Friday, July 1, 2022
15 A miserable heart means a miserable life;
a cheerful heart fills the day with song.
16 A simple life in the Fear-of-God
is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
17 Better a bread crust shared in love
than a slab of prime rib served in hate.
18 Hot tempers start fights;
a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.
19 The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers;
the diligent walk down a smooth road.
20 Intelligent children make their parents proud;
lazy students embarrass their parents.
-Proverbs 15:15-20 The Message
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is a level highway.
20 A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
Verse 15 study: Our attitudes reflect our personality. Not everything that happens to us is not by choice, but we can choose how we act in each situation. The secret to a cheerful heart is filling our minds with pure, authentic, and loving thoughts. Thoughts that can dwell on good things. That was Paul’s secret as he faced imprisonment. It can be ours if we own it and understand the struggles of life. Look into your attitude, see what’s wrong, how you let things enter your mind, and what you decided to dwell on. You may learn after an examination that you have to make some adjustments. Life can be miserable when you are in pain, but one is joyous when a banquet takes place.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. -Philippians 4:8 ESV
Verses 16-17 studies: Peace of mind and family are better than money or gourmet food.
Verses 17-19 studies: The “path to the right” doesn’t always feel correct or easy (15:19.) Take a moment and look at the alternatives: Hatred (15:17), disputes (15:18), and laziness (15:19) cause problems that an upright person doesn’t have to face. Their life, by comparison, is smoother because it’s built on a solid foundation of love for God.
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