Monday 2 Jan 2017

January 2: Proverbs 17:27-28

Key Verse: Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive

Devotion:
One thing we all strive for is knowledge. We may not be able to all attend the best universities to gain knowledge, but we actively seek knowledge each and every day. However the knowledge we gather is not always what we require, nor is it always what we desire! How we use that new-found knowledge is what really matters.

We could go out and gossip about the things we have found out or we could simply tell the truth and share that knowledge with someone else. We are the ones who are given the choice as to what to do with the information we have found out. We are the ones who need to discern what information others should be given – not based on what we know, nor what we think they should know, but based on whether the information is required. If the information is about others, then should we allow them to make up their minds about who should be given that information!

If we are able to show others that we are of good spirit, of good temper, encouraging, sedate, meek; only then are we showing them that we are wise. We are showing them we have the wisdom to be of that good spiritedness when others may well not be. Knowing when to shut up and listen is also a quality we all need to encourage in our own lives. Through this, others will be encouraged by our spirit.

But one thing we are not able to do is to hide anything from God through not talking about it! God is always listening in to our thoughts, for they are like words to Him. Nothing we think about can be hidden from God. We may be able to fool others by the way we act, but we cannot ever fool God. We can encourage others by our actions, but we have to be totally open and honest with God – because He is totally open and honest with us!

Points to Ponder:
What do others think of you?

What do you think God thinks of you?