Good Hard Day's Work (Proverbs 16:26)

This next verse seems a little selfish when read, but I assure you, it is connected to a spiritual law.

"The appetite of the laborer works for him, for the need of his mouth urges him on." Proverbs 16:26, Amplified

There are many different types of laboring in the world. There is the labor of an expectant mother bringing her child into the world. Most of us work for a corporation or a business where we labor for our boss. In early America, slaves labored for their masters. And the list goes on. But there is one thing that all these have in common: they all must eat.

I remember working for Denny's, I hated my job, because that is all it was a job. It wasn't even a 9 to 5, it was a 9 to whatever time I could exit the building. But I worked my little fanny off because I needed to eat and to pay my bills. I worked so hard because I needed to care for my family. What this verse is trying to convey is that we all work to the best of our abilities to support ourselves and/or our families. Paul wrote, "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." (Second Thessalonians 3:10, NKJV) In order to receive, one must contribute. This was the whole idea behind Social Security and Disability. The government wanted to take care of its citizens after a long life's work or after an injury on the job. But you must have had a work history in order to receive these benefits. Sometimes we must fight for what is rightfully ours, but the Lord promises that if we work, we will be taken care of. The Lord watches after his own and cares for us.

Prayer and Supplication (Proverbs 16:25)

There are many different paths for us to take in our lives. But what paths should we choose to take?

"There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it are the ways of death." Proverbs 16:25, Amplified

On a daily basis, there are many different choices to make. In life, there are goals to meet. How are we to make these choices and meet these goals? Prayer and supplication. When a choice confronts us, all we can do is speculate as to the end of things. All I can do is vacillate between what may and may not happen. But there is another in my life who is omniscient. The Lord knows the end of all things just as He knows the beginning.

This reminds me of an old asian story I had heard. There was a young man who fell in love with the kings daughter. The princess loved this young man as well, but the father was against it. So he offered the young man a challenge. There were two doors. Behind one of the doors was a tiger and behind the other door were beautiful women. The challenge was set for the next day. That evening the father told the daughter what door lead to the tiger and what door led to the women. The daughter stole away that evening to meet her love and told him what door to pick. When the next day came the young man awoke with confidence. He made his way to the door and chose, walked through it and died from a tiger strike. Why would his love choose the tiger? She was afraid of losing him, she did not trust the lust in man with the beautiful women that were behind the second door. She had no faith or trust in him and she saw the finite ending of things.

The Lord sees all and knows all. When choices make their way to us, lay them before the Lord. We should never take the position of knowing what is best for us. Pray and supplicate. Jesus prayed three times in the Garden to allow for the cross to pass and to find another way. He was afraid. When the Father's position was clear to Him, He went to the cross knowing it was the Father's will. Pray and supplicate bothers and sisters.

Pleasant Speech (Proverbs 16:24)

Peace, ease and comfort are always present when words are soft.

"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body." Proverbs 16:24, Amplified

There is a time and place for harsh words and there is a time and place for words of comfort. In the Bible we find this verse, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3 & 8, NKJV) The words of Jesus were not always pleasant, they were harsh when they needed to be. There is an old saying that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. We, as Christians, need to keep in mind the appropriateness of pleasant words. While dying on the cross, Jesus never uttered a word of contempt. As one thief reviled Him, He never opened His mouth to condemn him.