Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Proverbs 6: Lessons for Daily Life

Good Afternoon Girls!
Why is it only noon and I am ready for bed? Its been one of those incredibly busy and chaotic days. I can't say that I have accomplished much, but I can say that I am in desperate need of some GOD time. So let's get started!

Proverbs 6
Lessons for Daily Life

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—[a]
and give your neighbor no rest!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.

12 A troublemaker and a villain,
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks maliciously with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
he always stirs up conflict.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Warning Against Adultery
20 My son, keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
are the way to life,
24 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,
from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes.

26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
but another man’s wife preys on your very life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery has no sense;
whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
and his shame will never be wiped away.

34 For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.



My Thoughts and Take-aways:

THere are some really big lessons to learn fromt these scriptures. So for the sake of time, simplicity and takeaways let's bullet point the lessons God is teaching us:
(1) Do not lend money or go into debt with a friend (v1-5). If you do BEG to have your name erased and run like a gazelle (v5).

(2) Don't be lazy. (v6-11) Take a lesson from ANTS who work and have no boss or ruler. Don't sleep life away (v6-9)

(3) Stay away from 'worthless, wicked and evil people'. They are liars (v12).

(4) The Lord hates and detests the following: (1) haughty eyes (2) a lying tongue (3) hands that kill the innocent (4) a heart that plots evil (5) feet that race to do wrong (6) false witness who pours out lies (7) a person who sows discord in a family. (v16-19)

(5) Obey your Father's commands and don't neglect your Mother's instructions. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck (v20-21).

(6) Keep from the immoral woman (v24). Don't lust for beauty (v25).

(7) Do not commit adultery. Do not lust for another man's wife or a prostitute. (v26, 32)

(8) Do not steal and if you do repay back 7x (what does that number mean again) what you stole.

As I read this I am not surprised at the above list. I think what does stand out is that all sin is the same in the eyes of the Lord. It doesn't matter is gossip, plot evil, steal, committ adultery, kill.... it is all the same to our God. It is all a SIN AGAINST HIM!

The verse that sticks out to me is v 20-23. My wonderful husband has instilled in our kids the desire to Obey your Mom and Dad. He is coming from this verse and I am thinking about having it laminated and hanging it up in every room in our house. Its a good reminder to the discipliner and the disciplined.

What do you think...
Leave a comment!

Love to all!
M

1 comment:

  1. At my church, we just got finished with a six part series on guardrails. On the road, they are installed outside of dangerous areas to keep us from hazard. In life, we should install guardrails (morally) to keep us away from potentially dangerous/hazardous areas in our life - mainly the areas that Jesus depicted in this very scripture. It is so interesting bc while you never think that you would do something - it is still a good idea to set those guardrails in your life, marriage, money, friendships, etc. For example, in marriage many don't travel alone with a person of the opposite sex. While it can seem extreme to some, it is a protective measure to take because otherwise you open yourself up. Today's lesson reminded me to keep those guardrails up because evil surrounds us all.

    ReplyDelete