Similitudes, Instructions

Proverbs 26; I die daily devotional.

¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. ¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.

This one will hit hard for those that toss and turn in the business of this world, that’s if there is any ounce of persuasion left in your soul to learn from these proverbs (the Word of God), but for those already convinced of the work ahead will also be hit hard with encouragement and the flame ever increasing to the heat of the will of God in the reconciliation of believers.

SLUGGARD

I often find myself conflicted between what value means in this world of business compared to the truth about what value means in the kingdom of God. The truth about value of any significance is the labor of our souls; when using our body members like hands to turn the pages of your bibles with eyes to read and a mind to understand the heart of God, that is a labor that will produce eternal results of causality that reveals the kingdom of God here on earth. To do that work of faith is to accept the spiritual crafting of heavenly results that reflect your being made alive in Christ (an eternal nature of righteousness), but it’s not seen in the sluggard that shifts from side to side on their bed because they’re too busy being “wise” about success in this life—confused by an alternative agenda that clearly communicates wisdom in this world—when it’s not actually success … at all. Financial freedom is not freedom because it’s wise, it’s freedom because it’s easy; it’s simple to achieve financial freedom when living by the means of what is needed rather than desired.

• Are you more learned about how to do business in this life than business in the next?
• When is the last time you woke up to seek God before your phone?
• What does “sluggard” mean for you right now?
• Will you convert your energy of business sluggard in this world to a labor of faith in the Word of God?

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Resources

Proverbs 26 (NASB)—blueletterbible.com
¹ Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. ² Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight. ³ A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools. ⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. ⁵ Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes. ⁶ He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool. ⁷ Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ⁸ Like one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool. ⁹ Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by. ¹¹ Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly. ¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.¹³ The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!” ¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. ¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer. ¹⁷ Like one who takes a dog by the ears Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him. ¹⁸ Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death,¹⁹ So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “Was I not joking?” ²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. ²¹ Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. ²² The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. ²³ Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. ²⁴ He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart. ²⁵ When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart. ²⁶ Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. ²⁷ He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.