Wednesday, April 13, 2022

today's meditation (Pr.13) Understanding Wealth

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 13:1-25)
1   A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
     But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2   From the fruit of a person’s mouth he enjoys good,
     But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
3   One who guards his mouth protects his life;
     One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4   The soul of the lazy one craves and gets nothing,
     But the soul of the diligent is made prosperous.
5   A righteous person hates a false statement,
     But a wicked person acts disgustingly and shamefully.
6   Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless,
     But wickedness brings the sinner to ruin.
7   There is one who pretends to be rich but has nothing;
     Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.
8   The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth,
     But the poor hears no rebuke.
9   The light of the righteous rejoices,
     But the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 Through overconfidence comes nothing but strife,
     But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
11 Wealth obtained from nothing dwindles,
     But one who gathers by labor increases it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
     But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 One who despises the word will do badly,
     But one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
     To turn aside from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding produces favor,
     But the way of the treacherous is their own disaster.
16 Every prudent person acts with knowledge,
     But a fool displays foolishness.
17 A wicked messenger falls into adversity,
     But a faithful messenger brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame will come to one who neglects discipline,
     But one who complies with rebuke will be honored.
19 Desire realized is sweet to the soul,
     But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
20 One who walks with wise people will be wise,
     But a companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Adversity pursues sinners,
     But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.
22 A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
     And the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 Abundant food is in the uncultivated ground of the poor,
     But it is swept away by injustice.
24 He who withholds his rod hates his son,
     But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
     But the stomach of the wicked is in need.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
The person who relies on their own means to get rich, and relies on their own righteousness to save themselves, will lose everything after they die.  The person who is lazy and wants other people to do everything for them will be poor, physically and/or spiritually.  But the person who humbles themselves (who becomes poor in spirit), realizing their need for Jesus and His salvation and His righteousness, has riches waiting for them in heaven.  
Meanwhile, God blesses the righteous here on earth.  It may or may not be with monetary wealth, but the person who has given everything to God to manage will understand that life is not about having physical wealth.  That person will be very thankful and content with whatever God does give them, because they understand - as they trust Him - God will see to their every need!

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