Proverbs for daily life

The Book of Proverbs Chapter 16

(Please read the complete chapter of lovely proverbs. I will comment on a few with the aide of the NLT Bible notes.)


Verse 2: People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. (We can all rationalize anything if we have no standards for judging right and wrong. But ask yourself if your plan is in harmony with God's truth, and will it work under real-life conditions and finally, is your attitude pleasing to God?)



Verse 3: Commit your work to the Lord; and your plans will succeed. (Some people only commit superficially. Others give God only temporary control. And some people commit to the Lord, but don't put any effort into it themselves. We must have a balance of trusting God while working as if everything depended on us.)


Verse 11: The Lord demands fairness in every business deal; he sets the standard. (We all know what is fair and honest and what is unfair and dishonest. Yet sometimes we feel pressure to be dishonest in order to advance or get more profit. We must obey God; there is no middle ground. Honesty and fairness are not always easy, but God demands them.)


Verse 22: Discretion is a live-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools. (God's wisdom is a life-giving fountan that can make you happy, healthy and live forever. Because when we live by HIS word, he washes away our sins and the hope of everlasting life gives us a joyful perspective on our present life.)


Verse 31: Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life. (The Hebrews believed that a long life was a sign of God's blessing, therefore gray hair and old age were good. Old people can rejoice in their years of experience and practical wisdom. Gray hair is not a sign of disgrace to be covered up, it is a crown of splendor. Treat older people with respect.)


HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? This chapter deals a lot with pride, success, God's standards, troublemakers, and the virtues of being patient and wise. In verse 22, God's wisdom is described as a life-giving fountain of happiness. For centuries people sought the fountain of youth that promised eternal life and vitality. It was never found. But through God we find that he washes away the deadly effects of sin, give us a joy and the promise of eternal life. So the fountain of youth was only a dream, but the life-giving fountain is real. You have the opportunity to believe God's wisdom or be a victim of your own foolishness. The choice is yours!

Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.