The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 1 August 2023 – The Safest Place Of Security
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TOPIC: The Safest Place Of Security
READ: Proverbs 18:10-24 (NKJV)
- The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
- The rich man’s wealth [is] his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.
- Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor [is] humility.
- He who answers a matter before he hears [it,] It [is] folly and shame to him.
- The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?
- The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
- A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
- The first [one] to plead his cause [seems] right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.
- Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart.
- A brother offended [is harder to win] than a strong city, And contentions [are] like the bars of a castle.
- A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, [From] the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
- Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
- [He who] finds a wife finds a good [thing,] And obtains favor from the LORD.
- The poor [man] uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.
- A man [who has] friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend [who] sticks closer than a brother.
THE MESSAGE:
Chapter 18 of Proverbs is a contrast between the behaviour of the wise and the foolish. The writer gives a clear picture of two categories of people: One can be rich and at the same time foolish, and being poor does not determine if a man is wise or not. The rich trust in their wealth; they feel that they are secure outright, and thus, cannot be brought down to poverty. The poor who repose their confidence in God are satisfied with security, wisdom and other precious gifts of life (verses 10,16, 22).
No doubt, as the high tower is the safest place of a city under attack, so is the Lord the safest place to find security in a world that is full of cruelty and danger (Psalm 61:1-3). Anyone who desires to live above insecurity in this world must accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ; in Him is the safest place to be secured. In addition, He will make us wise, depend on Him totally and become our undeniable Friend forever (verse 24).
PRAYER: Use CONH. 810, stanza 1 as a prayer
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and grief to bear!
What a privilege to carry,
Everything to God in Prayer
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry,
Everything to God in Prayer
