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Saturday, December 19, 2015

THE INSIDES MATCH PEOPLE

Proverbs 10:18 says that he who hides hatred with lying lips AND he that speaks slander is a fool. (emphasis mine)

The Hider is one that hates who or what he is talking about, but tells others something entirely different. The listener does not know where or how he really stands.

The Slanderer openly despises the thing or person he talks about, and everyone knows it.

Although apparently different, they are inwardly the same. The similarity between the two is in the heart, where there is hatred. They both seek to do damage. The hate and destruction makes them fools.

They are not god-like, filled with creation, love and true judgment.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

USE OF WEALTH

The wealth of the rich enables them to build strong defenses, which protect them and enable them to keep and acquire more wealth.

The poverty of the poor leaves them nothing with which to avoid or defend against destruction. This causes them to lose even more of what they already have, which makes them poorer.

The considerate and generous wealthy seek to share their excess in ways to save, secure, educate and uplift deserving poor people or the general public.

The prudent poor seek to understand their situation and to plan ways and means to exit poverty. They will solicit advice from the more fortunate.  They will use welfare to escape from the need of it and never to return to it.

The inconsiderate wealthy seek to keep all they have and to acquire even more. They may even try to usurp wealth they have no right to own by underhanded or illegal means.

The inconsiderate poor merely complain of their situation and take no thought of how to change.  They may horde to themselves that which they could spare for the less fortunate.

Monday, December 14, 2015

TURNING

People have to make an effort to get knowledge and wisdom, and they have to make an effort not to. Know, perceive, receive, hear, attain, understand.

Regarding Proverbs 31: Wisdom calls out to the Simple and the Scorner, among others. If they were to turn she would pour out her spirit and make know her words. Because he will not put out the effort the Simple (and I am not talking of the mentally incompetent) is unaware of basic facts thus making himself incapable of more complex mental activities. The Scorner looks upon others as inferior to himself and is more than willing to say so.

If the Simple and the Scorner will turn (steer away from their usual way of doing things) Wisdom would make them capable of receiving wisdom. The spirit of wisdom will allow them to think the way the wise think. They will become enlightened to wise concepts. They will be able to see as they have never seen before, as when in a dark room the light has been turned on. What a wonderful thing: for the Simple to become smart and capable and for the Scorner to have a humble, hopeful view of things. But it takes the effect of turning.

Some people choose not to have wisdom for they hated knowledge of God and they did not choose the fear of the LORD. They would have none of wisdom's counsel. They despise all the reproofs. “. . . the turning away of the simple will slay them.” Those that choose prosperity over wisdom (and obedience and godliness) are choosing destruction.

It takes effort to be wise (and godly) and it takes effort not to be wise (and godly). If we are going to have effort, let us ave effort that profits to godliness. Let's make the right turns.