Created to Worship (Proverbs 21:15)

There is a certain satisfaction that comes to a Christian when he or she is doing the work of the Lord.

"When justice is done it is a joy to the righteous [the upright, in right standing with God]; but to the evil doers it is dismay, calamity and ruin." Proverbs 21:15, Amplified

We are all made in the image of God and built to do His work. When we are within His will and doing these things that He desires, then we are truly happy. It is like the a gear, only meant to perform a singular purpose. It must be placed somewhere specific within the machine. If it is misplaced, then the machine will not act appropriately, if at all. Also, if the gear is used in a different fashion, the result will not produce goodness. A gear will never be a wheel and it will never perform the way a wheel should perform because it is a gear. The same can be said of us. We are never going to be truly happy when we are performing and living in sin because we were created to worship the Lord.

The wicked and evil doers, that justice that is performed by the righteous, will become their undoing. If we are not doing righteous things, then where are we within this spectrum? The answer is simple: if we are not performing the good things of the Lord, then we are performing the sinful things of self.

Self Serving (Proverbs 21:10)

No good can come from having an evil heart.

"The soul or life of the wicked craves and seeks evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes." Proverbs 21:10, Amplified

There are some things in this life that are just natural. Man goes about his way, however, he needs food and water to continue. In man's natural spiritual state, all he desires in the evil things. Now when I say evil, I do not mean things of a Satanic nature, though that may be the case for some. Man in his natural state is self serving so the things that he desires are not of God, therefore they are evil.

The evil man also shows no favor to his neighbor because he is self serving. "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" (James 2:16, NKJV) However, if we change our hearts and turn to God, we become less self serving and more focused on the needs of others so that our benedictions are not just empty words, but backed with loving actions.

The American Standard (Proverbs 17:15)

There are those who like to turn things around. It is happening in America today. Evil deeds are being justified and those who seek the Lord's path are being condemned. This is all happening under the guise of tolerance.

"He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination - exceedingly disgusting and hateful - to the Lord." Proverbs 17:15, Amplified

It is a dangerous thing to justify the wicked and condemn the righteous. In doing so, one places himself in direct enmity with God. During their trek through the wilderness, the Lord stated, "Keep yourself far from a false matter, do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked." (Exodus 23:7, NKJV) But isn' this what is happening in America today. Criminals have more rights than the victims. Homosexuals are looking to redefine God's first institution with man - marriage. Politicians are caring ore for money and special interests than for their constituents. Sinful hearts justify sinful behavior. For if I am practicing sin then for me to justify sinful acts is to allow everyone to be just like me then I become normal. The standard in America is dropping because the standard of the heart is no longer God. It is much easier to allow everyone else to slump to my level than for me to rise to His.

Spiritual Laws (Proverbs 17:13)

Payment due for services rendered is a good thing. But what if one is paid for what he does not do? Or what if one is rewarded for the evil that he has performed?

"Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house." Proverbs 17:13, Amplified

This verse is not a good suggestion or even a warning. This is a promise. If evil is rewarded as if it were good, the rewarder will ever have evil present in his house and life. Forgive the comparison, but it sounds similar to the idea of karma. Good comes back to those who do good and evil comes back to those who do evil. We read in the New Testament, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he ho sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Galatians 6:7-8, NKJV) Does this verse support karma? No. What this verse is doing is solidifying the spiritual truth found in Proverbs 17:13.

The idea of evil for good is not something foreign to the human heart.Even Jeremiah questioned the validity of repaying evil or good. "Shall evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my life. Remember that I stood before You to speak good for them, to turn away Your wrath from them." (Jeremiah 18:20, NKJV) In all his years of service to the Lord, Jeremiah did not have one convert. He had a message for the people that the captivity of Babylon was approaching. Instead of heeding his words, the people ignored and threatened Jeremiah. Though he had no converts, but had plenty of questions, Jeremiah remained faithful. Though the world around us may seem to be unforgiving and only give us evil for the good that we perform; remain faithful. Everybody gets what they deserve in the end

Fortifying the Heart (Proverbs 17:4)

When our hearts are far from the truth, anything will satisfy our thirsty hearts.

"An evil doer gives heed to wicked lips, and a liar listens to a mischievous tongue." Proverbs 17:4, Amplified

Both persons described in this verse are practicing in the flesh. There is the evil doer. His heart is given over to evil and will be swayed by anything that come his way. And the liar will be swayed by an evil and mischievous tongue. In essence, both will be brought down by their own mode of evil.

This is why we need to seek the truth and fortify ourselves within it. As we practice what is good, wicked lips will have no sway over our hearts because we are founded upon the Son. As we practice the truth, mischievous lips will not tempt us, for we can discern the truth. Fortify your hearts.

The Storehouse of the Heart (Proverbs 15:1-2)

In the book of James, we can read about the tongue. It is the smallest member of the body, yet it conceals so much power. But the fact of the matter is that the heart if the real culprit. Jesus Himself said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

"A soft answer turns away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1, Amplified

Friction begets more friction. If you take two sticks and rub them together long enough, then you will get fire. Add water into the mix and it becomes impossible. This is what a soft answer becomes. Smokey the Bear tells us that only we can prevent forest fires, and the Holy Spirit is telling us the same things here. It is completely within our power to prevent that spark of anger, so long as what is in our hearts is pure. Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45, NKJV)

"The tongue of the wise utters knowledge rightly, but the mouth of [self-confident] fools pours out folly." Proverbs 15:2, Amplified

It is possible to have knowledge and to use that knowledge inappropriately. The one who uses it as such becomes the fool pouring out his own folly. Knowledge saves, knowledge prepares. Knowledge should never be used for ones own advantage. Again, we are forced to look at what Jesus said about the abundance of the heart. If one's heart is good, then the use of knowledge will be used correctly and help those around the individual. But if the heart be evil, then knowledge is turned to folly.

Knowledge and the human heart can be either like the mustard seed or the leaven. In the case of the mustard seed, there is an abnormal growth for the seed should produce a shrub and not a tree. With the leaven, there is a very natural poisoning process which takes place. A lump of dough will begin to ferment even if a little bit of the yeast is placed at one end. Whether or not these two instances describe the church or the individual human heart makes no difference. The point is the evaluate the heart. What treasures lurk within the storehouse of your heart?

Devising (Proverbs 14:22)

There are two paths in life, one good and one evil. The Bible always refers to the latter as going astray which would indicate there were only one true path. Now we as Christians know this to be the truth, but when one is on the wrong path, they do not know it. Here is a question proposed by Solomon.

"Do they not err who devise evil and wander from the way of life? But loving-kindness and mercy, loyalty and faithfulness shall be to those who devise good." Proverbs 14:22, Amplified

The test is simple: Those who are wandering from the good path devise evil. You can ask this about friends you have met or even family members. What are they dong on the weekend? Are there plans being made that would violate the commandments of the Lord? Are things going to be done that are not befitting a Christian? Or even for the true sociopath who has completely left the confines of civilization and plans a night of crimes seemingly unforgivable.

But those who have not left the path exude certain qualities. Loving-kindness and mercy and loyalty and faithfulness. These are all characteristics that are found in the man of God. The first two deal mostly with their fellow man. The second two deal mostly with their relationship with the Lord. Now these qualities are not mutually exclusive to these groups, of course. Remember brothers and sisters, those who are devising evil have left the true path. We are the beacon of light that can lead them back to the paths of life. How? Through loving-kindness and mercy and loyalty and faithfulness.

A Dichotomy of Good and Evil (Proverbs 14:15-19)

The Bible has always laid out the differences between good men and evil men and the curses and blessings associated with each of these men. This selection of Scripture is no different.

"The simpleton believes every word he hears, but the prudent man looks and considers well where he is going." Proverbs 14:15, Amplified

This is not a blanket statement on belief, necessarily. Rather it is a statement about direction. But before we go further with this idea of directionality, I would like to focus on the simpleton. When this verse is read and we consider the simpleton, it reminds me of a child, believing everything that he or she is told. It is like "stealing their noses" and using your thumb to pretend that you actually have succeeded in stealing their nose. The child gets freaked out and believes it.

When considering directionality, I am drawn to one verse: "...we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting." (Ephesians 4:14, NKJV) The simpleton has no grounding in anything, he is like the man who built his house on the sand. But the prudent studies his way intently. He considers the cost and goes his way.

"A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool bears himself insolently and is [presumptuously] confident." Proverbs 14:16, Amplified

The Christian cannot be the man who runs into the burning house in the hopes of finding a victim to save. That fire may be made up of different things like lust or covetousness. It is our duty to our Lord to consider every step that we take. One misstep and we risk exposing ourselves to the evilness of this world. To say to ourselves that we have overcome sin is to be like the fool.

"He who foams up quickly and flies into passion will deal foolishly, and a man of wicked plots and plans is hated." Proverbs 14:17, Amplified

Passion is part of our nature, it is one of the things that makes us human. But for us to act on those passions is to act foolishly. This "foaming up" is the same as being quick-tempered, which links together with passion perfectly. Passion and logic are rarely friends. People kill in acts of passions, they initiate adulterous relationships because of passion. Passion in the hands of the wrong person can lead to a deadly end, for that passion can lead to wickedness.

"The simple acquire folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge." Proverbs 14:18, Amplified

In every life, one accomplishes something. For the simple, folly is his reward. The the one who considers his steps is rewarded with knowledge. Not only rewarded, but also crowned. The crown is a symbol of authority and power.

"The evil bow before the good, and the wicked [stand suppliant] at the gates of the [uncompromisingly] righteous." Proverbs 14:19, Amplified

This is a promise. As we all know, in this world today, this is not the case. But when the that Day comes, rest assured that those faithful to the Lord will stand tall as the rest of the world bows. In Milton's "Paradise Lost", Satan states, "It is better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven." This may be true now, in this fallen world. But when that day comes (and it will), those who were and are faithful to the Lord will live forever with Him. If one has chose to devil's side, then eternal separation awaits him.

The Seekers (Proverbs 11:27)

The Bible promises that if we seek after the good we will be blessed.

"He who diligently seeks good seeks [God's] favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him." Proverbs 11:27, Amplified

To seek after good is to seek favor from the Lord. We are told in the Bible that there is only One that is good and that is God (Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18 and Luke 18:19). Searching for good is to search out the heart of God. Life is so much more blessed if we search for good.

But when evil is searched out we are promised not that we will find it, but that it will come upon us. There is one thing to find something and there is another to have it find you. AS our heart turns away from the Lord we loose the element of surprise and our senses get dull. Evil will have the upper hand.