Proverbs 15:13-17 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 15:13-17, which read,

v.13 - A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

This sounds like a Christmas proverb.  A joyful heart and a cheerful face should be some reactions of the Christian at Christmastime and of course the whole year through.  It is also interesting that we are instructed to smile or have an uplifted face when we sing.  It actually changes the tone and helps us to stay on pitch.  The proverb says that it goes much deeper though.  The cheerful face says that something is happening in the heart.  The face can also display the opposite, a broken spirit.  Many times we try to cover it up but as I am perceptive of others, they are perceptive of me too and especially those who are of my local church family.  They can read me and God made it that way so I can get His loving help.  So many times we try to cover it up with the answer "fine" but God can override our make-up to reveal what is really going on so we can receive His help.

v.14 - The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

If we are wise, if we are following in the steps of Jesus, and if we are concerned about having a fear or awe of the Lord then our minds are going to be engaged to take in more knowledge of Him.  If we are foolish, if we are not following in the steps of Jesus, and if we are rejecting His words and ways then our mouths are going to be engaged in spreading out more foolish words and ways.  The wise is taking in and the fool is spewing out.  The wise is engaging his mind and the fool is engaging his mouth.  The wise searches out what is wise while the fool just feeds on whatever is before him.  Make sure to evaluate what you are using most here, your mind or your mouth?  If you take the time to evaluate this then you are on the track to be the wise because you are engaging your mind.

v.15 - All the days of the afflicted are bad, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

A continual feast is there because the cheerful heart will be seeking how God may be using the situation that is before them.  The wise may not know all the answers or how this will all work out physically but they keep walking in the steps of the Savior through the situation making it possible to see the promises of God become a reality to experience again.  The wise has something to look forward to while the fool can not see past the situation at hand or how anything good could come from it.  All they see is the bad.

This is a good check on yourself.  What do you see when a situation arises?  Do you see all the bad and only the bad?  Or do you reach for the promises of God and are anxious to see how He will use this for His good and glory?  You and I know that this tremendously effects not only the outcome but also how we will walk through the situation.

v.16, 17 - Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and turmoil with it.  Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred.

There are two "better" proverbs here to look at.  The first better is about our focus on what we have.  Do we have a little but we have a focus on the Lord or do we have a great treasure and our focus is on it?  It is amazing that we can look at the pictures and videos of children of third world countries that have literally nothing but have genuine smiles on their faces but we can decide which car we are going to drive to the store today and grumble all the way there.  The focus is not on what we have or what we don't have but on the Lord.  Our focus on the Lord keeps us in check if we have a little in this world or a lot.

The second better is saying the same but using an example of showing someone who has a little and who has a lot.  In many places in the world, those who would just have vegetables to eat were poor and those who would have meat to eat would be the rich.  Again the focus should not be the type of food but rather the emotion of love or hatred.  So you don't have meat for this meal but do you have love for Your God who provided the vegetables and for those who are gathered around you to share in it?  Do you have the finest meats but you are cold toward God and those around you and your focus is continually on you and how much you are going to get and hating those who want some of yours?  God is telling us what is better.  

What is the prevailing attitude around your table?  What is the condition of your heart?  Are you searching or are you gobbling up whatever is before you?  Good questions from the proverbs today.  Let's pray.

"Lord, may You point out when I don't have a joyful heart because one of Your children helps me by seeing through my make-up cheerful face.  May I keep my focus on You so that I can have a continual feast of Your promises.  May I have better days because it is not about how much I have or what I am eating but about experiencing Your love as I follow after You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam