The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (40 page)

May 29

Poor and Godly

     
It is better to be poor and godly

          
than rich and dishonest.

In light of our economic times, this is a valuable truth.

“It is better to be poor and godly than rich and dishonest.” I hope you really believe that, because there are some things that money just can’t buy. Let’s look at some stories of people who made hard choices.

Ruth left her country and relatives to go back to Israel with Naomi. Even though they would go as poverty-stricken widows, she said, “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16,
NKJV
).

Mordecai challenged Esther to take a dangerous stand to save her people, saying, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Her reply: “I will go to the king, . . . and if I perish, I perish!” (Esther 4:14, 16).

In Hebrews 11 we’re given a wonderful list of people who accepted loss, poverty, even death for their faith and the kingdom. Noah gave up his day job to build an ark. Moses gave up his place in a palace to lead his people to freedom.

Jim Elliot, who was martyred on the mission field, said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Paul said in Romans 8:18, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (
NKJV
)—because “it is better to be poor and godly than rich and dishonest.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Are you feeling poor today? Sometimes I do. Then I look at the suffering of others. I think of Christians around the world who are suffering for Christ, and I feel ashamed of myself. First Timothy 6:7-9 gives us all a reality check. Will you read it and let the words encourage you that you are richer than you think? “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction” (
NIV
).

One Year Bible Reading

2 Samuel 14:1–15:22; John 18:1-24; Psalm 119:97-112; Proverbs 16:8-9

May 30

No Double Standards

     
Honest weights and scales are the L
ORD
’s;

     
All the weights in the bag are His work.

Here’s the history of the reference to weights and scales.

People then did not have prepackaged things like we do now. When you went to the market to buy butter or cheese, they weighed it on a scale, and you paid per weight. In Leviticus 19 God said, “Use honest scales and honest weights.” Unfortunately, some grocers would use one scale that weighed heavier when they were selling and one that weighed lighter when they were buying. That’s just not right, is it?

The New Living Translation puts it this way: “The L
ORD
demands fairness in every business deal; he sets the standard.”

So, ladies, how does this apply to us? Well, if you run a business, be fair. Don’t cut corners. Don’t cheat anyone. I like the policy “Under promise and over deliver.”

If you work in a business, give an honest day’s work. If you work in day care, treat those children as you would want someone to treat yours. If you work as a cook in a restaurant, handle the food like you would want someone to handle your food.

Some Christians think they can have two lives: one that’s lived inside the church and one that is lived outside in the everyday world. Not so. First Corinthians 6:20 tells us, “For you were bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (
NKJV
).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

God hates double standards. Ladies, we have a double standard when we dish it out but aren’t willing to take it. Do you take offense at the smallest things? Are you offended when you feel your needs aren’t met, and yet you’re not truly sensitive to the needs of others? Let’s apply this to your pastor and leaders at your church. You have no idea how many people’s needs are constantly on their thoughts. On top of that, they have their own families and personal struggles. Your criticism can cut right to their heart. Will you pray and ask the Lord to show you one way this week to lift them up and let them know you appreciate all they do?

One Year Bible Reading

2 Samuel 15:23–16:23; John 18:25–19:22; Psalm 119:113-128; Proverbs 16:10-11

May 31

Kings Detest Wrongdoing

     
Kings detest wrongdoing,

          
for a throne is established through righteousness.

     
Kings take pleasure in honest lips;

          
they value a man who speaks the truth.

Well, ladies, we don’t come in contact with very many kings, do we? But we do have people who are our bosses or hold positions of responsibility that we serve under: if you’re a teacher, your principal; if you’re a waitress, the shift manager; if you work in a hospital, the head nurse. Whoever it is, their lives are miserable when employees under them can’t be trusted, but they benefit when they have honest workers.

So this is a great opportunity for us as Christians to live out our faith in God in a practical, consistent way. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Joseph is a great example of this, even when he was unfairly put in prison. Listen to this: “The L
ORD
was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. . . . The L
ORD
was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did” (Genesis 39:21-23,
NIV
).

Do you see? This warden trusted Joseph really because he
could
trust Joseph. It’s a good thing.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

The US Chamber of Commerce estimates that 75 percent of all employees steal at least once; half of these steal repeatedly. One of every three business failures is a direct result of employee theft. These are staggering statistics. If you work in a restaurant, or in retail, or even a doctor’s office, the owner of the company has probably seen people betray his trust.

As a Christian in the workplace, you have a great opportunity to “walk the walk” in a tangible way. Be a good steward of your employer’s resources. Do a job you weren’t asked to do. Help someone else catch up if they’re behind. Pray over a task you’re working on, asking the Lord to show you if you can do it more efficiently. Even if your boss doesn’t notice, the King of kings and Lord of lords does.

One Year Bible Reading

2 Samuel 17:1-29; John 19:23-42; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 16:12-13

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