Disciples

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” [1]

The good Name TO BE CHOSEN is the Name of Jesus Christ. His Name means Anointed Savior. His loving favor is what each OF US must have to enter heaven where the greatest treasures are stored. Treasures of peace, love and joy forevermore in the presence of God, the holy angels and the saints!

“A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards his soul will be far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” [2]

Prudence is to pray to our Heavenly Father to keep us from temptation and to deliver us from evil. May He keep us ever aware that He is God and we are not! He created and sustains the universe. We should listen constantly for His Spirit’s guidance and remember the lessons that He has taught us from our childhood until now.

“He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; yes, strife and reproach will cease. He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend.” [3]

God is no one’s debtor. He blesses us when we give to God by giving to the poor. Scoffers will scoff at such advice because they do not believe in God or in His goodness. The King of kings, and Lord of lords, is the royal friend of the pure in heart, and of those with gracious lips.

Some pitfalls to avoid include building one’s life on what faithless people think, say and do. Don’t focus on what immoral people say and do. Such pits are for people that the Lord abhors. Receive correction because we all have foolishness in us that needs removed. Don’t exploit the poor and bless the rich! Give to those who cannot give back to you and God will bless you. What good is it if a man gain the whole world and lose his soul?

“The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, but He overthrows the words of the faithless. The lazy man says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!’ The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; he who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him. He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.” [4]

There is day of comeuppance for those who have taken advantage of others.

“Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their cause and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.” [5]

Other pitfalls to avoid include befriending angry people; taking loans from those who can take away your everything; and moving outside the boundary lines that your Heavenly Father has set for you.

“Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul. Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, one of those who is surety for debts; if you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you? Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set.” [6]

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” [7]

Be teachable! Be patient with yourself as you take two steps forward and one step back on the road towards being a person of great value to God, country, family and yourself. Professionals have been coached by professionals. The learned have learned from the learned. In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ, the supreme teacher of all teachers is seeking apprentices. Disciples!

[1] Proverbs 22:1
[2] Proverbs 22:3-6
[3] Proverbs 22:9-11
[4] Proverbs 22:12-15
[5] Proverbs 22:22-23
[6] Proverbs 22:24-28
[7] Proverbs 22:29