Month: May 2024

Proverbs 14:23
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

There is an old church song that starts, “We shall do much in the years to come, but what have we done today.” This song is the perfect song for today’s verse.

I call this verse “The Yak-Yak Rule.” It does not talk about the out-and-out lazy person who refuses to ever work, but rather, it warns against being a person who talks and talks about what you are going to do someday but never does the work. You can recognize such a person by all the great plans they leave in their path but never do. They only have, as the verse says, “mere talk.”

Here are three issues with Yak-Yak people:

First, Yak-Yak people build a habit of talking and talking but not doing the work. This carries over into every aspect of life.

Second, Yak-Yak people come to poverty. This is what the proverb teaches.

Third, Yak-Yak people have damaged relationships. Their friends and family come to distrust them. That is a hard life.

In truth, Yak-Yak folks don’t see what they really are because they really do believe they will eventually accomplish their intentions. It just seldom happens. That is the way it is with Yak-Yak people.

By the way, I plan never to be a Yak-Yak person again.
That is my plan.
We’ll see!

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our Proverb for today is Proverbs 14:17

“A quick-tempered person does foolish things.”

What do we mean by “quick-tempered?” 

Instead of quick-tempered we use terms like: Hot-headed, grouchy, cranky, and mean. A more modern word we use is “triggered.” If you say something that someone doesn’t like, you have triggered them. Of course that word means it is not the fault of the quick-tempered, hotheaded, screaming person. They have been triggered.

It sounds like God put a little switch on them and if you say the wrong thing, then that button gets triggered. A triggered person then flys off in a rage. 

Heaven help those who get into the path of the triggered person. A quick-tempered or triggered person does foolish things.

Over the years, I have heard people try to justify hot-headedness with “I just let it out and then I am over it.” 

So let me understand, you mean you open the door and throw fire into the room and then you are okay. Everybody else can look out for themselves.

Let me give you two better responses.

First: Respond to hurts, but respond with kindness. If it works out then you have saved a relationship and maybe a soul.

Second: Choose not to remember wounds. One older lady was known for her kind life. When she was reminded of some offense against her. She responded with, “I don’t remember that. In fact, I specifically remember forgetting.” 

Forget offenses and do it on purpose.

I’m Lonnie Davis

And these are thoughts worth thinking,

Our Proverb for today is Proverbs 14:17

“A quick-tempered person does foolish things.”

What do we mean by “quick-tempered?” 

Instead of quick-tempered, we use terms like: Hot-headed, grouchy, cranky, and mean. A more modern word we use is “triggered.” If you say something that someone doesn’t like, you have triggered them. Of course, that word means it is not the fault of the quick-tempered, hotheaded, screaming person. They have been triggered.

It sounds like God put a little switch on them and if you say the wrong thing, then that button gets triggered. A triggered person then flys off in a rage. 

Heaven help those who get into the path of the triggered person. A quick-tempered or triggered person does foolish things.

Over the years, I have heard people try to justify hot-headedness with “I just let it out and then I am over it.” 

So let me understand: You mean you open the door and throw fire into the room, and then you are okay? Everybody else can look out for themselves.

Let me give you two better responses.

First: Respond to hurts, but respond with kindness. If it works out then you have saved a relationship and maybe a soul.

Second: Choose not to remember wounds. One older lady was known for her kind life. When she was reminded of some offense against her. She responded with, “I don’t remember that. In fact, I specifically remember forgetting.” 

Forget offenses and do it on purpose.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking,

Many Bible teachings do not come naturally to us.

Love your enemies.
Pray for those who persecute you.
Rejoice always.
Forgive as the Lord forgives you.
Do not judge.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him; 
If he is thirsty, give him a drink. 

Today’s text is in the same category as those commands.

It is Proverbs 24:17.

“Do not gloat when your enemy falls.
When they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice.”

For emphasis, let me read it again.

“Do not gloat when your enemy falls.
When they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice.”

That’s hard because sometimes that buzzard had it coming and I’m glad he got his payback.

When Bill Clinton was president, many Christians were troubled with his behavior in the White House. Jokes were flying all over the place. I stood in the pulpit and challenged the people not to rejoice in his failure, but rather pray for him. I admit to you that was hard. We do not rejoice at the evil that anyone does, but neither do we rejoice when hard things fall upon them.

We read all of those hard commands and wonder if we could ever do it. The answer is yes. If you think not, then ponder this question, “Do you believe that God ever commands us to do anything that we are not able to do?” The answer is no.

What God calls you to do, he enables you to do. If you fall, rise and try again. He will meet you in your effort.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking. 

Our text for today is Proverbs 23:17.

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.”

This proverb is so serious that it must not be ignored. Unfortunately, it is all too often violated. Let me give you an example.

There is a good man who loves his children and loves God.
He is also a man (or a woman) who loves a sports hero or actor and praises them openly.
Sounds harmless, but hero worship of men or women can affect our standards for ethical behavior.”
One man put it this way, “Tell me who your heroes are, and I’ll tell you who you’ll turn out to be.” There is a danger of becoming like the people we admire. Certainly, that is a great motivation for us to love and admire Jesus.

For parents, there is another caution. If you praise and admire an athlete, actor, or whoever, and they are bad examples of how to live, what are you telling your impressionable children? These children love you and want you to admire them. Of course, they want to be like the person you admire.

I also like certain sports athletes, but there ought to be a difference between admiring one’s talents and admiring the person. We ought to be careful with that distinction.

Thinking about that, read the verse again: “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.”

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

The proverbs for today is: Proverbs 15: verse 4

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”

Let me explain this verse by telling a story.
Last week, my granddaughter sent me a note thanking me for allowing her to stay “in my place.” She started off with, “Thank you so much for letting us stay at your beautiful place…”

There were a lot of other things she said, but I will sum them up for you. She told me what she did in leaving, but what it all meant was, “I left things better than I found them.” It was great when she got there, but it was better when she left.

That is the meaning of this verse: not about places but about what we say to others and how they are after we leave them. When we meet people and interact with them, we make things better for them. We give them words of comfort, encouragement, kindness, hope, gratitude, love, healing, and faith.

We do all of this because when we meet them, we choose to build up and leave them better.

Make the world and those whom you meet better because you were there.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Today’s Proverb is Chapter 26:verses 4 and 5.

“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.”

This may be the most confusing Proverb that Solomon ever spoke. Is he saying
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly,” or is he saying, “Answer a fool according to his folly?”

These thoughts do not actually contradict each other, but rather provide complementary wisdom.

We will have discussions and disagreements, but when you do:
Verse four says, do not argue with someone who will not even consider what he is being taught. To do so is to make yourself just like him. You will both look like a fool. It is fruitless.
Verse five is telling us that when someone makes an argument that is wrong, answer them, else they may go their way and think they made some wise statement and never know there is another side. Answer but don’t nag and fuss.

When a hard-headed person just wants to argue, don’t argue with them. It will just turn into fussing.
When someone makes an ignorant statement, discuss it kindly lest they fail to consider the truth.

To close, I’ll use the words of Galatians 6: verse 1, “If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

Whatever you discuss, do it in a spirit of gentleness.

I’m Lonnie Davis,
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

The Scripture for today is Proverbs 23:7

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

In 1972, a psychologist named Daryl Ben, identified a theory he called the “Self-Perception Theory.” The individuals in his test group would do well or mess up and keep telling themselves that they are just that way; that is just who they are. They might say, “I’m a good student, or I’m just a poor test taker, I’m just an idiot, I’m a failure or I am a terrible cook.” Soon, this self-identity became a reality in their lives.

If I had been involved in that study, I would not have called it the “Self-Perception Theory.” I would have called it “The Law of Proverbs 23:7.” Psychologists have theories. God has statements of fact, rules and laws.

When Israel left Egypt, they came to the Promised Land, but wanted to make sure they could win any battle. They sent spies to check out the land. After 40 days, they returned with their report. “But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!” They explained why, “We even saw the people of the land. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!” (Numbers 13: verses 31 and 33.)

The amazing part of this story is that God had already given them the land. Because they felt in their hearts that they couldn’t take it, it cost them 40 more years of wandering.

Indeed, as you think within your heart, so are you.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Proverbs 3:5

Our Scripture for today is Proverbs 3:5.

 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

This passage reminds me of the old farmer who, with his wife, attended a county fair. At the fair was a helicopter. The pilot asked the man to take a ride. After he hem-hawed, he finally agreed. Fifteen minutes later, the flight was over and the pilot asked the farmer what he thought about the flight. The farmer answered, “Well, to tell you the truth, I never did put my full weight on it.”

Many people trust God in exactly the same way. They go along for the ride, but never do put their whole weight on Him.

This proverb tells us what it means to trust God. To trust God means (1) to trust with all your heart and (2) to lean not on your own understanding. 

We all know the story of Noah and the ark, but have you thought about how he showed he trusted God? He built an ark to escape a flood that no one had ever seen. His neighbors must have thought him crazy, as he worked on the giant boat for up to 120 years and no sign of rain or water appeared. Though he hadn’t seen the rain, God said it and that was good enough for him. Of course, the rain eventually came.

Those who trust God and lean not on their own understanding, seek first to know what God wants and then obey. 

They put their whole weight on the plane. They know there is no other way to trust God.

I’m Lonnie Davis

And these are thoughts worth thinking.

In today’s reflection, we read Proverbs 13:12, 

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life,” 

This story reminds us of the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth, as recounted in Luke 1. They longed for a child and prayed earnestly, yet years passed with their hopes unmet.

One day, while serving in the temple, Zachariah encountered an angel who brought the unexpected news that Elizabeth would bear a son.

Obviously, Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for a son years earlier, but there had been no baby to come into their lives. Zechariah said, “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” They had waited year after year until they were heartbroken, disillusioned, and finally had given up.

Today, we know that son as John the Baptist. Their prolonged wait was a journey through the heartache of deferred hope, but it concluded with the immense joy of a fulfilled desire.

Years ago, my 12-year-old daughter, Janet, and I took a Christmas shopping trip. She spotted a toy she desired and asked for it. Knowing I had already purchased it, I said, “We’ll see.” Her dejected response was, “I know what that means. It means no.” I answered that with, “Honey, you have to be more positive than that.” She said, “I am positive that means no.’

A delayed answer feels like a denial or as the Bible says, “hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

Zachariah and Elizabeth’s story reminds us that our timing doesn’t always coincide with God’s. Our prayers may seem unanswered in our moments of impatience, but they are not unheard. God’s responses to our prayers—whether a “no,” a “yes,” or a “wait”—are all part of a greater plan, teaching us patience and trust.

I’m Lonnie Davis.
And these are thoughts worth thinking.