PROVERBS

Proverbs is Solomon writing to his son, Rehoboam.  It is full of wisdom and a book to absorb into your being.  Read it over and over and over and apply it's truth into your life.  Here are a few thoughts: 1) MY SON- Twenty-three verses include the phrase:  "my son", as Solomon tries to impart wisdom into his son.  The verses include such wonderful passages as: Proverbs 1:8  "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: "    Proverbs 1:10  "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."  Proverbs 3:1  "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:"   And many more wonderful verses as these.  Solomon was blessed by God with wisdom and he wanted to share it with his son and with others.  But, his down fall was not in what he knew, but what he practiced.  He said in:    Proverbs 23:26  "My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."  That last phrase was his downfall.  "let thine eyes observe my ways."  I wonder, could we pass this test?  Could our children hear our words and observe our ways, and know that we love the LORD with all of our hearts?  Let that be the test. 2) SCATTERING, YET INCREASING?  Proverbs 11:24-25  "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty."  (25)  "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."  Proverbs says a lot about giving.  Solomon was the richest man we see in the Bible, and yet he doesn't talk about getting, he talks about giving!  He likens giving to sowing seed.  You sow the seed first, and then you reap the harvest later.  You sow before you reap; you sow and then you reap more; you reap the same as you sow. I have learned this principle from the Bible and was taught it by godly parents.  My father is right now in Heaven, and at the judgment seat of Christ, my godly father and godly mother will reap more than most preachers, for they sowed and sowed and sowed in God's house and in the lives of others!  (myself included)  I'm looking forward to seeing them properly rewarded!! 3) MAKE ROOM.... COMING THROUGH!   Proverbs 18:16 says:  "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men."  So many want to be in ministry, and by that I'm afraid what they mean is "having their salary paid by a church".  But this verse puts us all to the test.  IF a person wants to be in full time ministry, then "a man's gift maketh room for him,"  By this it means his abilities, his dedication, his drive, his results in ministry.  If he is used by God to accomplish something of significance, then his "gift maketh room for him" to be on a church staff or pastor a church.  If not, then that person cannot be on a church staff.  He has to bring results and increase to the body of Christ through his efforts and God using him.  Just a thought. Well, hope you have a great day!  God bless you!  Pastor Mike Mutchler