Day 11
Proverbs 23:1-12
1 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
3 Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
do not crave his delicacies;
7 for he is the kind of person
who is always thinking about the cost.
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten
and will have wasted your compliments.
9 Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.
10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 for their Defender is strong;
he will take up their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.
Contentment
We are a generation that needs to look at our contentment levels carefully.
So many of the school pupils and older people I talk with are generally dissatisfied with what life offers them. They want more of everything. Our fast- paced society discourages any kind of contentment. Our eyes are bombarded with adverts encouraging high spending on new products, toys, services and gadgets. We are assured that we need more expensive face cream, a faster car and better internet access in order to be fulfilled, happy and successful. And we all buy into the lie.
Proverbs 23:4-5 (NIV) warns us,
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”
It is possible to be content with what we have.
In my work, I sometimes encourage anxious pupils to list the contents of their lives – to write an inventory if you like – of all they have. It is incredible that 100% of them start with their possessions. Never their health or their ability to sit, stand, think, move or run. I have to remind them about those things! The truth is that we take much of what we have, or can do, for granted. It is only when those things are pointed out, threatened or removed that we truly notice them and long for them.
It is true that none of us remember to thank God that we can swallow, until we get tonsillitis!
A contented heart is a heart at rest
It is so healthy to take time out to look for the hidden ways God’s goodness is at work in our lives and be intentional about thanking Him for those personal blessings.
Why not create your own “content” page today?
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Taken from Reading Plans from YouVersion (https://www.bible.com/en-GB/reading-plans/11321-the-rest-of-your-life/day/11 ) and River Publishing for this plan.