Proverbs 3:31-35 says...
Today's verses are Proverbs 3:31-35, which read,
v.31, 32 - Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; but He is intimate with the upright.
The proverbs today give us some more practical actions to follow the wisdom of God. These deal with the company that we keep. This first one that deals with those who participate in violence seems so simple and logical but the reality is that we do just the opposite. We make movies about the violent and make them the heroes of the stories. We have romanticized the bad guy and many times wished that we were he or she. We have gangs filled with young people who see the violent gang as their only family and participate whatever initiation to get in. We even tattoo our bodies or wear certain clothing to identify with that group.
To those who commit violence, they are an abomination to the Lord. They are in a state that brings not only distance from God but His anger directed upon them and their activities. How different than those who envy the man of peace, the upright, and choose to his ways to be intimate, to be close to God, to know Him more, to have Him reveal more of His wisdom to us. God's abomination or God's intimacy, which to you desire and act toward?
v.33-35 - The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor, but fools display dishonor.
The chapter finishes with a simple comparison between the wise and the foolish. On the foolish comes the curse of the Lord because of their wicked ways of not following after the wisdom of God. The foolish are in a house of wickedness but the wise are in a dwelling of righteousness. It sounds a lot like the difference between a house and a home. The house is just a structure that can be cold and damp, but a home is beyond the structure to the warm of the inhabitants that are there. Those who gather wherever who are righteous will receive God's blessings but those who hold up somewhere to devise wickedness will receive God's curse.
Those foolish who scoff at God and His ways will have the same action come back at them from God. Those who are foolish usually direct their attacks on those who are following after God and so God brings grace to those who are being afflicted upon. The God who we follow after sees our acts of righteousness in the sea of wickedness and draws near to personally give us what we need to endure. As Paul said, "His grace is sufficient for me."
The final proverb in this chapter is that the wise will inherit honor. To inherit is to receive something that is not yours but now is. You received it from another and what you have received is honor, a cherished gift of love to know that you matter. The foolish do not inherit this because they are displaying just the opposite, dishonor. They are displaying that people don't matter other than themselves to themselves.
The foolish are an abomination to the Lord; they have the curse of the Lord upon them; they receive God's scoff; and they don't receive an inheritance of honor. The wise are intimate with the Lord; they receive God's blessings; they receive God's grace; and they inherit honor from Him. Again, side by side, there is no comparison. Wise or foolish, which are you going for?
What does it take to be know of God's closeness, His blessings, grace, and inherit honor? Don't follow after the ways of the foolish. It is that simple. Who are you following today? Let's pray.
"Lord, what You give is tremendous. To be close and to be blessed and to receive grace especially when we are afflicted and to inherit honor from You who created us are such gifts that we are not worthy of but You give freely to those who follow after You. May You point out our foolish ways where we are following something that does not lead to these great things from You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.31, 32 - Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; but He is intimate with the upright.
The proverbs today give us some more practical actions to follow the wisdom of God. These deal with the company that we keep. This first one that deals with those who participate in violence seems so simple and logical but the reality is that we do just the opposite. We make movies about the violent and make them the heroes of the stories. We have romanticized the bad guy and many times wished that we were he or she. We have gangs filled with young people who see the violent gang as their only family and participate whatever initiation to get in. We even tattoo our bodies or wear certain clothing to identify with that group.
To those who commit violence, they are an abomination to the Lord. They are in a state that brings not only distance from God but His anger directed upon them and their activities. How different than those who envy the man of peace, the upright, and choose to his ways to be intimate, to be close to God, to know Him more, to have Him reveal more of His wisdom to us. God's abomination or God's intimacy, which to you desire and act toward?
v.33-35 - The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor, but fools display dishonor.
The chapter finishes with a simple comparison between the wise and the foolish. On the foolish comes the curse of the Lord because of their wicked ways of not following after the wisdom of God. The foolish are in a house of wickedness but the wise are in a dwelling of righteousness. It sounds a lot like the difference between a house and a home. The house is just a structure that can be cold and damp, but a home is beyond the structure to the warm of the inhabitants that are there. Those who gather wherever who are righteous will receive God's blessings but those who hold up somewhere to devise wickedness will receive God's curse.
Those foolish who scoff at God and His ways will have the same action come back at them from God. Those who are foolish usually direct their attacks on those who are following after God and so God brings grace to those who are being afflicted upon. The God who we follow after sees our acts of righteousness in the sea of wickedness and draws near to personally give us what we need to endure. As Paul said, "His grace is sufficient for me."
The final proverb in this chapter is that the wise will inherit honor. To inherit is to receive something that is not yours but now is. You received it from another and what you have received is honor, a cherished gift of love to know that you matter. The foolish do not inherit this because they are displaying just the opposite, dishonor. They are displaying that people don't matter other than themselves to themselves.
The foolish are an abomination to the Lord; they have the curse of the Lord upon them; they receive God's scoff; and they don't receive an inheritance of honor. The wise are intimate with the Lord; they receive God's blessings; they receive God's grace; and they inherit honor from Him. Again, side by side, there is no comparison. Wise or foolish, which are you going for?
What does it take to be know of God's closeness, His blessings, grace, and inherit honor? Don't follow after the ways of the foolish. It is that simple. Who are you following today? Let's pray.
"Lord, what You give is tremendous. To be close and to be blessed and to receive grace especially when we are afflicted and to inherit honor from You who created us are such gifts that we are not worthy of but You give freely to those who follow after You. May You point out our foolish ways where we are following something that does not lead to these great things from You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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