Proverbs 27:1-27 Niv

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend," says the Holy Spirit in Proverbs 27:6. And lest we imagine that the preacher is the one who does the wounding, I want to read Job 5:17,18: "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole."

You see, the one who does...

"Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof; so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored." Proverbs 27:18

He who tends the fig tree has figs for his pains, and he who waits on a good master has honor as his reward. Truly the LORD Jesus is the very best of masters, and it is an honor to be allowed to do the least act for His sake. To serve some lords is to watch over a crab tree and eat the crabs as one's wages;...

Every wise merchant will occasionally hold a stock-taking, when he will cast up his accounts, examine what he has on hand, and ascertain decisively whether his trade is prosperous or declining. Every man who is wise in the kingdom of heaven, will cry, "Search me, O God, and try me"; and he will frequently set apart special seasons for self-examination, to discover whether things are right between God and his soul. The God whom we worship is a great heart-searcher; and of old his servants...

Paul's experience with the Christians in Galatia reminds us that we often make enemies of our friends when we tell them the truth. The apostle had introduced these people to the Lord and nurtured them in the faith. But later when false teachers infiltrated their Christian assemblies, Paul had to warn believers that they were forsaking Christ for the law. That caused them to become hostile toward their father in the faith.

It was also true in Old Testament times. Elijah was always...

How surprising the infatuation of man, in that while he despises and abuses the gifts of God actually bestowed, he makes sure of gifts to come. He makes havoc of to-day, as a child makes havoc of some valuable book fallen within its reach, and confidently expects that there shall be given to him a morrow, and a long series of morrows. While he, on earth, is busy with the transgression of God's commands, and with casting contempt on the authority of God, God, in heaven, is to be busy in...

Every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them. § Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. § Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.They do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable...