For
several years I spent time each year at a Pastor’s conference with the
incredible Johnny Hunt from
Woodstock, Georgia. One of the big
things that I took home from those meetings was a love for the Scripture and a
desire to daily read through Proverbs.
That journey began about 20 years ago.
Since
that time I have added this to time I spend with various groups around our
church. Yesterday I sat with a few of
our men and walked through Proverbs 26.
Several big ideas stood out to me, and I’d like to pass them along to
you but with a bit of an addendum. Read
on for the big 6 from Proverbs
26:
BIG #
1 ---- Verse 1
Honor is no
more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
Don’t
let honor be something you miss out on.
Give honor to those who deserve it as they live for God and encourage
you. Giving honor to those who don’t
deserve it is wasted time and breath.
BIG #
2 ---- Verse 4
Don’t answer
the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.
Some
people like to argue, yet many arguments are useless. They really help everyone lose. Speak with courage and encouragement letting
fools take energy from other people.
BIG #
3 ---- Verse 11
As a dog
returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his foolishness.
The
old statement “doing the same thing over and over and expect different results
is insanity” is reality as this verse describes. Grow up and stop repeating your mistakes.
BIG #
4 ---- Verse 16
Lazy people
consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.
Humility
is the key. Pride destroys everything
associated with it. Cherish wisdom and
live by it.
BIG #
5 ---- Verses 20 & 22
Fire goes
out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops… Rumors are dainty
morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.
Words
are important. Those verses stand alone
(read them again).
BIG #6
---- Verse 27
If you set a
trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself.
If you roll a boulder
down on others, it will crush you instead.
That
is huge truth. Deception is from the
enemy. Honor is a gift from God. They are polar opposites.
May
our lives depict the big ideas that God gives us and leave beyond the characteristics
of foolishness.
(All
verses are from the New Living Translation)
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