Boasting (Proverbs 20:6)

Everyone wants to talk about how good he or she is. But how good are we really?

"Many a man proclaims his own loving-kindness, but a faithful man who can find?" Proverbs 20:6, Amplified

In the New King James Version, loving-kindness is replaced with goodness. Every man wants to proclaim his own goodness. We boast about our goodness because we want to be valuable in the eyes of someone else. Hell's Kitchen is on right now, and it is hilarious to watch the aspiring chefs in their confessionals. They proclaim how good they are. They will mop up the competition. They are going to win Hell's Kitchen. Then you watch them as they loose challenges or have horrible dinner services. There is no action to back up the words.

The same can be done in our spiritual lives as well. We can boast about how spiritual we are, but what is actually happening in the heart? Spirituality is not just words, nor is it even action. It is a state of being, the position of the heart.

There is no need to boast of our own goodness or even loving-kindness. Our value was already established as Jesus bought us with His own life.

Counsel (Proverbs 20:5)

To get counsel is always a good thing, but we must have the tools and know-how to receive it.

"Counsel in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well, but a man of understanding will draw it out." Proverbs 20:5, Amplified

Yes. Notice what I said. We need the tools and know-how to receive, not to distribute. Sure, going to school to become a counselor or a psychologist is a great thing. But the real key to therapy, advice and counsel is on the receiving end. Counsel is good for nothing is the it was meant for does not want it.

The receiver must want to draw out the counsel. It is like someone going grocery shopping. He or she fills the fridge and pantry to their own detriment if no one in the house is hungry. But when hunger sets in, the wealth of food stuffs stored up are there for the person to draw nourishment from.

Always be ready to give the counsel that you have in your heart, you never know when someone might be hungry.

Excuses (Proverbs 20:4)

There are so many different excuses for us to use on a daily basis. Which one best describes you?

"The sluggard will not plow when winter sets in; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing." Proverbs 20:4, Amplified

I actually prefer the New King James Version of this verse, "The lazy man will not plow because of winter; he will beg during harvest and have nothing." Excuses are like armpits, everyone has them and they all stink.

In this verse, the lazy man will not plow because winter is upon him. There are many different excuses concerning winter. "It's snowing, or it's too cold, etcetera." But what must be understood is that plowing and harvest happen year round. Different produce ripens at different times during the night. So the farmer must be diligent in plowing, for when it comes time for harvest he will have nothing to eat.

The same can be said about our spiritual lives. There are a plethora of excuses that one can use to not do the will and work of God. "I am too scared, or I am not a good public speaker, etcetera." In the kingdom of God, our excuses are useless for the Lord can give rebuttal to any of them. Moses was a great man of God who when first commissioned told the Lord that he was not eloquent of speech, later in his ministry addressed the nation of Israel. The Lord said, "I will certainly be with you." (Exodus 3:12, NKJV)

When we are afraid the Lord says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, NKJV) When we doubt, Jesus reminds us, "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea.' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:23-24, NKJV)

Now these are only two human emotions dealt with in this verse. I challenge you to find anything else that you may be struggling with and the Lord has the answer.