DAILY DISCIPLINE #77
By Colleen Donahue
There is nothing more vital to all of us than how we make our living. Whatever our thoughts are about money, we all need to make money in order to live. In the last study, we talked about making money, investing, and giving. Now in this study Solomon, our teacher will give further advice about our finances and leads us ultimately to see that God is our true provider and He will lead us in this very important aspect of our life.
PROVERBS -Part 6--More Advice on Finances and God's Provisions
BORROWING
Day 1- When we borrow beyond our means to pay back, what position do we get ourselves into?
Proverbs 22:7
Day 2- God's plan for His people is to use the world's system but not to be in debt to it. Rather, we are to obey Him step by step in our lives and receive HIS bounty and blessing.
Deuteronomy 28:12-13
SURETY (The Term for the person who makes himself responsible for another's appearance in court or payment of debt)
Day 3- What is Solomon's main piece of advice to us concerning acting as surety for another?
Proverbs 6:1-5 / 11:15 / 17:18 / 22:26-27
HONEST IN BUSINESS
Day 4- Although Solomon sounds like he might be addressing butchers that weigh meat he is really speaking to the larger issue that we are to operate our business with honesty and integrity towards the customers we serve.
Proverbs 11:1 / 16:11/ 20:10, 23
RIGHTEOUSNESS VS RICHES
In our day of compromise and life in a success-oriented society, we will be faced at times with choices that may credit our material wealth but debit our spiritual well being.
Day 5- When those choices occur which way will lead to REAL life?
Proverbs 11:4,28/ 15:16-17/ 16:8
Day 6- Who will be "rich" in the end?
Proverbs 15:6 / 16:19-20 / 22:4 / 28:20
Day 7- In fact when a person is establishing himself in business what speaks more to customers than anything else?
Proverbs 22:1
Day 8- Use only what you need- temperance --Solomon as the world's richest man, could well speak from experience on this one.
Proverbs 23:1-2 / 25:16
Day 9- Poverty --What in Solomon's estimation will cause it?
Proverbs 6:10-11 /11:24/ 13:18 / 21:17 / 23:20-21 / 28:19
TRUST IN GOD
Day 10- Job, as a rich man and living prior to Solomon, pondered over this heart business of trust and saw that if his trust were truly in his possessions and wealth, then he was a man unfaithful to God. For no man can have two masters. We either trust God or trust this world.
Job 31:24-28 / Matthew 6:24
Day 11- Solomon had been taught by his father, King David, that we are meant throughout life to look to God and trust Him for what we need.
Psalm 37:3,5/ Psalm 118: 8
Day 12- So, in Solomon's best days He too was able to advise others to trust in God even for such a practical thing as finances.
Proverbs 3:5 / 16:20/ 22:17-19
Day 13- As we trust God for the practical affairs of our lives, what are we promised?
Psalm 32:10 / 34:22/ 125:1/ Proverbs 29:25/ Isaiah 26:3-4
GOD'S PROVISIONS FOR HIS CHILDREN
A man's wealth is a much larger issue than the money he has in the bank. It includes his happiness and wellbeing. Our Father wants His children to have what they need to serve Him in a fulfilling and useful life.
Earlier in our studies of Proverbs, we saw how getting hold of "wisdom" (personified as a woman) was in these days getting hold of Jesus Christ who has been made for us wisdom. As we let Jesus live in us and obey His Father's commands, He has more than just money that He wants to give us.
Day 14- Basic to all life is the security each person needs to live it. What is required in God's eyes for us to have it?
Proverbs 1:33/ 3:21-23/ 4:6-7;23-27 / 10:9 /16:17 / 19:16 / 30:5
Day 15- How does God provide our security?
Proverbs 2:22/ 3:24-26/ 4:11-13/ 5:21/ 10:3
Day 16- Security and protection throughout life allows us to live it fully.
Proverbs 3:2 / 4:10/ 9:11/ 10:27
Day 17- Part of the "richness" of life is found in our relationships with God and with men. What follows as a result of our life with God?
Proverbs 3:4, 16 / 4:8-9 / 8:17-21
Day 18- If all that wasn't already enough, our Father wants us to be happy and live in peace. That has been possible even for those who loved God through the most violent years of man's history.
Proverbs 3:17-18/ 8:32-36
Day 19- God not only wants us to have abundant life today but also for our future and for our children's future.
Proverbs 14:26/ 23:18-19 / 24:14
Day 20- A rich, successful life that operates independently of God will be a man's downfall in the end. Perhaps Agar (who wrote chapter 30 of Proverbs) in seeing Solomon drift away from the God he loved, was concerned for his own life, and prayed....
Proverbs 30:7-9
A GUIDED LIFE
Day 21- Part of the beauty of life as God planned it is that He Himself would be with us in it and would guide us day by day indeed moment by moment.
Psalm 48:14/ Isaiah 30:21/ Isaiah 58:11A
Day 22- Solomon in writing the proverbs talked often about the "path to life", and the "way of life". What did he feel was necessary to be on it and stay on it?
Proverbs 6:23/ 10:17/ 19:2
Day 23- If a man or woman is not on the "path to life" then they choose to follow "a way which seems right to a man". Where will this take them?
Proverbs 14:12/ 16:25/ 21:16
Day 24- Of course a man or woman in choosing his/her own way is not necessarily picking an "evil path". They are choosing what seems right to them independent of what God thinks. But what looks good on the surface may not be underneath.
Proverbs 16:2 / 21:2
SO HOW CAN WE KNOW WHAT GOD THINKS?
We discern God's guidance through .....
Day 25- HIS WORD written in the Bible...
Psalm 119:105,130 / Proverbs 6:23 / 2 Timothy 3:16
Day 26- THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT speaking to our spirit often through our conscience.
John 16:13
Day 27- And through the COUNSEL OF WISE MEN AND WOMEN that God give us throughout life.
Proverbs 11:14/ 15:22/ 20:18/ 24:6
Day 28- On the basis of these three means, we can use our minds to make intelligent decisions. Nevertheless, many Christians are afraid they'll make the wrong decision. But this fear is unfounded for although God wants us to "use our heads", He is right beside us gently directing and orchestrating our circumstances so we can walk confidently in the right direction.
Proverbs 16:9 / 19:21/ 20:24
Day 29- Even if we should make a wrong decision what is God able to do?
Ephesians 1:11B
Day 30- Even if the plans and decisions of OTHER men seem to keep you from what is God's will for your life, you can still be at peace. Why?
Job 42:2 / Proverbs 16:4A / 21:30
Day 31- And an even greater comfort for us is that even the worst situations in life, (caused by ourselves or others) can be woven skillfully by God so that His plan and purpose for our life is fulfilled and so that HE is glorified. A great story that illustrates this is the life of Joseph. Read the glorious outcome of a hideous crime.
Genesis 45:4-8 / 50:20
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