Fountains of Wisdom—A Study in Proverbs Part 39:  Envy, Gluttony and Drunkenness

As we turn to Proverbs 23, Solomon continues to warn against evils that can take hold and destroy a life.  Particularly in these verses he is warning against envy, gluttony and drunkenness.  All three of these have similarities in that they are desires that overtake and have controlling effects on our minds and our hearts.  Envy of power and wealth becomes a driving force within the heart and mind allowing for evil financial and business decisions that ultimately destroy life, family and one’s relationship with God.  Proverbs 23: “⁴ Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. ⁵ Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”  The highs or joys of wealth last only for a season and ultimately lead to depression as the joys are very fleeting in nature.  The same is true of gluttony; indeed, anything that we try to fill our emotions with outside of our relationship with Christ is futile and leads to insatiability, frustration, and depression.  Do not be envious and do not listen as others ask of you to eat, drink and be merry with them. (Proverbs 23: 6-7)  They are not concerned with truly being your friend or helping to lift you up; merely, they want you to wallow in the mire with them as misery loves company.  Solomon gives many reasons throughout Proverbs to avoid the effects of alcohol which he reiterates in Proverbs 23. He points out the effects of it miring one’s judgment (27-29, 33) , he refers to its addictive effects (35), it’s negative health effects (32,34-35, it’s emotional effects (29,35), and it danger (verse 32).  In fact, he writes that one should not even look lingeringly at the wine as it sparkles in the glass because though it may go down smoothly it will bite like a viperous snake filling you with it’s poison. 

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Some would say, why would Solomon have spoken so harshly against wine and yet, Christ changed water into wine at the wedding?  And the Bible clearly says that at the last supper with His disciples He served them wine? And where should the Christian stand today concerning alcohol?

  Clearly the Bible is full of yes and no arguments, so where should we stand?  After all, David

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Fountains of Wisdom, A Study in Proverbs, Part 38  Financial Freedom

Financial uncertainty is a real worry in the current economy.  What do we do when it seems that we are falling into a financial pit? 

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What if we made foolish and unwise mistakes through the years and now the finances look bleak.  Now what do we do?  I should have read Proverbs long before now so that I would have known the key principles of finance because God has laid them out clearly for each individual as well as for a nation.  Unfortunately, our nation has already missed the mark and so did I; yet, God’s grace has a plan for each of us and for our nation, if we are willing to turn from our ways and follow after him.

   Let us once more turn to the scripture for our answers, such wealth of knowledge can be found there.  We will continue on through Proverbs 22.

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Fountains of Wisdom—A Study in Proverbs Part 37- In the midst of Despair–Rejoice

If we look at the world around us with all the wars, financial ruin, terrorism, illness, and evil that surrounds us, we would be overwhelmed with despair.  If we look at the struggles within our own lives—work, home, health, and family—we would be overwhelmed with fear.  If we look deep into the crevices of our own heart and recognize our own failures, we would be crushed with the weight of guilt.

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Yet, into the darkest pit of our despair comes a ray of shining hope that surrounds our soul, embracing it—lifting it high above the rubble surrounding us.

  That is shown forth in chapter 21 of Proverbs, as it begins with verse 1.  “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”  God is in control, even over the hearts of wicked leaders—God will accomplish all that He has planned.  He does not cause evil; yet, in His mercy at times He tarries His judgment knowing the end of the story.  We see this world and our lives as though they are forever.  We suffer the pains

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Fountains of Wisdom:  A Study in Proverbs  Part 36  A Treasure More Precious than Gold

As we have studied long in Proverbs, I have felt the burning light that reaches deep within the recesses of my heart—searching and trying the darkest secrets of my own self-exalting heart.  As noted in the commentary of the GNV Bible for  Proverbs 20:27 The word of God giveth life unto man, and causeth us to see and try the secret of our dark hearts.  It searches the crevices of our desires.  It shines it light upon that which we may have declared as precious only to reveal how insignificant any treasure is compared to the one true treasure which is God.  In darkness the shiny hard precious object that we hold so tightly too as though some precious stone—may in the light only be shown to be a cockroach instead.  God is the “king that sitteth in the throne of judgment, (&) chaste away all evil with his eyes. ⁹ Who can say, I have made mine heart clean, I am clean from my sin?” (Proverbs 20:8 GNV)

Picture used by written permission of Ronald Barba

God is the only one who can cleanse my heart.  There is nothing that I can do to transform my own heart.  Were it not for God’s grace that shines His light before my eyes to reveal His own Glory to me, I should never have even desired Him. 

Though many men will boast of their own goodness, there cannot be found those who are truly faithful among them (Proverbs 20:6).  Those who falsely

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Fountains of Wisdom- Part 35—Poverty, Wealth and the Sovereignty of God

There is a lot to be said in the Bible about poverty—from the laws given to the Israelite nation, the Proverbs and the teachings of Jesus. God’s laws carried many instructions as to how to help the poor by allowing them to harvest behind the harvesters and through compassion to help those who are less fortunate. We have the sermon of Jesus noted in Luke,

“²⁰ And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”

Then we come to Proverbs 19 where once more there is noted a lot to say about the poor. The lazy are condemned for their laziness (verses 15, 24); yet, there are those who are poor to no fault of laziness and God’s word is clear that His people are to help the poor. Look at verse 17: (GNV) He that hath mercy upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord: and the Lord will recompense him that which he hath given.

There is a lot to say in Chapter 19 about the poor and how they are rejected by their neighbors, ignored and looked down upon; while the rich have many

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