Live Good, Do Good, Be Blessed

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Proverbs 3:27-35. In this Scripture, Solomon warns his son not to withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it. What does this mean?

What are some things that would be considered to be good that we could withhold from others? Do we ever willfully not do good things for others even though we are able to do them?

Would this include an employer/employee relationship? How about a husband/wife relationship? How about our children? How about our friends and extended family? How about our church family? How about strangers we meet on the street?

Has someone ever stopped you on the street and asked you for money and even though you had money you did not give it to them? Is this what the Scripture is talking about? Should we be generous enough to trust that people really do need money or they wouldn’t be asking us? Or, are we sometimes skeptical and afraid of what people might do so we refuse to help them? Maybe it is not our place to judge them. Maybe we should leave it up to God to determine if they are right or wrong.

The Scripture says, “Don’t say to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you.” Does this mean if our neighbor came to borrow something from us and we had it available we should give it to them?

Has there ever been a time in your life when someone asked you to do something for them and you didn’t feel like being bothered? Maybe you had the power to do for them what they needed, but you were selfish. Maybe you didn’t want to get involved. If we look back on our lives and think of these things were there times we weren’t always a good neighbor? How could we improve on doing good to others?

Being generous is a way for us to share the love of Christ with our neighbor or those we come in contact with every day.

We are warned not to devise evil against our neighbor. We are to see that he dwells safely by us. If everybody lived peacefully with their neighbor we would have a much better world to live in today.

In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan who took compassion on his neighbor and took care of his needs, both physically and financially. He tells us to go and do likewise.

We are instructed not to quarrel with a person without cause if they have done us no harm. This is also meant not to sue a man without cause. In the world we live in today there are some people who are always looking to sue someone and get over on somebody. This is forbidden in this Scripture.

We are warned not envy violent men and not to choose any of their ways. The wicked person is an abomination to the LORD. But God’s guidance is with those who are righteous.

Solomon tells his son why he shouldn’t choose the ways of the wicked. He explains to him what the rewards are for living a righteous life and being in fellowship with the LORD.

The Scripture says that the curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but God blesses the house of those who are just.

He mocks the scorners: but gives grace to the lowly, those who are poor, humble and meek. People who are wise will inherit honor: but dishonor will come to those who are foolish.

Sometimes we may look at people who do wrong and think that they are getting along better than we are. This Scripture tells us not to choose any of the wicked person’s ways because their ways are contrary to the ways of the LORD. In time they will get their just reward. The LORD communes with those who are righteous and blesses them.

Daily Bible Reading:

Proverbs 3:27-35

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Things to think about:

What are some things we can do for others that would be considered good?
Who is our neighbor?
How are we to treat our neighbor?
What is the fate of wicked people?
What are the rewards of righteous people?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we study this Scripture in the book of Proverbs, no doubt many of us are convicted about the ways we have interacted with others. Help us to treat others in the ways You would have us to. Help us to be good neighbors and to always do good to those who it is due when we have the power to do it. Help us not to be selfish. Help us not to be unconcerned about other people. Help us not to judge others. Help us to show Your love to others by our good deeds. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Bible Verse to Journal or Memorize:

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. – Proverbs 3:27

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Featured Book:

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Haggai by Deborah H. Bateman. It is the twenty-fifth book in the Daily Bible Reading Series by the author. Haggai was one of the prophets from the Old Testament of the Bible.

In the book of Haggai, the LORD reveals a message to Haggai for the people asking them to consider your ways. The LORD also reminded the people through Haggai that He was with them, among other things. These are lessons that we can still use today in our lives.

The Book of Haggai: Consider Your Ways contains four Daily Bible Reading lessons consisting of a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions to consider called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer of the day. It is a great Bible study for individual or group study.

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Joseph C. Kunz, Jr. is an author, publisher, educator, business manager, and entrepreneur. Life-long love affair with books and reading. Very excited about being part of the new media movement. Known for casual, easy-to-read writing style and ability to explain complex topics in an understandable way. “If you are serious about your work you should self-publish. Retain creative control. Retain the profits. Enjoy the satisfaction and status that comes with being published.” Visit Kunz’s website about all aspects of self-publishing at http://www.KunzOnPublishing.com/, for an insider’s guide to becoming a financially successful and happy self-publisher, and sign-up for his free newsletter.

Author: Joseph C Kunz, Jr
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