Today I am thankful for: Darrin sleeping in, no more fevers!, getting the kids' Christmas stuff put away, clean laundry, Madi's nap, walking through Costco as a family, talking to my mom for a while, the way I'm able to instantly relax when my hubby hugs me, sitting here typing late with Moo at my feet because of that long nap she took--love this precious time alone with her & whispering like girls up too late at a slumber party!
I don't have much too say tonight, which is probably a good thing and a result of the Holy Spirit! :o) (Proverbs 10:19 "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.") As I was reading I came to Proverbs 10:15 and had to pause for a bit; and I realized that I have to do that every time I read this verse! It goes, "The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty." So I immediately think, yes, of course the rich man is safe because he can fortify his city, strengthen its walls. So why are the poor destroyed? Are they not protected by the rich man's walls? And if he's so rich, why is he not caring for the poor? Here creeps in that sense of injustice, that confusion at the ways of the Lord to bless someone who does not care for the needy. Again, I stop and consider another angle; so the man is blessed. Who's to say he's evil? Maybe the poor are evil in their ways? But this doesn't really follow the themes presented in Proverbs.
After some more studying (and help from my commentary) things seem a bit more understandable. My commentary for this verse reads, "The poor do not have much defense against the unexpected." Okay, so that makes more sense. It doesn't matter if the rich guy loves God or not; the simple circumstance of being poor means that one has no protection against life's intrusions; I get that. Yet, still, when I read this tonight and checked the commentary, I wasn't entirely satisfied. It does go on to explain that when the rich man's confidence is in himself and his wealth he will ultimately find that he, as well, is without defense for wealth can be fleeting. But it still wasn't clicking with me.
After a little more thought, I think I got it! I don't know if this is what was meant, but it flashed into my mind so quickly and I thought, duh! "...The destruction of the poor is their poverty," their poverty brings destruction...the worst kind of poverty is spiritual poverty, especially when you don't know that you are spiritually poor! That's it! We are poor without Jesus! When we don't have Jesus, we are prone to failure; we are destroyed by circumstances and events because we have no defense against them. God is our defense, our strongtower. Only in Him can we find security. When God is our wealth, our strength, when we put our trust in Him alone we can be certain of victory for it has already been given to us; we just have to claim it!
Oh, Father, help me to keep my focus on You and my trust in You alone! Help me to always be aware of my own human depravity so that I can claim the reward I have from You, for You offer me more than I can imagine! Thank You for loving me so deeply and for protecting me from life's scrapes. Though I may be buffeted and tossed around, You are tethered to me and keeping me from drifting away. Help me always to see that without You, Jesus, I am nothing! I have nothing! Praise You for You are strong and mighty! I praise You for You have overcome the world--I have nothing to fear! I have You, Jesus, and I need nothing more. Thank You for loving me! In Your name, Amen!
I don't have much too say tonight, which is probably a good thing and a result of the Holy Spirit! :o) (Proverbs 10:19 "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.") As I was reading I came to Proverbs 10:15 and had to pause for a bit; and I realized that I have to do that every time I read this verse! It goes, "The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty." So I immediately think, yes, of course the rich man is safe because he can fortify his city, strengthen its walls. So why are the poor destroyed? Are they not protected by the rich man's walls? And if he's so rich, why is he not caring for the poor? Here creeps in that sense of injustice, that confusion at the ways of the Lord to bless someone who does not care for the needy. Again, I stop and consider another angle; so the man is blessed. Who's to say he's evil? Maybe the poor are evil in their ways? But this doesn't really follow the themes presented in Proverbs.
After some more studying (and help from my commentary) things seem a bit more understandable. My commentary for this verse reads, "The poor do not have much defense against the unexpected." Okay, so that makes more sense. It doesn't matter if the rich guy loves God or not; the simple circumstance of being poor means that one has no protection against life's intrusions; I get that. Yet, still, when I read this tonight and checked the commentary, I wasn't entirely satisfied. It does go on to explain that when the rich man's confidence is in himself and his wealth he will ultimately find that he, as well, is without defense for wealth can be fleeting. But it still wasn't clicking with me.
After a little more thought, I think I got it! I don't know if this is what was meant, but it flashed into my mind so quickly and I thought, duh! "...The destruction of the poor is their poverty," their poverty brings destruction...the worst kind of poverty is spiritual poverty, especially when you don't know that you are spiritually poor! That's it! We are poor without Jesus! When we don't have Jesus, we are prone to failure; we are destroyed by circumstances and events because we have no defense against them. God is our defense, our strongtower. Only in Him can we find security. When God is our wealth, our strength, when we put our trust in Him alone we can be certain of victory for it has already been given to us; we just have to claim it!
Oh, Father, help me to keep my focus on You and my trust in You alone! Help me to always be aware of my own human depravity so that I can claim the reward I have from You, for You offer me more than I can imagine! Thank You for loving me so deeply and for protecting me from life's scrapes. Though I may be buffeted and tossed around, You are tethered to me and keeping me from drifting away. Help me always to see that without You, Jesus, I am nothing! I have nothing! Praise You for You are strong and mighty! I praise You for You have overcome the world--I have nothing to fear! I have You, Jesus, and I need nothing more. Thank You for loving me! In Your name, Amen!
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