
Sometimes reading the book of Proverbs reminds me somewhat of cleaning out a drawer that has collected a variety of stuff… You start looking in the drawer and find all kinds of interesting and good things you almost forgot that you had. Only difference? In this drawer there’s nothing to throw away – it’s all good! 🙂 This morning in reading from Proverbs I encountered a variety of “good things” to keep and remember (Proverbs 14 verses 29-31, 34)…
Good thing #1… “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding! But one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” I really need to work on that one!! I’m a “Type A” personality and do not handle delay, traffic, or whatever is frustrating very well… anyone know what I mean? 😉
Good thing #2… “A tranquil heart [or ‘a heart of peace’] gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Oh may I have “a tranquil heart” and not envy what others have or have been given! A heart of peace (not filled with envy) is a health-giving thing! (If we only realized the psychological and physiological damage envy causes!!)
Good thing #3… “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God!” This one really separates the godly person from the ungodly – the righteous from the wicked! I want to always “honor God” by my continual and evident kindness to those in need! Oh God help me to have a generous and compassionate spirit!!
Good thing #4… “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people!” Oh, this morning my heart is broken because of the moral drift of our nation! I grieve to see leaders condemn what is godly and affirm what the Bible clearly calls sin! It shames us!! It will ultimately eat out our national character and bring rot to our nation! We should be ashamed of ourselves. It should drive Christians to their knees in concerned intercession. We desperately need a moral and spiritual revival in America!
Good stuff in that spiritual drawer this morning! Glad I had “coffee with the Lord”!!