Today Daily Devotional

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

— Proverbs 14:30

It’s interesting that peace is contrasted with envy in this proverb. We usually think of peace as the opposite of war, strife, disunity, or conflict. Why would the writer contrast peace with envy?

Envy means being deeply resentful toward someone because they have something that you dearly want. Maybe it’s wealth, a fine car, good looks, popularity, power, or some other advantage or privilege that you don’t have. Envy drives people to obsess over their great longing, sometimes even to the point of harming the person who has what they want, or destroying what the person has so that they can’t have it.

A person who is consumed with envy has no peace in their heart. Their inner turmoil can affect their health and well-being so much that, as the ­proverb says, it “rots the bones.”

As James 3:16-17 puts it, “Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is . . . peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit. . . .”

Full life is found in Jesus alone, who gives us “a heart at peace”—a heart that is content, at rest, and satisfied with whatever good things God has ­given us to steward and care for.

Loving God, grant me a heart of peace that keeps me from longing for what I don’t have. Help me to serve you with the generous gifts you have given me. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.

— Proverbs 14:13

In my personal Bible at home, I often mark up verses that I want to be able to find later. I highlight and underline, make notations in the margins, and write cross-references to other passages.

Next to Proverbs 14:13 I have drawn a little star to note that this passage is special.

“Even in laughter the heart may ache.” Have you ever had the experience of putting on a smile for others, and yet inside you had a deep well of emotions and grief? At social events you might even genuinely have a good time, but later, when you’re alone again, the grief and tears can all come flooding back.

This proverb reminds me that we never know what someone might be going through, no matter how cheerful they may seem. Humans are very good at masking their emotions. But we can learn from the example set by Jesus.

He wept on his way to the tomb of a dear friend (John 11:35). He was overwhelmed with grief and sorrow as he prepared to die for us (Matthew 26:38).

Jesus’ acquaintance with grief gave him insight and empathy for others who were grieving.

God is able to use us too in our times of brokenness to show others the love and care of Jesus.

God of all comfort, only you know the deep aches we have in our hearts. Help us to be attuned to the griefs and hurts of others and to show your love and care, as Jesus would. Amen.

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

— Proverbs 14:12

Many of us have had moments when we have looked back on a past decision and wondered, “How did I ever think that was a good idea?” Yet at the time, that decision or choice probably seemed right to us.

There’s a reason why people say, “Hindsight is 20/20.” This means you can often see a situation more clearly (as with 20/20 vision) after it has passed and you have had time to learn from some of the choices you have made. Our own ability to see clearly in the present moment is limited. And what appears to be a right decision or right thinking in the moment can sometimes do more harm than good.

Jesus warned his disciples that following him would not be easy or even look like a good idea at times. He spoke about the costs of being his disciple, but he also promised that his way leads to life. He said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

In other words, there can be many ways that appear to be right (even religiously) and seem more attractive than the way of Jesus, but they will bring misery and destruction in the end.

Is there a road in your life that might be taking you away from Jesus? What can you do about that?

Lord and Savior, by the power of your Spirit, give me discernment and wisdom to know the way to follow you faithfully. Amen.

An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.

— Proverbs 13:23

In ancient Israel, the people were commanded to leave a share of the crops in their fields for the poor. Anything that was left over from harvesting was to be left for people who were less fortunate—foreigners, widows, and the fatherless (see Deuteronomy 24:19). This prac­tice enters into the story of Ruth as well (see Ruth 2).

The Israelites were commanded by God to follow rules like these so that justice would be a normal part of their daily living. They were called to steward their wealth in a way that always left room for helping people who were disadvantaged and who were therefore often poor and needy.

Not many of us “live off the land” these days, but we can still find ways to save portions of our income and give material goods to people who are less fortunate. Maybe this could mean setting aside a portion of your groceries for a local food bank, or offering an empty room in your house to a child in need of care. The ­opportunities are many!

How might you apply this principle to your own life and express kindness to people who are struggling today?

Gracious God, you have given us the greatest treasure in Jesus, but we often fail to offer our earthly treasures to you in return. Grant us a heart of kindness and justice to help people who are less fortunate than we are. Amen.

Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

— Proverbs 12:25

Today there seems to be so much restlessness in people’s hearts and lives. People everywhere are stressed. Anxious. Quick to speak out their opinions. Finances are in question. Organizations are getting more complaints and anger from people than ever before.

When we catch up on the daily news, it can be overwhelming to see how many issues and problems there are in the world. There are so many things that can cause anxiety.

All of these difficulties and worries weigh down the heart. We may not always realize their impact, but the more we dwell on our anxieties, the less free we feel.

When Jesus spoke about the worries of life, he assured his followers that their Father in ­heaven knew all about their needs and would take care of them. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” Jesus said, “and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:33-34). These kind words apply to us as well. They offer us the freedom to live by trusting God with our future so that we don’t get weighed down by anxiety.

Is there a fear or anxiety that you might need to surrender to God today? When we surrender our worries to him, we become more able to share his love and kindness with others, which can truly move mountains for someone who is weighed down by anxiety.

Loving God, free me from anxiety so that I can show the kindness and love of Jesus to others around me. Amen.

Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.

— Proverbs 12:16

I’ve often thought that the old saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is a bit ambitious. Harsh words, name-calling, and insults certainly do hurt, especially when they come from people we thought we could trust. It never feels good to be insulted, even by a stranger.

So our instinct is often to stand up for ourselves and to push back on an insult. People shouldn’t treat us that way, we think—and in most cases they probably shouldn’t.

But this Proverb points us in the opposite direction. Why? Why would it be foolish to react with annoyance right away, and prudent to overlook an insult? Wouldn’t that just enable people to keep hurting us and others?

Let’s be clear: It is important that inappropriate and hurtful behavior is properly addressed. But this does not mean that the way to react is to fire back with the same kind of behavior.

Remember Jesus, whom the prophets foretold would be “despised and rejected. . . . Like one from whom people hide their faces he was ­despised, and we held him in low ­esteem” (Isaiah 53:3).

Jesus was able to overlook hundreds—maybe even thousands—of insults, jeers, and rejections because he knew who he was, what he was called to do, and how much the Father loved him.

Can we do the same?

Father, help me to live in your love and to remember who I am in you, no matter what people say. Help me to find strength in you. Amen.

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to ­advice.

— Proverbs 12:15

As children, we learn to ask for help if there’s something we aren’t sure about. We raise a hand in the classroom; we bring questions to adults who might have answers for us. We want to learn things, so we ask for help, information, and advice as we need it.

For many of us, this tends to change as we grow older. We start believing that being independent and figuring things out on our own is most important. We become less inclined to ask for help or advice because we don’t want to seem weak.

Oftentimes our own experience or expertise may be enough. And not all advice is good advice, as many of us learn along the way.

But our verse from Proverbs today gives a helpful reminder that it is foolish to become wise in our own eyes, to believe that we always know what’s best, or to assume that our way is always right.

Asking for advice or for help does not make us weak. It expands our ability to discern complicated situations. Often someone who is wiser or more experienced can see or understand the situation better than we can. And sometimes God puts people in our lives specifically for that reason.

Jesus himself was not afraid to ask for advice or wisdom—­particularly in prayer to his Father in heaven. Will we follow his example?

Father, keep me from thinking I always know what is best. Give me the humility to ask you for wisdom and to seek advice from others who are wiser than I am. Amen.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

— Proverbs 11:30

The Giving Tree, a book by Shel Silverstein, tells a story of a boy who routinely comes back to his childhood tree with all of his problems. Each time he comes back, the tree finds a way to give more of itself so that it can help. By the end of the story there is only a stump left—and even then the tree offers to gives more of itself. In this story, it is clear that the tree is bearing the “fruit” of generosity, insight, wisdom, humility, and self-giving love.

In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus teaches his disciples that you can tell a tree by its fruit. A good tree bears good fruit, he says, and a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Like the tree in Silverstein’s story, we can become sources of life for others when we bear the fruit of righteousness. When we are in right relationship with God through his Holy Spirit, we are deeply rooted and connected to the source of life, and we bear the fruit that reflects that life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

When we bear this fruit, we possess a wisdom that is able to save the lives of others. We become a resource in which people find life, because through us they find Jesus.

Faithful Father, help me to bear the fruit of righteousness. Grant me more of your Spirit so that I might show others the kind of fruit that points to you. Amen.

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

— Proverbs 11:25

Acts 20:35 notes that Jesus said, “It is better to give than to receive.” But why would he say this? Is it because being generous feels good? Is it because we feel appreciated when we give? Is it because “what goes around comes around”?

Proverbs 11:25 says that those who are generous will prosper. And what does it mean to “prosper”? We tend to think of prosperity in financial terms, but that would be quite limiting. In the Bible, prosperity has a lot to do with well-being and flourishing, enjoying the fullness of life as God intends for us.

Reading the second half of this verse is essential: “Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” This is less about material gain than about soul care. It brings to mind Psalm 23, in which the Lord as our shepherd leads us “beside still ­waters” and restores or re­freshes our soul.

Our souls are refreshed through generosity because when we seek the prosperity, health, and wellness of others, we ourselves are refreshed by Jesus in the process. He blesses us with humility, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, and more. We become more like him who emptied himself for our sake.

We give not so that we can get something in return. We give so that we can draw nearer to the heart of Christ.

Generous God, you have shown us the perfect example of self-giving love and humility in Jesus. May we become more like him and find refreshment for our souls. Amen.

Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.

— Proverbs 11:7

In a worship song from the early 2000s, singer/songwriter Brian Doerksen sings, “Jesus, hope of the nations/ Jesus, comfort for all who mourn/ You are the source of heaven’s hope on earth.”

As believers in Christ, we recognize and worship Jesus as the true hope of the world, and yet it’s astounding how often we pin our hopes on ­human beings. In all of our history books, it is clear that people are inclined to find hope in leaders, politicians, and celebrities rather than in the one true God.

Why do we do this? Proverbs warns that placing hope in humans is futile because any human power will come to nothing. As the apostle Paul tells us, “There is no authority except that which God has established” (Romans 13:1).

By saying this, Paul is assuring believers that in all situations, even in the midst of national turmoils and global crises, God is the one who holds all ­authority. Any human who has “power” has it only because God allows it to be so.

In other words, our hopes and desires must lie with the One who is on the throne of the universe. Our prayers must be oriented toward Christ, for he is truly the only hope—the one who can change minds, transform hearts, disperse powers, and bring restoration.

Creator God, you made every living thing, and you hold all things together. Lord, bring restoration to this world that desperately needs your leadership and authority. Amen.