How to Conduct Your Life IV

Thursday, August 11, 2022

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17-18 Don’t for a minute envy careless rebels;

    soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—

That’s where your future lies.

    Then you won’t be left with an armload of nothing.

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19-21 Oh listen, dear child—become wise;

    point your life in the right direction.

Don’t drink too much wine and get drunk;

    don’t overeat food and get fat.

Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row,

    in a stupor and dressed in rags.

-Proverbs 23:17-21 The Message

17 Let not your heart envy sinners

    but continue in fear of the Lord all the day.

18 Surely, there is a future,

    and your hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, be wise,

    and direct your heart in the way.

20 Be not among drunkards

    or among gluttonous eaters of meat,

21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,

    and slumber will clothe them with rags.

-Proverbs 23:17-21 ESV

Verses 17-18 study: It’s easy to envy those who get ahead unhampered by Christian responsibility or God’s law. When they do get ahead, it’s a time when they ignore what God wants. God promises hope and a fantastic future for those who follow him, even if we don’t realize it in this life.

Verse 18 study: “Future” may refer to hope for life and vindication or after death. It really refers to a long and whole life.

Verses 19-21 studies: Foolish life that overtake one is an example of poor company, drunkenness, and gluttony.