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Bible Daily Devotional from Proverbs
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Daily Devotional

Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.

 The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:

Proverbs 22:7-8 (KJV):
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

Proverbs 22:7-8 (AMP):
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows iniquity will reap calamity and futility, and the rod of his wrath (with which he smites others) will fail.


Thoughts for the Day:

These verses in Proverbs tell us how the power of wealth gives people an advantage over others, and that vanity will be reaped by those who sow iniquity.  Verse 7 tells us that those who are rich will rule over those who are poor and that people who borrow money are in servitude to those who lend it. Having wealth is not sinful, as there were many people in the Bible who were very wealthy, such as David, Solomon and Abraham. All of these men had hearts toward God and God used them to bless others. However, being rich or poor in this world does not define our relationship with God.  Some rich men are very poor in the eyes of God, because they do not serve Him; while some poor men in this world are very rich because they are in right standing with God and have what the Bible calls "the true riches." The true riches of God is having His love, faith, peace, joy, protection, favor, etc. However, how we use money, or mammon, is one of the ways in which God tests us, before He entrusts His kingdom riches to us.

Luke 16:10-11:
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

One of our spiritual tests is how we deal with the small issues in this life.  The Bible tells us that if we are not faithful over the small things, we will not be faithful over larger things.  I have observed this truth over my lifetime, and it has never proven to be wrong. I have watched people's lives and when they fail to come through in the small issues, they also fail to come through on larger issues. People who say they will call right back and fail to do so, will also fail to send that check they said they would send.  People who tell you they will take care of a small matter and do not do so, will not take care of a larger matter. (I am not referring to occasional oversights, of which we all fail to do at times, but am talking about habitual failings.)

I had a neighbor, when I was young, who always excused her messy apartment on the fact that it was just too small, so she couldn't keep it clean and picked up.  She would always complain to her husband that if he would just get her a bigger house, she would be able to keep it clean and straight.  He finally got her a nice big house, and instead of her keeping it nice and straight, as she claimed she would do, she just ended up with a bigger house and a bigger mess.  If we are not faithful in little, we will not be faithful in much.  I never give a big job to someone, until I first see how they will handle a small job, because I have found this scripture to be absolutely true.

This is true with our finances, as well. Some people are waiting to give their tithes and offerings when they have more money, but they will never have more money to give, until they give out of what they have. The Bible speaks of giving a "tithe" or ten percent, as our portion to the Lord. We can give this to the Lord's work whether we have little, or much. If I have a dollar that I have earned, I can give a dime to the Lord's work; or if I earn $100.00, I can give $10.00. Giving is one way that we will work our way toward getting out of debt because it releases the favor of God and man toward us.  It is wise to get out of debt, because as long as we are in debt, we are servants to those who have lent us the money. It also limits us when we are in debt, in regard to heeding the call of the Lord.  We must stay and discharge our debts, instead of being free to go and serve the Lord.

Verse 8 talks about the unrighteous man who is a sinner and is continually doing evil deeds. The Bible says he will reap what he is sowing.  He will come to calamity and futility.  Bad things are bound to happen to people who continually use threats with angry words, to get people to do things.  These kinds of people are manipulators; however, in time, their angry words will fail to get them what they want, and people will finally leave them to their own evil devices.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You, God, for Your abundant blessings!  Lord, I am grateful that I am rich with Your many spiritual blessings and I also appreciate the material blessings You have given me.  You take good care of me, and I am grateful.  Lord, I do ask that You help all of Your people to get out of debt and stay out of debt. I pray this personally as well.  I want to do what Your scripture says, in that I do not want to owe anyone anything, except the debt of love, and I will gladly pay that debt. Help me to show integrity in all my dealings in regard to money and finances. Lord, may I be generous and always give to the work of the Lord and help others as well. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.