Some people say that reading books written by successful people is like having that person as a mentor. Although you cannot have a conversation with them, you can learn a great deal by reading the ideas that they took the time to assemble. Based on this, reading Proverbs is like having Solomon, who was granted great wisdom by God, as a mentor.

I particularly like the clarity and applicability of Chapter 27 to our modern lives. Verse 21 is something to consider, “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.”

Hopefully we all will have the opportunity to be congratulated and applauded for doing something excellent. When it happens, it is our opportunity to pass the test and humbly say “thank you”, and also share the credit with others who helped. This test is like other tests we are given in life, but feels much better than dealing with a tragedy or failure. It may not be as easy as it may appear. Being praised regularly easily can become a burden for some people to maintain their humility. Remember this is another blessing from God that can be used to bring him glory and not just inflate our egos.

Dear Lord, thank you for the wisdom of Solomon, recorded for our benefit in the book of Proverbs. Help us use it to improve our lives to be of better service to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

One of the difficult things to understand about God is why he lets terrible things happen to people. We see it around us and in the news; What appear to us to be senseless tragedies.

We can read in Romans 9:17, “For the scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the world.” So God made Pharaoh to be the oppressor of the Jews in order to show his power.

Another story in John 9:1-3, Jesus came across a man who had been blind since birth, He was asked, who sinned the man or his parents, Jesus said, “neither, he was born blind so that God’s power could be demonstrated.” then Jesus healed him.

We cannot know why God allows the tragedies we see to happen, and most importantly, we are in no position to evaluate God based on them. God doesn’t measure whether things are good or bad based upon, our measures, or how they affect our lives here on earth. Paul writes in Romans 9:20, “Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”

Whether we experience good or bad, or see joy or tragedy, does not change how we should approach God. Our responsibility is to believe in his power, trust his love, and submit ourselves to him. What is most important is that we know we have already been saved, eternally.

Dear Lord, your ways are higher than we can understand. Help us trust that all things are working according to your plan, and nothing can separate us from your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The more you read the bible, the more clear it becomes that what God fundamentally wants from us is to be dependent on and trusting in Him. One of the many ways we do this is with our money. You have probably heard the expression, “you can’t outgive God.” When we give our money to our church, people in need, or organizations that help people, we are not only providing them money, we are demonstrating that we know God will take care of us and give us what we need.

I like how the NLT bible version puts Proverbs 11:24-25, “Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; Those who refresh others will be refreshed.”

It is sometimes a difficult line for us to draw between being thrifty and being stingy. Our motivation, what is in our heart is what matters. Are we remembering that all we have comes from God, and trusting him to provide?

Dear Lord, help us remember to be generous with the resources you have given us, and if we need more we should ask you. Holding our generosity and charity will not enrich us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Like many folks, I am a “notorious” Do-It-Yourselfer. My family jokes about it. I am routinely watching internet videos on how to fix appliances, cars, understand physiology, nutrition, and many other topics, then running back and forth to the hardware store, auto parts store, or health food store on my DIY mission.

However, in a recent Bible study, I realized that Christianity is not a Do-It-Yourself activity. Yes, we make decisions on our own to follow God’s rules for behavior ourselves, but God’s will is not something we choose and do on our own.

Paul tells us in Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” KJV. The NLT version puts it like this, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

So God’s plan isn’t for us to come up with some idea on our own, and then ask for His blessing and support. His plan is for us to see and hear His direction and do it. It is God working his will through us. When we follow this path, he makes things happen we could never do on our own.

Dear Lord, help us look and listen for your will then work on your plan, knowing that you can accomplish through us much more than we can do on our own. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Can you think of a time when you were chosen to be part of a special group, team, or organization? Accepted by that university, fraternity, sorority you hoped for, hired by the great employer, for a select few, chosen to be a pro athlete, or astronaut. Wonderful feeling of acceptance, pride and validation of our skills, talent and hard work.

As good as those things have been for us, they pale in comparison to the significance Peter outlines in 1 Peter 2:9-10. ..for you have been chosen by God Himself- you are priests of the King, holy and pure, you are God’s very own-all this so that you may show others how God called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were less than nothing; now you are God’s very own. Once you knew very little of God’s kindness, now your very lives have been changed by it. TLB

Let us be grateful for being chosen. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be someone who brings another person to a place he or she could be chosen by God as well.

Dear Lord, thank You for choosing us to be part of your team, from being less than nothing, doomed to the darkness to which sin pulls us. Now we are with you. Empower us to share the joy this brings. In Jesus’ name. Amen.