps 36:1-4; 53:1; Rom 3:18). They rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked (Pr 2:13). They are the bane of every nation, the calamity and grief of every father, the heaviness and shame of every mother (Pr 10:1; 17:25; 19:13; 29:15). What will you do to protect your children from such character-corrupting influences?

How are they corrected? Easily! “Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools” (Pr 19:29). “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back” (Pr 26:3). “Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beating spurge the inmost being” (Pr 20:30). If severe punishment was executed speedily in the world, there would not be such a overabundance of dishonorable anarchists (Pr 19:25; 21:11; Ec 8:11).

Solomon, when using death as a means of promoting sobriety, told young men, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity” (Eccl 11:9-10).

Parent, soberly teach your children about life, death, morality, sin, and right treatment of others. Foolish talking, jesting, kidding, and foolish sarcasm are hurtful and unnecessary (Pr 12:18; 26:18-19), and Paul warned God will judge the world because of them (Eph 5:3-5). They are an inconvenient use of speech; giving thanks is much better. Do not allow these things among your children, and they will grow up to be noble and wise.

Parent, a tender regard for all weak things, even baby birds in a nest or mother animals with their young, should be cultivated, but especially doing good to all men (Deut 22:6-7; Ex 23:19; Gal 6:10; I Tim 4:10). Children with physical or mental handicaps or racial or economic differences should be objects of charity and protection, not ridicule and persecution. Wisdom includes kind and protective regard for such things (Pr 12:10).

A man of understanding has wisdom regarding these matters – he sees through the folly of the fool and considers it carefully. He despises a mischievous approach to life. He sees the trouble coming tomorrow for today’s folly. He sees the judgment coming after death. He sees the great reward of righteousness (Pr 21:12; Job 18:5-21; Ps 19:11; 37:34-38; 58:11). He develops a sober and thoughtful outlook. Be wise, reader, and understand!

Moses prayed, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps 90:12). What a great perspective on life – to use each day carefully in a wise way before God and men. This should be your prayer and pursuit. God’s blessings and favor are upon the wise, but the way of transgressors is hard (Pr 13:15). Life is short, and you ought to make the best and most of it in the eyes of God and everyone you meet.

Paul warned, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (II Cor 5:10-11). Solomon concluded his book of philosophy, Ecclesiastes, with this same warning (Ec 12:13-14). Life is serious, and you should avoid and influences toward foolish levity.

Jesus ignored the vanity of this life, looking instead at the joy waiting in heaven (Heb 12:1-2; Ps 16:8-11). He had wisdom and understanding to look beyond the folly here for the joy there. Isaac Watts wrote, “The hill of Zion yields, a thousand sacred sweets, before we reach the heavenly fields, or walk the golden streets.” Only the wisdom of faith sees the sacred sweets here and the golden streets there. Open your eyes of faith and wisdom today to see the important, noble, and lasting things that glorify and please God.

Proverbs 7:21 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 7, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 07, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 7:21With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.

Women can overpower men – by words! Men crave hearing a woman’s praise, affection, and loyalty. A whore’s flattery is very dangerous. Wicked women use this power to entice men to sin; virtuous women use it to please, protect, and build up their husbands.

Solomon’s long parable about an adulteress seducing a young fool includes the power of her words tempting him to sin with her. Her speech is so powerful, she “caused him to yield” and “forced him” into sexual sin. He is fully guilty for sinning with her, but the wisdom of this proverb is to rightly grasp the danger and power of her flirting words.

In this perverse world, no matter how a woman dresses or acts, it is always the man’s fault for sexual problems. Sexual harassment occurs in only one direction for such weak minds and today’s courts. But the LORD and Solomon warned about women seducing and forcing men, and they were right. Women have power (Pr 6:24-25; 7:26; Eccl 7:26).

Whorish women create more sexual temptation for men than lewd men do for women (Pr 23:27-28). Only the basest of women are attracted to crude, forward, and lascivious men. Women are naturally protected by stronger inhibitions, need for commitment, families, laws, and social decorum. But what can protect men from a bold seductress? Proverbs!

Flattery is excessive praise used to seduce someone against his will. It is presenting a matter very favorably in order to make it more pleasant and to beguile the listener. Men love the praise of a woman, for winning the adoration, favor, and devotion of a woman is an instinctive drive placed in their hearts and loins by God. Evil women manipulate this desire in men to prey on them in their various schemes of seduction for selfish purposes.

Whatever inhibitions against sexual sin a man has – by religion, parental training, or noble character – he will often lose them due to the enticing and flattering speech of a desirable woman. The adoration of a woman is an elixir that only a few exceptional men can resist, and then only by the grace of God. Joseph may have resisted Potiphar’s wife, but he was an exception to the general rule of Scripture and human experience.

King Solomon often warned his son about the smooth and silky words of a whorish seductress (Pr 2:16; 5:3; 6:24; 7:5; 22:14). Wise men will take sober heed and avoid such women, before their lying words steal their souls and virtue. But here he has just described in detail the verbal approach of an adulteress enticing a naïve victim (Pr 7:13-20). His summary in this proverb states the case well. She forced the young man to yield!

Solomon described the whore as using an embrace, a kiss, and a bold, uninhibited face before her words (Pr 7:13). Then he gave a lengthy description of her much fair speech:

1. I am really a good girl: I am no whore: sleeping with me will not be sin (7:14).
2. I have made many preparations and have lots of things for a great time (7:14).
3. My motives are very noble in wanting to share a great time with you (7:15).
4. I have waited a long time and dreamed often of finding a man like you (7:15).
5. I am so glad I found you, because I do not want to be with anyone else (7:15).
6. It is so wonderful to be alone with you and feel the passion between us (7:15).
7. I have wanted to meet you for a long time; I have made preparations (7:16).
8. I have arranged things for the ultimate, perfect lovemaking between us (7:16).
9. I know special things you will love, that other boring women overlook (7:17).
10. I care about you more than any other woman, so I go to greater efforts (7:17).
11. We surely have a love between us that no one else has ever had before (7:18).
12. Let us fully experience the depths of this unique, special love we have (7:18).
13. No woman has ever felt as strongly about any man as I feel for you (7:18).
14. Our lovemaking will exceed all the lovemaking in the world’s history (7:18).
15. The comfort and pleasure we can find in each other will be wonderful (7:18).
16. Our love and pleasure will last all night – and all our lives – forever (7:18).
17. Don’t worry about any risk, for my old man is on a long business trip (7:19).
18. He loves business more than me: I need your love and body so much (7:19).
19. There is no risk of getting caught; I have figured everything out for us (7:20).
20. He has money, which he loves; we have a love his money cannot buy (7:20).

Young man, how strong was Samson? Was he stronger than any man? Indeed! He was stronger than you. But whores have slain many strong men (Pr 7:26). Delilah used words to destroy him, even though he knew she wanted to destroy him. Why could he not resist her? Because flattering words from a beautiful woman are too much for most men! Read about his weakness and helplessness before her manipulating flattery (Judges 16:4-21).

Young man, how wise was Solomon? Was he wiser than any man? Indeed! He was wiser than you. But whores have cast down and wounded many great men (Pr 7:26). Exotic women caused even Solomon to sin, against the good advice of his own proverbs (I Kgs 11:1-8; Neh 13:26). Among many nations there was no king like him, and God loved Him, but these women corrupted his great character by power over him (Eccl 7:26).

In avoiding the dangerous flattery of women, you must also guard against seducing words in notes, cards, emails, text messages, tweets, phone messages, letters, forums, or any other forms of communication. It does not matter how a woman’s words arrive in a man’s mind, they are powerful. She can communicate with you more easily today than ever before, and wisdom demands caution in all these new dangers of the 21st century.

Christian woman, guard your speech to men other than your father or husband. Be sober. Hate flirting or flattery. While praise is a wonderful thing, it is too powerful for you to give to men other than on rare occasions and with great discretion. But you should learn to use kind words and feminine adoration of your father and husband, for it can build a man’s soul and character to be the strong and noble creature God intended him to be.

Christian wife, why let the world’s women tempt your husband by your silence or prudery at home? A virtuous wife is skilful in all the arts of lovemaking (Pr 5:19; I Cor 7:1-5; Heb 13:4), including words that comfort, intrigue, arouse, and invite her husband. If you have not been taught such things, you need to read King Solomon’s Song! The book of Proverbs has lessons of wisdom, but his song describes two hot married lovers!

The subtle and damning nature of flattery is seen also in false religion, where good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of simple hearers to sell false doctrine (Rom 16:17-18; II Cor 2:17; 11:3-4,13-15; Col 2:4; II Pet 2:3,18). What is the protection? Look for the plain and simple churches of Jesus Christ with straightforward preaching of the Bible. Look for ministers who provide all things direct and honest (II Cor 4:2). Instead of pulpit manner, look for pulpit content. Instead of presentation, look for doctrine and instruction.

Proverbs 31:25 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 1, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 31, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity’ she can laugh at the days to come.

A great woman is strong and virtuous. She will not settle for ease or compromise. She chooses courage and resolve. She lives a godly and noble life. Any woman can be great, but only a rare few are. Her future on earth and in heaven will be blessed and happy.

King Lemuel’s mother wrote this description to help her son marry a great woman (Pr 31:1). This kind of woman would help him be a better king and build a noble family and large estate. Every woman should strive for this character; every man should look for it.

A virtuous woman has an eye to the future. She is diligent and makes strenuous efforts to provide for her husband and children. She values integrity and graciousness very highly and does nothing to spoil her reputation. She never sacrifices the future on the altar of the present. She makes the choices now, and applies the efforts now, to yield great rewards in the future. She knows that slothfulness or compromise now will cost her much more later.

The front end of a wife’s life requires strength and honor for her latter end to be joyful and peaceful. Early in marriage, a wife carries, births, nurses, and raises small children, with a high-maintenance husband, on a small budget. The combination is painful for untrained girls. The contrast from the easy life at home during her youth is quite a shock.

But a virtuous woman, made so by God’s grace and good training, will put forth the effort and investment to get through the difficult early years. She knows and accepts the old saying, “A father works from sun to sun, but a mother’s work is never done.” She knows hard work now will bring greater happiness and rewards later, so she perseveres.

When a woman is young, there are also many temptations for folly, which can ruin her productivity or reputation (Ps 25:7; II Tim 2:22; Ezek 23:3,21). She has her own fleshly lusts that she must deal with soberly and strictly. Unless she chooses her friends wisely and guards the inputs to her soul, she can easily fall to foolish habits and sinful thinking.

Especially in a world obsessed with female freedom and frivolity, young women face many difficult tests in faithfulness, integrity, modesty, purity, and sobriety. But the virtuous woman is a chaste virgin before marriage, and she is faithful in heart, mind, speech, and body after marriage. She is strong both in labor and character. She chooses godly virtue in every decision, so that she is honored by God and all good persons.

How is strength and honor her clothing? She puts on these character traits like putting on clothes (Eph 4:22-24). She covers herself with them. Every day when a woman rises, she puts on clothing before showing herself to family or the world. A great woman purposes in heart and mind every morning that she will be strong and honorable that day.

What is strength here? It is diligent labor and vigorous efforts in domestic duties to be the best wife and mother (Pr 14:1; 31:13-27). It is courageous resolve to ignore temptations to folly by her own thoughts or the habits and ideas of family, friends, or the world.

What is honor here? It is her gracious and holy life in heart, tongue, and conduct that does not allow folly or sin to spoil her godly reputation (Pr 11:16; 31:11-12,26,30; Eccl 10:1). She always chooses the high road or noble path in every decision no matter what.

A virtuous woman fears God, which enhances her value more than any beauty or acts of service (Pr 31:28-30). She works harder than other women (Pr 31:17). She is an efficient and faithful wife and mother in duties at home and for the estate (Pr 31:13-27). She is always gracious, which secures her future honor (Pr 11:16; 31:11-12,26). She emphasizes godly character for beauty, rather than clothing or accessories (I Tim 2:9-10; I Pet 3:3-4).

Christian woman! Do not sacrifice your future on the altar of the present. Do not be slack in duties now or compromise godliness now, for it will destroy your future. Put in the effort and holiness now, and your future will be blessed. A virtuous woman will rejoice in the future from her prudent provision for it, her godly and righteous life that leaves a clean conscience, and the praise of others she has loved and served well (Pr 31:28-31).

Even a little folly can ruin a good reputation, like dead flies in good perfume (Eccl 10:1). You must always carefully protect your virtue and family, lest slothfulness brings your family down, or folly destroys your integrity. Today is the first day of the rest of your life, and you can put on strength and honor today. If you are faithful to strength and honor, your husband and children will praise you, and so will the Lord Himself (Matt 25:21,23).

Your future happiness depends on diligence and virtue today. Consider child training. A child trained well today will give you joy and peace tomorrow; but a child neglected today will give you pain and shame (Pr 10:1; 17:25; 22:6; 23:13-14; 29:15). The child that should have been for your comfort in old age could drive you to an early grave.

Consider sex. If you cheat with romance novels, movies, or fantasies, it will lead to selfish bitterness toward your husband, marital defrauding, and break you or him down for either his or your adultery (I Cor 7:1-5). You will cause your husband’s bitterness that will make him grow distant and harsh and cost you family praise at the end (Pr 31:28).

A strong and honorable woman has a future of happiness. Her husband loves her more than ever. Her loving children are noble and successful with godly spouses and grandchildren. The family estate is significant with no financial fears. Her conscience is clean and thankful. She has been a tree of life to many in God’s kingdom. Her reputation is known far and wide. God is glorified and will praise her when she arrives in heaven!

Christian girl! You are not married yet, but you can still put on strength and honor for your future happiness and success. How? Be more diligent than any other girl in obeying your parents, keeping your room, helping around the house, and doing your schoolwork. How about honor? Be more careful than any other girl in holy thoughts, kind speech, pure relationships with boys, graciousness to all, and charity toward your enemies.

Christian reader, whether man or woman, you are the bride of Jesus Christ (II Cor 11:1-2; Eph 5:25-27). It is your duty also to clothe yourself with strength and honor. What is strength? A well-fought fight with diligent effort (II Tim 4:7)! What is honor? The apostolic faith earnestly kept in spite of heresies and trends (II Tim 4:7). If you have done these two things, at the end of your course is a crown of righteousness (II Tim 4:7-8)!

Proverbs 29:24 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: April 30, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 29, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 29:24 The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy; he is put under oath and are not testify.

God hates stealing! He punishes thieves, but He will also punish anyone that protects thieves. If you protect a thief, you must hate yourself, because you are bringing God’s judgment on yourself. When you can report a thief or testify against one, you better do it.

Understand this proverb. When you are in a court of law under oath, you had better tell the truth and reveal all you know about a thief. If you do not disclose everything, you are choosing to be a partner with a thief, and God will justly punish you along with him.

Consider how bad your sins are for not telling the truth in court – you have added lying as a false witness to the stealing by the thief that you are protecting. God hates the sin of being a false witness and those who commit it, as Solomon clearly wrote (Pr 6:16-19).

Can you cover for a thief and be innocent? Do you think your sin is mild, since you did not steal anything yourself? You are a fool; you hate your own soul; and judgment is coming. God hates accomplices as much as thieves. Do not deceive yourself that you are innocent. If you can expose a criminal or help solve a crime, it is your duty to tell all.

Partnership with a thief is explained by the second clause. When property owners, civil magistrates, or other authorities confront you with oaths, you deny you know anything. You may not have driven the getaway vehicle, but you did not expose the thief when questioned. How very often children and young men are faced with this moment of truth!

Cursing here is an oath to tell the truth (Num 5:21; Judges 17:2). In America, witnesses in court hear, often with their right hand raised to God and their left hand on a Bible, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” This is hearing the curse of a ruler, which should motivate witnesses to tell the truth!

Proper swearing is an act of worship, for you honor Jehovah God as the highest Judge in the universe. Israel had to swear by the name LORD Jehovah (Ge 24:3; Deut 6:13; 10:20; Jer 4:2). They affirmed truth with these words: “As the LORD liveth” (Jer 38:16). When you swear this holy way, you better keep your vows (Ec 5:1-7). What blasphemy that Jehovah’s Witnesses will not swear in God’s glorious name they stole from the Bible!

Proper swearing, by appealing to Almighty God, the highest authority in the universe, is intended to end any consideration or possibility of lying (Heb 6:16). Moses ordered such swearing to get to the bottom of matters, including theft (Exodus 22:8-15; Deut 21:1-9; I Kings 8:31-32; 22:16). It is a wise practice, and it brings extra judgment on liars.

And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 5:1

What does bewray mean? It means to reveal a matter. Since “bewrayeth” is no longer in common usage in English, let the Oxford English Dictionary provide a definition:

Bewray. To expose (a person), by divulging his secrets, or telling something that one knows to his discredit or harm. To reveal, divulge, disclose, declare, make known, show.

Consider also the Holy Spirit’s use of the word. An odious woman cannot be hid, for she will bewray – reveal, declare, or show – what she is, as sure as perfume is smelled when you pass near a person wearing it (Pr 27:16). Everyone knows she is an obnoxious example of her sex, and that her husband is to be pitied for his terrible plight. And Peter’s speech bewrayed – revealed or indicated – he was of Galilee (Matt 26:73).

If you are asked about a theft under oath or by an authority, and you do not reveal the criminal, you are guilty of two crimes (Ex 20:15-16). You should fear God more than any man (Pr 29:25); hindering justice is a great sin (Ex 23:1-7; Deut 19:15-21); such a helpful disclosure to rightful authority is not tattling or talebearing at all (I Tim 5:13; I Cor 1:11).

You may likely never testify in court about a theft. But other situations call for you to tell the truth and expose wrongdoing by others. Parents confront and question children, teachers and principals do so to students, and employers do so to employees. They need information to punish evildoers and protect others. They have a right to know.

Will you remember this proverb and reveal a sibling, a fellow student, or a fellow employee? Consider the consequences. If you cover for a crime, you must hate yourself, because judgment from God is coming down on you along with the criminal himself. It is your duty before God and men to disclose and reveal criminals when you are asked.

This proverb has wisdom. Honesty is crucial for an orderly society. Legal oaths have an important role. You can earn God’s favor or judgment by what you do with information about a crime. God is a glorious Judge that will not tolerate perjury. Protecting a sinner is to be guilty with the sinner. God requires and enforces truth and property rights. Amen!

Jesus Christ kept total silence during his long and fraudulent trial; Pilate marveled (Mark 15:5; Is 53:7). But when sworn to tell the truth by the high priest, He answered directly and honestly (Matt 26:63-64). Then He gave the high priest and other leaders a sober warning about the horrible judgment He would bring on them! Do you know this glorious King? Have you humbled yourself and declared Him Lord of your life by word and deed?

Proverbs 25:15 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: April 25, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 25, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Can you win a person in authority? Gentleness will defeat power. What works best with a hard or angry person? Submissive yielding will defeat revenge. Here is precious wisdom to be successful in relationships. Instinctive responses will seldom work.

Wisdom includes ability to persuade those in power, which is very useful knowledge. The main authorities in life are parents, husbands, employers, government, and pastors. They are moved more by patient reverence than by bold debate. Though your cause might be important and right, wisdom calls for careful and respectful appeals.

Here is great wisdom for dealing with those over you. You may need to persuade a boss of your cause or dissuade one from punishing your offences. The proverb here deals with persuasion, but the same wisdom serves in dissuasion as well (Eccl 10:4). This rule, learned and remembered, will give great and peaceful skill for dealing with authorities.

The world teaches the opposite of this wisdom, and the results are horrible. Demanding your way and expecting an authority to cater to your needs and opinions is proud rebellion and creates bitterness. Rather than moving the one in authority toward your cause, it will force him to solidify his position and punish your insolent insubordination.

Human nature is proud, rebellious, and selfish. It assumes all men are created equal and having many rights. But the Bible rejects such arrogant presumption. No two men are created equal, and they are put in the five offices already listed that give them power over other men. God created the offices of authority, and exalting them makes a society great. Disrespect of authority is a widespread problem in our profane and rebellious world.

Solomon wrote as a monarch, when a king and princes had great authority. They had the power of life and death, and there was no separation of powers, threat of a hung jury, meddling media, or any other limitation to ruling. The example in the proverb is a prince. Solomon gave you divine wisdom to help you persuade a powerful authority to consider your person and your cause. Much of life involves convincing others, so the lesson is key.

Forbearing is putting up with disagreement or poor treatment. It is patient longsuffering in the face of adversity. It is used here to describe a patient approach with authority. If you seek to persuade an authority to change, you must wait for them to consider your cause. Impatiently demanding their change will totally work against you. Wait for them.

A soft tongue is a metonym for gentle and respectful speech (Pr 15:1). It is so effective that it is described as being able to break the bones of a prince. Rather than arguing or debating your case, a meek and reverent appeal works far better. Aggressive and harsh words ignore their important office and attack the integrity of their authority. Instead of soberly considering your cause, they will defend their position and rank by rejecting you.

The lower you go in humility, and the higher you lift a person for their rank, the greater leverage you have with them. To the degree you protect yourself and dilute this reverent, gentle, and patient approach, you give up leverage. Wisdom is profitable to direct!

David skillfully used this wisdom appealing to King Saul for mercy (I Sam 24:1-22; 26:1-25). And Abigail, a beautiful woman with great understanding, used it to persuade David against revenge, when he was passionately angry against her husband (I Sam 25:1-42). Read these three chapters and focus on the choice of words of David and Abigail.

Child, a respectful and kind letter to parents will work far better than arguing or pouting. Both of these actions indicate you are a spoiled brat and deserve nothing. Thank your parents for their goodness to you, and declare your love and obedience to them. Humbly state your request. Remember to patiently wait for their answer. They do not owe you!

Wife, a reverent and submissive appeal to your husband, carefully chosen for timing and location, will work far better than haughty demands, presumed rights, or sexual deprivation. Remember, he owes you nothing on the spot. Patiently wait for him to consider your request. Sarah and Bathsheba called their husbands lord, and they obtained great requests from powerful men. Godly women give up their “rights” to gain freedom!

Employers and government should be treated the same way. A grievance for poor working conditions or an undesirable assignment is received much better when made with respect and patience than with demands, insubordination, or threats. Everyone knows state troopers respond better to respectful answers than arrogant ones.

The godly application of this wisdom will bring peace and prosperity into your life, and it will exalt godly authority in the earth by its careful and patient respect for those in positions of rule. The lesson here was penned by a brilliant king for your profit. Believe it. May the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of princes, be given all the honor due unto Him!

Proverbs 24:22 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: April 24, 2013 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 24, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Proverbs 24:22 For those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring.

Honor the president! Salute policemen! Thank God for them, and pray for them. Get away from anyone that disrespects government authority, either high or low. Your future safety and success depends on it, for this proverb warns about sudden calamity and ruin.

A spirit of rebellion has infected the earth, and this spirit is not from heaven. America is at the forefront, where citizens mock and ridicule the highest offices without conscience. You can call this warning old fashioned, but it is the timeless will of God about authority.

True wisdom includes submission to civil government. God promises calamities and ruin on those who promote civil rebellion and on those who listen to them or read them! To avoid God’s judgment and instead secure His blessing, avoid all disrespect of rulers.

Part of an orderly society is submission to authority. If you think civil rulers do not deserve your appreciation, honor, obedience, and support, then you obey the same spirit that creates rebellious children, odious wives, striking employees, and obstinate churches.

This verse is the second half of the proverb, so you need the first half’s description of those who deserve sudden calamities and ruin. Here it is: “Fear the LORD and the King, my son, and do not join with the rebellious” (Pr 24:21). If you are serious about wisdom and knowledge, then read the commentary on that verse as well.

It is God’s command for you and all men to fear Him and your nation’s top rulers. They are linked together, for God gave authority to your nation’s leaders (I Pet 2:17). He even refers to them as gods in the Bible, so that you will get the right idea of how high they are (Ex 22:28; Ps 82:1,6; John 10:34-35). Get away from anyone that speaks lightly of them.

Humble yourself, submit to your government, and pray for them. Even when they make decisions you do not like. Even when they make decisions that are wrong. These are the orders of the high God of heaven for you (Rom 13:1-7; I Tim 2:1-2; I Pet 2:13-17). What are the consequences, if you do not? You will soon be terrified and destroyed. God gave this proverb through Solomon to warn you. Beware, or your last hours may be numbered!

Jehovah hates those who evilly criticize or resist authority, especially civil government. He condemns even associating with such people (Pr 24:21). Here He promises sudden calamity and ruin on them both – the leaders and followers of rebellion and sedition. The fear of God and respect of civil government go together – it is impossible to rightly fear God and be critical of His appointed authority (Pr 24:21). See the comments on 24:21.

Solomon warned his son to fear God and the king (Pr 24:21). You fear God first; but you fear the king as well, because his authority is from God. To resist the king – or any civil authority – is to resist God and His ordinance (Rom 13:1-2). You obey the government for two reasons – fear of punishment from both God and the ruler (Rom 13:3-7). Those wanting to change government have two potent and terrible enemies – God and the king!

Submission to civil authority is true Christianity. Peter taught the same – fearing God and honoring the king go together. He wrote that you are bound by duty to God and man to submit yourself to every ordinance of civil government (I Pet 2:13-17). He condemned thinking or speaking evil of government as marks of ignorant reprobates and brute beasts, cousins to sodomites, needing to be taken out and shot (II Pet 2:10-12; Jude 1:8-10).

There is a God in heaven! Though men accuse, criticize, despise, ridicule, or undermine civil rulers in private, He hears and sees it all. The dreadful God of heaven will repay. He does not care if you promote disrespectful thoughts and speech, or a mere follower and willing listener of such men. Calamity and horrific ruin of both parties will occur soon. Give God the glory! The rabid dogs barking against civil government will be put down!

Why are some men in such trouble in their lives, families, and businesses? One certain reason is their wicked attitude and speech toward government. God is not mocked. It hardly matters what they try to do; nothing is going to work. God is against them. They cannot disrespect His appointed authority and get away with it. Why are some men so blessed in their lives, families, and businesses? One certain reason can be their peaceful and reverent submission to government. God blesses and rewards the righteous!

Hate civil disrespect or rebellion even in your heart or your bedroom. Solomon wrote, “Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter” (Eccl 10:20). Rebellious words travel far! And the great God also sees the very thoughts and intents of the heart – He will punish those who criticize matters far too high for them.

Is the warning overdone? Lucifer, the anointed cherub of God, will be tormented forever in the lake of fire for rebellion against authority – the rule of Almighty God. Miriam, the dear sister of Moses, spoke only once against his authority, and God made her white with dreaded leprosy (Num 12:1-15). Korah, and even the wives and children of the rebels, were buried alive by the earth for merely speaking against Moses (Num 16:1-34).

Absalom rebelled against David, so God caught him by his head in a tree for Joab’s darts (II Sam 18:9-18). Adonijah did not give enough respect to the new king, so Solomon had his own brother killed (I Kgs 2:12-25). Joab murdered competitors for his office, so Solomon killed his first cousin (I Kgs 2:28-34). Shimei cursed David; and though David forgave him, Solomon eventually had him killed (I Kgs 2:35-46). Forty-two children teased Elisha about his bald head, and God sent two bears to maul them (II Kgs 2:23-24).

King Zedekiah ignored Jeremiah’s warnings and rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar; for that offence he had to watch his sons killed before him, and then his eyes were put out (II Kgs 25:1-7). The rebellious Jews revolted against Rome, which sent Titus to destroy their city and temple and bring upon them greater tribulation than the world has ever seen or will see. These examples of rebellion include the low, the high, and whole nations.

Is the lesson overdone? Angels, far greater in wisdom and might than men, do not bring railing accusations or mocking ridicule against rulers on earth (II Pet 2:11). Truly! Why should a foolish man, who knows nothing of the weighty decisions of his leaders? But the angels do check hair length on women, to see if they show public submission to their husbands by wearing it long (I Cor 11:10). This warning is not overdone. Get serious!

Speaking lightly about parents was worthy of death in God’s estimation (Deut 27:16). Those who cursed their parents were put to death severely (Pr 20:20). And God considered a mocking face toward parents to be worthy of horrible judgment (Pr 30:17). The blessed God defends His appointed authorities and punishes the disrespectful. Is the warning overdone? It is not overdone, because the spirit of rebellion has infected many.

How do you speak of the President? With reverence, or disdain? Do you joke about him or other officials? What do you read about the government – supportive, neutral, or critical? Do you pay taxes respectfully? Do you wickedly imagine a conspiracy or cover-up in every decision they make or action they take? Do you criticize new laws? With what kind of people do you discuss government? Do you pray and thank God for rulers?

If a parent, do you want your children criticizing your decisions, ridiculing your faults, mocking you, and sowing unrest in your other children? If a husband, do you want your wife ridiculing you to others and talking back? If an employer, do you want your employees organizing a union to attack and undermine your position and business? Can you not see that unless you give honor and respect, you do not deserve them from others?

The root cause of disrespect to authority is pride and rebellion – the devil’s sins (Pr 13:10; I Tim 3:6). It is not principle; it is pride and rebellion. Men do not evade taxes for principle, but for covetousness and greed. There are lawful and peaceful means for principle, but their tactics prove wickedness. God will crush proud and rebellious men.

Christians pray for rulers and do all they can to live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty, regardless of how pagan or wicked rulers are (Jer 29:4-7; I Tim 2:1-4). They do not despise authority. They know God or the king will come in vengeance on such rebels. They know God’s blessing is on those who revere authority. They know God is higher than the highest and will soon rectify every wrong (Eccl 5:8).

If you are a baptized follower of Jesus Christ, you are a citizen of an eternal monarchy, the kingdom of God, where Jesus rules with absolute power and perfect righteousness as David’s Son. He does not miss a single aspect of every government decision. What is the word of God to them? “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Ps 2:12).

Faithful ministers like Paul preach the whole counsel of God and everything for your profit that is found in the Bible (Acts 20:17-27). You have just heard God’s will for this part of your life. What will you do with the information? You should repent of any past wrongdoing toward civil rulers or other authority, and you should commit before God to never disrespect or rebel against any of the five spheres of authority God has ordained.

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