favor

Pondering Proverbs 14:35 – Dealing Wisely

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“A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.”

Proverbs 14:35 (Nov 14)

My take: Now we don’t have many kings these days but we certainly have bosses, managers, owners, and customers we deal with. The best leaders and workers are one’s who serve and look 1st as what they can give rather than get. Certainly Jesus is the pinnacle of this in action. Yet those who think and thus act shamefully reap wrath and bring upon themselves loss. As an owner of s small business, I have witnessed this more than one too many times and seeing it play out once again. Trust takes a while to establish but it can be lost in a heartbeat.

Action words: deals wisely, acts shamefully, wrath falls

Key word: favor [fey-ver]
noun

  1. something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for remuneration; a kind act:
  2. friendly or well-disposed regard; goodwill: to win the favor of the king.
  3. the state of being approved or held in regard: to be in favor at court; styles that are now in favor.
  4. excessive kindness or unfair partiality; preferential treatment: to treat some people with favor and others with neglect.
  5. a gift bestowed as a token of goodwill, kind regard, love, etc., as formerly upon a knight by his lady.
  6. a ribbon, badge, etc., worn in evidence of goodwill or loyalty, as by an adherent of a political party.
  7. a small gift or decorative or festive item, as a noisemaker or paper hat, often distributed to guests at a party.

My prayer: Lord, lets us look to you for the best example of a servant lifestyle. I thank you for your longsuffering and tremendous grace. Help me to make the most of my time, talent and treasure so that You find room for favor and avoid dispensing wrath.

Five steps to favor – Isaiah 50:10

KirkLeave a comment

“Who among you fears the LORD?

Who obeys the voice of His Servant?

Who walks in darkness and has no light?

Let him trust in the name of the LORD

And rely upon his God.”

Isaiah 50:10

#1 FEARS – the LORD

The good, respectful fear ofa a holy, just and all powerful being is what the intent is here. There is a stark differerence between respectful fear and the false human kind of freat. Every serious student of the Bible should grasp this. David the psalmist hammers it home as well as his son, Solomon in Proverbs as he writes; The begining of all wisdom is the fear of God.

#2 OBEYS – the voice of His Servent (Jesus)

We are fools if we think we can or should live to and by our selves. We should just do it (what God says) and be careful not to give mere lip service. Afterall, talk is cheap and action is dear.

If we seek, we shall no doubt find. Let’s listen via the Word by putting our ears to His message. We can alos hear Him speak to our spirit His Spirit if we are intent, still, focused, relaxed and full of expectation. Let’s tune in to His voice first and foremost.

#3 WALKS – in darkness not in the light

There are time when we just need to obey when it may look unclear or unnatural. Yes, we are called to walk by faith, not by mere sight. Of course everything requires disernment and this doesn’t mean we should stupidly and ignore common sense. What it means is that when things are unclear or deceptive, walk by faith not by sight, not by our phyical senses only. We should understand that is another dimension our physical being is incapable of understand. We are hybrid beings so les use all our capacities particularly when things are unclear that we should be faithful.

#4 TRUSTS – in the name of the LORD

A name is much more than letters and perhaps a title. What matters most is what is behind the name; what it represents. It’s the emotion, the power, the impact behind the name. Its what it stands for.

Do we fully trust in God?

Is our trust and actions based upon worldiness, our flesh, our old man, non-christian opinions, psudeo-science, the media or just loud noise?

TRUST AND OBEY FOR THERE IS NO OTHER WAY

No other way that works in the long-haul.

#5 RELY – upon his God.

Similiar to TRUST is RELY or reliance. This is obviously important. Where is our true allegiance? Is God really #1?

When the money is low, when the pain is high, when we are weak, when we act the fool, when the way is rough, when….not what do we count on but WHO do we count on to provide and save the day. Is it I, they or God?

Trust in the LORD will all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. In all our ways seek Him (God) and He will direct your path. Right? Right.

If its something or someone, even and likely our own selve, if it does NOT eminate and credited from God, we are sorely mistaken if we rely upon it.

That is certainly the making of a false idol of the heart.

RELY on our ALLY!

SUMMARY: To receive the favor, to ocuppy our anointed space, we are instructed to DO the following: the wise person…

  1. Fears
  2. Obeys
  3. Walks
  4. Trusts
  5. Relies

UPON GOD