Proverbs for daily life

The Book of Proverbs Chapter 23
(Please read the entire chapter of lovely proverbs. I will comment on a few of them with the aide of my NLT Bible.)

Verses 4 & 5: Don't weary yourself trying to get rich. Why waste your time? For riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird! (Even an average person can spend an inheritance or paycheck with lightning speed and have little to show for it. Don't spend your time chasing fleeting earthly treasures, instead store up treasures in heaven.)

Verse 12: Commit yourself to instruction; attune your ears to hear words of knowledge. (People who listen are the most likely to gain knowledge. It is a sign of strength to pay attention to what others have to say. Those who are eager to listen will learn and grow in their lives.)

Verses 13 & 14: Don't fail to correct your children. They won't die if you spank them. Physical discipline may well save them from death. Many parents are reluctant to discipline their children at all, for earthley will forfeit their relationship or their children will resent them.But correction won't kill children and it may prevent them from foolish moves that will.)

Verses 22-25: Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don't despise your mother's experience when she is old. Get the truth and don't ever sell it; also get wisdom, discipline and discernment. The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure it is to have wise children. So give your parents joy! May she who gave you birth be happy! (This is another side for parents to consider when raising children. It brings out the commandment of honoring your father and mother.)

Verses 29-35: Who has anguish, sorrow, fighting, complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises, bloodshot eyes. It is he one who spends long hours in the taverns, drinking. Don't let the smooth taste of wine deceive you, for in the end it will bite like a poisonous serpent. . . You will stagger like a sailor. . . and don't even know when you have been beat up. (Wine was a big product in Israel, but the dangers of wine were also known. It dulled the senses, and lowered the person's capacity to control efficiency. To make wine an end in itself, or self indulgence, or to misuse wine, is an escape from life and invites the consequences of a drunkard.)

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? These words challenge us to curb our children's behavior and to appreciate the wisdom of elder parents. Verses 29-35 are a reminder to us today, that many people continue to have a problem with liquor. Wine clouds our judgment now as it did in the days of ancient Israel. Some folks can't seem to distinguish when enough is enough. This talk of drunkards in the Old Testament is every bit as relevant in today's world as it was then. The Superbowl is upon us this weekend. Help your friends to tone it down!

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 Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has 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.