Freedom House Church and Healing Centre

Hello Church, Overcomers in the Lord!

Praise God for the wisdom and revelation He gives us every day! God is good!

The Word of God is so practical – full of advice on how to avoid situations that will surely lead to difficulty and regret. Proverbs is one of those books that is full of useful information to keep us out of trouble. The book is like having your Father with you everywhere you go – you just have to make use of it (Him).

Proverbs 6 contains several lessons that will prevent future hardship. Here is the first lesson in verses 1-5: Don’t lend money to people you don’t know very well, and think twice before lending to a friend. Don’t do something you’ll regret and won’t be able to get out of. If you happen to find yourself in that situation, get out of that trap ASAP. It is so good and simple in the New Living Translation that I am not going to add any more to it: 1My child, if you co-sign a loan for a friend or guarantee the debt of someone you hardly know-- 2 if you have trapped yourself by your agreement and are caught by what you said-- 3 quick, get out of it if you possibly can! You have placed yourself at your friend's mercy. Now swallow your pride; go and beg to have your name erased. 4 Don't put it off. Do it now! Don't rest until you do. 5 Save yourself like a deer escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net. Did Jesus say the opposite of what is advised here? Read Luke 6:27-36 - how do you reconcile these two passages?

The second lesson speaks to our culture very poignantly (verses 6-11): Avoid Laziness! We possess a myriad of distractions and vices through which we can be ensnared, and time can be wasted. Think of the screen time and games that are at our fingertips; think of the plethora of television and online networks offering us limitless movie, sports, Reno shows, etc. etc. etc. That quick 15 minute search has suddenly eaten up 3 hours of our time! How many hours, days and weeks of productivity have we lost to idleness? Poverty is the fruit of laziness! Here’s God’s Word on the matter:  6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! 7 Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson: 10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- 11 and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. Meditate on Colossians 3:17 & 3:23-24.

Lesson number three is a caution to us to be careful of who we hang around with, and who we have as friends. There is an increase of wickedness in this world, as more and more “scammers” desire to take advantage of the ignorant, vulnerable and naïve. We need to be extra vigilant these days as Satan desires to steal and destroy the saints of God. He uses wicked people to do his dirty work. What should we watch for; how can we know these individuals? Proverbs 6:12-15 tells us: “Here is a description of worthless and wicked people: They are constant liars, 13 signaling their true intentions to their friends by making signs with their eyes and feet and fingers. 14 Their perverted hearts plot evil. They stir up trouble constantly. 15 But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken beyond all hope of healing.” Their mouth, eyes, heart and mannerisms give them away! Look for their fruit – they sow discord and dissention wherever they go. Pray for discernment! Whenever you hear that small voice speaking in the back of your mind, “Be careful!” that is Holy Spirit warning you. The Hebrew word for "worthless" is belial. We see that word in 2Corinthians 6:15, where Paul says we can have no fellowship with such people.

Does God, who is love, hate anything? You bet! Lesson 4 (verses 16-19) – what God hates, even detests! I've made a table showing the opposite to what God hates; what He blesses from the Beatitudes. Here is what the table below teaches in a nutshell: Love your neighbor! Be humble and serve people in love.

Have a great week meditating on this very practical chapter. As always, let’s examine our hearts and allow Holy Spirit to mold us into the image of Christ!

Be blessed!

Mike