31 Days

Work hard. Build it. Get rich. Live comfortably.  It’s the American way.  It’s often my way.

Proverbs 23:4-5 offers up the wise way.

Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Work hard but not for wealth to be the end (but maybe to Get Out of Debt and Answer the Cry of the Poor).

Don’t trust yourself.  Rely on God.

Realize that money is fleeting.

It sounds simple but it’s an entirely different frame of mind.

Challenge: Are you wearing yourself out to get rich?  If you work, then why?  What is your dream end goal in mind?  How would your work life change if your goals changed?  What do you need to change in your heart or in your life for it to line up with these verses?

This post is part of The Nester’s 31 Days Series

The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

At first glance, Proverbs 22: 3 might seem to give a reason to skip all the scary dark alley ways and loop-de-loop roller coasters. But it’s deeper. 

Solomon is warning us against sin.

When we are going along and see a temptation to sin, the wise takes refuge. 

For some of us, that might be going along and running into an ex, for some that might be an invitation to a party at a bar, for some that might be stumbling on pictures on a web site.  We all have our pitfalls. 

Solomon says the wise run.  They see danger and do the opposite.

The simple, or foolish as Solomon calls them, simply let things happen.  They strike up a conversation with the ex, accept the invitation to the party and go ahead and click on the pictures.  And eventually they pay the price.

Challenge: What danger do you see today that you can actively take refuge from?

This post is part of The Nester’s 31 Days Series

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

I may seem unqualified to talk about Proverbs 20:1.  I’ve never had a drink of any sort.  I’ve been fighting to write this post but I feel like God wants to impart some wisdom in this area.

I may be naive when it comes to drinking but I have a husband who’s job it is to be an expert on those that are under the influence. 

I’ve watched the video tapes of people acting in ways they would horrified to know they acted.  I know because they’ve come back and said they were horrified. 

I’ve seen pictures of accidents that would make some vomit. Some I still wish I could erase from my memory.

I can tell you that some are led astray by drinking.  Most of us have family members that haven’t been in an accident or arrested but you know they are led astray by drinking.  People don’t get that way overnight.  It’s a slow fade. 

The wise realize the power alcohol holds.   

Challenge: Take stock of what part alcohol plays in your life.  Are you on a path to being led astray?  Be wise about your habits and please, please, please do not drink and drive!

This post is part of The Nester’s 31 Days Series

Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.

Wisdom and pride are enemies.

In order to have wisdom, you must be humble enough to know that…

You don’t know it

You can’t do it

It’s not about you.

Solomon says if you can’t humble yourself, you’ll experience a downfall.  And then you’ll be made humble to know that…

You don’t know it

You can’t do it

It’s not about you.

Challenge: Think about some challenging areas in your life right now.  How can you look to God and others for help in knowing what to do and actually doing it?  Could the issue be erased if you took your opinions and needs out of the equation and concentrated on others?

This post is part of The Nester’s 31 Days Series

The one who knows much says little;
an understanding person remains calm.

Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise;
as long as they keep their mouths shut, they’re smart.

The Message translation of Proverbs 17:27-28 doesn’t mince words and it cracks me up. 

Solomon explains if you are wise, you will:

1. Speak little even and especially when you know a lot.
2. Remain calm even and especially when you are mad.
3. Keep silent when you want to look wise even when you’re not.

Aren’t those all the times when you want to talk a lot? 

When you know the answer, you want to talk, talk, talk to show all you know. 

When you’re mad, you want to talk, talk, talk yell, yell, yell to show everyone how and why you’re mad. 

Sometimes to make up for the fact you may not know the answer, you talk, talk, talk.

Proverbs says the wise will do the exact opposite.  Plainly, shut your mouth.

Challenge: My friend Katrina did the Shut-Up Katrina Project this summer for Summer of 7.  This might be a good challenge for us all to take!

This post is part of The Nester’s 31 Days Series

Sometimes I get really frustrated when things don’t go my way.  It’s not that my plans were intended for bad.  In fact, many times they’re intended for good.  My inner control freak freaks out and I’m left questioning what I did wrong.  Why am I not seeing the results I hoped for?  Why, even when I work hard, does it not turn out like I thought? Why can’t this just succeed???

Proverbs 16:3 made me ask an even tougher question.  Did I commit my ways to the Lord?

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.

Only when we commit our way to the Lord, is God in the results.  And there’s a difference between feeling like you’re doing something good and doing what the Lord purposes.

Proverbs 16:3 says

All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Are our motives to carry out what the Lord wanted or our motives really to carry out what we think is the right path?  Did we seek God from the beginning or only when things didn’t work out?  The wise will commit their plans to the Lord from the start.

Challenge: Is there any area in your life that you feel defeated and ineffective?  Commit that goal, that thing, that blog, that friendship, that marriage, that business, those children, whatever it is, to the Lord and he will establish the necessary plans.

This post is part of The Nester’s 31 Days Series