Page 60 - Living Light 88

Friday May 9 - Listen first...
The wise in heart accepts commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
Proverbs 10:8
Today we see another difference between the wise and the foolish! ‘The wise heart accepts commands’, or the wise heart listens. I recall someone whispering in my ear as I was about to speak, probably inappropriately: “You can’t tell who the fools are if they keep quiet!” Wise words! (see Proverbs 17:28)
There is great wisdom in learning to listen, and to listen well. So often I find my mind racing ahead to what I want to say, rather than focusing on what other people are saying. God gave us two ears and one mouth for good reason! Once again this verse nails it; the wise man is the one who desires to listen – and to listen well. And again, we find this echoed in James’ epistle (1:19-20).
Another reason for listening more than we speak is that it is a good way to keep arguments or anger from growing. Listening well is another wonderful way of communicating our love for one another. So often it is easy to forget that we need not think we have all the answers or need to be heard. Silence can ‘speak’.
Many of us will have known that during times of grief and loss, those who came to visit, who listened rather than spoke, were the ones whose silence was more comforting than any words could ever be.
Lord, please enable me to be a wise listener, to know there is a time to speak... and a time to be silent (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Amen.
Saturday May 10 - The blessing of the Lord
The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
Proverbs 10:22
What comes to mind when you read this verse? ‘Wealth’ can be a contentious subject. I knew of one church whose interpretation of this verse was purely based on financial wealth, almost as if monetary wealth was a sure sign of God’s blessing. As we have seen this week, we possess riches and wealth that far surpass what money can bring. How can we quantify the wisdom God brings into our lives through the lives of others, or that he imparts to us?
How can we measure the breadth and depth of Jesus’ love for us in dying on the cross to save us? There are very precious treasures in my life that may not seem to carry much worth or value, but they are more precious than I will ever realise. There’s the wealth in deep friendships; of being part of a loving, supportive church; of having my 96-year old Dad still alive and thriving; of seeing a sunset emblazon the sky in a display only God could engineer! These are all the blessings of the Lord!
I often wake each day with an overwhelming sense of God’s blessing. I don’t deserve it; there has been no ‘painful toil’ to gain it. It truly is a gift from God, just as is his wisdom. Your life too will have its own ‘wealth’ – be blessed today as you recall who and what it is.
Father God, thank you that we live lives blessed by you. ‘God’s riches at Christ’s expense’ – G.R.A.C.E indeed! Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY