Proverbs 27:1-27

There are certain things that we must care for with great attention.  Certainly our relationships are worth of great care.  We all have many different levels of relationships to which we should pay very close attention.  Some people are acquaintances, family members, friends, authorities, neighbors, counselors or enemies who seek to do us harm.  It is of utmost importance that we relate and respond to these various relationships with wisdom.  God also entrusts us with resources for which we must care.  Wise stewardship is an important part of obeying God and walking according to the wisdom of His Word.

CARING FOR YOUR FRIENDS:  Pride is one of the most damaging components of any friendship.  Nobody likes to be around someone who boasts about himself.  On the other hand, we all enjoy being encouraged by others.  If we want our friendships to work well, we will be faithful to complement our friends instead of bragging about ourselves.  Friends know about one another’s likes and dislikes, we can use that information for either good or evil.  We should never try to provoke one another or cause our friends to be jealous.  Provocation and jealousy will destroy friendships.  Honesty is the foundation on which most friendships are built so it is far better to have the open rebuke of an honest friend than the hidden love of those who are afraid to risk a relationship.  We should welcome the rebuke of a friend for it is a sign of genuine love but we should avoid the praise of our enemies because it likely has ulterior motives.  We must seek to fulfill one another’s needs in the marriage relationship so that there is no temptation to seek for fulfillment outside of marriage.  A friend will give good and faithful counsel and will not turn you away in tragedy.  We must be good neighbors and defend our family’s honor.  Our neighbors need their privacy so we should avoid being at their home too often or too early.  We should use our friendships to sharpen one another so that both of us will be more like Christ.


CARING FOR YOUR FLOCKS: God has entrusted us with resources for which we are responsible to care.  In the time of Solomon, most people were farmers and depended of raising animals to provide for their families.  A wise man will pay close attention to his flocks because he knows that his family depends on them.  An application for today would be for us to be diligent with the jobs that we have.  We should not take them for granted  and know that we should save up in the days of prosperity so that we can make provision for the difficult days that will inevitably lie ahead.  Diligence and dedication in our work will allow us to support our families in a way that pleases the Lord.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than a...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows i...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
Read more