PROVERBS & ECCLESIATES

Today is Sunday!  Wow!  I love Sundays!  It is going to be a great day in the LORD.  I'm so looking forward to meeting with God's people and seeing what God is going to do for us.  Here are some thoughts I had while reading in Proverbes and Ecclesiastes:   1) ANGRY MEN- The Bible says to stay away from angry men.  It is amazing how many women have married an angry man. Some go from one to another, but the Bible gives us a strong warning.  Prov. 22:24 says: "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:"  Anger is a deep seated problem and you will not be able to change it, only God can, but you will have to deal with it for a long, long time if you get into a relationship with someone who is angry.  The Bible says not to start the relationship.... "make no friendship with an angry man".  Stay away!   2) NOT FOR COALS OF FIRE- Prov. 25:21 says: "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: (vs. 22) For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head,..."  We are to be kind to our enemies, we are to be gracious to them, we are to help them in their time of need, but... not for the purpose of heaping the coals of fire upon their heads...I know... that WILL happen because the Bible says so, but the verse goes on to say: "and the LORD shall reward thee."  There it is!!  We do these things so that God will reward us, not to heap more coals of fire upon their heads!!  God rewards the actions of a kind heart!!  Good truth to remember. 3) THE REAL VALUE OF A WOMAN- Prov. 31:30 says: "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman tht feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."  Here the Word of God spells out the beauty that will last a lifetime... a woman who loves the Lord, will love you too!  We need to see things from God's prespective.  If you are a lady who loves the LORD, I hope you know your worth as God sees you.  Not pride, but thankfulness from a humble heart that God values those who love Him!  4) PUT TO MORE STRENGTH- Ecclesiastes is Solomon's widom under the sun.  It is an inspired account of the sum of man's wisdom.  It does not mean that it is all true or acurate, but it perfectly tells what Solomon said.  It is full of practical wisdom and human frustrations.  Here is a practical principle of life:  Eccl. 10:10- "If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength:"  If you are a little dull, go and get sharpened (school, college, trade, experience, etc.) or know that you will have to work harder than others around you to succeed. (put to more strength).  Don't complain that you do not have the talant and abilities of others, simply out work them!!  The simple key to success is working harder than the next guy! Well, time is short and has expired.  Have a wonderful day in the Lord.  Pastor Mike Mutchler