September 9, 2024 – Learn To Discern

Learn To Discern
September 9, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 22:8-10
 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    I believe every Christian wants to help people if they can. It’s born into us at our new birth. We desire to be like Christ, who desires to help those in real need. “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed.”

    The key to helping someone is the ability to discern his or her real needs. Let’s look at three types of people considered in our verses today.

•     First, “He that soweth iniquity.” Often, the generous heart of a well-meaning saint is taken advantage of by those who have only themselves in mind. Our desire to show the love of Christ to the hurting may interfere with God’s work in their lives and His desire to bring them to repentance. Sometimes, blindly helping is not really helping at all; it may just enable a sinful lifestyle.

•     Then there are the poor, those who are truly in need of help and rightfully deserve it. It could be a church member, another Christian, or an unsaved family with whom you’ve been working, and you understand their genuine need. Refusing to help someone in this situation with what God has entrusted you with is unjust. Remember the old phrase, “what goes around comes around.” Giving to the truly needy out of a kind and loving heart will result in God’s blessings poured out upon your life.

•     The third type of person mentioned is the scorner. Helping someone because you think by doing so, they will quit gossiping or stop acting ungodly is nothing more than a bribe. This approach almost never works out. Paying someone not to do or say something is a perversion of justice. There is a reason the police do not usually make deals with hostage takers; it’s only a pacifier, not a solution. God is the only solution to every real sin problem.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Being a good steward means doing what is right with the provisions God has given you. Let’s extend help when possible, but before doing so, let’s pray first and ensure that we are helping.

How might God use you in someones life today?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: September 9, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Ezekiel 44 – Ezekiel 48
  Proverbs 22:8 – 10

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Pro. 8-9
  1 Co. 14