What
We Focus On Is What We Get!
"Do
not eat the bread of a miser nor desire his delicacies; for
as he thinks in his heart, so is he. 'Eat and drink!' he says
to you, but his heart is not with you. The morsel you have
eaten, you will vomit up, and waste your pleasant words"
Proverbs 23:6-8.
What
is the context of this statement? Solomon reflects on not
eating "the bread of a miser" and "his delicacies",
but beware, "his heart is not with you." What he
shares with you may not be for your benefit. Although he says
to you, "eat and drink!" what he offers may cause
you to "vomit." Don't waste your time and "pleasant
words" on such a fool.
Solomon
continues the thought, "Do not speak in the hearing of
a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words…
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of
knowledge… Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous
eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton will come
to poverty… Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom
and instruction and understanding" Proverbs 23:9, 12,
20, 21, 23. Solomon was not a fool and he has a lot of good
information to offer in the book of Proverbs.
What
is it that you think about? In your heart, in the depth of
your soul, what is most important to you? Does what you think
about and spend your time on square up with what's most important
to you? Does what you focus on move you toward the accomplishment
of what is most important to you in life?
Life
is about relationships and making wise choices. We live in
a world with conflict and confusion all about us. When we
become adults, most of us have the freedom to make our own
choices as to what to think about and do. We have the freedom
to make smart choices, dumb choices, wise choices, stupid
choices; some may refrain from making a lot of choices and
that is also a choice; and we live with the consequences of
the choices we make.
Are we
making the most of what life has to offer?
Solomon
also wrote, "There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death" Proverbs 14:12.
How can
we know the difference between good and evil and make appropriate
choices between right and wrong. He gives a suggestion, "The
backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but
a good man will be satisfied from above" Proverbs 14:14.
From
Genesis to Revelation we read of a conflict between the God
of heaven and earth, and an archenemy of God. And that conflict
has permeated all of society from the beginning to the present.
In the Bible, the God of heaven has predicted the future in
substantial detail from about 600 years before the birth of
Christ, in the book of Daniel and later in the Revelation.
A lot
of people choose to ignore and not accept that there is a
Creator, however, to do so is potentially a fatal choice.
A promise of God, for those who choose to believe in Him,
includes "This is eternal life, that they may know You,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent"
John 17:3.
Our God
is a God that we may know and understand (Jeremiah 9:23, 24).
He is real.
To ignore Him is a fatal consequence (Matthew 25:41).
So what
is safe to focus on that will promote lasting relationships
and eternal values and security? Consider the values that
Jesus Christ has to offer. He is our Creator (John 1:1-14);
the One who provides more abundant living for us here and
now and forever (John 10:10); the One who sacrificed Himself
for us so that we may be adopted into His Family (2 Corinthians
5:20, 21; John 3:1-3; Revelation 22:12-14). What a magnificent
Savior (John 4:42; Acts 5:31), Brother (John 20:17) and Friend
(John 15:14, 15)!
Let's
not be blinded by the confusion in the world, but open our
hearts and minds to the Light of the world, the Source of
Light and Life (John 8:12); "If you abide in My word,
you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free!" John 8:31, 32.
When
you feel discouraged and not worthy to come to the Lord, remember,
"Under conviction of sin, remember that I died for you.
When oppressed and persecuted and afflicted for My sake and
the gospel's, remember My love, so great that for you I gave
My life. When your duties appear stern and severe, and your
burdens too heavy to bear, remember that for your sake I endured
the cross, despising the shame. When your heart shrinks from
the trying ordeal, remember that your Redeemer lives to make
intercession for you" Desire of Ages, p. 659. And He
is just a prayer away!
May God
richly bless you as you focus on the values that are most
important for your life!
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