Get Up With God
highly caffeinated daily bible doses to help start your morning off right

It’s WISDOM WEEK here on GUWG, where all week long we’ve been probing the practical principles of Proverbs.

We bring things to a close today with . . .

PROVERBS ON $$$

God First. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing (3:9-10a).

Help the Poor. He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done (19:17). He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and who gives gifts to the rich — both come to poverty (22:16). A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed (11:25).

No Diligence, No $. Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth (10:4).

Pleasure = Poverty. He who loves pleasure will become poor (21:17a).

Dishonest $ Goes Bye-Bye. Dishonest money dwindles away (13:11a).

Little By Little. He who gathers money little by little makes it grow (13:11b).

Debt Is Slavery. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the servant to the lender (22:7).

$ Can’t Save You. Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil (15:16).

Leave Something Behind. A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children (13:22a).

God Is Better Than $. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver (8:18-19).

Here’s a video from Mark Driscoll and the fine folks at Mars Hill that does a waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better job at explaining this than I ever could:

It’s WISDOM WEEK here on GUWG, where all week we’re probing the practical principles of Proverbs.

Today’s topic: WORK.

God has a lot to say about the way we should work. Here are a few excerpts from his employee handbook . . .

Be Honest. The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. (11:1) Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. (13:11) Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel. (20:17)

Be Humble. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (16:18)

Be Diligent. Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! (6:6 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men. (22:29)

Listen More Than You Talk. A wise man listens to advice. (12:15) When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (10:19)

Encourage Others. The lips of the righteous nourish many. (10:21a) An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. (12:25) Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (16:24)

Don’t Gossip. A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. (20:19) Without gossip, a quarrel dies down. (26:20b)

Don’t Worry. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. (3:25-26)

Seek God’s Advice and Give Him All the Glory. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (3:5)

WORK GOD’S WAY

It’s WISDOM WEEK here on GUWG, where all week we’ll be probing the practical principles of Proverbs.

Today’s topic? RELATIONSHIPS.

God designed us for relationships. People need people.

But let’s be honest. Sometimes people can be a pain. They can rub us the wrong way. Sparks can fly.

What does the Book of Proverbs say about relationships? Plenty . . .

A friend loves at all times . . .
(17:17)

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
(27:6)

As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.
(27:17)

Satan loves it when we’re all alone. He does some of his best work when we isolate ourselves away from those who love us most.

Unfortunately, on those all-too-rare occasions when we step away from the computer, turn off the TV and unplug the iPod, we often seek out people who flatter us or agree 100% with everything we say.

Stay sharp. Surround yourself with people who love you enough to tell you the truth and to hold you accountable. And then do the same for them. In a world full of isolation and deception, sometimes that’s exactly what we need.

Here’s one final “friendly” Proverb . . .

A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(18:24)

When it comes to friends, don’t go for quantity. Go for quality.

Who’s the best friend in the history of the universe? Jesus. No matter how dark things may seem, he’ll stick with you 24/7. He’ll never leave you nor forsake you.

NEVER GO IT ALONE

It’s WISDOM WEEK here on GUWG, where all week long we’re probing the practical principles of Proverbs.

Frankly, I didn’t feel like writing anything today, which is ironic because today’s topic is . . .

LAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZINESS

If you’re feeling the least bit sluggish, sleepy, slothful or slow, these Proverbs are for you:

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest –
and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.
(6:9-12)

The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.
(21:25)

One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.
(18:9)

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
(6:6)

GET OUT OF BED
GET OFF THE COUCH
GET WORKING FOR GOD

It’s WISDOM WEEK here on GUWG, where all week long we’re probing the practical principles of Proverbs.

Today’s topic? Wisdom’s polar opposite: foolishness.

Proverbs has a lot to say about this subject. The word “fool” appears 73 times. Here are just a few:

• The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. (12:15)
• The wise in his heart accepts commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. (10:8)
• A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but delights in airing his own opinions. (18:2)
• He who walks with the wise grows wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm. (13:20)
• A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. (29:11)
• As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. (26:11)
• Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. (17:12)

Want to face ruin and the spiritual equivalent of wallowing in vomit and/or getting mauled by an angry bear? It’s easy, just: (1) follow your own path; (2) ignore God’s commands; (3) talk more than you listen; (4) hang out with fools; (5) spew out anger; and (6) do dumb things over and over and over and over and over.

WELCOME WISDOM
FLEE FOOLISHNESS

It’s WISDOM WEEK here on GUWG, where all week long we’ll be probing the practical principles of Proverbs.

Here’s today’s proverb:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
(9:10a)

Want to get smart? Here’s where to start:

FEAR GOD

Put another way, if you don’t fear God, you’re dumb. It’s that simple.

Take an honest look at the past 24 hours. Do your actions show a healthy fear of God? Or do they show that you fear other people and their opinions of you more? Or maybe losing your job? Or maybe losing all your stuff?

The world wants us to fear everything but God. Don’t. Stop reading this, pick up a Bible and find out more about our all-knowing, all-powerful, all-everything God. Respect him. Honor him. Worship him. Fear him.

Here’s this week’s Proverb. Learn it. Love it. Live it.

He who answers before listening –
that is his folly and his shame.
Proverbs 18:13

Here’s this week’s Proverb. Learn it. Love it. Live it.

Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
(Proverbs 4:23)

Here’s this week’s Proverb. Memorize it. Meditate on it. Marinate in it.

Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
(Proverbs 16:18)

Here’s this week’s Proverb . . .

When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.
(Proverbs 10:19)

I think I’ll heed that advice right now. ‘Nuf said.