The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (16 page)

February 25

About Our Father’s Business

     
The labor of the righteous leads to life,

     
The wages of the wicked to sin.

“The labor of the righteous leads to life”—not more money, not more things, but life. Psalm 37:16 says, “Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked” (
NIV
).

So this is a great moment to pause and ask ourselves, what is life? Do you have a passion to fulfill the purpose that God put you on this planet for? Do you know what it is? Do you ever ask the Lord to show you what it is? Because, as Walker Percy said, “You can get all A’s and still flunk life.”

Jesus gave us a clear, solid place to start that will shake us loose from just falling into the world’s version of success. He said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21,
NKJV
).

When I think about these important words, I realize that material things get broken, go out of style, and get lost. It’s really people who are important. Jesus invested in people. So the greatest purpose that he could give us here on earth is to love people. That’s true living.

As Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” That’s right, Winston.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

All right, ladies, let’s do something about this. As Jesus said, “[We] must be about [our] Father’s business” (Luke 2:49,
NKJV
). And our Father’s favorite business is people. He has a special tenderness for broken and lonely people like widows and orphans. The ache of losing someone you love lingers for many years. Often we feel inept around grieving people because we don’t know what to do or say. We cannot fix their pain. But God can use you to give a moment of comfort, a hand on the shoulder, a kind card slipped into a pocket at church. I’ll tell you the truth, when you do any of those things, not only will you be a blessing, but you will indeed be blessed.

One Year Bible Reading

Leviticus 16:29–18:30; Mark 7:24–8:10; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 10:15-16

February 26

Don’t Refuse Instruction

     
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,

     
But he who refuses correction goes astray.

I love what commentator H. A. Ironside had to say about this proverb: “It is only when man learns to mistrust himself and to rely alone upon the unerring Word of God, unfolded by the Holy Spirit, that his feet walk in the way of life. . . . Let me gladly, then, receive correction.”

The journey of the children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land is full of important lessons for us. As they were crossing the Jordon, that river that separated them from the land of rich blessings, they were told to follow the Ark of the Covenant, which held the Word of God. And then God used this compelling phrase: “For you have not passed this way before” (Joshua 3:4,
NKJV
). This captures me. And here’s the lesson for us, we are just two months into this new year, and each day holds events and obstacles and dilemmas. There will be moments like crossroads, when your choice in a moment of time can affect your life for years. You need to come to God’s Word each morning, eager and expectant. Let him speak to you. Write down at least one truth that stands out. Look for a lesson and instruction to ponder, and then ask the Lord himself to help you apply it. This is truly where the rubber meets the road. Our proverb says, “He who keeps instruction is in the way of life.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Reflecting on the lessons we can learn from the wilderness journey, Hebrews 3:10 gives us bottom-line insight into why some never entered the Promised Land: God said, “Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.” Basically, they weren’t good listeners or quick learners. Every time we know the right thing to do and shrug it off or put it off, we are slipping back into the dry barren wilderness. Let’s not do that.

Let’s Pray

Lord, teach me to hear your voice. And then give me the desire and courage to obey.

One Year Bible Reading

Leviticus 19:1–20:21; Mark 8:11-38; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 10:17

February 27

Hatred, Malice, and Slander

     
Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,

     
And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Let me introduce you to two ugly sisters who are born out of hatred. They are Malice and Spite. And ladies, if we give them any kind of place in our souls, we will find that it is very hard to keep them in check. Even if we try to hide them, they will break out and have a life of their own.

Definitions:

• Malice
  implies a deep-seated animosity that delights in causing others to suffer or in seeing them suffer.
  
• Spite
  suggests a mean desire to hurt, annoy, or frustrate others, usually with petty, vindictive acts.
  

It’s interesting that just two words after
malice
in the dictionary is the word
malign
, which is slander. Slander is merely hatred turned into words.

So let’s be honest. In Texas they say, “You have a burr under your saddle.” That burr keeps jabbing the horse, making him buck and kick. Do you have a burr of hatred that is rubbing you and making you mean? This hatred is really killing you—it will destroy your life, not just others’. Will you go to the Cross? Will you kneel all by yourself today and say, “Lord Jesus forgive me, wash me, free me with the power of your cleansing blood”?

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

God has some strong words to say about unresolved anger: “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27,
NIV
). Do you feel your anger is justified and therefore must be relived and remembered? Oh, can’t you see that is exactly how Satan gets a foothold? It may have started with someone else’s sin, but now it has become yours. Ouch! Now, let’s apply the ointment of the Word of God. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9,
NKJV
).

One Year Bible Reading

Leviticus 20:22–22:16; Mark 9:1-29; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 10:18

February 28

Too Many Words

     
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,

     
But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Here’s a song with a catchy tune by Joe Jones written in 1958. You can google to listen. It goes like this . . .

     
You talk too much, you worry me to death,

     
You talk too much, you even worry my pet,

     
You just talk, you talk too much.

Ladies, we need to get a grip on this. Some things just don’t need to be said. If you have a tendency to speak everything that crosses your mind, pause before you speak. Ask yourself, “Would I want this said to me?” Some use the excuse, “I just have to be honest.” There is a time to speak and there is a time to refrain from speaking. If someone is having a bad hair day or they have gained some weight, your honesty is not kind or appreciated either.

Wives, in the heat of a discussion with your husband, your words can go south real fast. Remember what Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise [woman] keeps [herself] under control” (
NIV
). Character assassination and belittling will never solve the issue. Some words are hard to forget once they are spoken.

And here’s a prayer that can set us straight: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O L
ORD
, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14,
NKJV
).

We’ll close with the New Living Translation: “Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!” (Proverbs 10:19).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Benjamin Franklin said, “A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.” As we have looked at the need to tame our tongues, has it brought to mind something you have said that you regret? Have you blown off steam in a moment of anger or been too harsh and critical and saw it hurt someone’s feelings? That is the Holy Spirit giving you a “holy tug” of conviction. There is no time like the present to make it right. Pick up the phone or write a sweet note today. If your heart is right, God will give you good words and go before you with grace.

One Year Bible Reading

Leviticus 22:17–23:44; Mark 9:30–10:12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 10:19