Proverbs

Proverbs 22:7-8 NIV The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed Proverbs 22:7-8 NLT Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end. Proverbs 22:8 The Greek version includes an additional proverb: God blesses a man who gives cheerfully, / but his worthless deeds will come to an end.  Compare 2 Cor.: 97.

Thoughts for the Day These verses in Proverbs tell us how the power of wealth  gives people an advantage over others, and that vanity  will be reaped by those who sow iniquity.                 Verse 7 tells us that those who are rich will rule over  those who are poor and that people who borrow money  are in servitude to those who lend it. Having  wealth is not sinful, as there were many people in  the Bible who were very wealthy, such as David,  Solomon and Abraham. All of these men had hearts toward God and God used them to bless others. However, being rich or poor in this world does not define  our relationship with God. Some rich men are very poor  in the eyes of God, because they do not serve Him; while some poor men in this world are very rich because they  are in right standing with God and have what the Bible  calls "the true riches." The true riches of God is having  His love, faith, peace, joy, protection, favor, etc.  However, how we use money, or mammon, is one of the ways in which God tests us, before He entrusts  His kingdom riches to us. Luke 16:10-11 10"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be  trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very  little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have  not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? One of our spiritual tests is how we deal with the small  issues in this life. The Bible tells us that if we are not  faithful over the small things, we will not be faithful over larger things. I have observed this truth over my lifetime, and it has never proven to be wrong. I have watched  people's lives and when they fail to come through in  the small issues, they also fail to come through on larger  issues. People who say they will call right back and fail  to do so, will also fail to send that check they said they  would send. People, who tell you they will take care of  a small matter and do not do so, will not take care of a  larger matter.  I am not referring to occasional oversights, of which we all fail to do at times, but am talking about habitual  failings. I had a friend, when I was in college, who always excused his messy apartment on the fact that it was just too small, so he couldn't keep it clean and picked up. He would always complain that if he would just get a bigger house, he would  be able to keep it clean and straight. He finally got into a nice big house with three other roommates and instead of keeping it nice and straight, as he claimed he would do, he  just ended up with a bigger house and a bigger mess.  If we are not faithful in little, we will not be faithful in much.  When I was in ministry I never give a big job to someone,  until I first see how they will handle a small job,  because I have found this scripture to be absolutely true. This is true with our finances, as well. Some people are  waiting to give their tithes and offerings when they have  more money, but they will never have more money to give,  until they give out of what they have.  The Bible speaks of giving a "tithe" or ten percent, as our  portion to the Lord. We can give this to the Lord's work,  whether we have little or much. If we have a dollar that  we have earned, we can give a dime to the Lord's work;  or if we earn $100.00, we can give $10.00.  Giving is one way that we will work our way toward getting out of debt because it releases the favor of God and man toward us. It is wise to get out of debt, because as long  as we are in debt, we are servants to those who have lent us the money. It also limits us when we are in debt, in regard to heeding the call of the Lord. We must stay and discharge our debts, instead of being free to go and  serve the Lord. Verse 8 talks about the unrighteous man who is a sinner  and is continually doing evil deeds. The Bible says, he will  reap what he is sowing. He will come to calamity and futility. Bad things are bound to happen to people who continually  use threats with angry words, to get people to do things.  These kinds of people are manipulators; however, in time,  their angry words will fail to get them what they want, and people will finally leave them to their own evil devices.

Prayer for the Day Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You, God, for Your abundant blessings! Lord, I am grateful that I am rich with Your  many spiritual blessings and I also appreciate the material blessings You have given me. You take good care of me,  and I am grateful. Lord, I do ask that You help all of Your people to get out of debt and stay out of debt. I pray this personally as well. I want to do what Your scripture  says, in that I do not want to owe anyone anything, except the debt of love, and I will gladly pay that debt. Help me to show integrity in all my dealings in regard to money and finances. Lord, may I be generous and always give to the  work of the Lord and help others as well. I ask this in the  name of Jesus. Amen.