Weekend Review

May 23 & 24, 2020

Proverbs 13:7

There is that maketh himself rich,
yet hath nothing: 
there is that maketh himself poor,
yet hath great riches. 

Work Week Devotions
Through the Book of Proverbs

      As you know by now, with WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS, we only publish our Devotional Thoughts on Monday – Friday. On Saturday we suggest you re-read the entire chapter we have been studying this past week, and if we will be going into the following chapter the next week, we encourage you to read that chapter as well.       

There are never Devotions on Sunday. 

Thank you for joining us as we
journey together
Through Proverbs in 2020.

WEEK 20 – Day 6

     On Saturday, we suggest you re-read the Proverb we have written from this past week and the week to come.

Proverbs 12-13

WEEK 20 – Day 7

     Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastor’s heart. Whatever Scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS

May 25, 2020     2 Chronicles 29 – 32     Proverbs 13:10 – 12
May 26, 2020     2 Chronicles 33 – 36     Proverbs 13:13 – 16
May 27, 2020     Ezra 1 – 5                        Proverbs 13:17 – 19
May 28, 2020     Ezra 6 – 10                      Proverbs 13:20 – 22
May 29, 2020     Nehemiah 1 – 5             Proverbs 13:23 – 25
May 30, 2020     Proverbs 13 – 14
May 31, 2020     No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

May 25, 2020     1 Kings 22                   John 9:1-23
May 26, 2020     2 Kings 1-3                  John 9:24-41
May 27, 2020     2 Kings 4-5                  John 10:1-21
May 28, 2020     2 Kings 6-8                  John 10:22-42
May 29, 2020     2 Kings 9-10                John 11:1-37
May 30, 2020     2 Kings 11-13              John 11:38-57
May 31, 2020   No Passages Assigned

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

    MAY 23, 2020     1 Kings 20-21  /     John 8:31-59
    MAY 24, 2020     No Passages Assigned

Oh, To Be RICH

May 22, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 13: 7-9 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Oh, to be RICH! To have all the money you would ever want. Doesn’t that seem like the dream of most people today? Admit it; we all want to be financially secure. To be able to do what we want, and go wherever we’d like to go. However, there is a big difference in financial security, and the overwhelming desire to be rich. We often find those who do have money, are not really happy. Let them get deathly ill, and they would trade everything for a few more days of life.

     Verse 7 could be read a couple of different ways. “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing.” You might see this as a person who has attained all the wealth they might want, but in the process they have forgotten family, friends, and God. Now, even with all this wealth, they are empty inside. Then again, you may read this as someone who has very little financially, however they have made themselves rich with a fine family, a love for God, and great Christian friends, and yet the world sees them as having nothing.

    Verse 7 also says, “There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Some people who have money, live simple lives. Not flaunting a God given abundance financially, but using it as God would intend them to. No one around them knows of their wealth. Then also, there are people who choose to live very simple lives, never desiring much in this world, and yet they are rich in family, and have a rich inheritance with God.

     The question is, “What makes you RICH?” If it’s only money, then you’re actually very poor. What really matters in life are relationships. Relationships with family, and friends are important, but the most important relationship is the one you have with God. If you have that, you are wealthy indeed!


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     This would be a great day to call, and renew a relationship. It would also be a great time to call on God, and keep that relationship on track. If you never had a relationship with God, He’s waiting to start one. Then you can say, “I’m RICH.”

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 22, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  2 Chronicles 24 – 28     /     Proverbs 13: 7-9

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Kings 18-19   /   John 8:1-30

Whom Would You Believe?

May 21, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 13:4-6 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     During an election year campaign, a local public official made a comment referring to the candidates who were running for that public office. It went something like this; “If six people were campaigning, and two of the candidates were Christians, I would come closer to believing the Christians.” That’s not word for word, but close.

     The head of Jewish organization took offense, saying the politician should not be in office if that is their bias. How silly is that statement? Using that reasoning, this Jewish leader should not be the head of his Jewish organization because, his bias toward Jewish people would not allow him to treat the rest of us with an equal respect.

     Bias toward one thing or another is possible everywhere. The fact is, people do trust religious people more than non-religious people. For me, as a born again Christian, I would trust a Christian over those of other faiths. Why, because I’m a Christian, and I know what the Bible teaches.

     Do you want to be trusted? Well sure you do. Do you want to be respected? Everyone does. How can you do that? First, trust in the Lord and quit trying to do things your own way. Believe God has a better design for your life. In everything you do, acknowledge God. You may wonder, “How that happen in real life?” One way might be when you eat a meal, stop for a second to pray. No matter where you are, most often people will be silent for a moment while you pray. It gives others a moment to pause, and reflect on where they are with God.

     Acknowledging God is more than a mealtime prayer. It’s including God in every single moment of every single day. Remember, people are watching you. So is God!

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     People are looking for someone to trust. They will not believe it simply by the words you say, until they see a life that matches what is said. Live for Christ daily, and really LIVE!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 21, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  2 Chronicles 19 – 23     /     Proverbs 13:4-6

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Kings 15-17     /    John 7:37-53 

It Is Written… Isn’t It?

May 20, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 13:1-3 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Once, while traveling through Arkansas, I came upon a dilemma. From where I was, to where I was going, there were two roads on the map. From where I was, on the map there was a road which went almost straight north to where I wanted to be. It was a country road, and went through a couple of small towns. The speed limit on this road would likely be fifty, or less at times. The other road was an Interstate. This road was about forty-five miles longer. It went east past the city I wanted to go to, and then cut back north-west. However, it was interstate, and the speed limit would probably be sixty-five or better all the way. The country road seemed so much shorter, and went almost straight there.

     I asked a nearby trucker which to take and he said, “Son take the highway, you don’t want to travel that old crooked country road.” I thought, to whom does he think he is talking? I’ve traveled country roads before, and I’m in a car not a truck. Therefore, I took the country road.

     It started out great for about the first thirty miles. Then it began to wind back and forth, back and forth. All the way up this mountain, you could only go about ten, to fifteen miles per hour. I figured I had traveled too far into it to turn back, so I kept going. It didn’t take long to realize, I should have listened to the wisdom of someone who traveled these roads for a living.

     God has placed people in our lives that have traveled life’s roads before us, and from whom we can gain valuable wisdom. There are parents, pastors, and friends to help in life’s journey. We would do well to listen to all they have to say. It makes life’s journey more enjoyable.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     The best instruction comes from someone who not only knows the road already traveled, but also the road ahead. God is the only one who knows the beginning and the end. His Word will guide us through life’s winding trails. Let God be your guide.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 20, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  2 Chronicles 13 – 18     /     Proverbs 13:1-3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Kings 13-14     /    John 7:1-36

Waste Not, Want Not

May 19, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 12:25-28 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     For people who grew up in what has been called, “The Great Depression,” the idea of wasting things was out of the question. If that terrible time of financial despair had taught them anything, it was you use everything to its fullest. They also learned to take care of whatever they did have so it would last as long as possible.

     Today however we live in a disposable generation. Things are made to be tossed out. We’ve become so use to disposing of things, that some people toss out non-disposable items just because they don’t like them anymore. Most often, these things could have been donated to a charity, or given to a friend. However, to this disposable item generation, it’s just easier to toss them out, than to bother with all that.

     The idea in our verse of, “the slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting:” addresses just such a problem. The lazy, or careless man seems not to care about life itself, and wastes it. Not only do they waste belongings, but also their time, and talents as well. Then when life comes to an end, they often wonder why they have nothing to show for it. Many times, it’s because they had not treasured what they have had. Time was something they thought would never run out. Material things would come and go, and it always seemed as if you could get more. Their talents were often used on self, and selfish motives. In the end; the talents too began to flee.

     Remember, life itself is a gift from God. Which means, all the things and talents we have in this life are also gifts from Him. Knowing that God gives us these gifts is why our passage says; “the substance of a diligent man is precious.”


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     “Waste not, Want Not” was another saying of old. If we realize who the giver is, then everything He gives becomes very precious, and we will not desire to waste His gifts. If we don’t waste what He gives, He might be inclined then to trust us with even more. Hmmmm!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 19, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  2 Chronicles 7 – 12     /     Proverbs 12:25-28

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  1 Kings 11-12     /    John 6:34-71