Posted on 03/27/2021 12:57:42 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
CHRISTIAN LIFE PRINCIPLES FROM PROVERBS
God’s Word is written for our instruction. As one must dive deep for pearls and dig deep for precious stones, so must we dive deep into God’s Word if we are going to uncover its powerful principles.
“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart” (Proverbs 3:3).
“My son, let nor then depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion” (Proverbs 3:21).
Mercy, truth, sound wisdom and discretion are to be grasped. In order to take hold of them, we must turn loose of pride, error, simple-mindedness and human folly.
“Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths” (Proverbs 7-25).
One must guard his heart from being lured down a path that appears exciting but ends in evil.
“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” (Proverbs 19:18).
Parents must instill accountability into their children while they still have the most influence upon them. Tears of repentance now are easier to bear than their tears of remorse later.
“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth” (Proverbs 24:17).
We should never rejoice at the failings of others. Rather, we should take the high road and honor those who dishonor us (2 Samuel 1:17-27).
II. LEAN NOT
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart:; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
Trust God in all things and never demand an explanation for what He is doing.
Ill. LUST NOT
“Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her rake thee with her eyelids.” (Proverbs 6:25).
Lust causes one to lay aside reason at the expense of reality. When one gives over to lust, he sins against his own mind, emotions and body (1 Corinthians 6:13-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7).
Read Proverbs 5-9 at lead once a month. Guard the minds of your children. All forms of immorality have their beginning in the seeds of sensuality sown in the mind (Romans 1:18-32).
IV. LOVE NOT
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread” (Proverbs 20:13).
All of nature tends to disorder. This is the second law of thermo-dynamics. Discipline and order must be learned. The disciplined life is the productive life. “In all labour there is profit” (Proverbs 14:23).
Study the words diligent(ence) and slothful(ness) in Proverbs.
V. LABOR NOT
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is nor for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” (Proverbs 23:4, 5).
Earthly riches are temporal and fleeting. Live not only for time, but for eternity. “One short life will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Labor in the realm of faith. Your rewards, though unseen here, will shine there.
VI. LOOK NOT
“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again” (Proverbs 23:31-35).
Alcohol is the number one drug in America. There are more deaths attributed to alcohol than experienced in all our nation’s wars combined.
“Wine is a mocker; strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1).
The bottle you once thought you could lay aside at any time will mock you one day and say, “Can’t get enough of me, can you?”
Make a holy vow before God that alcohol will never touch your lips, and stick to it.
- Tim Cruse, Pastor, Shining Light Baptist Church Monroe, N.C.
A little bit of bonus blessings of a Saturday afternoon. You all be rejoicing in the Lord, okay?
Considering the people who rule over us (Commies and Weak GOP) and the people who hate us, this one's gonna be REALLY, REALLY HARD right now.
I guess nothing good is easy.
Thank you for the post.
Amen
Thanks a second time. Monumental battles currently in my life, it is important for me to hear God’s word and promises to help me defeat the unclean and dark forces in my household attempting to defeat me and my household. Thank you.
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