Greed, in our personal life, in the businesses we own or work for, or in our nation, should never be the directing force behind our financial decisions. Our belief in God and in His ways should be at the heart of everything that we do.
15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Proberbs 28:8
There is a right way to make a living and then there are those companies and individuals who make their money at the expense of others. They would do well to remember that God gives and God takes away.
Profit taken by usury is unjust. God will help the poor eventually, at their exploiters’ expense.
8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.
Profit taken by usury is unjust. God will help the poor eventually, at their exploiters’ expense.
8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Proverbs 22:16
Laws that give tax breaks to the wealthy and withhold basic needs to the poor bankrupts our nation of its’ Christian values.
The last of the proverbs of Solomon in this collection deals with social justice. Ultimately, all human affairs are in God’s hands, even though at times the wicked prosper. God made both the poor and the rich and He will justly determine their destinies.
22:16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
The last of the proverbs of Solomon in this collection deals with social justice. Ultimately, all human affairs are in God’s hands, even though at times the wicked prosper. God made both the poor and the rich and He will justly determine their destinies.
22:16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Psalm 34:9-10
God takes cares of those who seek Him and place their trust in Him alone. Man will disappoint us God never does.
Fear is a call to awe, wonder, worship, and reverence. To fear God is to respond to Him in piety and obedience. Time after time the believer is able to attest to the ways God has met needs.
34:9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
Fear is a call to awe, wonder, worship, and reverence. To fear God is to respond to Him in piety and obedience. Time after time the believer is able to attest to the ways God has met needs.
34:9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
Monday, July 26, 2010
1 Chronicles 29:10-12
He has the whole world in His hands! God controls everything, every little thing, and to Him all praise and honor are due.
The purpose of the temple was to exalt the Lord and to acknowledge the universality of His kingdom. David modeled before the people the worship of the living God. It typically starts with praise for God’s eternity, His complete control over the universe, and His great power. He is the glorious Master over all. David confessed that the riches and honor he enjoyed had come from God’s generosity. The offerings he and his people had just made were possible only because God first had given to them. Not only the ability to give, but the willingness to give, is a gift of God.
10 Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said:
“Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
And You are exalted as head over all.
12 Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.
In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all.
The purpose of the temple was to exalt the Lord and to acknowledge the universality of His kingdom. David modeled before the people the worship of the living God. It typically starts with praise for God’s eternity, His complete control over the universe, and His great power. He is the glorious Master over all. David confessed that the riches and honor he enjoyed had come from God’s generosity. The offerings he and his people had just made were possible only because God first had given to them. Not only the ability to give, but the willingness to give, is a gift of God.
10 Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said:
“Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
And You are exalted as head over all.
12 Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.
In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Jeremiah 29:11
God created us to live a life at peace and in love. The ultimate gentlemen He never demands our attention but He is always there beckoning us to a relationship with Him. Even when we are unfaithful and turn to the world for the love that only He can give, He is always faithful and patiently waits for our return. Thank you Abba for your love! Love never fails…..
The Lord here places considerable emphasis on His unchangeable plan to bring peace and not evil. God had not terminated His relationship with Judah; He remembered His covenant promises of restoration.
29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The Lord here places considerable emphasis on His unchangeable plan to bring peace and not evil. God had not terminated His relationship with Judah; He remembered His covenant promises of restoration.
29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Jeremiah 29:7
No matter what the condition of the city, state or country is where God has placed you, you need to pray for its’ peace and prosperity. When others around you are at peace, you will have peace!
The exiles were instructed to seek and pray for the peace, or well-being, of Babylon and the other towns where they were deported. As a result, they themselves would live in peace as beneficiaries of God’s gracious sovereignty over the nations.
20:7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
The exiles were instructed to seek and pray for the peace, or well-being, of Babylon and the other towns where they were deported. As a result, they themselves would live in peace as beneficiaries of God’s gracious sovereignty over the nations.
20:7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Proverbs 21:21
There is no man righteous, no not one. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, the mercy of God manifested into flesh, we will find the meaning of life in abundance.
The pursuit of righteousness is its own reward. But added rewards are found in fullness of life, achieving righteousness, and receiving honor. All these things are gifts from the Lord.
21:21 He who follows righteousness and mercy (love)
Finds life, righteousness and honor.
The pursuit of righteousness is its own reward. But added rewards are found in fullness of life, achieving righteousness, and receiving honor. All these things are gifts from the Lord.
21:21 He who follows righteousness and mercy (love)
Finds life, righteousness and honor.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Proverbs 11:25
Freely you have been given by God, freely give to others. It is not only our duty to share with others in need but it is our privilege to be able to do so.
Stinginess may lead to poverty. Generosity has the opposite effect. Selfishness is foolish because it only creates enemies and dishonors God.
11:25 The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.
Stinginess may lead to poverty. Generosity has the opposite effect. Selfishness is foolish because it only creates enemies and dishonors God.
11:25 The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Psalm 128:1-4
Knowing the omnipotence of God and then living a life within the parameters that He sets up for us in His Word has its rewards. At the top of this list is peace and contentment. With God all things work out for good for those who love Him and have turned their lives over to His care.
The word blessed describes the happiness of those who trust in the Lord and do His will. The fear of God is an attitude of respect, a response of reverence and wonder. It is the only appropriate response to our Creator and Redeemer. There is a reward in work and a satisfaction in labor that is a blessing of God. This psalm focuses on the godly man in ancient Israel. Bearing children was a mark of God’s blessing on his wife. His children were regarded as precious provisions, like olive plants, in his home. In that time more children meant more people who could work in the fields and increase the general welfare of the family.
128:1 Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
2 When you eat the labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants
All around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord
The word blessed describes the happiness of those who trust in the Lord and do His will. The fear of God is an attitude of respect, a response of reverence and wonder. It is the only appropriate response to our Creator and Redeemer. There is a reward in work and a satisfaction in labor that is a blessing of God. This psalm focuses on the godly man in ancient Israel. Bearing children was a mark of God’s blessing on his wife. His children were regarded as precious provisions, like olive plants, in his home. In that time more children meant more people who could work in the fields and increase the general welfare of the family.
128:1 Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
2 When you eat the labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants
All around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Psalm 106:4-5
God loves all His creation but those who have accepted His gift of salvation and invited Him into their heart and mind benefit greatly from His closeness. His gift of life in Christ Jesus gives eternal life and that abundantly.
106:4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people.
Oh, visit me with Your salvation,
5 That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones,
That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,
That I may glory with Your inheritance.
106:4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people.
Oh, visit me with Your salvation,
5 That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones,
That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,
That I may glory with Your inheritance.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Psalm 49:16-20
The benefits of your labor, the house, the cars, money in the bank and the big screen TV, mean nothing if you don’t have Jesus Christ in your heart and ruling your life…..
These verses vividly describe both the power of death and the greater power of God. Death is the great leveler. People who have beauty, riches, and power in this world will lose them all at death. They will be stripped of everything except their character or soul. This is why the Scriptures exhort us to pursue character development—God’s law, holiness, wisdom, and knowledge—more than anything else. The psalmist trusts in God to deliver him from the power of death.
49:16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see light.
20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
Is like the beasts that perish.
These verses vividly describe both the power of death and the greater power of God. Death is the great leveler. People who have beauty, riches, and power in this world will lose them all at death. They will be stripped of everything except their character or soul. This is why the Scriptures exhort us to pursue character development—God’s law, holiness, wisdom, and knowledge—more than anything else. The psalmist trusts in God to deliver him from the power of death.
49:16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see light.
20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
Is like the beasts that perish.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Psalm 25:8-13
God hates pride and arrogance. If we can comprehend His omnipotence and bow down to His glory He is faithful and true to show us His way in Christ Jesus. Fear is the beginning of the knowledge of God. All of His ways are accomplished through the lens of His love and are full of mercy and truth. Fear of the Lord can be a good thing!
In the midst of David’s plea for forgiveness, he praises God by speaking of two of God’s characteristics. God must be both good and upright. Because He is both, the Lord extends mercy to repentant believers and at the same time promises not to allow the guilty to go unpunished. God will bring justice to this fallen world. Those who fear the Lord pay attention to His instructions and thus learn the secrets of God’s wisdom.
25:8 Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
9 The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
In the midst of David’s plea for forgiveness, he praises God by speaking of two of God’s characteristics. God must be both good and upright. Because He is both, the Lord extends mercy to repentant believers and at the same time promises not to allow the guilty to go unpunished. God will bring justice to this fallen world. Those who fear the Lord pay attention to His instructions and thus learn the secrets of God’s wisdom.
25:8 Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
9 The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Job 1:1-3
In a culture such as ours it is hard not to be sucked into its’ empty vacuum incapable of thinking of anyone but itself. We need to listen to God alone and base every decision upon His word made flesh. Guided by the Holy Spirit we can become a successful child of God and serve others with the love given to us in Christ Jesus.
The imagery of this verse presents an ideal righteous person—one who is in the world, but quite unaffected by the world. Instead of finding enjoyment in entanglements with wicked persons, the godly person finds his or her deep enjoyment in the things of God, particularly the Word of God. Shall prosper is not a guarantee of the future financial worth of the righteous; rather, the righteous person is always useful and productive to the Lord.
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The imagery of this verse presents an ideal righteous person—one who is in the world, but quite unaffected by the world. Instead of finding enjoyment in entanglements with wicked persons, the godly person finds his or her deep enjoyment in the things of God, particularly the Word of God. Shall prosper is not a guarantee of the future financial worth of the righteous; rather, the righteous person is always useful and productive to the Lord.
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Job 22:21-23
Return to God, meditate on His words and live accordingly. Lead a quiet, peaceful life led by the Holy Spirit and you will be blessed.
“Although you cannot be profitable to God through your efforts, you can acquaint yourself with or yield to Him.”
21 “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace;
Thereby good will come to you.
22 Receive, please, instruction from His mouth,
And lay up His words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;
You will remove iniquity far from your tents.
“Although you cannot be profitable to God through your efforts, you can acquaint yourself with or yield to Him.”
21 “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace;
Thereby good will come to you.
22 Receive, please, instruction from His mouth,
And lay up His words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;
You will remove iniquity far from your tents.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Joshua 1:7-9
Trust God in everything that you do. Obey His commandments and read His word. The Lord is faithful to never leave or forsake us in good times or in bad. Praise be to God!!
The instructions to Joshua here do not address military matters at all. This might seem surprising given the battles ahead. But his success depended more on his spiritual state and his degree of obedience to God than on any military strategy. The spiritual demands preceded the martial ones. The idea here is that one should reflect upon God’s Word in a thoughtful way, appropriating its truths personally and applying them to life
1:7Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
The instructions to Joshua here do not address military matters at all. This might seem surprising given the battles ahead. But his success depended more on his spiritual state and his degree of obedience to God than on any military strategy. The spiritual demands preceded the martial ones. The idea here is that one should reflect upon God’s Word in a thoughtful way, appropriating its truths personally and applying them to life
1:7Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
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