EVANGELICAL WINNING ALL Food for the Day - 2023 FRIDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2023 TEXT: PROVERBS 10: 1 - 17 TOPIC: THE CLUSTER OF WISDOM

*PROVERBS 10: 1 - 17 NIV*

1:The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

2:Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.

3:The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4:Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

5:He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

6:Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

7:The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.

8:The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

9:Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

10:Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11:The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12:Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

13:Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.

14:The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

15:The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

16:The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.

17:Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

*THE CLUSTER OF WISDOM*

Today's text gives us an idea about how to deal with wealth and poverty and points out that wealth acquired by unrighteous means has no value but wealth gotten through righteous means is far more valuable. 

The wisdom here is that diligence under God's guidance is the secret of acquiring wealth but a lazy person is a disgrace and is heading towards poverty (vs.4-5). 

In fact, verses 15-17 confirm that riches fortify the city for the righteous but verses 6 and 7 show that the wise man shows the contrast between the life of a righteous person and the wicked. 

While blessings will be the portion of the righteous, violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked and even their names will rot (vs.7). 

Verses 8 and 9 show that the wise accepts and is obedient to instruction whereas the fool pays no attention to instruction and that one can walk with his or her head high if such a person is known for integrity but he who takes the crooked path will be exposed.

*QUESTION:* Are you on the path of folly or pursuing righteousness and hard work?

*PRAYER:* Lord God, help me to always tread the path of wisdom by pursuing righteousness in order to attract Your blessings, in Jesus name. Amen.

*Food for the Day - 2023*