The Simple Life

An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble. From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. Proverbs  12:13-16  (ESV)   The first thing that comes to our minds is often troublesome at best. I have learned that if I need to respond to something and start with my second thought, I fare much better than starting with my first thought.   My first thought is often a defensive posture, where digging in is the strategy of the day, which often fuels the fires of discord. My second thought is often quickly prayed about, thought about, and appropriate for resolving the matter.   As God has said, I have found that it is wise to ignore a fool, for the fool, as I also, will one day give an account to God for every...

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns. No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved. Proverbs 12:1-3 (ESV)   We do not learn by accident. We learn when we position ourselves to learn. Some may think they learned by accident, yet God has never been random, and He will never be random in His dealings with man. One who understands life embraces that we are limited in our understanding and encourages those from the "outside" to be a part of our lives.   Second Timothy, chapter 4 discusses effective teaching, which includes reproving, rebuking, and exhorting. Those who want to learn are thankful for those who reprove, rebuke, and exhort them. Those who hate when that happens to them hate knowledge.   This seems to go against our normal thought process, but that is because our normal thought process excludes the idea tha...

Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. Proverbs 11:21 (ESV)   God consistently tells us throughout the Scriptures that those who live lives apart from Him are evil, and they will not go unpunished. It may look like those who are ignoring God are getting away with it, but we are told that evil will be punished, and indeed, it will be.   As one who has been in an administrative position most of my life, I understand the misunderstanding that can come to those who are not in my position. Let's say an employee has done something wrong, and I know about it. I meet with that person, talk it through, and even create a plan for correcting what was wrong. Those who look at the situation from the outside were not part of our inner dealings, and may think that we are doing nothing, when doing something.   If I could talk to the "outsider," I would assure them we are dealing with it. God tells us to be assured. He will...

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 (ESV)   We all have guidance systems in place whether we realize it or not. Our guidance system could be as simple as our feelings, our money, our friends, family,  job, and so on. Whatever it is, it has authority over us, and if it is anything or anyone other than God, we will one day be disappointed that we gave “it” such authority.   Healthy people live healthy lives, and part of being healthy is to have someone from the outside evaluating both the whys and the whats of our life. Healthy people are not afraid of a challenge. They embrace diversity, while never being tolerant, and enjoy opportunities to see things from various vantage points.   Healthy people discover more than they create and seek often more than they find. These actions place many counselors in their lives, and in this abundance of counselors there is safety.   In our world, we often...

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too. Proverbs 11:3-7 (ESV)   Those who have much in this life often use the much they have for advantage. Many times, they get used to the idea of having some sort of advantage because they have money. Really, those who have much will have much required of them. When we stand before God, money will not buy us anything. The power we amassed on earth will be meaningless, other than us being accountable to having used it well to bring others to Christ.   Those who are wealthy in this life need to be extremely careful that th...

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it. Proverbs  9:10-12  (ESV)   Knowing that God is God and I am not is the beginning of all good things. God is the creator; I am the created. God is the sustainer; I need sustaining. God is the healer; I am the sick. God is the convicter; I am the convicted. God is the master; I am the slave. God is the King; I am the vessel. God gives mercy; I need mercy. God is gracious; I live and learn by grace. God is infinite; I am finite. God wants me; I need Him.   There is a beginning to all good things, and the beginning to a good life is the recognition that God is God. This sounds simple, and it is, simply profound.   A world that has no fear of God, fears everything else, whereas those who fear God live a faith rest li...