PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured” (Proverbs 13:18).

“Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction,” Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all he had and to come and follow Him. They refused wisdom and instruction. What happened to them? Eventually, poverty and shame. There are quite a few commentators that believe that the rich man of Luke 16 is the rich young ruler of Matthew 19. I don’t know how it can be proved, but some have even named him Dives.

“. . . but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured,” folks go to school where they reprove you, and they teach you right methods, and eventually they are honored with a diploma. So also with salvation and heaven. God reproves you of your sin. He gets you to turn from your sin and repent, and God honors with glory and salvation.

The lesson is simple. You arrived in life knowing nothing. Your heart and motives are twisted by inherited corruption from your first parents – Adam and Eve. The world is filled with ignorance, superstition, and tradition. You are assaulted daily with profane ideas, enticements, and actions. You will self-destruct in ignorance without serious help.

There is a simple technique for success in a world doomed to failure. Find teachers that have the truth and wisdom of God and submit to their reproofs and instruction. It is that simple. God has revealed the wisdom of heaven to men. If you will find them and accept their correction and teaching, you can deliver yourself from failure, poverty, and shame.

Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so let's read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let's keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.

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