Daily Devotional – Wisdom Diverts From Wickedness

Our scripture for the Daily Devotional today is taken from Proverbs 21:7-17. Those that love and crave pleasure will find them losing their profits on the fleeting desires of the flesh. The wise carefully and prudently invest in secret, creating a return that sustains their family.

“The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
    for they refuse to do what is right.

⁸ The way of the guilty is devious,
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

⁹ Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

¹⁰ The wicked crave evil;
    their neighbors get no mercy from them.

¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

¹² The Righteous One^[b] takes note of the house of the wicked
    and brings the wicked to ruin.

¹³ Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out and not be answered.

¹⁴ A gift given in secret soothes anger,
    and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

¹⁵ When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.

¹⁶ Whoever strays from the path of prudence
    comes to rest in the company of the dead.

¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.”

Justice will be done and brings joy

Jesus has warned and instructed us to be wary of our sin and the sin of others. While Jesus instructs us to love and forgive, He has also told us to love others by not allowing them to sin against us. The saying where I get bitten twice is my own fault is true.

How do we love someone while cautiously being aware of their sins?

I believe that we need to have boundaries and draw lines in the sand of what you are willing to “give away”. In business, you can provide credit, but limit the amount. Allowing someone to simply rack up a debt that they can not pay is not only not wise, but very unloving.

I enter situations knowing what I will allow, knowing that I am willing and able to completely forgive the transgression. I limit the hurt and ability for sin. How can you lovingly be wise with those around you today? 

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you, Jesus, for teaching us to be wise. You have freely offered us salvation and wisdom if only we would accept it. I choose You. I choose Your wisdom and understanding! Lead and guide me to wisely love and protect others.

In Jesus Name,

Amen