Proverbs 21 - 8.31.26
Scripture
Proverbs 21:25 NIV
“The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.”
Observation
In this particular proverb written by King Solomon, he writes that a lazy person’s desires and dreams destroy them because they refuse to do the actual work to achieve their goals. Instead of taking action, they sit idle and expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter.
Application
Are you willing to put the work in to achieve your goals in life? Or do you expect things to just be handed to you?
If there is one thing that I really hate in youth sports today is the whole idea that everyone gets a trophy. You know, the “Participation Award”. I hate it because it gives our youth this sense of entitlement. It makes them feel that all they have to do is show up and they’re a “winner”. If society keeps this up, we are just setting these kids up for failure. You see, these kids will soon grow up, become young adults and head out into the real world, competing for scholarships to get into their desired colleges and competing for those highly desired jobs. But, then reality will soon set in when they find out that all their dreams and goals in life aren’t just going to be handed to them just because they showed up for an interview. They are going to have to had put some serious work in their lives to achieve these dreams and goals of theirs.
I believe that is the point that King Solomon is trying to get across to the reader here. That point is, if you want to achieve your dreams and desires in life, you can’t be lazy about it. It’s going to take hard work and dedication.
This proverb doesn’t only apply to us in our physical lives, but it also applies to us in our spiritual lives. You see, a lot of us have this desire to have this amazing relationship with God. We want God to be by our side through thick and thin. We want to experience His many blessings and miracles the way others in the Bible have experienced them. But God isn’t just going to hand it to us on that silver platter. God desires relationship. He desires a partnership with us. We have that relationship with Him by believing in Jesus. We have that relationship with Him by reading our Bible and by praying regularly. We have that partnership with Him as we fellowship with other believers, serve in ministry together and love others the way Jesus first loved us. We are God’s servants and we gladly work for Him to have others know Him. When we do these things, then we get to achieve those goals and desires of having this amazing relationship and experiences in life with our God. 😊
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I know Your desire for us is to never sit idle in life. You don’t want us to be content in just being saved by You. Your desire for us is to know You more each day and to have You known by others who may not know You yet. I know this is a daily process and it’s going to take some work. I ask that You give me the strength, endurance, and boldness to do that work and accomplish that mission. I pray that You may also provide more workers to send with me into these mission fields. May we work together in unity to bring fame to Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
Proverbs 18 - 8.28.26
Scripture: Proverbs 18:8
"“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”
Observation:
In the dictionary, gossip is described as: idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others. I think we have all had a person in our life who is a gossiper. Its use tears down people. It negatively affects one's heart and sinks into their soul. As a manager in a secular business, it is hard to stop this behavior in people with hardened hearts. If it occurs in a church, it can split the church.
Its effects can be life-lasting. I can still remember someone said something untrue about me in my youth that was later proven wrong. I can't forget it to this day and I still don't know who started it. I was not the only one who was hurt. I believe youth in schools are most vulnerable to damaging gossip. We need to pray for our youth.
Application:
How do we avoid gossip? The scriptures teach us:
Ephesian 4:29 - “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Colossians 4:6 - “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Hebrews 10:24 - “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
In the last couple of weeks, Tina has led us in pre-service prayer to spur one another on and to see the good things in people. It fills us with joy to encourage others.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, let me be quick to listen and slow to speak, following your word in Psalm 141:3 - “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Let my eyes see the beauty in people. Give me a heart to love people. You showed grace to me, O’ Lord, let me show grace and mercy to others. Let me encourage others, Lord, for you are a good good Father. Amen
- Robert Oberg
Romans 2 - 8.27.26
SCRIPTURE: Romans 2:1 – 4
“1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
OBSERVATION
Criticism, judgement and repentance. In verses 1 and 2 are the answers to the questions in verses 3 and 4.
We aren’t perfect and have the same faults as those we criticize. We must never forget because of the fall of man in the choices of Adam and Eve, we are born with a nature to sin (fall short of God’s best) that has consequences. BUT WE are blessed with the “riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead us to repentance.”
“Got Questions” shows the definition of repentance as “The word repentance in the Bible literally means “the act of changing one’s mind.” True biblical repentance goes beyond remorse, regret, or feeling bad about one’s sin. It involves more than merely turning away from sin. In its fullest sense it is a term for a complete change of orientation involving a judgment upon the past and a deliberate redirection for the future.”
APPLICATION
Matthew 7:3-5 says “3 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”.
First look at our own weakness before we criticize the weakness of others, wrong actions or words and pass judgement. Often when we see a weakness in others, it is the same weakness we have or we wouldn’t recognize it. One way or another these scriptures have great application to show kindness, forbearance and patience before we speak.
The application is to Watch your words!
The bible offers many profound insights on looking in the mirror, emphasizing self-reflection and spiritual awareness.
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror; for he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." James 1:23-24
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, my savior, my teacher, let me read your word and show me what I am to learn, change and give to others. Lord, I truly do not want to be hypocritical of others but this creeps up. And Lord, I know that I have no idea why others may say or act the way they do because of pain and suffering in their families or life style. Lord, if I see someone I might be critical of, let me show them kindness, encourage them, and pray for them. I cherish you, my father, who brought me out of the darkness into your light. I ask that I see clearly. I want the light of your glory. Thank you for your words, Lord and for the mirror of your truth. I cherish every word and I am humbly asking for the riches of your kindness, forbearance and patience, so that I show these to others. Amen!
- Charleen Zakarian