Daily Scripture
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend. The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor. The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!" The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you. Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, for the LORD will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them. Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”
Proverbs 22
Daily Devotion
Proverbs 22:1-6 it says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple goes on and suffers for it. The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches, honor, and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Growing up in a small town with the last name of Dodd, people recognized that I came from a big family. I came to realize that I couldn’t escape my family name. In town, I would hear that Dodds were hard-working, dependable, and trustworthy. When I got older and started working, I wanted my name to mean the same thing in the workplace. Realizing it was better to be esteemed by others than to have great wealth. God equips us for all aspects of our lives. He gives us nuggets of wisdom to prosper in our families, friendships, employment, and everything else. I came to realize that we are all the same. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor. God looks on the inside instead of the outside.
Verse 6 assures us that a child will not depart from it. As a parent of a college and middle school student, it gives me great peace of mind. We must lay a foundation of Christ and set an example for our children. I haven’t done everything correctly in parenting, but I know God has them in his hand. We must trust, obey, and pray to let God take control. I’m thankful for God's assurance my children will not depart from him. We live in a scary world where we need that assurance.
Angie Dodd Cornelison