Date: Wednesday, July 09, 2014
Today's Chapters: Proverbs 12-14
Message Title: Get To Work

I was listening to a preacher the other day and he said something that caught my attention, he talked about of someone who came to him with this question. “I have three directions in which to take, I have been asking God to tell me what direction to go, but He does not answer me. Why doesn't God tell me what direction to go? His response, “Son, God wants you to make a decision.” How many times do we ask God what direction to take only to still be asking the same question months or even years later? Deep down, we know what direction to take, but perhaps we fear doing so because of failure or simply that we do not want to work. Honestly, getting the things we want takes a lot of work, and if we are not willing to work for it than we only have ourselves to blame. “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” - 1 Corinthians 3:8.

Let's face it, Christians are some of the smartest people on earth, just imagine what we could do with all the knowledge we have, but the problem lies in who we get around. First of all, we cannot expect God to bless us for our labor when we will not lose the people that distract and or hurt our efforts. And second, if we are trusting in those people to help us succeed than we are only setting ourselves up for failure. “The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand. A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.” - Proverbs 12:5-9.

We have seen them all before, those who talk a great game, but have nothing to show for it. They love to boast about all they can do, and even criticize you for what you can do, but have nothing themselves. I have known a few people like that, and all I have to say is that, I never want to have that kind of attitude, it really gets us nowhere. It's actually better if we were hated by them instead of being that so called critical friend they claim to be. “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” - James 3:13-17.

There is nothing more exciting to an entrepreneur than to see their business take off, it takes a lot, and I mean a lot of work to become successful and remain that way. Some people may be blessed to have gotten their wealth by other means, but cutting corners to get ahead does nothing, but destroy the business. Regardless of who runs a business, the head of it needs to be Jesus, without Him, it will fall, and there will be no way to recover. “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” - Proverbs 13:11-14.

As we work to achieve our goals, it can become heartbreaking when we do not see the results of our labor as quickly as we would like. When that happens it does affect our labor, sometimes to the point that we stop working. Believe me, it does get you looking to God and asking Him if you made the right decision in the first place. That is when God does something that gives you hope, knowing you made the right direction. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” - Romans 5:1-5.

The key to continuous prosperity of any kind is God, and living in obedience to His commandments, we may be able to succeed for a time, but it will not last. Putting God at the center of our desires will always prove successful, even when times can get tough. “He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” - Proverbs 14:2-4,12-15.

The foolish envy the prosperous, oh, they want what they have, but are not willing to sacrifice time and labor to get it. That is why we are to walk away from those fools, they will only bring us down, God blesses us based on our faith, commitment to Him, willingness to work, and patience through our work, not by our faith in an ungodly effort. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” - Romans 12:1-3.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for Your love and willingness to give us the things we desire. Often our lack of faith or unwillingness to work affects Your decision to give us the things we desire. Lord, give us Your wisdom to make the right decisions, and the power to work and keep working until we become prosperous. Let us not get slothful in our work, and if we do, help us to get back up and working again. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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