datethewordtest

Tag: Proverbs

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 13 (11/13) is Proverbs 11:13

    “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.” – Proverbs 11:13
    Q. Who can you TRUST?  A: DEFINITELY NOT A GOSSIPER!

    As one reads through the Book of Proverbs one will see the word BUT used many times as it seeks to provide a CONTRAST of a variety of actions. Understanding the contrast, one can then make better decisions on how to live. In Proverbs 11:13 we have the results of one who is a gossiper contrasted with one who is trustworthy.   The gossipier garners the reputation of being a BETRAYER. Nothing is safe with them.  Whereas the one who is trustworthy KEEPS even the most sensitive information secure.  

    Are you a gossiper?  

    To know if you are let’s consider a definition for a gossiper, I like to say a gossiper is one who tells another person something about you that they would never tell another person if you were standing right beside them.  In other words, they will say something about you behind your back but not to your face.  

    Are you prone to gossip?  Does it excite you to share tasty bits of information about people?  Proverbs 18:8 says, “A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being.”   This verse speaks of two types of gossipers. There is one who talks and the one who listens.  So we should be asking not only do you enjoy spreading information but are you prone to listening to someone sharing secrets, to gossip? 

    You should KNOW that someone who will share gossip WITH you will also share gossip ABOUT you!

    We should listen to the INSTRUCTIONS of Proverbs 20:19 as it says, “The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone with a big mouth.”

    In Proverbs 11:13 we have a verse that challenges us to be a TRUSTWORTHY person.  As a trustworthy person, one is careful in what information is shared and with whom what information is shared about others.  The trustworthy person is even careful how they share prayer request concerning others.  

    Please commit today to not being a gossiper.  HOLD YOUR TONGUE!  GUARD YOUR WORDS! Guard your ears. Don’t listen to gossip!  
    Commit today to be a TRUSTWORTHY person!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 13 (11/13) is Proverbs 11:13.  It says, “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.”

    Oh, be careful little tongue what you say, especially about others!

    Continue Strong holding your tongue!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

    PS ***A ministry/leadership note:  Occasionally someone will come to you for HELP and they start by saying, “I need to tell you something but you have to promise me that you will not tell anyone.”  Friends, don’t make that promise!!!!
    Listen close!! “Never tell a person you will never tell a person.”   The only promise you make is that if you can’t help them with what they tell you is that you will only involve those who can help.  
    Listen again carefully: “Never tell a person you will never tell a person.” 

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 10 (11/10) is Proverbs 11:10

    “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the 
    wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.” – Proverbs 11:10
    Righteous Living brings Rejoicing while the Exit of the Wicked brings Relief

    Our verse to consider comes from the Book of Proverbs which is famous for giving to us a variety of subjects to CONTRAST.  One of the most frequent contrasts is that of the RIGHTEOUS and the WICKED.   Here we find both bringing JOY to a city but for totally different reasons. 

    When the RIGHTEOUS are doing well the city rejoices.  Even those who are not righteous benefit from the prosperity and peace that righteous living brings.  Those who are described as “the righteous” are those who themselves do what is right. They are law-abiding citizens. They are hard workers who provide for their needs and are generous to help those in need.  They look out for the BEST interest of others. The RIGHTEOUS have an eye on the future and seek to make decisions that bring about a better future for the next generation.  (These are but a few characteristics found throughout the Book of Proverbs). I think it is sufficient to say that life is better with “the RIGHTEOUS” living around you!

    On the other hand, when “the WICKED” perish there is a sense of relief.  As the wicked live their wicked lifestyle they don’t just bring pain to themselves but also to all who are around them.  They damage and destroy themselves and they damage and destroy others.  

    While the RIGHTEOUS brings pleasure to a city, the WICKED brings pain to the city.

    One feels safe around the RIGHTEOUS while one feels fearful and unsafe around the WICKED.  No wonder the verse says there is gladness when they are no longer around.  

    It is worth noting that God responds to both the RIGHTEOUS and the WICKED. In understanding God’s response to the RIGHTEOUS and the WICKED we look at Proverbs 3:33.  It says, “The LORD’s CURSE is on the house of the wicked, but He BLESSES the dwelling of the righteous.”

    I hope it is sobering to you to think that the way you live can be bringing God’s BLESSINGS to your neighborhood or it could be bringing God’s CURSE to your neighborhood,   I trust you want to be a blessing to your family, friends, and neighbors. Doing what is right will open the windows of heaven for Him to pour out blessings on those around you!  

    Let us bring pleasure to our fellow citizens and not pain!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 10 (11/10) is Proverbs 11:10. It says, “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.”

    Continue Strong and be a blessing to others by living right and doing right!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 27 (10/27) is Proverbs 10:27

    “The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years
    of the wicked will be shortened.” – Proverbs 10:27
    Getting the most out of your Days

    From the very beginning of Proverbs to the very end one of the central themes of Proverbs is the FEAR OF THE LORD. For instance, Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction,” and then in Proverbs 31:30 we find the virtuous woman is known and praised for fearing the Lord. The fear of the Lord is taught as the way to experience a blessed life here on earth.   Occasionally it is contrasted with the fool or with the wicked as it is here in Proverbs 10:27.  Most of the time we find the BENEFITS that come from having a right relationship with God in which He is acknowledged as God and one stands in AWE of Him offering adoration and obedience.  

    In contrast is to have a wrong relationship with God.  Here we see the WICKED who do what is WRONG in God’s sight.  They have no desire to obey what He says. There is no fear of the Lord with them.

    One can do a study of both those who fear the Lord and those who are wicked and quickly find that life is very different.  Here the one who fears the Lord receives prolonged days.  The idea is they GET MORE OUT OF THE 24 hours.  While the wicked are in constant fear of being caught for something they did and having to cover up things they did they are missing out on life.  Those living right with God will not have perfect lives but they will not be reaping the consequences of wickedness.  

    One of my favorite verses about the fear of the Lord is Proverbs 19:23.  It says, “The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

    The wicked do not have a satisfying life.  For example (and these are but a few as the word “wicked” is mentioned 86 times in Proverbs and 85 times in Psalms.)
    Proverbs 3:33  The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked
    Proverbs 4:19  The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
    Proverbs 11:5  …. But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
    Proverbs 11:21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; 
    Proverbs 13:25  The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.
    Proverbs 15:9  The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness.

    And I can go on and on.  The lifestyle of the wicked may be pleasurable and profitable for a time, for a moment, but it is only for a short time.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 27 (10/27) is Proverbs 10:27.  It says, “The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.”

    God’s Word appeals to us to choose to FEAR THE LORD, choosing to fear Him as if our very life depended on it, because it does.

    Continue Strong fearing the Lord,
    And remember to DATE the WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 19 (10/19) is Proverbs 10:19

    “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he
    who restrains his lips is wise.” – Proverbs 10:19
    LEARNING NOT TO TALK

     It is not long after a baby is born we begin to assist them in learning to TALK and WALK.  As they make a variety of sounds, we seek to help them form their words so that one day we will hear DADA come from their mouth.  (Of course, there are those who want to hear MAMA first!)  As parents we naturally want our children to learn to talk so we spend time teaching them to talk.  I heard somewhere that we spend our first two years teaching a child to talk and walk and then for the rest of our lives we are telling them to sit down and be quiet! HMMM.

    While the above statement is made somewhat in jest there is some truth to it as after we learn to talk and walk, we do need to LEARN when NOT to TALK and LEARN where NOT to WALK.  

    As we consider the various teachings from the Bible, I find Proverbs 10:19 to be one of my most valuable verses for LIFE.  It tells how an unrestrained mouth can produce sin!  Our tongue can get us in TROUBLE!  Has your tongue ever gotten you in TROUBLE?   I bet it has.  I know mine has.

    Proverbs 10:19 tells us it is crucial to learn when NOT to talk.  A wise person is going to be very selective of WHAT they SAY, WHEN they SPEAK, WHERE they SPEAK, WHOM they speak of and to, HOW they speak, and definitely think about WHY they are speaking.   

    The WISE person puts into action Ecclesiastes 3:7b which says, “There is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;”
    The WISE person puts into action Proverbs 25:11 as it says, “A word spoken at the right time is like golden apples on a silver tray.”
    In other words, the right word said by the right person at the right time in the right way to the right person will be incredibly VALUABLE to that person! 

    Having learned to talk how are you doing in LEARNING NOT TO TALK?   How quickly can you STOP WRONG and INAPPROPRIATE WORDS FROM PROCEEDING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH?  

    Like me, you may need help in learning NOT to talk.  I have found several prayers to pray so that my words are few (Ecclesiastes 5:2) and that I RESTRAIN my lips from saying the wrong things. From Psalms 19:14 we have the prayer “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”  And from Psalm 141:3 we have “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”  I encourage you to pray these prayers to help you RESTRAIN YOUR LIPS!

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 19 (10/19) is Proverbs 10:19. It says, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”

    While I have always recommended to students to take a speech class to learn how to talk you might need a good Bible study to learn how NOT to talk!

    Continue Strong and be wise with your words!
    And remember to DATE the WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 17 (10/17) is Proverbs 10:17

    “The one who accepts correction is on the path to life, but the
    one who rejects correction goes astray.” – Proverbs 10:17
    Responding Correctly to Correction

    In the book of Proverbs one will find over and over the contrast of how one responds to correction.  Correction can be received or it can be rejected. Proverbs 10:17 teaches us that the one who accepts or receives correction is on the path to life while one who rejects correction will continue heading astray toward destruction.   These are massive implications for how you respond when you find yourself being corrected.  

    The one who will listen to correction and learns from correction will live. 

    The one who disregards correction and despises correction will be destroyed.

    Take a moment to ponder two thought-provoking questions:
    Are you known for RECEIVING rebukes that lead to new RESOLUTIONS?

    Are you known for REJECTING rebukes that lead to more REBELLION? 

    Notice a couple of other verses that complement the teaching of Proverbs 10:17.
    Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoever loves discipline (correction) loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”
    Proverbs 15:31-32 says, “The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. 32 He who disdains discipline (correction) despises his own soul, But he who heeds (receives) rebuke gets understanding.

    Based on the Word of God responding correctly to corrections brings one a better life!

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 17 (10/17) is Proverbs 10:17. It says, “The one who accepts correction is on the path to life, but the one who rejects correction goes astray.”
     
    ARE YOU COACHABLE? ARE YOU TEACHABLE? ARE YOU CORRECTABLE? 

    Continue Strong by being correctable,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 9 (10/9) is Proverbs 10:9

    “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes
    his ways crooked will be found out.” – Proverbs 10:9
    INTEGRITY! Living with NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT

    I have heard it said that INTEGRITY is doing what is right even when no one is looking. One will have a reputation, yes, a CHARACTER, that makes one trustworthy and reliable. The idea of integrity is to be completely complete. The idea is there are no holes in your life. Nothing sketchy. There is no corruption. There are no hidden sins.

    Living with integrity brings many benefits. There is the personal benefit of not having anything to worry about as Proverbs 10:9 says one walks SECURELY.  Integrity brings inward peace as you don’t have to worry about being caught. You know when someone goes looking into your “closet” they will find it clean! 

    There are also benefits for others as by living with integrity others are blessed. 
    Proverbs 20:7 says, “The one who lives with integrity is righteous; his children who come after him will be blessed.”

    However, if one is crooked, one will be found out. Sooner or later the truth of Numbers 32:23 is going to happen! You do know Numbers 32:23? It says, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Sooner or later what is done in the dark will come to light. The lie will be exposed, and the truth revealed.  The crooked will be caught!

    For example, we have RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES a story that tells of CHEATING in a FISHING TOURNAMENT.  Yep.  There was cheating in a fishing tournament up at Lake Erie.  A couple of fishermen were caught stuffing their fish at the Lake Erie Walleye Trail in Ohio with lead weights, fish fillets, and other debris in order to win a financial prize for the heaviest fish.  One person noticed that another person’s fish looked larger than the winner’s fish so they CUT OPEN THE “WINNING” fish and found a weight inside.  Talk about Proverbs 10:9b happening.  The crooked fisherman was CAUGHT!  

    Are you doing right even when no one is looking? 
    Are you doing wrong things wondering when will someone see?   Isn’t it time to start doing what is RIGHT?  

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 9 (10/9) is Proverbs 10:9. It says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”

    A life of influence (and enjoyment) begins with living a life of INTEGRITY! 

    Continue Strong with a life of integrity!
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 8 (10/8) is Proverbs 10:8

    “A wise heart receives (accepts) commands, but 
    foolish lips will be destroyed.” – Proverbs 10:8
    ACQUIRE WISDOM!  ACCEPT WISDOM!  APPLY WISDOM! 

    As one reads God’s Word you have decisions to make regarding what you will do with it.  Reading, as well as learning God’s Word is not enough.  You can check off that you read 1 chapter from Proverbs, 5 chapters from Psalms, 3 chapters from the Old Testament, and/or 1 chapter from the New Testament today but still be no different. You can study and learn incredible amounts of information about God’s Word yet not be impacted one bit.  You have to decide as you read and learn whether to RECEIVE or REJECT what God has said.  The wise person will ACQUIRE Biblical wisdom and the wise person will ACCEPT that wisdom and then the wise person will APPLY the wisdom. The wise person is not just a hearer (reader/learner) but a doer of the Word. 

    However, as you read and learn God’s word you can be a foolish person.  The foolish person does NOT ACCEPT what God has to say.  The foolish person is a know-it-all and will begin to ARGUE with God.  They REJECT to the level of REFUSING to obey God’s commands.  

    Decisions have consequences.   You make your choices and then your choices make you.  To argue and reject what God’s commandments say is to bring destruction into your life as sin destroys over time.  

    You might easily be connecting the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus to this verse as Jesus speaks of the wise man hearing and doing and the foolish man only hearing. The wise man’s life is compared to a solid home that withstands storms while the foolish man’s life is like a house on sifting sands and will crumble.  

    Getting personal: Are you acquiring God’s wisdom, accepting God’s wisdom, and applying God’s wisdom to daily living? 

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 8 (10/8) is Proverbs 10:8.  It says, “A wise heart receives (accepts) commands, but foolish lips will be destroyed.”

    Be WISE and MAKE THE DECISION to RECEIVE God’s Commands. Don’t be a fool and REJECT God’s commands. 

    Continue Strong APPLYING God’s Wisdom to your life!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 7 (10/7) is Proverbs 10:7

    “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the
    name of the wicked will rot.” – Proverbs 10:7
    Live so the memory of your name brings a smile.

    Some people live in such a way that they leave precious memories while there are others who have memories that quickly wilt away. Just one quick, short thought of a person, present or past, can quickly bring a smile to your face.  Just one quick, short thought of a person, present or past, can quickly bring a frown to your face.
    How that person chooses to live or has in the past decided to live impacts your feelings toward them, even years after they are no longer on this earth.  

    We remember how people made us feel.  

    We remember how people treated us.  

    We remember the imprints of wisdom they left us and the words of encouragement that gave us.  

    We remember the stripes left by foolish acts and yes, mean acts, and the words of discouragement.  Yes, we do recall both good and bad.  Over time the precious memories gain strength with a smile while we seek to quickly dismiss the bad.  

    While we have our memories, we also need to know it is a two-way street.  We have the ability with our actions to create PRECIOUS MEMORIES that for generations those memories may bring smiles to people’s faces.  Yet we can take actions of cruelty toward someone that one may even wince at hearing our name spoken.  

    As you ponder Proverbs 10:7 know that HOW YOU LIVE MATTERS!  

    My challenge is that you do something memorable today for family or friends, or even a complete stranger that years from now brings a smile to their face.   Consider your words and works with others to not bring sadness but joy to their heart years from now.  Let the remembrance of your name be a blessing, not a burden. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 7 (10/7) is Proverbs 10:7. It says, “The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.”

    Let the remembrance of your name be a blessing, not a burden. 

    Continue Strong doing what is right in God’s sight and be a generational blessing!
    And remember to DATE the WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 4 (10/4) is Proverbs 10:4

    “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the 
    hand of the diligent makes rich. “ – Proverbs 10:4
    Using your HANDS to Produce a RICH LIFE

    The book of Proverbs will COMPARE and CONTRAST numerous relevant issues and some get very personal. For example, Proverbs will contrast the wise and the foolish. Proverbs will contrast the righteous and the wicked.  Proverbs will contrast the rich and the poor.  Proverbs will contrast the diligent and the lazy.  

    In Proverbs 10:4 we get what we might call a two-for-one.  There is a contrast between the rich and the poor, and the lazy (slack hand) and the diligent.  

    The verse highlights the word “hand” for it speaks of one’s work.  Our hands are our tools for action.  Here we see a person’s hands described as SLACK or idle with the idea of idle on purpose.  In other words, this person is lazy on purpose and does not want to work.  They are a SLACKER.  The definition of a slacker is a person who avoids work or effort.  The hardest work the slacker will do all day is thinking of ways to get out of work.  While there is no excuse for being lazy the lazy slacker works diligently to come up with every excuse possible to not work!  In Proverbs 26:13 the lazy person calls in and says “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!” One of the reasons the lazy can’t get to work is because of a unique attachment disorder. Proverbs 26:14 tells of this slacker is attached to his bed; “As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed.” 

    Proverbs says when a person’s hands are slack, they become POOR or living in POVERTY.  This is more than not having money.  It speaks of having a life that lacks value.  One does not have things to look back on or things to look forward to.  A poor person can have a RICH life but here we see a person who has made decisions that bring about a poor life!

    On the other hand, you have the hand of the diligent who does what must be done and does it with excellence. They roll out of bed daily, roll up their sleeves, and pursue their God-given dreams.  Their work produces more than money as it produces achievement and accomplishment that gives opportunities to be a blessing to others. A rich person can have a POOR life but here we see a person who will experience a RICH LIFE.  Yes, the diligent experience of life is vastly different than the lazy slacker! 

    Are you approaching today with excitement and enthusiasm with a desire to give your best effort and strive for excellence, to make a difference? Or will you look to do as little as possible, keeping your hands as idle as possible? 

    Will the actions of your hands have you known as “the Lazy slacker” with a life of poverty or “the Diligent” experiencing a rich life?

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 4 (10/4) is Proverbs 10:4. It says, “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. “

    Continue Strong with a STRONG WORK ETHIC!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 9 (9/9) is Proverbs 9:9

    “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a 
    righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” – Proverbs 9:9
    NEVER STOP BEING COACHABLE

    The wise person understands they DON’T know all they need to know! They are wise because they know that they don’t know!  From the beginning of the Book of Proverbs, the WISE are LOOKING to LEARN and to KEEP LEARNING.  Proverbs 1:5 says, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.”

    Opposite of the WISE is the FOOL and the fool is a “know it all” and they literally resist the thought of continually learning.  While you (and even the best teachers) can’t teach a fool anything the wise are teachable and have a hunger to learn as much as they can! While we describe them as a LEARNER, maybe a great word to describe the WISE is they are COACHABLE!  Being coachable means one can learn and improve!
     
    As you read over Proverbs 9:9 “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning,” how do you access yourself?  Would you say you have the mindset of being teachable and desirous of learning more??!!! What might teachers and/or preachers/or and coaches or even parents answer?  

    Question:  When was the last time you learned something for the first time?

    Question: Does God see a COACHABLE person when He is working with/on you? 

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 9 (9/9) is Proverbs 9:9. It says, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”

    Bonus – from John Wooden – “Always be learning, acquiring knowledge, and seeking wisdom with a sense that you are immortal and that you will need much knowledge and wisdom for that long journey ahead. Know that when you are through learning, you are through.”

    Continue strong learning by being Teachable.  
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!