THE WISDOM OF PROVERBS

Today is Sunday!  I'm so looking forward to God and Country Day at Grand View Baptist Church.  We do patriotism very well.  I am looking forward to being with God's people.  Today I read ten chapters in Proverbs and marked up much more than I could ever share, but here are a few thoughts I had: 1) INVEST IN OTHERS- Prov. 11:25 says:  "The liberal soul shall be made fat:  and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."  This principle is found all throughout Scripture.  Eccl. 11:1 says:  "Cast thy bread upon the waters:  for thou shalt find it after many days."  The idea is to keep investing in others.  Keep giving, keep loving, keep helping.... and all of it will eventually come back to you!  That is God's promise, so keep watering, and keep casting, and keep investing in the lives of others.  Give to God's Work, invest your time in ministry, spend time helping someone on a project..... God notices and keep the records.... it will all come back to you multiplied.  2) LEAVE IT BEHIND- I have heard people say that they want to spend all of their money before they pass away, but God's Word tells us differently.  It says in Proverbs 13:22  "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children:  and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just."  Leave what we have for our grandchildren!  What a truth.  We ought to be preparing now to do so.  Put in a small amount for each grandchild when they are very young, and let it grow for 50 years and it will be a huge amount!  The law of time and compound interest.  Let us be thinking of how best to leaven an inheritance to our grand children! 3) ANGER AND UNDERSTANDING- I draw your attention to two of many verses on the subject of a man who is angry.  Both are found in Proverbs 14;  verse 17 says:  "He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly:"  and verse 29 says:  "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding:  but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."  So, we can see that an angry man is not a man of wisdom and understanding, but rather foolishness and folly.  A wise man is not soon angry and is in control of his spirit.  That is better than being able to take a great city is to control one's own spirit.  Don't walk with angry people.  Be wise and consider a matter well before any action is taken.  Let the LORD guide you in all situations. 4)  MAN PROPOSES--GOD DISPOSES!  Prov. 16:9 says:  'A man's heart deviseth his way:  but the LORD directeth his steps."  We plan, but God executes.  We have a plan, but God has a purpose and will work out His plan in our lives.  Rather than fight against God's plan, yield to it.  Give every day to God and let Him direct you!  That is the life of great blessing.  Well, I have to go for now.  Please have a great day and enjoy yourselves!  Pastor Mike Mutchler