Thought for the Day

Verse 16 - Those who are struggling financially might wonder if this statement is true, but money alone helps no one. The ability to use money wisely is more valuable than money itself. Wisdom keeps money growing, when properly invested. Without wisdom, even a large sum of money will disappear. Better than money is the wisdom to seek God and walk in His ways. This brings greater reward and fulfillment, both now and for eternity.

Verse 17 - The highway of the upright turns aside from evil. This not only means refusing to join in evil with others, but repenting of a sin that the Holy Spirit reveals, and guarding the way we walk in this life. Obeying the Lord brings health to all our being, spirit, soul, and body. Money cannot buy us the promises of God. For example:

• We are promised peace. Knowing God brings peace to our minds, despite what may be going on around us.
• We are promised the ability to love others. We gain wholeness in our souls by experiencing God's love. When we ask Christ into our hearts, He begins to free us from our selfishness and enable us to love others.
• We are promised wisdom. With His wisdom, we are spared from making mistakes that can harm us in the future.
• We are promised guidance. When we are in need, He will show us the way to go.
• We are promised sweet sleep and rest. Millions of people suffer from insomnia because they do not have access to God's rest when they lie down. "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet" (Proverbs 3:24).
• We are promised protection when we look to Him in faith. No amount of money can buy this kind of protection. I call Psalm 91 my "life insurance policy."
• We are promised long life. When we understand what things cause death, we can depart from them.
• We are promised provision. God will provide for us because we are His children, and He takes care of His own.

Let us seek the Lord and His righteousness before anything else, and He will provide all that we need. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:33-34).