THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik

HERE

Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.

PROVERBS

CHAPTER 11

1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

A long time ago, there was a widow with four children. She raised corn and made her own corn meal. The local grocer would swap her corn meal for sugar. She sent her daughter to town one day to get some sugar, and sent 10 lbs. of corn meal to swap. The grocer weighed the corn meal and said it was only 9 lbs. The daughter said, "Well, that's interesting. Mom weighed up that corn meal by the balance of the 10 lbs. of sugar you gave her last week!"

Shady deals are an "abomination" to God; but He favors those who deal righteously.

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

The Bible teaches us that "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble" (James 4:6, 1Peter 5:5).

If God resists the proud, it's a small wonder that the result is SHAME!

Integrity is character displayed in action. To live by godly principals is the "guide" to eternal life. To live perversely is the "guide" to eternal destruction.

4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

As I have said many times before, there is nothing wrong with a person being rich. God can use a rich person, if that person is willing.

But to seek riches without regard to God, is to incur wrath at "judgment day."

Righteousness in the sense applied here, is seeking God. Only THAT attitude in life will deliver a person from eternal death.

Is there a person who is "perfect" in the world? No! But God looks upon those who are seeking Him as perfected already in Christ Jesus. They have surrendered to Christ and have received "HIS righteousness." (see 2Corinthians 5:21)

When a person seeks God, he is directed by God to eternal life; but a person who refuses to seek God, guides himself to a great and eternal "fall." (verse 5)

7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

The "expectation" and "hope" of those who refuse God is that the grave will be the end of their existence. That expectation and hope will PERISH when God calls all men to be resurrected for the final judgment!

Rigteousness in the Bible, being defined as a person seeking God, delivers a person from the eternal judgment of hell. But those who refuse God will not be afforded a second chance after death.

9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

The word hypocrite is defined as one who acts out righteousness in showy theatrics, but is quite different on the inside. Like an actor, he SAYS he is seeking God, but really is only serving self.

This is the kind of person who decieves innocent people. That person says they are saved, but lives like the devil. And they deceive others into thinking that they can be saved and still live sinfully.

Once, a friend of mine who works on an oil rig, made a characterization about such people. He said, "We have some of those on the rig. They SAY they are Christians, but they curse like a sailor, and are always bragging about sinful actions. I wish they wouldn't tell people they are Christians!"

10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

To be righteous is to seek God, and live accordingly. Those who do so, will also seek to help those around them. This kind of living, is living in true love; for love is displayed in charity and kindness.

When a person lives in Christlikeness, that person will be a blessing to a "city."

On the other hand, wicked people subvert authority and do damage to those who live around them.

12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. 13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

A person of wisdom, in the Bible, is a person who seeks God and is directed to live by the truths of God's Word. That person is a witness to truth, and will not speak of unsubstantiated rumors.

The "talebearer" is one who is bent on telling about things of which he is not sure. A true "witness" will tell what he has seen, or KNOWS to be true. But a talebearer tells what he has HEARD, whether he knows it to be true or not?

A faithful Christian will not be a GOSSIP!!

14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.

Counsel here refers to advice that is based upon principals of truth. When a person acts without "counsel," he is headed for trouble.

There is "safety" in making decisions based upon wise counsellors.

15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

We, as Christians, are taught to be benevolent. But we are supposed to use good judgment in our benevolence. For a person to co-sign on a loan with a "stranger" is foolishness. He needs to KNOW that the "stranger" will be able to pay before he becomes "surety" for that stranger.

On the other hand, to HAVE "suretiship" is to have something in possession which is of equal or higher value than the amount owed. This assures the one co-signing of the ability to pay if the other person defaults.

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

The integrity of two people are mentioned here.

The "gracious woman" lives in modesty and keeps her reputation unimpuned. Thus she retains honor for herself.

The "stong man," or man of character and integrity, will not waste away his funds. Thus, he is a good steward of what he has.

17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. 19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

True mercy is displayed by Christ offering salvation to sinners. A person who acts "Christlike" will help others, and receive joy in his own spirit. A person who lives without mercy will bring trouble to himself.

It is wickedness to deal deceitfully. No one rewards a person of trickery. But everyone loves to reward a person who lives and deals in righteousness. He may not be seeking a reward, but he receives it because people recognize he is living and dealing with integrity.

Living with regard to God and godly principals results in eternal life; but living without regard to God results in eternal death.

20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

The word "froward" is defined as perverse. To live in such a manner is to assure oneself that he will NOT have the presence of God in his life; for perverseness is an abomination to God.

On the other hand, God is quite willing to be involved in the life of a person who is seeking Him, and trying to live according to His expressed will.

This is why Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Matthew 12:30)

There is no such thing as "riding the fence" with God. You are either WITH Him, or AGAINST him!

21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Wicked people can make a contract to work together, and they might succeed for awhile on earth. But there is going to be a "Payday Someday!" The wages of sin are still DEATH -- ETERNAL DEATH!

It is only living for God that will "deliver" a person in that final judgment day.

22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

Who would think of putting a diamond earring in a pig's nose? That would be to put a thing of beauty in a place of defilement.

So is a beautiful woman who does not act in morality and modesty.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

In all of our reading about righteousness in the Bible, we would do well to remember this verse.

The truly righteous person will have a genuine desire to do that which is "good." His heart is SET upon living in integrity and ordering his life by godly principals.

On the other hand, the "wicked" will have no such genuine desire. And his only expectation can be to receive the wrath of God at the final judgment day.

24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. 27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

Life can be considered in the vein of sowing and reaping. If a person never sows seed, he'll certainly not reap a harvest. But when a person sows plenty of seed, then waters it, he'll receive a bountiful harvest.

When a person sows seeds of righteousness (integrity, morality) he will reap a harvest of the same and incur the "favour" of both man and God.

When a person "whithholds" righteousness, he incurs the wrath of man and God.

28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. 29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

These two verses go together more than one might think.

When a person puts all his energy of life into money and possessions he actually ruins his character and his family. For a person to allow money and possessions to rule his life, is the epitome of selfishness. That is why it is called "the root of all evil" (1Timothy 6:10). It is not riches which are the "root of all evil," it is the DESIRE of them that ruins a person's character.

Selfishness displayed in demanding attitudes brings "trouble" to a person's household; The inheritance of which is "emptiness."

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

OH! I LOVE this verse!

It goes without saying that one cannot life FOR God unless one is first surrendered TO God. The end result of living for God and in godliness is ETERNAL LIFE!

Even the most righteous man in all the world cannot "win" a person to Christ. But he can "win" another person over to himself, and then he can WITNESS to the person about Christ. Now THAT is using good WISDOM!

31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

Here, I believe, is the theme for the chapters 10-24.

Those who live for God will receive the reward of eternal life. But they are also "recompensed in the earth."

There is a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in living righteously. This is a reward which those who live without God never see or know.

There is a sense of JOY in knowing that one is living to please the Lord God of heaven and earth. This satisfaction yields a sweet sleep at the end of the day (Proverbs 3:24). And that joy, that satisfaction, that fulfillment of pleasing God, is worth more than ANYTHING else!

PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.