by Maria Hartman

As Christians, we know and have heard the verse about the narrow path and the importance of staying on it; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are on it. (Matthew 7:13) So when we repent of our sins and come to Christ, we learn that we must move from the wide path to the narrow path. This is where we’ll stay close to Jesus; this is where we’ll walk with Him…

But when it comes to our focus or our view of life, I believe our p...

I never thought of this before, but in the book of Wisdom, God presents the very last chapter to us through King Lemuel….because of the influence of aMOTHER.

How many heartfelt words does a mother speak to her children over the span of her life? ……..And how many times does a mother feel like the words she speaks are just going out into dead space…..not falling on receptive ears? We must speak them no matter what it feels like for we have no idea how or when God will use them. How m...

The title of this Proverb is ‘The Wisdom of Agur’. There is a note in one of my Bible’s which reads as follows: “Agur was most likely a student of wisdom at the time of Solomon. His proverbs reflect his humility, a deep hatred for arrogance, and a sound theological mind.”

Let’s listen to what he has to say and reflect on the questions he poses. 

¹ The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal: 
 
   ² Surely I am more stupid than a...

1: He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed; and that without remedy.

Do you know someone like this? My mom used to call it the ‘hard head’; but I guess God calls it the hard neck. This isn’t the person who nobody cares about; it is the person who is corrected often, with many attempts made to point them to the narrow path….but sadly, they are content to travel the broad road; to “Have it MY way”. Suddenly however, their destruction comes; and i...

1: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Yes, our mouths are the topic of conversation again… let’s learn together what pertains to us.

How many times have you ‘boasted’  about tomorrow? I have done so A LOT. Don’t get sidetracked by the word boast however; it doesn’t mean “to brag” in this instance as much as it means “to possess or to own; to contain or to have.” Think about it that way: tomorrow is not ours; God owns it; God po...

4: Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

Sometimes we are not to answer the fool because we can easily be brought down to their level. And what good does that do? This is what the fool desires.

5: Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in how own conceit.

Sometimes we should answer a fool; but in such a way that he is put to shame. We don’t have to engage them in argument, but we also don’t have to ignore what they say.

Is this an area o...

A few Proverbs ago, we looked at some really good ‘pictures’ given through the Word of God. Let’s examine a few more that paint clearly what God wants us to seeand subsequently learn from.

11: A word spoken at the right time is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

14: Whoever boasts falsely of giving a gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

15: By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

19: Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of troub...

1: Do not be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them 2: For their heart studies destruction and their lips talk of trouble. 17: Rejoice not when your enemyfalls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles. 18: Lest the LORD see it and it displease him and he turn away his wrath from him. 19: Do not fret because of evil men; neither be envious of the wicked. 20: For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

There are many things God tells...