Day 21 | 21-Day Growth Challenge | "Straight Talk About Prosperity God's Way"
SELECTED SCRIPTURES & INSIGHTS FROM PROVERBS 23:
Proverbs 23:4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. 5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.
People who only focus on getting rich end up deceiving themselves, wasting time, and losing the few resources they have. People who have worked their way into wealth have done so by focusing on excellence, providing wanted goods and services in the marketplace, working in the most profitable fields of endeavor, well educated in their area of expertise, connected to the right people, talented, hard-working, fortunate, and more. Needless to say, success is not easy.
Knowing what not to do, or to stop doing, is often as important to success as knowing what to do. Some types of wealth, like investments, can come and go in the "blink of an eye." The Great Recession of 2008 showed this to be true. For many people, they're vanishing wealth looked exactly like something that sprouted wings and flew away.
Proverbs 23:9 Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.
This is a harsh, but true statement. The problem this presents for us is that we must consider whether or not we are dealing with a fool. We don't want to judge people, but the Bible teaches us that a tree is known by its fruit. People who reject the word of God, and even common sense, are acting foolishly. Trying to give advice to such persons can be a waste of time. Certainly, we should pray for such persons and wait for God to open their hearts and make them receptive. On the other hand, let us not be the people who behave foolishly and are not open to correction and advice.
Proverbs 23:12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.
This scripture summarizes the key theme for the whole book of Proverbs. We must COMMIT OURSELVES to instruction. We don't simply attend church and say, "Amen!" We don't carry Bibles as accessories or look at preachers as if they are giving us opinions. We wholeheartedly received the Word of God and the wisdom of God, giving the best of our attention so that we might learn, grow, and change to become more Christlike.
Proverbs 23:17 Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.18 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.
Sometimes we look at sinners, consider their outward success, and wonder, "Lord why are you not blessing me?" Do not make the mistake of being jealous of people who do not serve God! As the text states, we should always continue to fear to Lord. The text also states that we will be rewarded for doing so, and our hope will not be disappointed! What a tremendous promise this is!
Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
The most influential people in our lives should be our fathers and our mothers. Even if your parents do not serve God in the way that you think they should, parents have lived longer than you, and they most certainly know more than you know about many things in life. Again, learning to listen is one of the great themes in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 23:29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.
These verses, and those that follow to the end of the chapter, provide a very stark warning concerning drunkenness and spending time in places where people drink.Drinking and getting drunk serve no useful purpose in life. Think of all the people that you know whose lives have been ruined by alcohol and other addictive substances. We can learn from people about things NOT to do.
Closing Thoughts:
I trust you have been blessed over these 21 days of reading through the first 23 chapters of the Book of Proverbs. I've been blessed to seek the Lord and post these daily nuggets of truth for you. We've only touched on a few of the principles contained in this marvelous book of Scripture. I pray you will continue to study God's Word, gain insights, and allow the Lord Jesus Christ to transform your life.
I'm confident that God will help us all to prosper His way, and serve his purposes in our generation!
~ Pastor Bryan Hudson
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"Lord, I bless You for giving me grace to read and study your Word. Help me to continue daily in your Word, learning about your ways. In Jesus' Name, Amen!"
ACTIVATION:
(Use comment section below to share your insights. Record sensitive items in your personal journal. You can login or simply use your first name.)
- What 2-3 key points stand out to you in this lesson?
- How has this 21 Day Growth Challenge, in whole or in part, helped you?
- Do you believe that you will prosper if you go God's way?
COMMENT SECTION:
Click on "Comments" to read others and add yours afterwards.
1. The 2-3 key points that stand out to me in this lesson:
ReplyDeletea. Proverbs 23:4 There is no point or benefit in wasting time trying to get rich. Money (and other resources) will come, and it will go, and we cannot take it with us when we leave this life. The point of life is to do the will of God and finish the assignments in life He has given us to do. Only what is done for Christ will last.
b. Proverbs 23:9 It is a waste of time talking to foolish people. Do not talk, but pray without ceasing because being foolish is a dangerous state to be in.
c. Proverbs 23:12 If we do not commit to the instruction of wisdom, be willing to listen and act on it, we cannot prosper God’s way.
2. This 21 Day Growth Challenge has reminded me of all the Godly wisdom contained in the word of God that speaks clearly to the issues we are f acing right now in life. I am encouraged that I can complete the challenge, and will use this encouragement to complete other matters that I have started. I have been inspired to commit myself to listen more and better and act on the instruction of wisdom. I had the opportunity to share the challenge website address with a co-worker.
3. I believe, without any doubt, that I will prosper if I go God’s way. The Lord will be faithful to perform what He has promised. I have the evidence of this in God’s creation all around me, in the lives of the record of people in the word of God, in the lives of the people in the church family, and my witness of the mercy and faithfulness of God in what He has already done in my life.
1)Proverbs 23:12 "Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge". This is a crucial life lesson.
ReplyDeleteWe must be committed to listen to wisdom. It is a foolish and arragant person that does not give attention to instruction and councel. Proverbs 23:17 "Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.18 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed." It is impotant to remember taht God has not forgotten any of his promisies to us and it doesn't matter what others have or seem to have because we have a greater hope.
2)I have been reminded to press into wisdom and knowledge for I will reap a harvest of blessings.
3) I beieve I am prospering God's way. Sometimes we just need to pause...and consider wisdom. My prayer is and has always been for God to teach me his ways. The book of Proverbs is God teaching us his ways.
1.What 2-3 key points stand out to you in this lesson? Procerbs:22:9 Tells us not to waste our nreath on fools because they will dispise the wise person and their advice.
ReplyDeleteProverbs 22:17 tells us not to evny the evil unwise persons for what they have, but trust God and reep what you sow. In due season you shall reap if you faint not. Don't become weary in doing well.
2.How has this 21 Day Growth Challenge, in whole or in part, helped you?
This whole study challenged us to spend more time with the word and each other. In His word it becomes evident to us that the more time you spend in His word the more our faith in him can grow.
3.Do you believe that you will prosper if you go God's way? Yes! We have already seen and experienced the evidence of prospering God's way in our own lives. As we sow into the kingdom of God He sows into us His power and prosperity. Amen
1. the two verses that stand out to me most are: a.) Don't envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. You will be rewarded for this, your hope will not be disappointed. b.) Don't waste your breath on fools' for they will despise the wisest advice. Point-a I believe temptation is always waiting around the corner for us all when we are believing God to answer a prayer. But the joy, and good feeling on the inside we feel when we know how close we could have come being tempted,but waited to gain Gods way. Point-b Many times we see people and their foolish thought, foolish deeds, and careless ways--we want to have the right words hoping to make a difference, but the more you talk or try to help...the more angry they become.
ReplyDelete2.The 21-day challenge has helped me to push harder to piece together time, to not let situations keep me from my source of energy and strength.
3. Yes, I believe I will prosper if I go God's way, it's His promise, and He is not a God who will lie, nor speak something He can't bring to pass.