September 22, 2014

Proverbs Blog-Along: Days 21 and 22

Moving right along with the Proverbs Blog-Along, I'm going to share the verses that stood out to me from Chapters 21 and 22, and I hope you do too.


CHAPTER 21
3The lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.
I think this is a good verse to  remember. Some people think that if they give offerings, financial or otherwise, they're good-to-go, without examining their hearts and what they do. Not good - no bueno!


9It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
19 It's better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. 
This is exactly the kind of wife I DON'T WANT to be!



17Those who love pleasure become poor;
those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.
17 You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life!
The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied. (MSG)
I took this verse to mean that people who like the good life so much, and want to have all the luxuries in the world will just keep spending and spending in order to attain those things. I don't think it's saying there's anything wrong with enjoying pleasures and riches if you have it, but is that your focus? If it's your focus, then you'll just keep wanting more and more and never be truly satisfied.


CHAPTER 22
1Choose a good reputation over great riches;
being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.
What's the point of having so much wealth, but having a bad character, that people don't want to associate with you?

2The rich and poor have this in common:
The lord made them both.
Everyone, as in every single person, was made by God. You can't look down on someone because they're not as rich, or pretty, or educated, or spiritual, or well-dressed as you. At the end of the day, you and I are all God's creation and He doesn't love me more than He loves you, and vice versa.


7Just as the rich rule the poor,
so the borrower is servant to the lender.
I say this all the time. If you owe someone money, they have some kind of rule over your life, because as you work, your earnings are going towards paying them. They can call you at any time asking for their money or part of it back, and it's really their prerogative. If you must borrow, make sure you have a good plan in place to repay it at an agreed time.


15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,
but physical discipline will drive it far away.
In the past week, there's been talk about whether physically disciplining your children is good or bad. I think it's okay to an extent, but don't go overboard and kick, or injure, or over-discipline your child. That would only traumatize them or cause a hardened heart.


From verses 17 to 21, a prelude to Thirty Wise Sayings is given. We are told to keep the sayings close to our hearts, as they are full of good advice. NLT doesn't number the different sayings, but the Message and Contemporary English versions do. I'm not going to list all of them, but you can look through yourself. Maybe that'll be an Instagram challenge for me at another time :)

Wise Saying #2
24Don’t befriend angry people
or associate with hot-tempered people,
25or you will learn to be like them
and endanger your soul.
Ever heard that saying, "Show me your friends, and I'll tell you who you are?" The people you surround yourself with, gradually rub off on you and you begin to behave like they do. Be careful. 

Wise Saying #5
29Do you see any truly competent workers?
They will serve kings
rather than working for ordinary people. (NLT)

29If you do your job well,
you will work for a ruler
and never be a slave. (CEV)

29Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men. (NKJV)
I like all 3 versions of this verse. I'm most familiar with the NKJV one, but they all are good. I pray that you and I become - if we aren't already - the kind of people who are excellent at what we do - and that we shall reach the point where we present our work before kings!


AMEN! Have a pretty day!

4 comments:

  1. You know what,after I asked for which translation you were using, I was inspired to read some parts of the Bible. For now I have read Exodus and Leviticus. Hoping to complete Numbers and move to the next.

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  2. Love this & the biblical quote! The quarrelsome unhappy wife is exactly the kind of wife I don't want to be either, like you. I think it is more important to lead a good "Godlike" life than giving a huge offering! Nice read :)
    www.yvonnesloves.com

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