Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 27:11-16
Prov 27:11-16
11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me. 12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. 13 Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress. 14 Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing. 15 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; 16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.
James 3:17-18
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
When I think about being sincere, I am reminded of a funeral that I attended a few years ago. It was for a man who was about as ordinary as anyone I have ever known. He was reasonably successful in his middle-income job. He was not a leader but was dependable to get the work done. He was always helpful to others when he saw a need. He was a good neighbor. He was faithful in his church attendance and was active in several ministries.
The church was full, with probably four hundred people in attendance. I had attended another funeral at the same place a few years earlier and it was the same kind of crowd. I began to wonder why so many people came to both of these. The common denominator was that they both were well known for their sincerity in their lives. They were the same to everyone they met. They had no pretense about them. They always told the truth in a kind way.
Joe was Joe. Amos was Amos. At each service it was said of them that “you always get what you see.” People appreciate and respect a person who is truly sincere. There was never a hidden agenda with them. There was never any jealousy or manipulation. Wisdom that comes from above is impartial and sincere and it yields a harvest of peace and righteousness. We need to be sincere.
O Lord God, help me be sincere in all I do and all I say in my life. I pray for our nation. We have allowed evil to prevail in so many ways. Things that you call an abomination have become acceptable in our culture. The sin that you condemn has too often become the norm. Please be merciful to us as a nation because I know that you have destroyed other nations for less. Help your people to stand up for what is right and to sincerely live for you. Give us leaders who will point us in the right direction so we can live in peace. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
