Any Fool.

This morning I had another good time in God’s Word! I was in Proverbs 20. Wow. I was challenged with a lot this morning from this passage. First from verse 3,”It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.” Any person can start a quarrel or an argument. Avoiding strife is honorable. Many people jump right into quarrels or arguments thinking that it is honorable, admirable, or praiseworthy to be in them and win. God says rather to refrain from striving or quarreling and then that will be honorable, admirable, and praiseworthy. This is something that is often forgotten by me. I need to remember that overlooking insults and dropping issues that may blow up is honorable before God. I am asking God to help me with this.
Second from verse 9, “Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?” No one can claim that they are pure or have made themselves clean from sin. We are all sinners and need the free gift of salvation that Jesus provided with His death on the cross, burial, and resurrection. This is the only way we can say we have been cleaned. God continually works in us to conform us into the image of His Son. Only in heaven with God will we be pure and clean like Christ. This was a good reminder to me that I am not where I need to be and should strive to be like Christ.
Third from verse 15, “There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.” Gold and rubies are very nice and are worth a lot of money. There are also many people who have these. But there are not a lot of people who have lips of knowledge. I need to be one whose mouth speaks wise and good things at the appropriate time. Then I will be one who has lips of knowledge. I need to be quiet unless I am going to speak things that are needful at the time.
Fourth from verse 22, “Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.” I should not try to play God and repay evil or act as a judge. I should make it my aim to seek the good of others as well as myself. Also I should try to pursue peace with all people. I need to leave the revenge and repaying business to God and simply trust that He knows best. Then seek the good of others and pursue peace with all. I know this will be difficult but I am praying that God will help me to love others whether they deserve it or not.
Today was such a good day in God’s Word (although they all are). I am really enjoying Proverbs.

Press ON!