Life Lessons
Text: Proverbs 6:1-15
THREE LIFE TRUTHS
We should believe in the truths of God so much in our heart and mind, that although we cannot always see the impact in our present reality, we cannot live any other way.
TRUTH ONE - Your own words can trap you
Do not pledge to pay another’s debt
Do not take on responsibility on behalf of a stranger
Do not make a needless promise
If you find yourself owing others:
Seek relief or patience from those you owe
Work feverishly to get yourself out of your obligations to others
Footnote:
The borrower becomes the lender’s slave (Proverbs 22:7)
TRUTH TWO – Actions determine outcomes
The illustration of the ant
Diligently prepares for the future
Takes personal responsibility for their future
Lack of effort today increases the potential poverty
of tomorrow
Too much sleep, too many naps, too many breaks to take a rest yields poverty
Proper planning and preparation prevents poor
performance
Failing to plan is planning to fail
Footnote:
Nothing worth having was ever achieved without effort.
--- Theodore Roosevelt
TRUTH THREE – Using others always ends badly
Characteristics of those who exploit others
They use manipulative speech
They make insinuations
Thy use slander to create strife
They stir up conflict
Their behavior will result in personal calamity
Eventually they will be shunned and excluded
Their broken relationships will not easily heal
Footnotes: Beware of using others to achieve your goals
Don’t use guilt or lies to get your needs met.
Don’t belittle the efforts of others to help you or
to satisfy you, but be grateful for their effort.
Don’t compare someone’s effort to that of other’s
in order to note how their performance was inferior.
Don’t be critical of a sincere effort.
Take personal responsibility for your own condition
or mistakes, and stop blaming others.
Your present condition is largely the result of your past decisions.
A WORD OF WISDOM
Believe in the truths of God so much
in your heart and mind that, even when you cannot
always see the impact in your present reality,
you cannot live any other way.
Remember:
Your present condition is largely the result of past decisions.
Your future condition will largely be determined by the
decisions you begin making today. So, CHOOSE WISELY.