FBC Daily Devotions

I am struck today by words regarding the rich and the poor — both have the same Maker, and therefore there ought not to be any partiality. And yet often we see the oppression of the poor by those who have more. The writer speaks of those who exploit and crush the poor simply because they are poor (v. 22). This is social prejudice and a terrible way to think. To be honest, I have passed judgment on those on the streets without even really knowing them. They ask for help, but all sorts of petty thoughts pass through my mind – will they squander the money I give to them?  Will they hurt me if I don’t help? But the writer observes: A generous man will himself be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor (v. 9). For those who are generous to the poor, I think they possess an understanding that the Lord is their Maker. He is Maker of both the rich and the poor, and He does not view one as better than the other. And so it should be with us.

In light of recent events in Haiti, I think these are fitting words. We have so much in comparison to the Haitians. God is their Maker as well, and so If we can give anything to help relieve their situation, we will be blessed, if not in this life, certainly in the next.

Proverbs 22

 ¹ A good name is more desirable than great riches;
       to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

 ² Rich and poor have this in common:
       The LORD is the Maker of them all.

 ³ A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge,
       but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

 ⁴ Humility and the fear of the LORD
       bring wealth and honor and life.

 ⁵ In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares,
       but he who guards his soul stays far from them.

 ⁶ Train a child in the way he should go,
       and when he is old he will not turn from it.

 ⁷ The rich rule over the poor,
       and the borrower is servant to the lender.

 ⁸ He who sows wickedness reaps trouble,
       and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

 ⁹ A generous man will himself be blessed,
       for he shares his food with the poor.

 ¹⁰ Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
       quarrels and insults are ended.

 ¹¹ He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious
       will have the king for his friend.

 ¹² The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
       but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

 ¹³ The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!”
       or, “I will be murdered in the streets!”

 ¹⁴ The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
       he who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.

 ¹⁵ Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
       but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

 ¹⁶ He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
       and he who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Sayings of the Wise

 ¹⁷ Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise;
       apply your heart to what I teach,

 ¹⁸ for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
       and have all of them ready on your lips.

 ¹⁹ So that your trust may be in the LORD,
       I teach you today, even you.

 ²⁰ Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
       sayings of counsel and knowledge,

 ²¹ teaching you true and reliable words,
       so that you can give sound answers
       to him who sent you?

 ²² Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
       and do not crush the needy in court,

 ²³ for the LORD will take up their case
       and will plunder those who plunder them.

 ²⁴ Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man,
       do not associate with one easily angered,

 ²⁵ or you may learn his ways
       and get yourself ensnared.

 ²⁶ Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge
       or puts up security for debts;

 ²⁷ if you lack the means to pay,
       your very bed will be snatched from under you.

 ²⁸ Do not move an ancient boundary stone
       set up by your forefathers.

 ²⁹ Do you see a man skilled in his work?
       He will serve before kings;
       he will not serve before obscure men.

Proverbs 21

 ¹ The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD;
       he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

 ² All a man’s ways seem right to him,
       but the LORD weighs the heart.

 ³ To do what is right and just
       is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

 ⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
       the lamp of the wicked, are sin!

 ⁵ The plans of the diligent lead to profit
       as surely as haste leads to poverty.

 ⁶ A fortune made by a lying tongue
       is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.

 ⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
       for they refuse to do what is right.

 ⁸ The way of the guilty is devious,
       but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

 ⁹ Better to live on a corner of the roof
       than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

 ¹⁰ The wicked man craves evil;
       his neighbor gets no mercy from him.

 ¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
       when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.

 ¹² The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked
       and brings the wicked to ruin.

 ¹³ If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
       he too will cry out and not be answered.

 ¹⁴ A gift given in secret soothes anger,
       and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

 ¹⁵ When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
       but terror to evildoers.

 ¹⁶ A man who strays from the path of understanding
       comes to rest in the company of the dead.

 ¹⁷ He who loves pleasure will become poor;
       whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.

 ¹⁸ The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
       and the unfaithful for the upright.

 ¹⁹ Better to live in a desert
       than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

 ²⁰ In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,
       but a foolish man devours all he has.

 ²¹ He who pursues righteousness and love
       finds life, prosperity and honor.

 ²² A wise man attacks the city of the mighty
       and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.

 ²³ He who guards his mouth and his tongue
       keeps himself from calamity.

 ²⁴ The proud and arrogant man-“Mocker” is his name;
       he behaves with overweening pride.

 ²⁵ The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him,
       because his hands refuse to work.

 ²⁶ All day long he craves for more,
       but the righteous give without sparing.

 ²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
       how much more so when brought with evil intent!

 ²⁸ A false witness will perish,
       and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever.

 ²⁹ A wicked man puts up a bold front,
       but an upright man gives thought to his ways.

 ³⁰ There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
       that can succeed against the LORD.

 ³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
       but victory rests with the LORD.

As I read this proverb today, there are so many truths here that I can personally relate to! How about you?

Proverbs 20

 ¹ Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
       whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

 ² A king’s wrath is like the roar of a lion;
       he who angers him forfeits his life.

 ³ It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife,
       but every fool is quick to quarrel.

 ⁴ A sluggard does not plow in season;
       so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.

 ⁵ The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters,
       but a man of understanding draws them out.

 ⁶ Many a man claims to have unfailing love,
       but a faithful man who can find?

 ⁷ The righteous man leads a blameless life;
       blessed are his children after him.

 ⁸ When a king sits on his throne to judge,
       he winnows out all evil with his eyes.

 ⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
       I am clean and without sin”?

 ¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures—
       the LORD detests them both.

 ¹¹ Even a child is known by his actions,
       by whether his conduct is pure and right.

 ¹² Ears that hear and eyes that see—
       the LORD has made them both.

 ¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
       stay awake and you will have food to spare.

 ¹⁴ “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer;
       then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.

 ¹⁵ Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
       but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

 ¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
       hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.

 ¹⁷ Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,
       but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

 ¹⁸ Make plans by seeking advice;
       if you wage war, obtain guidance.

 ¹⁹ A gossip betrays a confidence;
       so avoid a man who talks too much.

 ²⁰ If a man curses his father or mother,
       his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

 ²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning
       will not be blessed at the end.

 ²² Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
       Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

 ²³ The LORD detests differing weights,
       and dishonest scales do not please him.

 ²⁴ A man’s steps are directed by the LORD.
       How then can anyone understand his own way?

 ²⁵ It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly
       and only later to consider his vows.

 ²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked;
       he drives the threshing wheel over them.

 ²⁷ The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man ;
       it searches out his inmost being.

 ²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
       through love his throne is made secure.

 ²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
       gray hair the splendor of the old.

 ³⁰ Blows and wounds cleanse away evil,
       and beatings purge the inmost being.

Yesterday, I mentioned a thought about true friends. It is interesting that here Solomon observes that “friends” only stick around when there is wealth and gifts to be had. That, of course, is Solomon’s observation, and it is a generally true observation…sad but true. As followers of Christ, we can be salt and light in the world simply by being the kind of friend that helps those who are poor in this world, those who have little, those who can do little or nothing to benefit us. We are not of this world, so let’s not act like the world – a world in which friends are only friends when it is to their advantage.

What is God impressing on you in this proverb?

Proverbs 19

 ¹ Better a poor man whose walk is blameless
       than a fool whose lips are perverse.

 ² It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,
       nor to be hasty and miss the way.

 ³ A man’s own folly ruins his life,
       yet his heart rages against the LORD.

 ⁴ Wealth brings many friends,
       but a poor man’s friend deserts him.

 ⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished,
       and he who pours out lies will not go free.

 ⁶ Many curry favor with a ruler,
       and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.

 ⁷ A poor man is shunned by all his relatives—
       how much more do his friends avoid him!
       Though he pursues them with pleading,
       they are nowhere to be found.

 ⁸ He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
       he who cherishes understanding prospers.

 ⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
       and he who pours out lies will perish.

 ¹⁰ It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—
       how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

 ¹¹ A man’s wisdom gives him patience;
       it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

 ¹² A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,
       but his favor is like dew on the grass.

 ¹³ A foolish son is his father’s ruin,
       and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

 ¹⁴ Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
       but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

 ¹⁵ Laziness brings on deep sleep,
       and the shiftless man goes hungry.

 ¹⁶ He who obeys instructions guards his life,
       but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die.

 ¹⁷ He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
       and he will reward him for what he has done.

 ¹⁸ Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;
       do not be a willing party to his death.

 ¹⁹ A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty;
       if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

 ²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction,
       and in the end you will be wise.

 ²¹ Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
       but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

 ²² What a man desires is unfailing love ;
       better to be poor than a liar.

 ²³ The fear of the LORD leads to life:
       Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

 ²⁴ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
       he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

 ²⁵ Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
       rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

 ²⁶ He who robs his father and drives out his mother
       is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

 ²⁷ Stop listening to instruction, my son,
       and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

 ²⁸ A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
       and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

 ²⁹ Penalties are prepared for mockers,
       and beatings for the backs of fools.

Hmmm, so many morsels to choose from in this passage! I find it interesting that the proverb begins with an “unfriendly man” and ends with the “friend who sticks closer than a brother.” The true friend doesn’t have selfish ends in mind, but stays close even when matters require the sacrifice of love.

Proverbs 18

 ¹ An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends;
       he defies all sound judgment.

 ² A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
       but delights in airing his own opinions.

 ³ When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
       and with shame comes disgrace.

 ⁴ The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters,
       but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

 ⁵ It is not good to be partial to the wicked
       or to deprive the innocent of justice.

 ⁶ A fool’s lips bring him strife,
       and his mouth invites a beating.

 ⁷ A fool’s mouth is his undoing,
       and his lips are a snare to his soul.

 ⁸ The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
       they go down to a man’s inmost parts.

 ⁹ One who is slack in his work
       is brother to one who destroys.

 ¹⁰ The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
       the righteous run to it and are safe.

 ¹¹ The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
       they imagine it an unscalable wall.

 ¹² Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
       but humility comes before honor.

 ¹³ He who answers before listening—
       that is his folly and his shame.

 ¹⁴ A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness,
       but a crushed spirit who can bear?

 ¹⁵ The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;
       the ears of the wise seek it out.

 ¹⁶ A gift opens the way for the giver
       and ushers him into the presence of the great.

 ¹⁷ The first to present his case seems right,
       till another comes forward and questions him.

 ¹⁸ Casting the lot settles disputes
       and keeps strong opponents apart.

 ¹⁹ An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city,
       and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

 ²⁰ From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled;
       with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

 ²¹ The tongue has the power of life and death,
       and those who love it will eat its fruit.

 ²² He who finds a wife finds what is good
       and receives favor from the LORD.

 ²³ A poor man pleads for mercy,
       but a rich man answers harshly.

 ²⁴ A man of many companions may come to ruin,
       but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.