Proverb 18 1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. 3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. These verses tell us that those who seek to live without God and without other people are not only selfish, but they also seek their own way and refuse all wisdom and good judgment. Verse 1 This verse gives us a description of one who has abandoned society to pursue his own way and do his own thing. This is sinful, since God created man for two purposes. One, He desires a personal relationship with us; and two, He desires us to live together in harmony so we will be a help and blessing to each other. After God created Adam, He said it was not good that man should live alone. So He made him a companion and helper. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (Genesis2:18). The Lord is the inventor of marriage and families. In todays society, the devil is trying to destroy families in many different ways. Homosexuals are trying to redefine the family unit by sanctioning men to live with men in a sexual relationship (as well as women with women). The Biblical definition of a family is a husband and a wife who procreate by having children. This is the core family. Certainly when a member of this family dies or leaves, the others are still considered family. Some families also include others in their circle by inviting them to live with them. This may include an extended family member, or those who are adopted. The devil also seeks to separate families by divorce. It is sad that most divorces are caused by selfishness. Each party wants his own way and is not serving the other. As Christians, we must love each other and lay our lives down for one another. If this is not done at the basic level in a marriage, then our Christianity is hollow. In our society, doing our own thing is glamorized. We have all heard statements like: I should be fulfilled. I should not waste my life in a bad marriage. I should not put up with the things in my mate that I do not like. I have my rights and they should come first. These are just a few arguments that the enemy uses to make his case for divorce. As Christians, our goal should not be to please ourselves, but to please Him who gave His life for us. If we are truly committed to God, we will seek to obey and serve Him in all of our ways. The first place that our Christian love gets tested is in our homes. If we cannot love one another there, how then, can we love others outside our homes? 1 Corinthians 13 gives us a definition of what true Christian

love is. The word love is used loosely in the world. It usually means an emotional feeling, a desire to be with someone, and can even be mere physical lust for someone. This is not the definition of Gods love. He loves even when He is not loved. He laid His life down so that we might have life. God is a giver not a taker. As His children, we are challenged to be like Him. We can only do this as we allow Him to live in and through us. Verses 2-3 These verses describe many a person in todays society. They have no delight in understanding Gods ways or even listening to anothers opinion. They are prideful and revel in their personal opinions. A self-absorbed person who serves only himself will go deeper into evil, as selfishness leads to many other sins. The baseness of his own heart will cause him to commit overt sins that will eventually be seen by all. Many of our public figures have had to endure shame when their secret sins were exposed. We can avoid this kind of life, if we seek God and seek to do His will. When we serve and obey God, we will serve those around us in love. " The words of a (discreet and wise) man's mouth are as deep waters (plenteous and difficult to fathom); and the fountain of skillful and godly Wisdom is as a gushing stream (sparkling, fresh, pure and life-giving)." The words of a wise man do not just come from the surface, but rather, out of his very being. Someone with godly wisdom has greater depth than one who is merely intellectual. Out of the godly mans innermost being flows living water, and he can instruct others in the way of life. His words are truly like a gushing stream whose waters are sparkling, fresh, pure and life-giving. Jesus is the Word that brings life and refreshing to others. We can all be filled with His Holy Spirit. In yielding to Him, we can be His spokesmen through whom He can impart that same life to others. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified) (John7:37-39). Before the charismatic renewal, there were only a few people in denominational churches who knew about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God saw the need for this truth to be restored to His church, so He began pouring out His Spirit upon all of His people regardless of their church affiliation. Many received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matthew3:11; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4; 38, 39;10:44-46) and began speaking in tongues and praising the Lord. Peter, addressing the crowd that gathered the first time when the Holy Spirit was poured out, quoted the prophecy of Joel 2:18-32, which foretold that the baptism in the Holy Spirit would be available to all believers in the last days (Acts 2:1618). The term last days refers to the time between Christs First Advent (His birth) and Second Advent (His return to earth to establish His kingdom). The First Advent has already occurred and He is coming soon to establish His reign. It is obvious that we live in the last days and that the baptism in the Spirit is being

poured out today upon all who will receive Him to give them the power to live the overcoming life. The Lord desires us to enjoy all of His blessings. The baptism of the Spirit should not be a point of contention. Those who have received spiritual gifts must not think less of those who do not know the blessings of Pentecost. Those who have not experienced the baptism in the Spirit must not view those who speak in tongues with distaste, especially if they have not sought the Lord regarding this experience. We should not reject something we do not understand. We would have never been saved with this attitude because none of us really understood how salvation worked at the time we received it. We simply repented and received and we were saved. We need to bring new things before God in prayer and prove them against Scripture (1 Thessalonians5:21). If we bring our questions before God with an open heart, asking Him to show us the truth, He will certainly do so. He will not give us a stone if we ask for bread. If we ask Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit, He will not give us something else (Luke11:11-13). Proverbs 18:5-8(KJV): 5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Verse 5 It is wrong to show partiality to the wicked for any reason, but especially if it deprives the innocent from receiving justice. As Gods children, we are not to allow money or position to influence us when making judgments. Our heavenly Father treats everyone fairly and expects us to do likewise. Kind-hearted people are just as apt to show partiality for the underprivileged as others are apt to be impressed by a persons wealth, fame, or profession. Though often exploited, the poor are not always innocent. A rich man is not always wrong and a poor man is not always right. A person should be esteemed according to his character, which is revealed by his words and actions; not by his income, profession, education, race, creed, etc. You shall do no injustice in judging a case; you shall not be partial to the poor or show a preference for the mighty, but in righteousness and according to the merits of the case judge your neighbor (Leviticus 19:15, AMP). My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? (James 2:1-4).

God, Himself, is not a respecter of persons. He loves everyone equally. Non one person is loved more than another. However, there is one thing that God is a respecter of that is His Word. If we practice and keep His Word, He will honor us because of it. Therefore, anyone who keeps the Word of God will be respected by God. Verses 6-7 Self-confident fools are often unaware and uncaring of how their words affect others. They perceive themselves as right and air their opinions freely, with no respect to anyones feelings but their own. Because they do not restrain themselves from saying arrogant or hurtful things, their own words bring them to ruin. Their own lips are a trap set to catch them, always ready to get them into trouble with other people. For more on this subject, see Day 27. Verse 8 A talebearers words are like dainty goodies to those who enjoy gossip. The listener gobbles them up. Just as ingested food becomes part of ones body, ingested gossip becomes part of ones thoughts and opinions. Words which are dainty morsels to gossipers are blows to the soul of their victim. Gossip can destroy a persons reputation, career, or business. Without the Lords help, such injuries are hard to overcome. We all need to guard our mouths. Unkind, sinful words can truly damage and wound others. Proverbs 18:9(KJV): "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster." Years ago, I hired a young man to hoe the weeds from my yard. Since he was a brother attending our church, I expected him to do a good job, but was very disappointed when I returned home and saw his work. He said he needed his money that day so I trustingly paid him in advance. (I did learn a lesson myself and that was not to pay in advance and to inspect the job before paying someone.) Though I had paid him above the average wage, he had left a third of the weeds in the yard! I had to ask God to help me with my attitude toward this young man. I remember praying, Lord, if I had done this job there would not have been a weed left in the yard. I heard the Lord speak very clearly to my spirit: Betty, that is why you are not hoeing weeds for a living. You must pray for this young man and his generation; many of them have not been taught any work ethics and hence they do not know how to work. Please do not misunderstand; hoeing weeds is an honorable job. If one does a good job in yard work, he will prosper. His work will be in demand and he will have to hire additional workers to help him. He will be able to ask top wages for his services. Whatever our job may be, if we do it well, we will prosper. Genesis 39-40 recounts the story of Joseph, who was an excellent worker. Everything he did prospered; even his work in jail brought a promotion. The pace of todays world is a hindrance to good workmanship. Sloth and disorganization reflect a lack of care and values. Many people take shortcuts that lower the quality of their work. They end up wasting time and money because

their job must be redone. God is not wasteful. Jesus, after feeding the five thousand, commanded His disciples to gather up the leftovers so that nothing would be lost (John6:12). Though many of the younger generation are to be commended for their work, others have not been taught proper work habits and they have difficulty holding jobs. Childrens messy rooms are symptoms of the neglect of an entire generation of parents to teach their children work ethics. Many parents joke about the condition of their childrens rooms when they should be training them to keep them tidy. Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to train up a child in the way he should go. The key word here is train. Training is more than simply teaching a child how to be proficient at something. It also includes instilling in them a set of values through discipline. We need to train our children to do their best. Training others requires us to work patiently with them until the job is done correctly. Remember, most people do not do what we expect but rather what we inspect. Good teachers implant moral values along with proper instruction. If we have been negligent in any area pertaining to our work, we could be guilty of hurting our children or our witness for the Lord. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might (Ecclesiastes 9:10a). With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men (Ephesians 6:7). Proverbs 18:10(Amp): 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the (consistently) righteous man -- upright and in right standing with God -- runs into it and is safe, high (above evil) and strong. This verse reveals the safety that is in the name of the Lord. All through the Bible, whenever anyone called on His name, we see that God responded in power to help them. Why is the name of the Lord so powerful? What is in a name? Behind every name there is a person or object. A name represents the person or describes the object. Behind the name of the Lord, is the name of Jesus, the name of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. The name of the Lord Jesus is backed up by all the power and resources of Heaven itself! Therefore, when a believer calls on the name of Jesus, he has access to all the resources of Heaven as well. God revealed Himself through many names in the Old Testament, but their English translations do not reveal what is expressed in Hebrew. Yahweh, translated as Lord, means the Eternal, Unchanging Covenant-maker[1], and is combined with other names; for example: Yahweh Yireh, the Lord my Provider; Yahweh Shalom, the Lord my Peace, etc. There are a number of others. These names provided aspects of Gods nature, which has been fully revealed in Jesus. In the New Testament we find that Jesus Christ is the name above all names. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name (Philippians 2:9). We can find comfort through Gods Old Testament names, as all that He is, is available to us through Jesus. His name is indeed like a strong tower!

When we call on the name of Jesus, we have access to all the resources of heaven. By way of illustration, when a woman marries a man, she takes his name as her own. Legally, she has the right to all he owns and all he is. If he is honorable, she is also held in honor and esteem. She could withdraw all the money from their joint bank account if she wanted to, because she has the legal right to do so. If her husband were to die, everything he owned which he did not allocate to someone else in a will would be hers. When we give our lives to the Lord, we take His name. We then have access to all that belongs to Jesus. We can ask anything in His name and receive it. When we have this kind of relationship, we will not ask for the wrong things, but only for those things that are according to His will. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments (John14:13-15). His name is like a high tower that we can run into for safety, because Jesus came to save us and deliver us from our sins and Satans power. Proverbs 18:11-12(KJV): 11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. Verse 11 In ancient times, those who lived within the strong walls of a fortified city were secure from enemies. Archaeology reveals that some walls were wide enough that two lanes of cars could drive upon them! In the rich mans conceit, he believes his wealth surrounds him with as much security as the huge walls of an ancient city. He tends to think money will save him from any threatening circumstances. He does not look to God for anything. Wealth, however, can easily slip away through bad business deals and stock market failures. Inclement weather and fires can destroy businesses and homes. Insurance may cover some losses, but often the rich cannot recuperate. Many a wealthy man has seen the high protecting walls of his strong city tumble down. In his pride, he attributed his success to his own abilities, intelligence, and hard work. Personal commitment and hard work do bring rewards, but when one leaves God out of the picture, one is headed for a great fall. Verse 12 Haughtiness leads to destruction. Many fail to recognize that if it were not for Gods grace and mercy, they could not have achieved anything. Men and women who trust in material possessions instead of God will be in great misery one day if they should lose them. Money cannot buy health. Yet, many take good health for granted and never thank God for their blessing of freedom from sickness. They also fail to realize that good mental health is a blessing too. When we are able to walk free of depression and lie down at night and enjoy a peaceable nights sleep, this is a blessing from God. Rich people without God are some of the most miserable people on the planet. Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries

that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days (James 5:1-3). Men who take pride in their possessions and accomplishments will find that pride goeth before a fall. Honor, however, will be bestowed upon the humble; those who acknowledge God in all their ways, and recognize that all that they have and are (all of their abilities and successes) come from Him. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (James 4:6). 13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. 14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? 15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. Before making a statement about any matter, we should be sure we have heard all the facts. It is foolish to make premature judgments. It can be costly, as well as embarrassing, if our suppositions should turn out to be wrong. Everyone inAmericaseems to want to be heard on all kinds of issues, even if they know nothing about them. Talk shows and members of the media encourage people to voice their opinions for airing on television. This is not bad in some circumstances, but when a person is unaware of the facts about an issue, it is better that he or she not voice an opinion. Many people repeat something they heard someone else say, without having thought the matter through or researched it themselves. This is how rumors spread. There is an old saying: God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak. Gods Word does instruct us repeatedly to be careful about what we say. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer (Psalm19:14). Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. (James 1:19). Verse 14 A broken spirit can destroy someone. Cruel words spoken repeatedly against a person can wear him down until he is unable to recover. It is very important that we build up our spiritual man by reading the Bible daily. This does the same thing for our spirits that eating good food does for our bodies; it builds us up, making us strong in God. When attacked by the devil through sickness, pain, the words of others, or any kind of trouble, we will be able to overcome by applying Gods Word to our situation. The Lord has provided the answer to every problem we face, so that we may be overcomers.

Verse 15 The wise are continually learning. They truly seek God and ask Him to guide them into the knowledge and wisdom that they need in every day life, as well as for the bigger problems they encounter. We all face trials and tribulations in life, but the Bible tells us not to worry. Jesus has made it possible for us to overcome. Furnishing us with His wisdom is one of the ways by which He has made this possible. Proverbs, like all Scripture, truly contains a wealth of wisdom for all who seek God diligently. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Proverbs 18:16(KJV): 16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. A gift can be looked at in two ways; first, in the sense of a bribe. Those who can afford an expensive bribe can gain audience with great men. Blessing others with a gift is not wrong, but using it to manipulate them for favor is wrong. We must trust the Lord to give us favor with others when we need it and not resort to methods of manipulation. Years ago, Bud and I made a missionary journey toAfrica, traveling fromKenyatoUgandaand then back toKenyabefore returning home. We were required to have certain immunizations in order to enter these countries, and we thought we had all things in order. However, when we came back toKenyafromUgandawe discovered that somehow I had failed to have a yellow fever shot. We were not required to have these shots to go intoKenyaorUgandafrom theUSA, but when we came back through customs, they informed us that they would allow Bud to enterKenya, but that I could not. We had been staying in mud huts in the bush country for ten days, and were very tired when we got to the airport. We were ready for a bath and a good nights sleep in a hotel! I did not want to sit at the airport overnight until our flight left for theUSAthe next day, so I began to testify to the man at customs. I told him that I could not possibly have yellow fever, since the Lord had healed me seventeen years earlier of all my infirmities and I hadnt had any illness since then. Furthermore, we had just prayed for many sick people inUganda, including a lame man and a leper, and the Lord had healed them. The customs official looked at me rather strangely, but he told me that there was no way he could allow me to enter the country. I continued telling him of the other miracles the Lord had done during our trip. He finally sighed, and waved me through. A local man told us later that the customs official was waiting for a bribe, which is common practice. Twenty dollars would have been enough to have gotten my passage into the country. However, the Lords favor is more valuable than what we could buy with money. Because it was Gods will for us to be in Africa, He gave us favor with the man by touching his heart to allow me back into Kenya without us having to resort to bribery. Secondly, this gift can be looked at in the sense of Gods giftings to men. The

spiritual gift that God gives us will make room for us to gain an audience or favor with great men. The Bible relates that the apostle Paul gained the right to preach before King Agrippa (Acts 25) and other men of authority. We do not have to use gifts or money to buy our way into a situation. When we have Gods gift of favor, He will make room for us. Proverbs 18:17-18(KJV): 17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty
Verse 17 The first person to present his case is convincing until he is cross-examined. My husband and I have been in ministry for many years and we have done a lot of counseling and listened to many married couples who were considering divorce. We have always insisted on hearing the viewpoint of both parties. Most of the time, we were shocked to hear the other side of the story. Neither party sounded like they could possibly be the one that the other described. Each one described an entirely different person than the one with whom we sat and spoke. After patiently listening to both sides separately, we would proceed to bring the couple together to share the Word of God with them, and spend the remainder of the time praying with them. We would have each ask forgiveness of the other for his or her wrongs, and then pray for each other. From that point on, we would not allow either one to bring up old grievances in our sessions. The key to healing in any relationship is not to dwell on the past, but to forgive and go forward, building one another up in love (1 Peter 3). Verse 18 In the past, when two contenders had equal claim to something, disputes were often settled by drawing lots (see Day 141). In the Old Testament world, this method was used widely. Drawing lots peacefully ends disputes, since neither contender can complain that a biased judge had made the decision. Even very powerful and influential men have no grounds upon which to argue the outcome when lots are drawn, since it is determined entirely by chance. We are commanded as Gods children to live in harmony with our mates, families, and friends. This is only possible whenever we allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts. We are to avoid disputes and wrangling and display the love of God in our affairs. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:14-15).

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle This verse deals with two things that we should always try to avoid: contention and offense. As Christians, we should not allow offense to separate us from our brothers and sisters, since this reveals pride in our hearts (Proverbs13:10). If we have a problem with someone, we are to humbly try to work it out. If we will lovingly consider the other person, the Lord will give us the grace and wisdom to work out our problems. Contention comes when we refuse to humbly deal with the conflicting issues in our flesh. We are not only told to avoid offences between us, but we are also warned not to become offended with God about anything. We read this account regarding John

the Baptist in Matthew 11:2-6: Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. Jesus knew that because John was in prison, he began to doubt the promises of God. Even so, the Lord has no criticism toward John and He commended him as a great prophet. Im sure that John began to think thoughts such as this: If Jesus was really the Christ, why has He not done a miracle to get me out of this prison? I was preaching repentance and paving the way for His ministry, so why has he abandoned me? Jesus told Johns disciples to tell him that he would be blessed if he did not become offended with Him. Did John receive this message, or did he allow offense to come into his heart? We have another story about two of Jesus disciples who were also thrown into prison for preaching the gospel, but their story turned out differently than Johns (John had his head chopped off). When Paul and Silas were chained in prison, they took a different approach. Instead of allowing fear or doubt to overcome them, they began to sing and praise God. The prison could not hold them; because an earthquake came and loosed them (Acts16:20-26). They did not allow their chains and pains to cause them to be offended with God. When we are tempted to become offended with God, we block the way out of our prison. John had his head cut off, but Paul and Silas were released. The secret to being released from our prisons (financial, mental, emotional, physical, etc.) is to stay in a place of rejoicing in Him instead of blaming Him. We are not to praise Him for the problems, but praise Him in the midst of them. He will bring us through, and we will come out victorious! Proverbs 18:20-21(KJV): 20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. The majority of us are unaware of the power of our words. People who complain or speak pessimistically release the death principle and all its negative effects into their lives. We will ultimately receive the things that we speak (see Day 83). If we speak evil long enough, it will come to pass; likewise, if we speak good. We must also realize that we will be judged by what we say. We must set a guard on our mouths, and learn to control our conversations. Jesus tells us that what comes out of the mouth reveals what is in the heart. We all occasionally say things that we should not; however, the things that we speak in abundance

reveal what is in our hearts in abundance. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew12:33-37). And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every mans word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God (Jeremiah23:36). If we do not properly care for our bodies, illness will eventually set in. On the other hand, healthy food and exercise, brings life to our bodies. Likewise, the words that we speak release life or death (Proverbs 17:22). When I feel weak or tired, I remember Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. I voice it as a prayer, thanking God that I can depend upon His strength rather than my own. When I do this, I feel stronger. My fatigue may be real, but the Word of God is greater than my feelings. However, if I start complaining about how weak I feel, it has the opposite affect upon me. Truly, life and death are in the power of the tongue. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14). 22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. To be worthy of a good wife, one must be a good man. If one is seeking the Lord with all his heart and desires to have a mate with whom he may serve the Lord together, God will guide him to the right person. Today, many people are marrying with the wrong motives. Christians ought to have three criteria in considering a mate. They should make sure that the person is: (1) committed to Christ (2) demonstrates good character, and (3) shares the same vision for serving God. The most important decision that we make in life is whether to follow Jesus. The second is whether to marry. If you desire to be married, then you need not be anxious or lonely if you commit to follow Christ daily. God will direct your path and prepare you for marriage. While men or women are single it is a wonderful time for them to prepare for marriage. As they seek to know God better and allow Him to help them become the kind of husband or wife who would bless someone, they will soon find they are not lonely. Satan will try to mislead us regarding this second-most important decision. One of the easiest ways for him to deceive us is by playing on our emotions. At times, we can all be susceptible to developing feelings for the wrong person. We can

guard against this by committing ourselves to God and His will for every part of our lives, including marriage. God knows what is best for us and there are worse things than being alone. One of these is being married to the wrong person. We can be out of Gods will by compromising and marrying someone who does not feel the same way we do toward the Lord. We find Satan misleading Gods men throughout the Bible. Solomons heathen wives led him into idolatry; Samsons eyes were put out because of the woman Delilah; and David committed murder because of passion for Bathsheba. Though emotion and passion are a wonderful part of love, they cannot be the foundation for a good marriage. Good character and commitment to God strengthen a marriage, while selfishness, jealousy, laziness, and so forth, affect it adversely. A good womans worth is far above rubies! If you want to marry, seek God diligently that you may find a good wife or husbandand ask God to prepare you to be a good mate. 23 The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. 24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Verse 23 Proverbs addresses many relationship issues, among these: how most poor people approach things, as opposed to how some rich people would respond in those circumstances. If a poor man needs something from a rich man, he does so in a nice way, pleading earnestly. If he were to demand or raise his voice he would stand a chance of being denied. A man whose only recourse is to appeal to the compassion of others is desperate. He has nothing to offer, nothing to give him dignity. His situation has robbed him of confidence and shattered his pride. Most rich people are at ease, and they do not know what it is like to be humbled by desperation. Since they have money and power, they feel that they can get away with answering roughly or unkindly. They believe that their position entitles them to have an unpleasant attitude whenever they feel like it. Christians are in the world, but not of the world. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world (John17:14-17). We are called to a higher way; to love all men (1 Corinthians12:3113:4-8). Love is courteous, no matter what our position or anothers position is. If God has promoted us to positions of influence or given us wealth, we must not think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Impolite answers are demeaning. We must retain a basic respect for all people because they are made in Gods image and Christ loves and died for each one of them. Verse 24 A man who is friendly with the whole world does not make a good friend. He can only be everyones friend by either having no convictions or by having only superficial friendships. The Bible warns us to choose our friends carefully because they will influence us. We should not choose as a friend,

someone who is everyones friend, a wicked person, or someone who worships other gods (Deuteronomy 13:6-8). Those who are close to us; whether family or friends are in a position to influence us, often without saying anything. Consciously or unconsciously, we all want to imitate those we love and admire. This is why we must choose our friends carefully. There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. That friend is Jesus. If we commit ourselves to God, He can lead us to Christian brothers and sisters who will be true friends to us. Best of all, we can rest in the assurance that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Jesus is the Friend and Brother who never fails. He is always with us to help and guide us. (Hebrews 13:5b).