Read
20You have no friends
if you are poor,
but you have lots of friends
if you are rich.
21It's wrong to hate others,
but God blesses everyone
who is kind to the poor.
22It's a mistake
to make evil plans,
but you will have loyal friends
if you want to do right.
23Hard work is worthwhile,
but empty talk
will make you poor.
24Wisdom can make you rich,
but foolishness leads
to more foolishness.
25An honest witness
can save your life,
but liars can't be trusted.
26If you respect the Lord,
you and your children
have a strong fortress
27and a life-giving fountain
that keeps you safe
from deadly traps.
Reflect
Not much has changed since these words were written. The rich have plenty of “friends” who hope to benefit from their wealth. Foolishness leads only to more foolishness, as those who make unwise use of credit cards can attest. Friendship with untrustworthy people will let you down. People like this do not know security.
On the other hand, kindness to those in need, wanting what is good, hard work, wisdom, honesty – these are the characteristics of the person who loves God and wants to please him. To people like this God offers a safe place of refuge. The writer of Proverbs invites us to encounter that safe haven. He says: “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress (v 26).” To discover this wonderful shelter we need to stop and grasp the power, majesty and kindness of our great God. The more we know him, the more we will comprehend his compassion and mercy toward all of his children. What a gift to know his loving arms are always open wide to receive us with our struggles.
But it doesn’t stop there. The whole family of the person who fears the Lord is blessed (v 26). Children find a place of refuge. When we have a holy, reverential attitude toward God, we see the world through his benevolent and fatherly heart. We will recognize that our children are helpless and it is up to us to protect them and help them grow up into the men and women God designed them to be.
Reverence for God is both practical and gloriously mysterious. It flows through us like a gentle fountain of life (v 27) and its transforming power can renovate our heart to see the world differently. Take a moment to thank God for assuring us of a safe place. His presence will revolutionize your thinking.
Respond
Dear Father God,
I stand in awe of your majesty. You are entirely different than anything we experience in this ordinary life. You are mysterious, yet intimate. In spite of our seeming insignificance you receive us with grace. Thank you. Amen
Heidi McLaughlin
For over two decades Heidi has helped people find fulfillment in life through embracing God’s truth. She does this through writing and teaching the Bible, mentoring and speaking at Conferences and Retreats all across North America. Heidi has been twice widowed and has a family of 5 children and 12 grandchildren. When she is not writing or speaking she loves to golf, laugh or share a cup of coffee with her family and friends. Publications: Sand To Pearls: Making Bold Choices to Enrich your Life; Beauty Unleashed: Transforming a Woman’s Soul; Restless for More: Finding Fulfillment in Unexpected Places; Looking Back and Enjoying The View; Your Home, An Entry Into a Woman’s Heart Anthologies: Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider; A Taste of Hot Apple Cider, Apple Cider and Cinnamon, Chicken Soup for the Soul: "O Canada"; Sunshine Kisses for Grandmas, , The Joy of Less
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