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Proverbs Chapter 15
Perfect love will cast away fear and doubt. I've not yet seen someone that has a tendency to love people in truth not just on the surface, have a problem with doubt and fear.
There is no reason why we can't speak kindly to one another. We don't have to speak harshly and be irritable. However, rebuke, correction and pointing out error is necessary but in the spirit of meekness.
There is a right way and a wrong way to correct someone in error but to keep truth and sound doctrine within the church, we must correct error.
The bible was given to us to show us the true way of salvation, to show us who God is and what the law of God requires. The bible also is given to keep us from foolishness and foolish speaking. It will correct our faults if we adhere to its doctrine.
Our desire should be that when He sees us, He sees what is good.
When we speak truth, we will help others find the way of life. If we are always speaking foolishness, we lead astray many times unknowingly.
If you want to see someone who has the true fruits of the spirit, you must see them at a time when they are receiving correction. If they lack the fruits of the spirit, they will react in haughtiness and anger. If they possess the fruits of God's spirit they will receive correction from one who is faithful in delivering the truth.
The treasure is not necessarily what we think is treasure. Knowledge of the Lord and His word is a more valuable treasure than the riches of the whole world. Riches cannot buy me eternal life. Riches cannot deliver in the day of death, sickness and trouble. The word of God can deliver from eternal death and bring to us the true treasure that can't be taken away from us by the men or women of the world.
If we are not foolish, we will share good knowledge with all we care about.
Outward religion and religious rituals are vain and profit nothing if the heart of the worshipper is not right with God. It is a waste of time. That is what God tries to tell us in the entire word He has given us. Both Old and New Testament worship is shown to be vain if one does not seek the Lord in spirit and in truth.
We know that God loves everyone even when they were sinners but He hates the wickedness that He sees us do. He loves to see us do good and follow righteousness. God hates divorce. Why? He sees the hurt and suffering So many go through and how is affects the children. It is confusing to a child to have two parents and then see them separate and fight over custody. We don't realize how much we cause wrong to happen to the children when we do these things. God gives laws for a reason. He warns and gives us the word for a reason. It is for our good, not our misery.
We will avoid correction if we are bound and determined to do what we want instead of what is right.
Who is hated and made fun of the most in the United States? It is the ones who believe the word of God and preach it. If we compromise and water it down, we are accepted. If we dare to preach the truth, we are hated. I see movies that poke fun at the preachers who preach against sin and warn of eternal damnation. However the gentle, pat on the back, friendly, nothing is wrong types are accepted by the world at least on the surface. Deep down they know who is fake.
The happy, joyful types are fun to be around sometimes but my dad once told me that sometimes the ones that joke and clown around could be just covering up their own sorrow or grief. Sadness though breaks our spirit and brings us down to earth so to speak. Makes us stop and think.
Sometimes it takes brokenness to humble us and cause us to have understanding. Compassion is sometimes born in one who has been broken by the spirit of God. A broken, contrite heart will repent and bring forth fruits that yield a changed life. If we are happy all the time and never take time to consider the suffering, the poor or the lost, how can we help them find the way of salvation? The joy of the Lord brings us laughter but when we remember so many that are lost and without that joy, our eyes should fill with tears. There is a time to laugh but there is a time to weep for the souls that are still without God.
The more one wants to understand, the more he or she will understand. If you are careless and take the word lightly and have the attitude that, "I can't understand it so I won't worry about it," then you will not understand. Those that seek understanding receive understanding a lot faster then one who takes the word lightly and does not study it diligently.
I do not believe this passage refers to material possessions because of the verses before and after it. This has to do with the fruit that we bear when the seed of the word falls on good ground as opposed to a ground with thorns that have no root. We must be careful not to apply the meaning of the word to business or seeking wealth. In so many other passages Jesus warns of seeking treasure in this life.
The above three verses should be taken together. We must not separate verse 15 and assume that it is better to be happy all the time. Remember the words of Jesus:
It is better to have little in this world's goods and be rich in the spiritual things that come from God than to be rich in this life and be empty of the things that count.
Proverbs reminds us so many times that it is not the quick talker, slick debater or great speech maker that we should admire. Admire those that think and ponder before they speak. Listen to those that are slow to lose their temper and react in anger. Think first, then speak. I know the world likes the fast talkers but that is not what the bible teaches.
Thorns grow up and ruin a garden. They grow up in places where no one is responsible enough or cares enough to weed out the thorns and keep them from growing. A good garden takes constant care. This is the same in the spiritual realm. If we never study the word and feed our souls, we will get careless and weak spiritually. We will have no strength against temptation and our prayers will seem to fall to the ground. Our faith gets weak and our walk with God becomes lukewarm or cold. We should seek to make sure God is our first love at all times.
If one loves his parents, he would not do anything to grieve them. It is the same with our heavenly Father. If we love Him, we would not want to forsake His word or take His word lightly. The word of God is being pulled apart, changed, taken lightly, ignored and treated as if it is not necessary or something that divides so it should be laid aside. This is the worst mistake we could make. If the word causes division then let it be. We don't want to be united in something that is not truth. Remember God broke up the unity at the tower of Babel because it was not a unity in truth but a manmade unity that would have lead to evil, not good. The kind of unity that we should seek, is the unity that comes by the spirit of God. If we have to ignore the bible or forsake the word of God to have unity, then the unity we are seeking could not be good. The church has "Been there and done that." Remember the Middle ages and the darkness that came as a result of the word of God be suppressed and hidden from the common man. When the word began to awaken a few dissenters, they were persecuted and killed by those that supposedly represented God. Sure it caused division but if something is not right, then we must not be afraid of division.
Concerning the right kind of unity:
We are to be of the same mind and one accord in the spirit and in truth. Never in a lie. We can overlook trivial unimportant things but must hold fast the sound doctrine of the word. We must strive for truth at all times and not strive to prove a point or prove ourselves in the right but seek truth even if it proves us wrong at times. Pride out, humility in. Avoid outward religion and seek the inward change that comes by the Holy Spirit. Seek the love that Jesus had for us that He suffered agony to save us from sin. Perfect love will cast away petty differences but it will not cast away the word of truth and sound doctrine. So many are seeking unity today but is it at the expense of casting away the word of truth which saves the soul????? Yet in striving for truth, we must not seek to prove ourselves right but seek to prove God is right.
The joy the world has is a false joy. When they rise in the morning, the joy is gone.
The KJV bible was translated by many and not one or two. It was not just one person but many that worked hard to make a bible in English common to all to be able to read. King James had nothing to do with the translation except to authorize the translators to do it. It's hard for us in the modern world that has known freedom like the constitutional republic the United States has enjoyed, but back then kings and rulers had to give their authority before undertaking anything that would change the lives of the people. If our motive in reading the word is to prove our own points and puff ourselves up by showing ourselves to be in the right, then we may get it wrong. Our motive should be to get correct understanding and seed truth whether or not it benefits us personally or makes us look good to someone else. If we get self out of the way and keep Christ before our eyes, we will most likely receive the right understanding.
The bible was written to show us the way of life. It will surely cause us to escape hell. Yet sadly, so many neglect it and prefer to concentrate on the things of this life only.
Meditate upon God's word and our minds will become pure as this passage speaks.
Listen to this verse and one will never be in debt, never be miserable because his joy is not in things that can be taken away.
Be slow to speak. Think first. Most will admire the fast talker and one that knows how to come back with a fast answer like when they are trying to win a debate but the bible admonishes the one that thinks first and considers a matter before speaking. They might not win elections but they would be better at ruling a country.
Unless a sinner is praying a prayer of repentance, the Lord does not answer. His answers are for those that love Him enough to live by His word.
If we reject correction and ignore the word, we will not only reap trouble but we will lose our souls for eternity.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning. If we do not fear the Lord, we will not listen to what He has to say to us. Let us be careful not to go the way of the world and take the word of God lightly. We must not add to it or take from it. It is our life. -Dorna Chambers
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