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June 6th

The Bible reading today begins a new section of the proverbs...chapters 10, 11, &12.

This section begins 12 chapters of a particular arrangement where one proverb theme is grouped in 2, 3, or 4 verses.

Now to the text...“The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This is a message to the children as well as to the parents. After my conversion to Christ at age 19, I began to read the psalms and the proverbs and a chapter in the gospels every day. From time to time I go back to that brown leather covered King James Version Bible and trace my early readings by the colored highlights and notations in the margins. I am reminded of how hungry I was to know the God of my salvation. But I not only wanted to know Him, I wanted to please Him. 2 verses stood out.

John 14:15...”If you love me, keep my commandments.” So in my reading of the bible, I would highlight God’s commands and promises and pray that God would help me to believe Him and obey Him.

Proverbs 10:1...”A wise son makes a glad father.” I loved my own dad very much. He was my hero. And there was something in me that wanted to please him...make him glad.

When I began to follow Jesus, I wanted to do that even more. And the Holy Spirit used this verse to prompt my praying...”Father make me a wise son that brings pleasure to my parents here on earth and that glorifies You in heaven. I don't want to bring sorrow to them or to You anymore. Help me, Lord. I know You will.”

Then Bev and I got married and started a family with Julie Dawn, Shelby DeAnn, and Michael James. We began to pray for our kids. We asked God to save them for Himself. We dedicated them unto the Lord. They became ours on loan from heaven for how long God desired. Our job was to love them and point them to Jesus. And our prayer became...”Father, help our children to grow up loving You and each other. Help them to be wise sons and daughters making You glad.”

I can't help but remember a Son in the bible whose Father said...”This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased...” That Son? Jesus, who would say to His Father, “Not my will but Yours be done!. Wisdom for sure, and a glad Father. May it be so with us and our Heavenly Father!

Now another piece of the text today Prov 10:2“Treasures of wickedness profits nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.” Solomon to his children and grandchildren.

Let’s listen to Jesus to his disciples...“And Jesus told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:16-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

That rich fool gathered much for himself. It was “all about him!”

God called him a “fool”, not because he gathered much, but because he gave himself credit for the good harvest. And because he gathered it for himself and not others too. God called him foolish...it was “all about him”...when it should have been “all about God”.

Some might say that the man’s riches were not evil in themselves. And I would agree. What made him a fool was that he chose to be rich for himself, and wound up being poor toward God. Thus forfeiting what money could never buy, God’s eternal life. A righteous standing before God forever through Jesus Christ.

And could there be anything added to eternal life in heaven? Let us listen to Proverbs 10:3...“The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish.”

What a wonderful promise God makes to his children. “When your body is failing according to affliction, I can still cause your soul and spirit to prosper.”

“So friends and loved ones, should my body be overtaken by age or disease, fear not, God is strengthening my soul for a trip to heaven.”

Wow! Have a great day