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A GOOD LIVING REQUIRES CHARITY AND WISDOM

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: THURSDAY, 3RD AUGUST, 2023 

TOPIC: A GOOD LIVING REQUIRES CHARITY AND WISDOM

TEXT: PROVERBS 20:1-23

1. Wine [is] a mocker, Strong drink [is] a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2. The wrath of a king [is] like the roaring of a lion; [Whoever] provokes him to anger sins [against] his own life.
3. [It is] honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.
4. The lazy [man] will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and [have] nothing.
5.  Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6.  Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?
7.  The righteous [man] walks in his integrity; His children [are] blessed after him.
8.  A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.
9.  Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin"?
10.  Diverse weights [and] diverse measures, They [are] both alike, an abomination to the LORD.
11.  Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does [is] pure and right.
12.  The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both.
13.  Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, [and] you will be satisfied with bread.
14.  "[It is] good for nothing," cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.
15.  There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel.
16.  Take the garment of one who is surety [for] a stranger, And hold it as a pledge [when it] is for a seductress.
17.  Bread gained by deceit [is] sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18.  Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.
19.  He who goes about [as] a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
20.  Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.
21.  An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.
22.  Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
23.  Diverse weights [are] an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales [are] not good.

MESSAGE: 
Today's passage is summarised into two paragraphs. Verses 1-14 teach that one's behaviour determines if one is a righteous person. For instance:i. People who are engaged in intoxicating drinks lack discipline and are uncontrollable (v.1). Parents who possess integrity will be examples to their children to emulate (v.7). Lazy people who love to sleep will be poor. Meanwhile, industrious people will be their bosses, and thus if they do not work, lazy people will not eat (v.13). The second paragraph, verses 15-23, teach that wisdom is not a guarantee that one will be wealthy, but a wealthy person must be wise. Wisdom teaches one to seek the advice of as many people as possible before one puts a plan into an operation (v. 18).
It is good to aspire a good living. To achieve this, we have to imbibe charity and wisdom in our day-to-day activities. Charity, they say begins at home -it is expected of the elders to teach the young ones moral education. This will go a long way to encourage good living in society. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom- if we allow God's fear to radiate our lives through His word, He will teach us what is right to do. Wisdom will also teach us that it is only the blessings of God that make one rich, and not an inheritance gained hastily at the beginning (v.21).


PRAYER:  
Create in me, O Lord, more of godly character and wisdom for a good living, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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