Bragging On Jesus

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

For more go to braggiingonjesus.com

Proverbs 19:2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. 3 When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.

​

Suppressing The Knowledge

R Aylor

2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

Verse 2 makes me think of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden Of Eden… the one tree God said not to eat of… It sounds funny to say it but Adam and Eve did have the knowledge of what was good to eat and what was evil to eat without having to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… God had given them this knowledge… however they refused to believe God and set that knowledge aside. Once we do that we are prone to make haste… We run to the sin that so easily besets us and tripping on our passionate desire we miss our way.

It’s the same for us in hundreds of life examples… The desire of our eyes causes us to buy more than we can afford and eat more than is healthy and chase after love in all the wrong places… we suppress the knowledge of the truth and time after time as the text says: “his feet misses his way”.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

________________________________________

3 When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.

This verse again, like the last one, refers to how sin brings ruin. And it also takes me back Adam and Eve in the Garden Of Eden.

Now I surly do not know what was going on in the heart of Adam. But when he responded to God as to why he trusted satan over the Lord he said this in Genesis 3:12:

…“The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

It sounds to me as though Adam might have been trying to shift the blame… Its as though he was saying it’s Eve’s fault… she gave me the fruit… and by the way… you were the one who gave me the woman…

Whether this was Adams heart or not… the fact is we blame God for our problems which come from our sin on a regular basis.

We blame God for our poverty, our hearts wickedness… for why we don’t handle money well, why we have a bad education why we steal and cheat and wind up in prison… because he was the one who placed us in the particular family which he did. We were not brought up right… We say it’s not our fault… God did this.

Look we are all born equally out of fellowship with God. Yes he chooses as he will… He gets to do that… you see as God he is sovereign… He chooses not because of good deeds or any reason where we might say “we did this”. We don’t deserve him… We do not understand all his wonderful ways… Like a parent with a young child… They do not explain things to them to great for a child to grasp. We may not understand how God chooses us who do not deserve it and yet we are 100% responsible to come to him… But we do know scripture is clear that God is righteous and just and merciful to all who delight in him… we see it over and over in his word… And we have also come to trust his word and his character over and over in our life.

So both of these verses in our text today take me back to Adam and Eve in the garden… Verse 2 points me to how they ignored the knowledge God had given them and followed their fleshly desires which led to their ruin… even death… spiritual death because they lost fellowship with the Spirit of God and eventually physical death when their own spirits left their bodies… and then verse 3 reminds me how Adam seemed to blame God for his own life being ruined when he said:

…“The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

Pray

​

​

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 19:1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

​

Integrity Vs. Crooked

R Aylor

As some today believe in a type of gospel that says the good will always be rich in money on this earth… so it was in Solomon's day and he says… No!

Today Solomon tells us how there is something better than a foolish person with bent, twisted, crafty, dishonest, untrustworthy speech… and that is… a man who walks in integrity; in truth and with honor… Even a man who is dirt poor?… Yes… So I infer from Solomons words that someone who is homeless on the street without a penny to their name but who walks with honor is better than a liar.

And yet, we are all tempted to rationalize crooked speech for various reasons…

It may be that we believe that we deserve to manipulate others for our own good because we have been deceived ourselves and taken advantage of.

We rationalize and our speech becomes twisted when we defend our sin.

We rationalize our twisted speech when we bear false witness for the good of the very ones we deceive. We think we know best and we bear false witness to protect others. Many times it is much easier on us to deceive than being honest.

If the poor person who walks honestly and above reproach is better than a deceiver… What about others besides the poor? What of those mentally disadvantaged? What of the clinically depressed? What of the abused? What about those sold into slavery across the globe? Yes to all these!!! Yes to you and yes to me! It is better by far to walk in integrity than deception and dishonesty.

And so, I expect that whether you are Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or Christian… even Atheist… you likely concur with Solomons wise words. Integrity and honor are good while falsehood and crooked speech are bad.

And if we are all honest with ourselves, we will also agree that our life is stained with self centeredness which should bring us shame. Our lives are not filled with integrity. Sure there are times we look good and clean on the outside. We do good things and others give us honor for doing so… but we know it is not truly deserved. Down deep in our soul our heart knows the truth and so does our Maker. He is all that is good in the Universe. He deserves the honor. But we like the praise and honor and glory that comes from mankind… Lucifer, satan… the devil… he liked the glory… he wanted Gods glory for himself.

The good news is that where the first man Adam and all his descendants failed in integrity,.. the offspring of the woman, Jesus Christ the promised one succeeded. And for all who delight in him… he puts his righteousness into our bankrupt account. He even deposited the payment for all our sin into his account receiving payment by his death on the Cross and then he went further defeating death itself. One day he will raise us up incorruptible as he was raised… But until then and while here he gives us the same power that raised him to overcome sin in our daily life as we walk in his Spirit.

Pray

​

​

Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Most often we human beings favor friendship over enemy-ship whenever possible. We are creatures who want to be liked. We typically feel better about ourselves when many people like a post we put on social media… And if we happen to have a lot of followers on twitter or friends on facebook and instagram then that gives us a sense of clout and makes us look and feel important and loved.

And in the real world where thumbs up and thumbs down are actually messy relationships where we see one another flaws close up... we still long to be loved.

I think social media platforms have cultivated this defensive way of communicating… a false sense of cheap friendship and accountability and a need to have an abundance of so called friends. Our brokenness drives us to make everything we type about us… Whether wanting sympathy for ourselves for our hardships or making ourselves look good with doctored photo’s or clever quips.

These things are not what I see as true friendships. Solomon said: A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

A person who is extremely obsessed with being liked will compromise their values and beliefs just to be elevated. A good example is seen in many politicians who may have begun with well intention. But when they soon realize that they need something comparable to likes or thumbs up… namely votes… they begin simply saying what the people that they happen to be addressing want to hear. And from day to day they make subtile changes and make clever soundbites and make acquisitions against those who are trying to get more likes than they have. I think Solomon is telling us that this self-righteous need for glory or a false sense of worth may bring their life to ruin.

And yet he says there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. In the best senecio a brother can be an amazing friend as well. He will keep you from being bullied at school… he will take you to the carnival… he will pick you up and haul you out of bad company… he will bail you out of jail… In his love for you he will discern when to say hard things that might risk making you angry… but you are bound in something stronger than blood… it is true friendship. Thats the kind of friend we all need…

And yet no one can truly live up to that model 100%. We are all broken… We all desire to be liked… We are tempted to seek out glory for ourselves that has the potential to ruin our lives. We are drawn to be self absorbed.

Jesus said this in John 15:

John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Jesus went all the way for us…

Proverbs 18:23 The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.

What is an entreaty? An entreaty is a plea or request… It can be a solicitation like begging or pleading… these are all entreaties.

So why might the poor use this kind of appeal towards others?

The reason I think is because they have little or no leverage, or sway; people don’t jump when they speak… their opinions and counsel carry little weight with those in a higher financial class. It is the rich who predominantly control politics and the rules of the world. Even in America where we live in a type of representative democracy the wealthy have influence in law making and the overall order of things from small town politics all the way up to state and national.

So yes, the poor use entreaties… They do not command others… they ask and beseech… No one backs them up… they have no big stick that can overcome the club of money and wealth.

Today Im not addressing the reason someone is poor in money or who’s fault it is that someone is impoverished or rich. I’m not talking about discerning the ethical complex web of poverty and wealth.

In our text I think Solomon is simply saying what he said. The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.

You see whatever a person is rich it has the potential to give him pride and a this world sense of power… Someone rich in athletic abilities might answer roughly to a whimp like me. If I have the courage I might ask a body builder to help me move a piece of furniture or refrigerator… On the other hand if the athielite is poor in school work he might ask someone who is rich in smarts (not I)…. And this smart wimpy person might even use his power to make demands of him answering him roughly… “Listen you bully, if you don’t quit picking on me and my friends I won’t help you with your homework”.

Look thats the way this broken world has functioned throughout time… broken people rich in power and influence answer roughly and those poor use entreaties.

Let’s think about this in relation to the Kingdom of God.

Their really is such a thing as being Spiritually poor?

In Revelation 3:17 Jesus said this to the Church of Laodicea:

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

And to the church in Smyrna he said:

“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)”…. (Revelation 2:9)

So a person can be poor in money and athletic abilities… they can be poor in education and physical talents… And be rich in God.

So do we who are spiritually poor still use entreaties and does God who is rich still answer roughly? Yes and Yes but there are amazing differences in the way the broken world and a perfect God approach these truths. Lets look at some of the distinctions.

First, no one is truly rich. The things we have are on loan for a while… while our Creator owns all things for eternity.

Number 2: The poor of the world annoy the rich with their entreaties… There are many text throughout the bible that tell us that our Creator… our God encourages us to call on him.

Romans 10:13 says: For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Next: The rich of the world may answer roughly. Our God gives mercy and grace and even sent his only Son to be paid for our sin seen in his own death, burial and resurrection. God calls us his children and yet he will answer roughly to all who want his glory for themselves.

In Matthew 5:3 Jesus said this: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

We are bankrupt and no leverage with God within our brokenness.

Pray

Please don’t ever think that marriage is not a gift from God. It is wonderful!

Look, I know that there may be a lot of guys saying… surly there must be a translation issue with the original text… I mean… Was Jezebel good for King Ahab? What about Job’s wife? Didn’t she counsel him to curse God and die? Was Delilah good for Samson? Or you might be thinking “You haven’t met so-n-so”.

Well, I think one of the best examples of a good wife might be found in Proverbs chapter 31 which starts out in verse 10: “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels”.

Still, marriages are between two broken people… With that being said lets think about how God may have meant for husbands and wives to be good for one another mutually.

Here’s the deal… We are all damaged people… And if you want to grow closer to and emulate your Creator, then marriage is a true gift! This institution might just be the best theological seminary in learning about God and how he loves us and how we are to love him and one another there is.

Ephesians chapter 5 talks about this in detail; about how a husband is to love his wife and she him… and then in verse 31-32 says this: 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Yes marriage points us to our relationship with God.

Isaiah 54:5 says: For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.

There are lots of other references to this… even in the New Testament like Matthew 22, 25… John 3… and other references as well…

The Father chose us for his Son, He gave us to Jesus. You can read about it over and over in John 17… we were sinful… broken… a bad gift… a unworthy bride… But Jesus himself gave us his perfect righteousness… he went to the Cross and took the wages of our sin… He made us a perfect beautiful bride worthy of him and for his glory.

Ephesians 5:25 Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, …27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

One day the great day will come when we are presented to him as his bride.

Revelation 19:7 says: Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;

Pray

Proverbs In 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 18:13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Today’s proverb reminds me of watching Jeopardy on tv. You know, the game show… Of course Alex Trebek always gives the answer before the contestants guess the question…

Let me read our text again:

Proverbs 18:13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

They buzz in with what they think the question is before he finishes giving the answer… So in their case the answer is really the question… Confusing right?

Well Solomon is not confusing at all compared to Jeopardy and especially myself.

He simply tells us how it is a shame to answer before you hear someone… The positive of what Solomons focus on is on hearing. We need to be better listeners.

Oh how many a time has another person interrupted me and tried to comment on what I was saying as if they knew exactly what it was. I might say something like “You know, just the other day I was at the stoplight and a homeless person…” and before I finish my friend say… “Yes the same thing happened to me but it was a fireman instead of a homeless person knocking on my car window… They wanted money… Did the homeless person ask for money? Are you sure it wasn’t a Fireman collecting their yearly donations?”. “No… Listen! I was going to say… a homeless person came to my mind… I think I know where they sleep at… I was thinking of visiting them and taking some food and just talking with them and see what their hopes are for life… Do you want to come with me?”

And this kind of thing happens a lot to me and even by me… I have noticed I finish peoples sentences for them and others do the same… I think one problem is that we are in such a hurry and we think we are so smart and we hardly let other people be themselves. It’s like we can answer better for them than they can for themselves.

One issue that may be related is that… being always in a hurry… We think our agenda… our task… our purpose is more important than listening to others. Even as believers although we may want to be on mission for Christs every minute of the day… and theres so much mission work to do that we have to finish peoples sentences and hurry off to do more mission work and change the world… and the irony may just be that slowing down and being better listeners… trusting God instead of ourselves and all of our running… may be the mission and we may be missing it every day.

James 1:19 says: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Pray

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 18:15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Earquest

R Aylor

Can the ear seek out that it might find

Like the doe seeks out the light of day

Like a man pursues true love divine

Or a mountain lion seeks its prey

Check out any gossiper, you can almost watch their ears grow

Like a magic bean stalk or Pinocchio’s nose

Yes, the tongue is a fire, but it still takes the ear

To help spread its flames, of scandal and fear

So then what’s in our heart depends how we listen

The ear of the wise also thrives in their mission

Knowledge for good in our charge for God’s glory

Quest to proclaim the good news of His story

So may we all listen with the greatest of pleasure

To the beautiful sounds that proclaim Jesus Christ

As the supreme, unsurpassed, incomparable treasure

Who’s glory transforms us and gives us life

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Approaching Disagreements

Proverbs 18:18 The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders. 19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

To cast lots is not the same as gambling. However it was a bit like rolling dice. From what I gathered, one way lots were cast was that markings were put on sticks or stones and cast on the ground. They were then interpreted depending on how they fell and for what kind of decision was being made. Casting lots has been used throughout history to make decisions when people are so distraught that they do not have an inkling of what to choose. It has also been used to settle severe disputes when two parties agree to the outcome beforehand. Gods sovereignty is also related to casting lots and we may look more at that at another time.

I suspect that of all the almost 8 billion people in the world no two agree about every single issue. And when there are matters so important such that relate to Gods word we have to decide how to approach disagreements.

People can agree to the casting of lots to settle disagreements but even when they do it does not mean they will now agree on what is truth… It usually just means they will agree to disagree without fighting. One party will back down and give up having the last word and they can shake hands… In these kinds of disagreements why not agree beforehand not to save face… let us state our beliefs and shake hands and forget all the fighting. In matters of God we should be able to agree that we need not save face for ourselves. We don’t have to be right for our own sake. And so lets just let Gods word have the last say and go ahead and shake hands and love one another.

After we have communicated sure truth the other disagreeing party may need to dwell long on them… Sometime truth takes time to be pondered before it sinks in… God is the reveler of truth… He is the one who shines his light in our heart and internalizes the knowledge of his glory to us…. Our job is to proclaim in love.

Yes, state the truth… take a firm unmovable stand but do not cause a brother to be defensive in the flesh. Come into a conversation with a willingness to agree to disagree and still love one another in Christ.

So while agreeing to disagree is not the same as casting lots… it accomplishes one of the things that casting lots does… it settles difficult disputes beforehand.

In many societies throughout history, people would disagree without severing their friendship. Even today, many good friends thrive on discussion and discourse by stating their exposition of truth in an exchange of views. It can be healthy and not only that… if we are not easily offended we can all grow in our knowledge of the truth.

There are plenty of times… especially in todays culture that people are easily offended. We need to come to an agreement that, at those times something like the “lot” in our text is needed. Solomon refers to “a brother offended” as being more unyielding than a strong city.

One type of lot we might cast is a token of friendship. A mark, a symbol, a badge, a marker… something that lands on and points directly at the other person saying I am choosing you to be my friend no matter how much we disagree.

And let it say… that we don’t have to be seen as the winner in this debate.. Let God show us both the truth in his way and time… but lets keep seeking truth and keep fellowshipping and discussing… keep loving God and one another.

And so as believers we could cast lots in a sense that point to us both which declare neither are winners in ourselves but let Jesus be the winner.. Let him have the last word and let him show us his truth in his time. Yes… lets keep discussing but not defensively.

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 18:20-21 From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Tongue Control

R Aylor

When contrasting guns and tongues there is hardly a comparison… I mean tongues are a lot more deadly… but guess what… I’m gonna give it a try.

Sure some measure of gun control is necessary… but what about the tongue. Our text says death and life are in it’s power. If it were not for the part about life it should be against the law to bring them in town. Please put them on safety when you bring your tongue to family reunions and when you get together for Christmas and Thanksgiving. The tongue can bring life, yes but when used by broken people… us criminals if you will… we can do a lot of damage with them.

So, as with guns… as stated, keep the safety on in all the situations we looked at. Also when tweeting and facebooking… please!

And do not ever point a loaded tongue at someone!!!

Do not go about daily duties with a loaded gun… riding in your car or motorcycle… jogging… playing tackle football… rock climbing… bull riding… In other words do not let ammunition build up as you dwell on something someone has done to you, otherwise when you are all shook up the trigger will catch on something and go off.

Assume it is always loaded… in other words check your words before you speak.

When you do shoot always know what is beyond your intended target… or rather, when you speak make sure you are not misunderstood by someone who may overhear you… Gossip turns into more loaded guns for people who have had no safety courses.

Never shoot at something you are unsure of… Many times when a car pulls out in front of you a little to close for comfort it is not just a car but there is an actual person there.

And as with guns they are not for shooting mosquitoes. If someone misspeaks or says something wrong and it is not worth declaring war on them for… just smile and keep your mouth shut. So I guess that means we should keep the safety on for our ears as well as our tongue.

Never shoot with those who do not respect their own gun… those who ignore gun safety can ruin your own life. In other words don’t hang around people who are irresponsible, arrogant and loud mouths. They may shoot you!

Make sure your gun is kept clean and free from obstruction… Well… hmm… ok, I guess what I am thinking on this is… practice good dental hygiene… If your going to shoot your mouth at least make sure you have good breath…

The power of the tongue… our text says how it can bring death or life… and It can bring satisfaction…

Pray

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.

The Gift / R Aylor

What might you have to present before the king of an empire? A mans gift could be many things, but surly it must be something fantastic. A gift of gold will likely get you into his presence… What can you offer the king that he might like or enjoy? It could be that you are an excellent player of the lute… maybe you can juggle… To learn all these things took work, right?… sweat and practice… even with the gold… you had to mine the ores for years to get that much gold. Or you had to work hard earning that gold for a long time… And what if the lute player was a beginner… or just played so so?… would they be worthy to play for the king? No of course not. However, if you took lessons and practiced until your fingers bled and you finally developed calluses until the day you became an expert. Then you would be worthy to give your gift of performance to the king. My Mother told me that her Grandfather who’s name was Solomon played his violin before the king of Sweden. He must have been a great player for that to happen.

For some reason as I consider working hard for something or practice and learning musical skills I am also thinking of working hard to get a good education….

In years past many who were able to provide education for their children did so with hopes that they might possibly stand before a king or at least make a difference in an assembly of great men. Doctors, Lawyers, Statesmen… I think of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence… There were areas within time and geography where the culture promoted the passion for parents to intentionally provide good education for their children… and not just for their betterment but for the good of society for the kingdom of Gods sake. Even many who were not well off… their parents worked hard to be able… that was one of the great purposes parents felt was their duty… And so many of the children longed for it…

Many a believer of various economic background studied from a young age Greek, Latin, French and other languages… along with history, music, the arts and mathematics not with apathy or just to get a passing grade but with purpose that their lives might fulfill a purpose. Many of the poor families would save and save until they could send their children to higher education or provide a tutor on specific subjects.

People like Augustine, Wycliffe, Luther, Spurgeon… and so many more influenced and promoted education for the Kingdom of God and his glory.

It’s true that in politics money gets you an audience with many people in power. Its also true that if you develop skills you will be invited into the presence of people deemed great by the worlds standards.

I believe we should have a passion to better ourselves and our children to become communicators for Christ within our culture. That may be in music, art, politics, speaking and preaching… By acquiring many languages and learning communication skills that fit the culture we live in.

Let me read our text again.

Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.

You know one day we will stand before the greatest person in the Universe… It will be a gift that allowed us to be there. But it is not a gift that we worked for, but one given to us by the one we stand before.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Pray