God’s Path to Successful Living - #2

Sermon from cong readings in Prov 16-20 - May 27, 2007 – bk@kluth.org

Our ministry theme this year is Reaching beyond generations & walls

1 - Guard your ambitions

Prov 16:8 It is better to be poor and godly than rich (have great income, increase and revenues) and dishonest.

Prov 17:1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife (bickering, wrangling, personal arguments).

Pr 23:4 Don't weary yourself trying to get rich. Why waste your time? For riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird! ^TLB

Luke 16:10 (Jesus said) "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities.”

Prov 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

2 - Guard your priorities

Prov 16:11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

Prov 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

3 - Guard your heart

Prov 16:2, 25 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.

1 Sam 16:7 The LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

4 - Guard your anger

Prov 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Prov 17:27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Prov 13:3 Self-control means controlling the tongue! A quick retort can ruin everything.^TLB

Prov 18:2 A rebel doesn't care about the facts. All he wants to do is yell.^TLB

Prov 19:13 A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

Prov 19:11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Prov 20:3 It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

5 - Guard your friendships

Prov 16:28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

Prov 17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Prov 20:19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

Prov 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

What is God prompting me to do in response to this message?

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DAILY BIBLE READINGS for this week, read Psalms 40-41, Proverbs 21-25