What Is Important In Your Life

 Wisdom Recognizes What is Important

 Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 7

 From the earliest times, the name given to a child was supposed to indicate some characteristic of that child.

 Today, we mostly set a nickname on them, and sometimes it sticks for life.

 We should ask ourselves; do we have a good name?

 The Lord Jesus says that we can get a new name: Rev_2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

 We know we are all appointed to a day of death, which really means life to the Christian, but dying with a good name is far better than being born into prosperity.

 Death is appointed to every person.

Death is a matter we all need to take seriously.

 We know that after our salvation, the most important factor for being successful in this life is wisdom, but only that wisdom that comes by the "Fear of the Lord".

 King Solomon was better known for his wisdom than he was his riches.

 It is more important today to live wisely than it was in the day of Solomon.

 The Holy Spirit has given us this collection of simple, practical sayings that we can live by.

 We must live wisely day by day.

 Every day we live is good or bad according to the choices we make that day!

 *****Ecc 7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

 We already know that the most important decision we will make in this life is that decision to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in salvation.

 So, we have to learn what matters in this life. The world will offer nothing but confusion!

 We must learn to discern between the good and the bad; Php 1:9  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 

Php 1:10  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 

Php 1:11  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

 Precious ointment in the day of Solomon was so valuable that only the rich could afford it.

 Average people could seldom afford to waste what little money they had on such things as perfume.

 This ointment cost nearly a year's wages; Joh 12:3  Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 

Joh 12:4  Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 

Joh 12:5  Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

 The Holy Spirit is teaching us that if we have to choose between a good name and a lifestyle of the rich and famous, it would be best for us to choose the good name.

 Many of us will question whether the day of our death is more important than the day of our birth.

 If we had not been born, how could we ever die that death? This is a promotion for the Christian.

 If the Lord Jesus Christ had not been born as a human, how could He ever die for our sins?

 To me, the difference is that the Lord Jesus had a miraculous birth, but we are all born in sin.

 The time we have between the time of our birth and the time of our death is the time that we get to make the right choice about the Gospel.

 For the Christian, the time of our death is a promotion to the glory world.

 Php 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

Php 1:22  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 

Php 1:23  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 

Php 1:24  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 

 I feel a whole lot like the Apostle Paul felt about this thing.

 I do not want to stay one more day upon this earth than is necessary, but I know for some in my family it is better for me to stay here for as long as God will allow me.

 The truth for the Christian is: 2Co 5:6  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 

2Co 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 

2Co 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 For the unbeliever, these things are not true because they do not have the promise of eternal life; they live every day with the promise of eternal death.

 *****Ecc 7:2  It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

 We should understand that the day of a person's death is better than a joyful feast is only true if Jesus Christ is not involved!

 We who love Jesus Christ know that to depart this world is very much better.

 Php 1:23  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

 Any reasonable person will admit that going to a festival is more enjoyable than a funeral.

 No one gets excited about attending a funeral of a family member or a friend.

 For me, death hits me right in the heart because in Vietnam, I saw death, and it is terrible, and I would rather not be around death because it brings back memories I would love to forget.

 I accept this scripture because I know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.

 To those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Savior, it is better to go to the house of mourning because death is something that every living soul needs to take seriously.

 There is death coming to this body of flesh we live in!

 Most of us will reflect on our own mortality at a funeral.

 In many cases, God the Holy Spirit will go to work at funerals, and in their conscience and thoughts, they will begin to feel that there can be some kind of life after death.

 We must take the time to think about what we can do to prepare for our death and help others to prepare for their death.

 Ecc_12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

 Even if you do not believe in God, our Creator, you should wonder why we do not live longer in this great world of technology.

 Heb_2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

 Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 It is a Holy God who holds the power of life and death in His hands.

 God is not saying to avoid the right causes for celebrating because God gives much to celebrate.

 If we wait till the day of our death, we will have missed out on God's promise of life.

 *****Ecc 7:3  Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 

Ecc 7:4  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 

 We can feel sorrow or sadness for many reasons!

 Our emotions depend upon the cause of our distress.

 We cannot wish that death would simply go away.

 There will never be a life-giving serum that will overcome death.

 This was God's purpose for sending His Son to death.

 There is no life in pleasure because pleasure is short-term.

 Sorrow brings benefits to life that pleasure cannot.

 Sorrow causes us to release our emotions and draw closer to others.

 The world looks at life on the animal plane, while the child of God looks at life on the Spiritual plane.

 Life is not hopeless if we look through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Those who take the "leap of faith" into the truth of the Gospel will not be in despair because of hopelessness.

 Solomon says life is in vain, while Jehovah says true life is in our future after this short life we live today.

 We must allow sorrow to do its work in our lives while thinking about the sorrow that our Lord Jesus Christ endured both on and off the cross, then we can see the impact it had on His life, which is our life.

 Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 

Heb 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 

 Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 

Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 

 It is a fool who rejects the truth of Jehovah God!

 *****Ecc 7:5  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. 

Ecc 7:6  For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. 

Ecc 7:7  Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. 

 None of us likes to be corrected.

 None of us like to be scolded.

 None of us like to be criticized.

 People just prefer flattery and compliments.

 The fool is blind to Spiritual things.

 If we want to be serious about God's plan for our lives, we have to deal with wise people who will help us live our lives.

 Those who have the "fear of the Lord" cannot take away all our grief or solve all our problems, but they can show how to deal with them.

 A fool has nothing to offer to those with a broken heart!

 A fire for cooking will not last very long if it is built out of thorns and has no effect on the cooking pot.

 It is foolish to see if the pot is boiling.

 Thorns do not even make the pot warm.

There is not enough fuel in those thorns to cook with.

 It is a fool who thinks he will not see death at any time.

 It is a fool who seeks only laughter but is blind to the essentials of life.

 In reality, humans are poor judges of what is real and of lasting value unless we know the truth of the Gospel!

 A gift intended as a bribe might cause us to act differently from our understanding of the truth if we allow it.

 There are two ways to make a wise man mad.

 1) By suffering oppression from other so-called wise men.

2) By being offered a bribe to oppress others.

 This is the vanity of worldly wisdom that causes corruption and loss to those who cannot afford any loss.

 *****Ecc 7:8  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 

 At the beginning of a matter, it is not clear how it will develop, but only at the end of a matter.

 It can only be determined if it is useful information and important if we wait until the end to form our judgment.

 It is the same in Spiritual matters as it is in practical living.

 Sometimes our lives are like unfinished projects. They start good, but we run out of steam before we can finish them.

 It is better to finish something we have started than to start something new in almost every case.

 To the righteous man, we must realize that the important things in life are not quickly completed.

 The things that really matter require commitment, determination, and discipline.

 It is not always easy to live the Christian life!

 Again, the Lord Jesus is our example: Joh 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 

 We may not think of it, but it is a great thing to come to the end of our lives knowing that we have completed the thing that God had planned for us to accomplish.

 We need patience to continue in the plan of God for our lives and see it to the end.

 Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 

 Life is too short, and our opportunities are limited for us to make a name that is good as our days come to an end.

 God does not lead us to begin something that He will not give us time to finish!

 *****Ecc 7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 

 People who can hold their temper are wise for many reasons.

 Pride is the reason for those who cannot and lack patience.

 Many people get mad at God when something tragic happens in their lives or the life of a family member.

 Many people get mad at God when it does not seem that God will answer their prayers.

 These people will get mad at other people for these same reasons!

 The Word of God stresses the importance of controlling our anger.

 Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 

 We can be eaten away with anger.

 Any sin of the flesh can be conquered by following the Word of God.

 1) We must know that a quick temper is a sin.

2) We must realize that we are wearing the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

3) We must listen to the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

4) We must die to ourselves, allowing Jesus Christ to live through us.

5) We must be prepared to battle the temptation to become angry by memorizing and recalling Scripture when it is needed.

 Col 3:8  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 

 *****Ecc 7:10  Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. 

 When we talk about the good old days, the Lord Jesus teaches us, we are not thinking right.

 It is not profitable to live in the past!

 When we think back, we tend to think of only happy days, and we forget that our past had its bad days, too.

 The world is always changing, so expecting things to stay the same is unrealistic.

 This world we live in is in constant deterioration, not progressing into a better world.

 We are to focus on today and not tomorrow.

 God will be just as faithful tomorrow as He is today.

 Listen to the Apostle Paul:

 Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 *****Ecc 7:11  Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 

Ecc 7:12  For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. 

Ecc 7:13  Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 

Ecc 7:14  In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. 

 Wisdom is a source of wealth and is precious, and is to be used wisely.

Wisdom is greatly desired.

Wisdom is one of the gifts we can get from God just by asking Him for it.

Wisdom is gained from those who have gone on before us.

 If we receive an inheritance, it is something that was earned through the efforts of those who went before us.

It is the same with wisdom.

 Wisdom is somewhat like money. It can be used wisely, or it can be thrown away.

Wisdom will retain its value unless we foolishly forsake it.

 Jehovah God is the source of perfect wisdom, and He will share it with all His children.

 There is no other knowledge that gives life like the knowledge of God the Father and God the Son, the Gospel.

 No one can change anything God has done or what He says He will do!

 The more we dispute God, the less we will understand!

 We must remember one most important thing!

 Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

 Why would we want to change anything God has already done when He did those things for His children's betterment?

 God brings prosperity and adversity to our lives, and He has His reasons.

 When we are on the mountain, we need to enjoy it to the fullest because it will not be very long before we are in a valley.

 Listen and learn from Job:

 Job 1:21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 

Job 1:22  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. 

 God's wisdom helps us accept that we cannot know what tomorrow will bring, but we do know what our ending will be.

 Our faith must stay steady.

 God is not committed to our short-term happiness.

God is committed to our salvation and our character after salvation!

 We cannot go through this life wondering, "What if I had done things differently”?

 It is our Heavenly Father who is in control of the years, the months, the days, the hours, the minutes, and the seconds of our lives.

 We are to learn from the things we go through and be better because we went through them!

 God knows what is best for us!

 *****Ecc 7:15  All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 

Ecc 7:16  Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 

Ecc 7:17  Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 

Ecc 7:18  It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

 Many times we as Christians are miserable because we see wickedness prosper while Christians suffer.

 1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

 It seems the ungodly prosper in this world and no one cares if they do it illegally.

 It is only when we know the truth that we begin to understand.

 Psa 73:17  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 

Psa 73:18  Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 

Psa 73:19  How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 

 I do not think we realize until we get old just how fragile these bodies we live in are.

 We should be amazed that these bodies last into the seventy years that are mentioned in the Scriptures.

 Why do bad things happen to good people, and why do the wicked prosper in their wicked lives?

 When we look over the things in this world, we see that life is far different from what we expect.

 God does not always reward the righteous, and God does not always punish the wicked.

 Some people believe that only the good die young.

 The truth is that there are no guarantees in life.

 There is no formula for a long, prosperous, trouble-free existence.

 The truth is it is a sin to elevate ourselves over others in our judgment!

 We must never elevate ourselves to the place of God.

 It is a sin to think we are wiser than God!

 It is a sin to assume that living righteously places God under some obligation to us.

 God will keep every promise He has made to us in His own time and in His own place of choosing.

 We are not to become Pharisees and make salvation a works doctrine.

 1Pe 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 

1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 

 We must never think we can commit a wicked deed and prosper as the wicked did when doing that same deed.

 A life of excessive sin will most times lead to premature death.

 We see this every day in the news.

 Our world is becoming worse just as the Lord has said.

 2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

 The only answer we need to the things we see is for us to continue our walk in the name of Jesus Christ.

 We must walk daily in the "fear of the Lord".

 As long as we are on this earth, we will have to learn to deal with the brutal reality that we live in a sinful and wicked world.

 Our Heavenly Father is never unjust, and He never makes a mistake.

 We should understand that death is our friend and not our enemy.

 The Lord is always working out things for the good of us: Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

 What happens here on earth is not our final outcome!

 There is ultimate condemnation coming to the wicked!

 Psa 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 

Psa 37:2  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

 *****Ecc 7:19  Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 

Ecc 7:20  For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

 There is great strength that comes from the wisdom of the Lord!

 It is by the wisdom of God that this world could conquer sin, if this world wanted to conquer sin.

 We know that the world is too involved in sin to want sin eradicated.

 We will face temptations all day in this world.

 1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

 This world is the domain of the Devil.

 1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

 Sin will rob us of our effectiveness in this world.

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

We must face sin and deal with it according to the Word of God.

Our penalty for sin has already been paid at Mount Calvary.

We know that God is always right.

God's wisdom warns us of the dangers that lie ahead of us until He takes us home.

Amen

Our World is Full of Vain People

 Wisdom's Observation of Vanity and Vexation of Spirit

 Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 4

 What is the providence of God? It is a continuous and progressive revelation of Jehovah God, whose never-failing providence orders all things both in Heaven and Earth.

 Belief in Providence stands or falls with belief in a personal God.

 The Lord Jesus has taught us that the laws of nature are the established methods of His Heavenly Father's workings and that they fulfill and reveal His Will.

 Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 

Mat 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

 Mat 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 

Mat 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

Mat 10:31  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

 As humans, we like to ignore the problems that exist around us because they trouble us and rob us of our happiness.

 We just do not want to be a part of the difficulties and crises around us.

 The truth is that life is full of problems.

 Every day, we see people who are the victims of the circumstances of wickedness and the sin in our world.

 Did God cause these things? Certainly, He did not.

 Does God cause our pain and sorrows? Absolutely not.

 I should say in chastisement, we could have some pain, but we must be one of God’s children to receive chastisement.

 These are the things the “god of this world” causes; 2Co_4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 Great men and many politicians stand up and tell us how they are going to make this world a better place, but they all fail.

 Today, some rich men want to leave this world and establish another place in outer space because they see that nothing can make this world better.

 They are all wrong because only God has a plan for this world that will work.

 1Co_1:20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

 This world must turn to the Almighty God and have faith in His providence, and it begins with faith.

 1Jn_4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

1Jn_5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

 We must keep our eyes focused upon the God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 King Solomon saw all these things in His wisdom, and He came to the same conclusion.

 *****Ecc 4:1  So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 

Ecc 4:2  Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. 

Ecc 4:3  Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 

 Why did Solomon write this verse?

 Ecc 3:16  And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 

Ecc 3:17  I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

 The world is full of injustice, yet the world goes about trying to solve minute problems that cannot be solved without first stopping injustice.

 Much sorrow in this world comes from injustice!

 The true power in our world is in the hands of oppressors.

 God solved this problem with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Isa_19:20  And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

 As wise as King Solomon was and with his great wealth, he could do nothing about this oppression, this injustice, or this inequality.

 In fact, he was part of it. We know the children of Israel suffered under his high taxes.

 Solomon became frustrated, and he should have.

 The politics of America is at a stalemate, and the politicians are frustrated because they cannot do anything about it as they are seeking worldly answers to avoid a Spiritual truth.

 Unless America turns back to the God of the Bible, we will remain divided, and we see that those who are pushing communism are showing strength when they should be ignored.

 We should understand that power always lies with the oppressors because power is the breeding ground of oppression.

 Power corrupts, as we have seen in the last twenty years of our own nation.

 When reformers take over power, they turn into tyrants, which will not solve the problems.

 When the Lord Jesus saw this in Jerusalem, what did He do? Jesus wept.

 Then He was crucified.

 Psa 69:20  Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. 

 Solomon's only conclusion was that the dead are better off than the living.

 God says those who choose His Savior are far better off than the dead.

 Jhn_11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

 Solomon said even the stillborn and aborted are better off than those who experience life in this world.

 They will not see the evil activity of the oppressors, nor the grief of the oppressed.

 Solomon is right about one thing. These stillborn children and all the aborted children are already in Heaven, and they will certainly miss out on the wickedness of this world.

 As far as we who believe, all these things should drive us closer to God!

 As Christians, we are not to become so self-consumed that we are blind to those who are oppressed.

 We have the answers to the world's problems, and it is in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 There is no other answer to the world's problems!

 *****Ecc 4:4  Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

 The truth is that in most workplaces, each worker constantly lives in a state of competition with other workers.

 Those bosses are always looking at who shines the brightest.

 Because we all want to be successful, we get caught up in these things.

 Envy and jealousy in the workplace cause all sorts of problems.

 It causes problems in the workplace, and it causes problems in the home.

 Remember Joseph; Gen 37:4  And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 

 Remember the brother of the prodigal son;

 Luk 15:25  Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 

Luk 15:26  And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 

Luk 15:27  And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 

Luk 15:28  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

 The desire to succeed becomes meaningless when envy rules the heart.

 Envy robs people of satisfaction and the true purpose behind achievement.

 What is God's answer? Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

 *****Ecc 4:5  The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 

 Here we see the fool who has seen what hard work is accomplished by others, and many of them do not get a fair return for their labor.

 This fool folds his hands and only works hard enough to get paid.

 He will never amount to much, and his reputation will follow him.

 We already know that to be lazy is a sin.

 We already know that God says those who are lazy should not eat.

 So, in reality, this fool is destroying himself, and he can blame no one but himself, though he will not accept it is his fault and blame it upon his circumstances.

 Isa 9:20  And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: 

 God expects us all to have a good work ethic.

 Col 3:23  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

 *****Ecc 4:6  Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. 

 We have seen people who are obsessed with working to outdo those around them, which caused some to be envious of them.

 Then we have seen those people too lazy to work at all and destroy themselves.

 Now we see people who are zealous because they are greedy and covetous and can never get enough.

 The one who has worked enough with one hand to satisfy his family and, on the other hand, spends time with his family, lives in peace.

 The person who works to have both hands full is still not satisfied, is full of turmoil, and is restless.

 Those who are filled with the wisdom of God and have the necessities of life can experience peace.

 Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 

Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 

 When we are full of the wisdom of God, we can face less stress and lie our heads at night in peace!

 Those who can never get enough to satisfy them never have peace of mind.

 We must do our best to be good stewards of the things God allows us to have.

 1Co 7:17  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 

 *****Ecc 4:7  Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 

Ecc 4:8  There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 

Ecc 4:9  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 

Ecc 4:10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 

Ecc 4:11  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 

Ecc 4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 

 What is loneliness?

 Loneliness is considered an epidemic by the Surgeon General of the United States.

 It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death.

 God always knows what He is talking about!

 It is said that there are far too many lonely people on this earth.

 Many work hard and earn a lot, but have no one to share those things with.

 Loneliness is the emptiness of the human soul.

 Some people let work be their family, and it just does not work out in their favor.

 We need some relationships in our lives.

 We have to do things to change this situation if we are suffering from loneliness.

 We do need people around us to share our lives with.

 We must understand that people whom we can share our lives are much more important than material things we can possess.

 We need to love and feel loved.

We need companionship that comes from others.

We need our emotional needs met.

We need those around us who bring meaning to our lives.

We need the joy that others can provide us.

We have that feeling of satisfaction that we receive from being a companion to others.

 Two people can do things that one cannot.

 With two, there is always someone to help in certain situations.

 In the days of Solomon, people had to walk everywhere they went, and the same desert that brought heat during the day brought cold at night.

 Two people traveling together could better fend off the cold.

 Two people can defend themselves better than one who is alone.

 In fact, three would be better than two in this situation.

 There are three characteristics in the lives of each child of God.

 1Co_13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 We could also say that the three persons of the Holy Trinity are why our bond with our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be broken.

 Jhn_10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one. 

 We as Christians should reach out to those who are alone.

 Many who need the Lord Jesus Christ could end their loneliness: Psa 142:4  I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 

Psa 142:5  I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. 

 *****Ecc 4:13  Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 

Ecc 4:14  For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 

Ecc 4:15  I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 

Ecc 4:16  There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit. 

 If the word wise means having the wisdom of God, then it is far better to be a poor but wise young man than a rich and foolish old king who rejects the Word of God.

 That old king will still reap what he sows and be held accountable for it.

 Power has caused many good people to become wicked.

 Solomon is a great example of these things. He was a godly young man, and God allowed him wisdom far greater than any man, and yet he allowed his wicked wives to change him, and his kingship suffered because of it.

 He had the power and the wealth to do anything he chose to do, and he chose wickedness over godliness.

 People are fickle; we should remember the same people who shouted "Hosanna" when our Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem a few days later said, "Crucify Him".

 We live in the same world today where the minds of people are changed by the politics of our world.

 Everything changes because nothing but the Word of God lasts forever!

 We cannot please everyone, but we must do our best to trust the wisdom of God and serve Him.

 He is our King forever!

 When we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, we find that the rich and the poor have changed places.

 The children of God inherit the riches of Heaven, while the rich old kings become poor in this world, and their riches become meaningless.

 It is those who are lost in this world who are caught in the chains of the Devil, who, after giving their heart to the Lord Jesus, become the kings and priests of the Kingdom of God.

 Rev_1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev_5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

 Many believe that this passage is written in the thought of Joseph, who was made second only to Pharaoh.

 Gen 41:39  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 

Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 

Gen 41:41  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 

Gen 41:42  And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 

Gen 41:43  And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

 It is the same for the Christian during the Millennial Kingdom, when God's people will be rulers who will be second to King Jesus.

 Rev_3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 One day in the future, the Lord Jesus Christ will sit as King of this world for one thousand years, but He will rule with a rod of iron.

 Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 Every one of us has the desire to be respected and liked by others, and we have it in our power to make this so.

 If we live according to the Word of God, God's people will treat us as a brother or a sister.

 Most of the world will show us hatred because they hate the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Our identity must be found in our value to our Heavenly Father and who we are in Jesus Christ.

 The Lord Jesus Christ died so we could be saved, and He arose from that death to show us who He is.

 This is what truly matters in our lives!

 This is what makes us family to the Almighty God, and nothing upon this earth can change this.

 Those who trust in their popularity and in what others think about them will never be satisfied.

 They will fail to please the Lord, and they will die in their sin.

 Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 

 Amen

The Virtuous Woman

  Wisdom's Praise for the Virtuous, Wise Woman

 Book of Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 10-31

 Many things have been said throughout the Book of Proverbs about women of folly, foolish women, and wrong women, but the Holy Spirit would not finish this great book without telling us about the virtuous woman.

 No matter who we are, as men, we all have a desire for a virtuous woman.

 Virtuous means morally good, acting in conformity to moral law, practicing moral duties, and abstaining from vice.

 Conforming to Divine Law.

 How did a woman come about? Gen 2:21  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 

Gen 2:22  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 

Gen 2:23  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

 Only one man can join with one woman and be One Flesh, and this by marriage.

 The Lord Jesus said: Mat 19:4  And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 

Mat 19:5  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 

Mat 19:6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

 This is the definition of marriage, as defined by Almighty God.

 These are the only two humans that God has created!

 What does the Holy Spirit say about this virtuous woman?

 *****Pro 31:10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 

 The most important decision we will ever make is what we will do with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Are we going to believe Him and the Gospel, or are we going to ignore Him?

 The Bible says we are to submit to Him in complete obedience.

 We already know that submitting is far greater than just complying.

 Once we have accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the truth of God, then the Holy Spirit will come to live in our hearts, and we can know what it is to "Fear the Lord".

 For most of us, the next great decision we will make is the choice of our spouse.

 Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.  

 We can understand from this question in verse ten that it may not be easy to find a virtuous woman.

 What we see in this passage is the qualifications of an excellent wife.

 What we see in this passage is the embodiment of all the wisdom instructions contained in the previous thirty chapters.

 We have a portrait in words of an exceptionally wise woman who has the "Fear of the Lord".

 If we are a Christian male and fear the Lord, then if we are seeking a wife, we should seek a Christian female who also has the fear of the Lord.

 We must understand that because family relationships are the most important relationships in life, the character of the wife and mother is of great importance.

 Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

Eph 5:28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 

Eph 5:29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

Eph 5:31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 

Eph 5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 

Eph 5:33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. 

 We may read these words as describing a perfect wife and a perfect marriage, and we know that none of us is perfect, so for the husband to find such a godly wife, then that husband must be a God-fearing man living as close as he can to the Word of God.

 A virtuous woman is a woman who is noticed by many of God's people because she has an excellent character, no matter where she is or what she is doing.

 Rth 3:11  And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 

 A virtuous woman is a rare and precious treasure!

 We may think that such a woman does not exist, but she does.

 It is a fact that there may not be many of them.

 Women would say the same thing about us men.

 One thing is true to that man who has found a virtuous woman is richer than any king.

 This woman of wisdom is certainly a gift from the Lord.

 Pro 19:14  House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

 *****Pro 31:11  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Pro 31:12  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 

 One of the greatest qualities of this godly wife is the fact that her husband can trust her.

 He knows that this woman is devoted first to the Lord, next to him, and then to the family.

 He will not question her motives, and he will not question her words.

 He understands that such a woman will draw the attention of other men, but he knows she will never betray him.

 His heart is secure in her faithfulness!

 She has enriched his life and meets his needs, and he has hers.

 The one thing the Old Testament is good at is showing us examples.

 It spends a lot of time on godly men and things that God will punish us for.

 This passage is an example for godly women.

 Here we see faithfulness and purity, and these are things God expects from all His children.

 A good wife will commit that she will never act in a way that could cause her to lose the trust of her husband, and the husband must make this same commitment to the Lord.

 The world we live in today is so full of immorality that any signal from a woman or a man can be seen as saying they are available.

 The commandments of God do not even exist in modern society.

 Wedding vows are not sacred.

 Adultery is glorified and seen as normal behavior.

 God's Word is still the truth: 1Jn_2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

 Our commitments to our spouses must be important, and they must be real!

 In marriage, both spouses must be attentive to each other's needs.

 The primary need of women is still love and affection!

 The primary need of the husband is reverence and respect.

 We are to put the needs of our spouses before our own needs.

 The husband-and-wife relationship must be a picture of our relationship with Jesus Christ!

 Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

 To gain His bride, the Lord Jesus gave up everything to become a man, so that he could give His life to purchase His bride.

 We have no greater example of this for our own marriages!

 He gave Himself for us!

 Friendship with the world is committing Spiritual adultery.

 We are completely secure in the love of our Savior!

 Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 

Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one.

 Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 *****Pro 31:13  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 

Pro 31:14  She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 

Pro 31:15  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 

Pro 31:16  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 

 This is a woman of good works: 1Ti 2:10  But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 

 This home is founded on the commitment of a husband and wife and the love they share with their children.

 Her first concern is for her family to be well-clothed.

 She does not buy the clothes, nor does she buy the fabrics to make those clothes.

 She gets the raw materials, wool and flax to make the fabrics herself, and takes the time to get the best materials she can find.

 She works with her own hands.

 Wool comes from sheep and keeps the body warm when it's cold.

 Flax comes from the land and is used to make linen, which is for warmer days.

 In typology, the wool would indicate that the Church is to be a place of warm, loving interest in each member.

 Linen would represent righteous deeds of the members: Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

 She also provides food for her family, and she seeks out the best foods for them; she even brings it from afar.

 She is compared to ships and not a single ship.

 She eats the same food she prepares for all who live in her house.

 In typology, this is Spiritual food, and it comes from afar because it comes from Heaven, where our Lord Jesus Christ is today.

 It is the Lord Jesus who provides for the Church: Eph 5:29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

 This is the food she prepares and puts upon the table.

 For breakfast, she gets up before all others so the food will be ready when they awaken.

 She does not call upon her maidens; she does these things herself.

 She makes sure all those in her home start the day with a good breakfast.

 She then plans the day's work for her maidens.

 In typology, the Church is to be full of believers who serve each other the food of the Word of God.

 Each member has a purpose, and they are to do that task as well as they are able, but they need the nourishment of God's Word, that Heavenly Manna from on high.

 Each member receives their portion that is needed to perform the service God has given him or her.

 After taking care of the needs of her family, she is free to do things that will increase the family budget.

 She is also a good businesswoman who invests wisely.

 She buys the things she needs without going into debt.

 After she buys this field, she immediately plants a vineyard.

 In typology, that field is an area outside the Church where we can do the work of God.

 A vineyard speaks of joy in that work.

 That field can represent the family of God because the Church is to be made up of families.

 Every family in the Church that lives for God is a great joy to our Heavenly Father.

 A strong Church is a blessing in the place where it is located.

 *****Pro 31:17  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 

Pro 31:18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 

Pro 31:19  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

 Laziness is one of those things that God hates, but the virtuous woman is never lazy.

 We see her work begins before daylight and continues after all others are in bed.

 She is a symbol of strength, and in typology, she represents the Church, which is also to be a symbol of strength.

 Most of the churches in America are failing in this issue today, and attacks against the Church have increased because the Church appears to be so weak, and it is a shame.

 The Word of God is being twisted and turned till the truth has been removed, and this is another reason God will first judge the Church, and He will accept no excuses!

 The strength of the Church is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is no longer relevant in much of the Church of today.

 Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

 The Lord Jesus says: Rev_3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

 We see this wise woman is always evaluating the work she has done, and it must be the same for the Church.

 There is only one way that will work for the Church!

 Jer_6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

 Much of the Church will no longer walk in the ways that work and have teamed up with the world in ways that are destroying much of the Church.

 We see the candle of this wise woman does not go out at night, and her house is spared from the disasters of the wicked.

 The Church must always be alert to the wickedness of the world and the wiles of the Devil.

 This wise woman sees that her clothes are in demand from others, and she sells some of them along with her produce that she grows.

 It is the same for the Church; the Gospel message is still in high demand from those who have never heard it, and the same Gospel that worked in the days of the Apostles will still work today.

 1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 Just as this wise woman will be blessed the Bride of Christ will be blessed if it remains diligent in the work the Lord has given us to do.

 The Lord Jesus promises a reward for our labors!

 We will all stand before the Lord and give an account for what we have done, good or bad.

 1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

 *****Pro 31:20  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 

 We have seen that this wise woman cares much for her family, but she does not forget those who are poor and needy.

 She is compassionate and caring.

 We must understand that the Church must never be seen as standoffish and must share with the less fortunate.

 There are far too many people in our area who are spiritually poor and needy.

 The Church should extend its hand and help with spiritual blessings.

 There all always people who are in need, and there may be some inside the Church that we just have not noticed, but we should.

 It is not just the poor but also those members who have become too old to get out and those who, through sickness, can no longer get out.

 If we truly love the Lord, we will be compassionate and help others when we are able, and this includes the Church.

 In fact, this should be a ministry of the Church.

 Rom 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 

 *****Pro 31:21  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 

 She does not just think of today, but she prepares for the future.

 This cold, dead world does not bother her because she shows the warmth of love in her home.

 No matter what is going on outside, she has prepared her family for it.

 That word scarlet describes the quality of the things this wise woman has prepared for those times of uncertainty.

 The Church, full of love and warmth, will attract those who are seeking a place of rest.

 The Church must be prepared to face this cold and worsening world.

 The Bible tells us that this world will never improve, but there will always be souls that need saving.

 Life is far shorter than we realize, and we cannot predict the future except for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ.

 In Psalms 22, which refers to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, He says: Psa 22:6  But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 

 That worm refers to a crimson worm that had to die to produce a dye used for the color scarlet.

 *****Pro 31:22  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

 This noble wife takes great pride in her appearance and in being attractive and appealing to her husband.

 She could buy anything she needed, but she prefers to make them herself.

 She uses the skills God has given to her, and she lives according to the Word of God.

 The Lord Jesus clothes His bride in the very best: Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 The Bride of Christ is clothed in fine linen: Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 

 As husbands, we should provide nice things for our wives if we are to be like Jesus Christ.

 *****Pro 31:23  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 

 This husband was known in the community, and part of the reason was that his wife was so diligent and supportive of Him.

 A noble wife will help her husband, and many wives contribute to their husbands’ success.

 It is the same for the Bride of Christ.

 A diligent, hardworking Church will brag on the Lord Jesus.

 Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

 The Church has a high calling: Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 He sits among the elders: Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 

 *****Pro 31:24  She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 

 This wise woman provides for her family.

She cares for the poor.

She encourages her husband and his position as head of the family.

 Now we see she wants to serve her family with her abilities but charges a price for her services.

 What she delivers is quality!

 We see there is nothing in Scripture that says a woman cannot work to help provide for her family.

 We know that her priority is for her family, and everything else is secondary to this first thing.

 1Ti 5:8  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 

 Tit 2:4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 

Tit 2:5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 

 We know that there is a price to be paid to be a Christian.

 We are to be Born Again into a godly life as much like Jesus Christ as we are able.

 The truth must be bought: Pro 23:23  Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

 Truth is not some doctrine, but it consists of wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

 These things are more valuable in life than any material riches and are necessary to make life on earth have any value.

 This value is eternal and is connected to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 The purchase price is the time we invest in the Word of God.

 Learning the truth of God takes time and effort, and the Holy Spirit.

 Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

 We know that a sinner cannot pay anything to be saved.

 We can be saved only by grace: Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

 *****Pro 31:25  Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 

Pro 31:26  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 

Pro 31:27  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 

Pro 31:28  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 

Pro 31:29  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 

We have already seen where this wise woman is adorned in elegance and modesty, but her true beauty is inside her.

1Ti 2:9  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 

1Ti 2:10  But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 

She possesses strength, honor, and dignity.

She is esteemed and honored by others as a woman with a strong character.

This is a product of the wisdom of God, our Heavenly Father.

She is ready for her future and does not fear the unexpected.

She stands upon a firm foundation.

She has sown righteousness in her life and in her family, and God promises she will reap the same.

Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Living in the fear of the Lord brings great benefits.

Psa_103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

The Church owes all strength and dignity to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strength and dignity are the attributes of our Heavenly Father, and the Church should exhibit them.

The Church must always be the Lamb's wife who has made herself ready, dressed in fine linen for the Bridegroom.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

She offers helpful and reliable counsel.

When she opens her mouth, only wisdom comes from it.

Col 4:6  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. 

She is always watchful for anything or anyone who would harm her family and never passive in this area.

Nothing escapes her attention!

Her children want the world to know how precious their mother is to them.

Today, not many children honor their parents, but they should know that there is nothing more precious than loving parents.

Her husband praises her and expresses great appreciation for the support she has always given him.

Her husband knows he could not have chosen a better spouse for himself and his family.

Her driving force has always been the "fear of the Lord".

Pro 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

It is no different for the Church!

Only through the reverence of our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is it able to express itself in a way that will reap the praise of God.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 

*****Pro 31:30  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 

Pro 31:31  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. 

This last passage should strike a note with us because the Lord Jesus said deceit is the main ingredient in these last days.

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 

Mat 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 

This wise woman does not focus on deception.

She knows that personality and popularity do not always reveal a person's true character.

People are not always genuine.

Many people today are masters at deceit, trying to get what they want from others, and the world is full of them at this time.

She can stand her ground because of her relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is our fear of the Lord who will lead us in the right direction.

She has given her life to raising her family and being a good wife to her husband.

No reward in this world can be given for the work she has done, for there is no work more important than the work she has done every day.

It is the same for the Church that remains the Bride of Christ.

There is no more important work than that of the Church that remains with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 

Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire. 

It is the "fear of the Lord" that is the secret to a successful, satisfying, and blessed life here and then the great rewards of our Heavenly Home.

The Church has one job, and it is to remain close to Jesus Christ and do the work He has given us to do.

There is no greater work than this!

Amen

Bible Teaching Human Relations

 Wisdom's Instructions on Human Relations

 Book of Proverbs Chapter 27

 What are our duties as the children of God?

 Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 

Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 

 After the Holy Spirit guided Solomon through the entire Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon sees that there is truly one duty that every human is to have.

 "We are to have a reverent fear of the Lord and keep His commandments".

 Everything in this world is meaningless unless we see it through the eyes of Jehovah.

 There is safety and peace in the keeping of the commandments of our self-existing God.

 The Word of God is just as valuable today as it was in the days of Solomon and all the writers of Scripture, led by the Holy Spirit, and even more so as we approach the end of the Church Age.

 Our eternal existence depends upon our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the giver and the taker of life!

 Our one job is to please our Heavenly Father through His Son!

 This begins when we recognize sin and avoid it.

 *****Pro 27:1  Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 

Pro 27:2  Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. 

Pro 27:3  A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. 

Pro 27:4  Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? 

 We should understand that no matter how our day goes, it is a day that God by His Almighty Power causes or allows to happen according to His plan for us.

 If we rely on what we think tomorrow will bring, according to the day we live now, we can be totally disappointed.

 All our plans are secondary to the plan of God!

 When we ignore what God has said, it is a sin as much as any other sin!

 We are blind and arrogant to think that we hold power over our own lives.

 This does not mean we are not to plan and even plan for the future, but we had better remain flexible with our plans.

 We cannot take tomorrow for granted, and only God can direct our future; and it is sin not to know this.

 God's plans will always prevail.

 Let the Lord Jesus teach us on this: Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

 There is another proverb that should be more important to us: 2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 

 God is saying we do not know what tomorrow will bring, so do not put off today what needs to be done today.

 If the Lord Jesus returns this afternoon and you are waiting till next week to talk to the preacher about salvation, it will be too late for you to get to Heaven.

 It is the same thing if the Lord has laid it upon you to witness to a certain person and you put it off for a few days, and all of a sudden, the trumpet sounds and we're out of here.

 We may think we are the best that the Lord has to offer to the world, but we are never to brag about ourselves.

 If we are just doing what the Lord has commanded us to do, there is no reward for that, it's obedience.

 If we are not obedient, we are living in sin!

 If we boast about how great we are, we will forget how great the Lord is.

 Humility, not boasting, will cause others to think more of us, especially the Lord.

 2Co 10:17  But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 

2Co 10:18  For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. 

 As we go through life as a Christian, we will find there are many daily irritations that can make our life unbearable, but if we come face to face with a fool, the Spiritual effort it takes to deal with him is far greater than anything else we face.

 Pro 16:22  Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. 

 Envy, which includes jealousy, will consume and destroy even the strongest Christian, and we must avoid them.

 Remember, Cain slew Abel because of jealousy and became the first murderer in the Bible and caused strife in the first family that existed.

 Joseph, the son of Jacob, was sold into slavery because of jealousy.

 King Saul tried to kill David because of jealousy.

 Envy is the most dangerous of all sinful emotions.

 Pro 6:34  For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore, he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 

 Many times, we ignore these sins in our lives, and we think we are living according to the Word of God when we are living in unconfessed sin, and our prayer life will suffer because of it.

 The Lord Jesus Christ has given us the power to overcome all sin in our lives, but we must recognize them as sin.

 The closer we stay to living according to the Word of God, we will understand that all sin is an abomination to our Heavenly Father.

 Next, we must always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

 When we feel someone tugging at our heart, there is no need to look around on the outside because it will be the Spirit on the inside ringing our bell.

 We must swallow our pride, admit our sin, and we will see an improvement in our prayer life and in our lives.

 *****Pro 27:5  Open rebuke is better than secret love. 

Pro 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 

Pro 27:7  The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 

Pro 27:8  As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place. 

Pro 27:9  Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. 

Pro 27:10  Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. 

 We meet a lot of people throughout our lifetime, but only a few can we say are our friends.

 How can we say we are good friends if we do not love them enough to point out bad behavior?

 We are never to ignore their bad behavior or anything which could be called evil.

 It's the same with our children. How can we say that we love them if we do not tell them about their bad behavior and try to correct them at any age?

 Pro 3:12  For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 

 Real friends will confront each other with the truth!

 A true friend will get over that rebuke and remain your friend.

 Many of us tend to overindulge, especially when we are eating our favorite meal.

 Even that favorite meal will lose its taste when we reach the point where we cannot take another bite.

 We know our health should be maintained before we reach this point.

 We sometimes forget that a hungry person will eat anything they are offered, even if they do not like the taste of it.

 Pro 22:9  He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. 

 True friends will help the needy.

 A bird that strays from the nest shows no regard for the family it leaves behind, and they will perish without its help.

 For a father or a mother to desert loved ones is not different.

 We simply are not to walk away from those we love!

 As far as the Jews, this applied to those who left their nation to live in some other nation.

 God's plan encompasses the community of people beyond the family.

 We must understand that God has placed us wherever we live, and unless God calls for us to go somewhere else, then His intention is for us to remain where He has placed us.

 This is our mission field.

 What did God tell Cain after he murdered Abel? Gen 4:12  When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 

 Look at what happened to Naomi.

 Rth 1:1  Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 

Rth 1:2  And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab and continued there. 

Rth 1:3  And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 

Rth 1:4  And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 

Rth 1:5  And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 

 God made something good come out of this tragedy in the family of Naomi, for this is what God does, but maybe they should have stayed in Bethlehem.

 Our purpose cannot be fulfilled when we run away from it!

 Maybe we should not run away from the friends that God has allowed us to establish unless it is God who leads us to do so.

 Good friends are just too hard to find!

 True friends can help heal each other in times of sorrow and times of need.

 Wounds of the heart are especially painful, and a good friend can help heal that pain.

 Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 

Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Gal 5:15  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 

 In today's world, we need more friends and not fewer friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ are to always be our friends and we theirs.

 A friend of your father who is now your friend shows a connection to the family and should be regarded as a true friend.

 We should not only love our friends, but we should also love our friends' children.

 Most of the time, we do not need the help of our friends, but on that day, we do, and it is good to know that help will come.

 True friends are priceless!

 A good friend who is available is far better than a family that lives miles away from you.

 A wise child of God will cherish and value their friends.

 Our greatest friend is the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

 *****Pro 27:11  My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. 

Pro 27:12  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. 

Pro 27:13  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 

Pro 27:14  He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. 

 If we raise our children according to the Word of God, we will certainly be criticized by the world.

 The world will say we are doing it wrong.

 They will be taught to follow certain godly rules.

 They will be denied certain freedoms that the children of the world will partake in.

 They will be removed from certain teachings in the schools that go against the Word of God.

 The world will say, As Christians, we are being too oppressive to our children.

As a Christian, I say, the world allows Marxist teachers, and terrorist to brainwash their children.

 That wise child will bring great joy to his parents if they have listened and learned the reasons why these things are important.

 How we and our children go through life reflects our upbringing.

 When we are trained to recognize the pitfalls of life, then we can avoid them.

 When we see the danger that is ahead, we can protect ourselves from it.

 The wise child of God will not walk into danger unprepared.

 We have the full armor of God.

 Those who are simple seldom see the danger that is ahead of them and are not prepared to face it when it comes.

 When we do business with people we do not know, we need to demand payment or keep some sort of collateral.

 If we are asked to stand good for the debt of someone else, we should refuse.

 If we allow our best winter coat to be collateral, we may spend many cold days because of it.

 Pro 11:15  He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. 

 What is common courtesy? Most of us would say it is being polite, connected to kindness.

 It is also an act of respect.

 If we have had some great thing happen to us and we just cannot hold it in and wake our friends up in the middle of the night to tell them, then we have not been good friends to them. We have not respected them.

 We may even lose a friend with such behavior.

 Our good news has become bad news for them.

 If we call our friends in the middle of the night to tell them how much we appreciate them, they may not appreciate your call.

 Friends are just too important for us to do these things to them.

 If we call our Pastor for some trivial matter after he has preached three services and visited the sick and needs his rest, we have done him no favor.

 *****Pro 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. 

Pro 27:16  Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

Pro 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 

Pro 27:18  Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.  

 The Holy Spirit has mentioned this subject at least five times, so it has to be important.

 If it has been raining for a long time and the place you are seeking shelter has a leaky roof, that can drive us back out into the storm.

 If we are at home trying to have some peace, but an angry, quarrelsome wife will not let that happen can also drive a man out of that house.

 Those who are married to such a person are at their mercy.

 We should not be the cause of her anger, or we will certainly suffer for it.

 It will be raining inside and outside, and we will have nowhere to avoid it.

 Eph 5:21  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 

 Eph 5:33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. 

 A husband and wife must be good friends at all times and let not anger divide them.

 Iron is sharpened by another piece of abrasive iron.

 The Bible says we are not created to be alone but with others.

 We are social beings, and we need to be around others to feel human.

 Iron sharpening iron is about two pieces of equivalent materials.

 When two people talk and work out the details of their marriage or their friendship, they have sharpened each other, and their bond remains strong.

 Our character is shaped by contact with others, which is another reason God wants us to gather together as like-minded people to worship our Heavenly Father.

 We do not have to agree with each other all the time, but by talking and gaining understanding, it will sharpen our convictions and remove those sharp edges that cause friction.

 It is the same for husbands and wives, good friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ.

 It is also the same in our relationships at work.

 It is not so much about sharpening as it is about caring for one another.

 Tending to a fig tree requires some work, but if you do this properly, you will be able to eat its fruit.

 As Christians, we have only one Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 If we faithfully serve the Lord and do not worry about whether our efforts will be recognized and rewarded will in the end receive from our Master, the most important things.

 Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 

Joh 12:26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 

 Mat 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 

 It is these things that build our character.

 *****Pro 27:19  As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

 A good mirror will show the reflection of our face, but they did not exist at this time, so a pool of clear water would give the best reflection.

 Just as that good mirror gives the best reflection of our outside character, our hearts will give the best reflection of our inside character.

 Mat 12:34  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 

 It is the Word of God that is to be used as our mirror.

 It is the Word of God that will show us what is in our hearts.

 What is in our heart is what we are!

 When we acknowledge what is in our hearts, it will drive us to our knees, and we will beg God for mercy!

 The world we live in today is so close to being like the world that existed before the flood that the Lord could return at any moment to remove His Church, which He promised would not see His wrath and return with fire to destroy this wicked world.

 Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 

Gen 6:6  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 

 *****Pro 27:20  Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. 

Pro 27:21  As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. 

Pro 27:22  Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. 

 We know that the grave eats up all the bodies that are put into it and is always ready to eat up more.

 Destruction is speaking of the second death.

 Rev_20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev_21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

 Hell is always hungry for more of the dead!

 Hab 2:5  Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: 

 Hell is never full or satisfied. Enough is never enough.

 The Bible then says our sinful desires can be compared to Hell because our sinful desires are never satisfied.

 1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 The only thing that will satisfy us is the "Fear of the Lord" and a reverent relationship with Him.

 The fining pot and the furnace are used to test precious metals for purity.

 In the same way, our praise of the Lord reveals our character.

 If our praise is not real, God knows it!

 When we humble ourselves before God, we show we are sinners and give God the credit for His Mercy and His Grace, which allows for our salvation.

 Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 

Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

 We should understand that not everyone is going to accept the truth of God, and over and over, God says they are foolish.

 Even severe punishment is not enough to cause fools to change their minds.

 Pro 26:3  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. 

Pro 26:4  Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

 No matter how long we pound fools, we will never be able to separate them from their foolishness!

 We are cautioned not to waste our time and energy trying to reform them.

 Jer 13:23  Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. 

Jer 13:24  Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.

 We must recognize who we can and cannot help.

 *****Pro 27:23  Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. 

Pro 27:24  For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? 

Pro 27:25  The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. 

Pro 27:26  The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. 

Pro 27:27  And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens. 

Everything we own belongs to God, and we need to be diligent in managing and protecting these things.

The wealth of the people of the Old Testament consisted of livestock.

God had given them their land, and it could not be sold.

Flocks would designate sheep, but herds could be goats or cattle, or any group of animals.

Why should we be so diligent? Because God has provided these things to feed and clothe our families.

When we do not work diligently with the things God has given to us or loaned to us, then our families will suffer.

A farmer must keep a close eye on his animals.

Today, we are to keep a close eye on our assets, our property, businesses, if you have a business, our accounts, and any other resource.

We are to do this because at any moment these things could disappear, or we could see a better place to place our finances.

Riches do not last forever!

We know that if we have animals, they require personal attention.

It is the same for everything we have obtained.

We must set our hearts on providing for our families.

Once money is spent then it is gone.

The value of cars and other possessions deteriorates with time or can be stolen.

There are more risks every day because our world is getting more evil, and crime is increasing.

Nothing we own is entirely secure, even our nation, and who knows about our government from day to day.

We must also apply these things to our Churches.

The Church is compared to flocks by the Holy Spirit.

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 

Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 

We know that these things are happening in the Church today.

What is the Pastor to do?

1Pe 5:1  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 

1Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 

1Pe 5:3  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 

1Pe 5:4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 

It is not the time for any Pastor or Church leader to stray from the Gospel, but many are.

The message of the Lord Jesus Christ does not ever change.

There is no such thing as a modern Gospel.

The growth of the Church has always been the job of the Holy Spirit!

Our job is to preach and teach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

In the beginning of time, God provided everything needed to sustain humans throughout all the Ages.

God then gave humans the knowledge to take care of the things He created.

We are to be good stewards of these things.

Luk_12:42  And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

This includes taking care of the planet God has allowed us to live upon.

We will one day give an account to God for all He has placed in our heads, our hearts, and our hands.

Psa 8:4  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 

Psa 8:5  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 

Psa 8:6  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 

Psa 8:7  All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 

Psa 8:8  The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 

We will one day give an account for this planet God has created for us to live on till He takes His children home, those who love the Lord Jesus Christ!

Amen