Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 28:1-5
Prov 28:1-5
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. 2 When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue. 3 A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
Titus 1:15-16
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
To be in charge of a company, a community, a church, or a country does not prove that a person is not a fool. People rise to positions that bring them honor, but their conduct and their character prove they do not deserve the honor. Their position may deserve the honor, and it therefore should be given to them. Paul says that we are to give honor to whom honor is due, when talking about the leaders of the corrupt Roman government. This is just as true today.
Because one is savvy in business or is personable and a good politician and knows how to persuade people, or is elevated to a leadership position, does not mean that person is not a fool. One is a fool who does not acknowledge Jesus as Lord or does not follow the wisdom from above. Wisdom and knowledge both begin with a fear of the Lord. That fear recognizes Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings.
Maybe it has always been that way, but I know for the last 75 years it has been that people are held in high esteem and looked up to as role models who are fools according to God’s word. When I was young, there were musicians who I thought “hung the moon” and I tried to imitate them in various ways. I see young people doing the same thing today, in spite of the fact that they are ungodly and immoral people. Just because a person is a winning coach or star player does not mean they are a good person. We are to imitate Jesus and those who follow him.
O Lord God, my heavenly Father, holy and reverend is your name in all the earth! Help me keep my eyes focused on Jesus and on the things above, realizing that my citizenship and my true home is not here on this earth but is waiting for me in the new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. Grant me wisdom to show honor to whom honor is due. Fill my heart with love so I will treat others the way I want to be treated, even those who might consider me as their enemy. To you and to Jesus your Son is due all honor and glory. In his name I pray.
Robert
