Choices (Proverbs 22:5)

The way of the righteous is a peaceful path, but the way of the perverse is full of pain.

"Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate and willful; he who guards himself will be far from them." Proverbs 22:5, Amplified

Guarding oneself means that he or she keeps him or herself from evil choices. There is pain and hurt in the lives of the righteous and evil alike, however, the pain is different when the sojourner is obstinate and willful against the will of the Lord. That pain comes from bad choices and is meant to destroy. The pain that the Lord allows in our lives is meant to strengthen us. Thorns and snares are devices of torture, but the fire of the Lord tempers the heart.

Anchor (Proverbs 21:29)

There is a big difference as to how the wicked and the righteous conduct themselves.

"A wicked man puts on the bold, unfeeling face [of guilt] bit as for the upright, he considers, directs and establishes his way [with the confidence of integrity]." Proverbs 21:29, Amplified

This is one of those verses where I prefer one translation over the other. In this verse, I do prefer the New King James Version over the Amplified. In the beginning of this verse in the former translation it states, "The wicked man hardens his face..." There is no hint of the guilt spoken of in the Amplified version.

Going off this other translation, when I read it, it reminds me of my son. When he gets in one of his moods, he crosses his arms, furrows his brow and purses his lips. He is angry and does not want to move. This is what the wicked man does; he does not want to move so he takes a stance. It is not established in anything else but his own desire.

The righteous man, however, establishes his own way. What he does differently is that he knows where he is going, why he is going and how he is to get there. He has a plan and he understands how it is to be executed. The righteous man has most likely prayed as well concerning this path which makes his way even more established.

The difference between the two men is the anchor that each one possesses. The wicked man is anchored by his own feet, but the righteous man is anchored by the Lord Himself.

Desire (Proverbs 21:25-26)

The lazy and the industrious man have this one thing in common: they both desire something. However, only one will receive that which he desires.

"The desire of the slothful man kills him, for his hands refuse to do labor. He covets greedily all day long, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous gives and does not withhold." Proverbs 21:25-26, Amplified

For the lazy man, desire does not become manifest because he refuses to take part in the process. Desire needs to become more in a life in order for it to become real. Had Bill Gates simply sat in his garage and desired to build a computer, Microsoft would never have been born. Many great men had desires to become more and do more in their lives, they took action. No one who has ever made a name for themselves have done so for inaction. Even Richard Heene took action to become more with his weather balloon hoax.

But the righteous man takes action on his desires and receives so much more than he needs that he has to give to others. Trust in the Lord and He will give you all that you need. Trust, faith and hope are all words that have action behind them. Neither conveys an idea of passiveness, especially when it comes to our relationships with the Lord.

Seek and be Filled (Proverbs 21:21)

There are many things for a man to seek and fulfill himself, however, it is the things of God that are the most important for us to seek.

"He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness [uprightness and right standing with God] and also honor." Proverbs 21:21, Amplified

It is urged that we seek after the things of God. Not only do we need to seek but also seek but also crave the things of God. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6, NKJV) We are promised that if we do indeed crave the things of God, that those cravings will be satisfied. God is not like sin. He doesn't allow you to dine just to leave you empty, wanting more. We crave the things of the flesh in a desperate fashion, looking to fill some void within our hearts and souls. But sadly, that hole is never filled, so we binge on sin. The Lord, though, fills us up to the brim, and the cravings do return, but for different reasons. We crave the things of God because our heart and soul found sustenance and we desire that fulfillment again.

God is the only who can satisfy.

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.

Overthrow (Proverbs 21:12)

Have you ever looked and seen how the wicked seem to flourish? Well, not to worry. The Lord sees them too and they will be overthrown.

"The [uncompromisingly] righteous man considers well the house of the wicked, how the wicked are cast to ruin." Proverbs 21:12, Amplified

If you are following along in another version like the New King James, you may be scratching your head right now. The two versions seem to be at odds with each other. Here is how the New King James reads, "The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness."

One version speaks about a righteous God and the other about a righteous man. The answer, however, lies within the syntax. In the New King James we find that it is God who overthrows the wicked. In the Amplified we are met by a righteous man who considers the wicked and how they will be cast down. In other words, the righteous man knows and understands that the days of the wicked will always be numbered and that it is not he who needs to overthrow the wicked, but God will.

Punishment for Righteousness (Proverbs 17:26)

There is a time coming soon when the righteous will be punished for being righteous. It is prophesied in the book of revelation and promised by our Lord. But it still does nor make it right.

"Also to punish or fine the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble or their uprightness." Proverbs 17:26, Amplified

Though it is promised by our Lord, it still does not make it right in the spiritual scheme of things. It is not condoned by our Lord, in other words. The human heart as it strays away from the Lord is capable of so many different evils. We are coming into an age of tolerance. But this is code for intolerance of Christianity. Our Lord does not condone this and it is evident in the Book of Revelation. I have read the end of the book, we win. The Lord's intolerance of the punishment will not be quiet for long. Rest assured, if you feel like you are being smitten for your righteousness, the Lord sees and He will avenge.

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.

A State of Being (Proverbs 16:17)

Righteousness is a state of being. It is not a series of choices that one makes, rather it is a way of life. The Breastplate of Righteousness covers the main part of the body, all the vital organs that make up the person, namely the heart. A state of being just is. If a person is funny, this is his state of being. He does not need to go around telling everyone how funny he is, he just is. If he were to remind everyone how funny he was on a daily basis, he would no longer be funny just annoying. The same can be said of righteousness. We need not go around telling everyone how righteous we are, we can just be. If our state of being is righteous, then our actions, conduct and conversation will follow.

"The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; he who guards his way preserves his life." Proverbs 16:17, Amplified

The way we walk is so important as to what defines us. Our path in life should always take the detour if it entails avoiding evil. Why be unduly tempted? If I know that pornography is a huge hurtle in my life, why would I go into liquor stores that sell such items? AMPM is a perfect example of a business that has avoided such distasteful product and I can go in and buy whatever I want without the temptation of buying a dirty magazine.

Not only does a righteous path need to be chosen, but a guarding of the heart must take place. We are but flesh. No matter how righteous our choices in life may be, we will always encounter the temptation of sin. This is why we must guard ourselves. The Armor of God found in Ephesians 6 is the perfect example. Each piece of armor is specifically designed for its placement on the body.

The best example that I could find for this idea of walking righteously and guarding ourselves is this: "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, NKJV) This word "circumspectly" means in all directions at once. Not that our walk should be in every direction at once, for that would make for chaos. This means choosing a specific path in life (namely toward God) and walking while keeping you guard up by looking in all directions. Rarely does the enemy hit us from the front. It is a blitz attack on our blindside.

Walk as wise men and women of the Lord. Redeem the time that we have here on earth. Redemption is getting what value is left in an object or thing. If you buy a can of soda, it has a California Redemption Value. When you have finished the contents for which you bought the can, the can itself still holds value. The time that we have left on this earth still has value. Get all you can. Redeem the time, walk circumspectly, guard your path and take the high road.

Keep the Important things the Important Things (Proverbs 16:8)

Sometimes, less is more.

"Better is a little with righteousness - uprightness in every area and human relation and right standing with God - than great revenues with injustice." Proverbs 16:8, Amplified

What the Bible is essentially saying here is that less is more when you can actually enjoy it. It is better to have a little bit of possessions and have our relationships with our fellow man and with God to be in good favor. Could a man be rich and have many possessions and still be in right standing with the Lord. Sure. But what the Bible is focusing on here is the more important thing, our relationship with others and with God. The Ten Commandments were written to show how our relationships with God and man should be.

"A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of the wicked." (Psalm 37:16, NKJV) The common thing between this verse and the one in Proverbs is the righteous man, the man who is right standing with God and man. Possessions mean nothing if our relationships are off. Keep the important things the important things.

Circumspect Walk (Proverbs 15:21)

Anyone who is not saved enjoys the sin they commit. It is when one really gives his (or her) heart to the Lord that the sin longer is fun. It becomes more of a weight of guilt.

"Folly is pleasure to him who is without heart and sense, but a man of understanding walks uprightly - making straight his going." Proverbs 15:21, Amplified

If any of us have a pre-conversion story, I would assume that you remember the joys of your sinfulness. What I mean is when neither of us had to hold ourselves accountable to God. Sin was definitely fun. But as we come to a knowledge of the Lord, that sin is exposed for what it truly is. I like how the verse states that the man of understanding makes straight his going. The man who has come to know God has a purposeful pureness about him. I am not saying that the man of God does not sin, but he tries to make the best decisions in his walk. The fact is that we all fall short of the glory of God. Paul encourages us by saying this, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, NKJV) To walk circumspectly means to walk in every direction at once. The true meaning of the verse is this, in order to walk righteously, keep watch around you so that you are not ambushed by sin. Know your surroundings so that you can better know your God.

Impeding Progress (Proverbs 15:19)

Proverbs constantly compares different attributes of human nature. There are good and bad qualities in each one of us. One if these qualities is laziness.

"The way of the sluggard is overgrown with thorns [it pricks, lacerates and entangles him], but the way of the righteous is plain and raised like a highway." Proverbs 15:19, Amplified

When laziness consumes a man, his desire is to do absolutely nothing. The New King James explains this verse like this, "The way of a lazy man is a hedge of thorns..." I can usually appreciate the Amplified Version of a verse, but today I think it is being over analyzed. I feel that this verse is trying to portray that the lazy man will not even try to go about his way for risk of working too hard, never mind being lacerated, entangled or pricked. What I feel needs to be analyzed here is the hedge. Solomon did not state that the way of the lazy man is over grown, but he had a hedge (in the New King James Version). A hedge is a purposeful boundary that is kept up and cared for. It is true that in either version of the verse, truth can be found. Ironically, the lazy man will take more effort to keep from doing anything than actually doing something. It is also true that the lazy man does not take care of his way so that it does become overgrown (Amplified).

But the way of the righteous is a raised path, a highway with no obstruction. The righteous desires not to be impeded in is progress. It is true that a righteous man does fall, but he has the ability to get back up again and go about his way for he has nothing to keep him from doing so.

If you have fallen, get up and dust yourself off or risk the chance of your way becoming overgrown or even becoming so discouraged that you create that hedge between you and the Lord.

The Rise and Fall of Nations Center Around 3 Letters: G O D (Proverbs 14:43)

A nation is defined by it's people, not its leader. However, a successful nation is brought about by a successful leader. In the books of First an Second Samuel, we have defined for us the perfect dichotomy of an unsuccessful king and a successful king. King Saul and King David are two integral parts in the birth of Israel, but one followed the Lord and the other did not. It is no secret which legacy belongs to which king. When a nation's ruler is righteous for the Lord, then the nation will succeed.

"Uprightness and right standing with God [moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation] these elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Proverbs 14:43, Amplified

An upright nation is elevated. A nation in right standing with God is exalted. In reading the book of Judges, the nation of Israel goes on a roller coaster ride of freedom and servitude. The nation of Israel was meant to be a Theocracy, different from all the other nations of the world. However, whenever the nation turned itself away from the Lord, He brought another nation to punish them. The nation would then cry out to the Lord, turn from their wicked ways back to the Lord and the Lord would raise a leader to save them from their oppressors. But when that leader died, the same cycle would play out over and over again.

We can say something similar about America. Our leaders are moving slowly away from the things of the Lord to the things of the flesh. just look at the turmoil of California. Two times gay marriage has been on the ballot for the residents to vote on. Two times the voice of conservatives have been heard and gay marriage has not become a legal in California. However, it has been overturned by the Supreme Court once, and is about to go before the court yet again.

This nation was founded upon great moral values and the Christian faith. California is just one example of how this nation is turning away from the Lord. Fifty years ago, the issue would have never been placed on the ballot. But as long as our leaders keep on this path, our nation will slowly deteriorate from the inside out. It is already happening. The signs of the times are here. The Lord is quickly coming back. Our nation is not in the end times prophecies for one of two reasons. Either there will be a nation wide revival and most of the population will be raptured. Or we no longer are the Super Power of the world because the nation falls apart. Every great nation of the world fell apart simply because God was not at the center. One nation rises up to take over another weaker nation. Who will rise up to overtake America, or will we be consumed by our own sin?

Be ready Christian. Make your stance. Stand your ground. The fall of a once great nation will come and may even be happening right before our very eyes.

Life Saver (Proverbs 13:5-6)

The difference between a righteous man and a wicked man is that the righteous man feels guilt. When he has transgressed against the Lord, his heart weighs heavy in his chest.

"A [consistently] righteous man hates lying and deceit, but a wicked man is loathsome [his very breath spreads pollution] and he surely comes to shame." Proverbs 13:5, Amplified

The righteous man can lie. It is within the ability of every man to transgress the commandments of the Lord. The difference between the two is the shame that follows. I know for myself, when I sin, a great heaviness accompanies it. I begin to hate myself for allowing my heart to stray. Forgiveness is soon sought after. But the wicked man feels no shame or guilt. The difference is that within the righteous man resides the Holy Spirit. Conviction causes the Christian to seek forgiveness.

"Righteousness [rightness and justice in every area and relation] guards him who is upright in his way, but wickedness plunges into sin and overthrows the sinner." Proverbs 13:6, Amplified

If we walk in righteousness, we will be guarded. This is not to say that bad things will not happen to the righteous man. I know that I got fired from my job when I decided to do the right thing. You see, we must view everything in our lives as a greater plan created by God. The guard that covers the Christian is the faith that he possesses. When things go wrong for the sinner, he has nothing to hold on to. If all we ever know is sin, then that sin will soon overtake us. But if we come to a saving knowledge of the Lord, then we have that proverbial life saver awaiting us.

Fruit of the Righteous and Works of the Wicked (Proverbs 12:12-14)

We have one of two options in this life. We can either bear fruit of ourselves or become the hunter. To choose the former is to accept the life the Lord has for us. And to choose the latter, we become Cain, a man who offered the Lord the work of his own hand.

"The wicked desires the booty of evil men, but the root of the [uncompromisingly] righteous yields [richer fuitage]." Proverbs 12:12, Amplified

In all pirate stories we have read over the years, we find that there is often a mutiny on board because the crew covet the riches of the captain. They want more and more. I think this was well displayed for us in the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean".

Evil men work for what they get and have to stay on guard, for there are others who covet what they have. In guarding your possessions all the time, you have no time to enjoy them. The new game to play is making sure that no one else can enjoy them.

However the root of the righteous yields much fruit. The righteous are rooted in the Lord. He is their supplier. In the nutrients that He gives, they are able to bear fruit. Have you ever seen a tree guard its fruit? That would be a silly thing. You see there is a extreme difference here. Evil men hide and hoard. The righteous man is placed here on earth to feed others. The fruit on the tree is not meant to nourish the tree, but to feed others. All the nutrients the tree needs are found in the soil that it is rooted in.

As long as we are planted in the Word of God, then we are getting all the nutrients that we need. From this symbiotic relationship, we then bear fruit for others to partake of.

"The wicked is [dangerously] snared by the transgressions of his lips, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall come out of trouble." Proverbs 12:13, Amplified

"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) It is true, what is placed in the heart is stored and will eventually find its way out. You have heard that one bad apple spoils the whole bunch. Once we open our mind to influences outside of the Lord, we risk that spoilage.

If we fill ourselves with the Lord and Him alone, the abundance of our heart will always deliver us. "But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13: 11, NKJV)

"From the fruit of his words a man shall be satisfied with good, and work of a man's hand will come back to him." Proverbs 12:14, Amplified

The man who trusts in the Lord will always be satisfied from the Lord. When we are planted in the Lord, we ooze the goodness of the Lord. As good leaves us, good is returned. I understand that the life of a Christian is littered with many stories of sorrow and tribulation. The satisfaction we receive is being able to see the Lord in everything, including the bad. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28, NKJV)

We cannot get the second half of this verse confused with verse 12 in this devotion. A wicked man seeks to satisfy himself with the work of his own hand. However, a man of God uses the works of his hands to glorify his God. Those works will come back to bless that man.

The House of the Righteous (Proverbs 12:7)

The foundation of the righteous is none other that Jesus, the firm Rock.

"The wicked are overthrown and are not, but the house of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall stand." Proverbs 12:7, Amplified

I had an interesting thought enter my mind as I read this verse this morning. The righteous and the wicked both have the same trials to go through. They both live on the same earth. Both have the same end, death. So what causes the righteous to stand in the face of trials? I cannot help but to revisit the Gospel of Matthew 6. Jesus is telling his disciples about the wise and foolish builders. The wise (or righteous) builder dug down and built upon the rock. That rock is Jesus Christ.

A prayer, a decision, a lifestyle separate the righteous and the wicked. A decision, a lifestyle, a prayer is the foundation of the righteous. A lifestyle, a prayer, a decision is what the wicked is lacking.

Alternatives (Proverbs 12:6)

The mouth always speaks what is stored in the heart. The heart is teeming with thoughts and desires, so much so that it spills into the reality of our lives. If we wish to conceal what is in the heart, we can only do so for so long before that dam gives way and we flood the conversation with the contents of our heart.

"The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the righteous will deliver them and the innocent ones [thus endangered]." Proverbs 12:6, Amplified

The wicked wish to lie in wait for the of the innocent. This takes planning and patience. It also involves an ambush of sorts. The heart of the wicked will always give them away, there is not enough camouflage in the world to conceal it. The terrorists in the Middle East claim to have a religion of peace, but the contents of the heart have given them away. America was taken off guard and shed a lot of blood on September 11.

But we have the antithesis for this. The mouth of the righteous will delver the innocent. The righteous heart can give warning to the innocent as to the intent of the wicked. We know of the wiles of the devil, for we have the word of God to guide us. It is our duty, as brothers in Christ, to spread that Gospel truth. How can the innocent be saved if we do not speak? In a criminal court, one can be held partially responsible if they knew of a murder and did nothing to save the victim. How much more responsible should we be if we do not save the soul of the innocent? The innocent that if taken down by the wicked will be infected and himself become wicked. People need an alternative. We need to be that alternative. We need to speak that alternative.

Thoughts of the Righteous and the Wicked (Proverbs 12:5)

In the mind of the righteous, thoughts of good and not of evil reside. But in the mind of the wicked, the reverse can be found.

"The thoughts and purposes of the [consistently] righteous are honest and reliable, but the counsels and designs of the wicked are treacherous." Proverbs 12:5

When reading this verse, I do not feel that there is much to offer in way of interpretation. For when you read this verse, it is pretty self evident.

The thoughts that go through the mind of the righteous are good, honest and reliable. It takes an honest man to run a big business, it takes a good man to run this country and it takes a reliable man to lead a family. If any of those things do not exist in any of these men, then what they are placed in charge of will soon fall apart. Honesty and reliability are things that the men and women of this country used to look for in a candidate for president, or a spouse. Our ideals, as a nation, are changing. This nation is slowly falling apart because the thoughts and intents of the hearts of those we have elected to run this nation are treacherous.

The Roots of Righteousness (Proverbs 12:3)

To be firmly planted means to have a deep rooting in something. As we grow closer to the Lord our roots grow deeper and deeper into Him so that we will not be easily removed.

"A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall never be moved." Proverbs 12:3, Amplified

When I read this verse I am taken back to the Gospel of Matthew and am reminded of the story of the two builders. One builder built his house on the sand. "The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:27, NKJV) Wickedness mimics that sand. Wickedness is never going to be a sure foundation. Wickedness does not look out for the best interest of its host.

In the story of the two builders we find that they both have the same sand, but the righteous one digs down to the rock. It rakes work to be established. Righteousness is not a walk in the park. Even more so that being established on a rock, the righteous flourish and thrive. Their rots grow deeper and deeper into what they believe in. As those roots get deeper, they get stronger. As those roots get stronger they get deeper. The deeper the roots get the closer to water they will become.

Just Payment (Proverbs 11:31)

There will be payment for our actions on this earth, for the sinner and the saint alike.

"Behold, the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be recompensed one earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner! [And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the wicked?]" Proverbs 11:31, Amplified

If the righteous are promised recompense while still on this earth, then how much more true is this for the wicked and the ungodly. To put forth an analogy I would have to say that every man is given the same building materials. What type of shelter he chooses to build is complete his choosing. The type of foundation is solely on his shoulders. It is like the man that built on the rock and the other that built on the sand in Matthew chapter six. Both built houses, but one withstood the trials of this life, the other fell.

The second part of this verse has perplexed me. The brackets indicate it is an addition that was not there. The amplified version attributes this to First Peter 4:18, "If the righteous is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear?" (NKJV) Peter pulled this from Proverbs 11:31. It is a but confusing. Here we have a verse in the Old Testament that attributes its contents to a book in the New Testament. And we have a book in the New Testament attributing its contents to a book in the Old Testament. A bit circular.

I read many different version of Proverbs 11:31 and none read like I Peter 4:18. The answer is quite simple. Though Proverbs speaks about recompense and Peter speaks about salvation, the contents of both are almost identical in idea and substance. The righteous will be recompensed and so will the sinner; is the righteous are barely saved then what about the sinner? We have to remember as well that the Bible has gone through many different translations. Peter was a Jew who spoke and read Hebrew, it is quite possible that this is how the verse in its original context read. In either case, the Holy Spirit allowed for two different versions of this one verse to appear in the context of the Bible.

The recompense of the righteous is that salvation as though through fire. And if the righteous are barely saved then the recompense of the sinner will surely be death.