Where is your income coming from?

“Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death.” Proverbs 10:2

So where is your income coming from?

You can pause for a while and examine yourself.

 Because this is a question that all of us need to answer.

As we grow older, at some point, all of us need to get out of the comfort of our home and find a job to survive.

But how do you get your income, how are you surviving?

Do you get it from hard work or do you get it from taking advantage of others?

We can point fingers however we want, but this is not about them. It is about you! We are all responsible for our actions, they are responsible for theirs but you are responsible for yours.

The scripture tells us that treasures that are acquired wrongly are of no value. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is. If we have acquired something out of wrongdoing unless our heart is calloused,  we know that it does not belong to us and our conscience tells us that we need to return it, one way or another. Whether we are a Christian or not, there is a lot of indication that tells us that our income is not acquired properly.

First is our conscience. Our conscience warns us from being drawn to this kind of activity. That goodness inside of us tells us we did something wrong. It is because our hearts and mind condemn any wrong action. God has put the seed of righteousness in us to guide us and protect us. Whether we like it or not, wrong is wrong and right is right.

The second indication is sleeplessness. It could be just a few cents or a few dollars, but it wouldn’t let you sleep. It could be just a single receipt of reimbursement request from an employee of yours that you pocketed, but it wouldn’t let you sleep.

The third indication is the unending playback in your head. It could be just something small, but that act plays repeatedly in your mind over and over again and keeping you from doing your normal activity.

There are more indications but the most important one that I would like to mention is the Word of God. God’s Word tells us exactly that Ill-gotten treasure is no good to us. It is a sin to acquire something that is not supposed to be our wrongly. There is no joy in that. You may be able to buy your dream house but living in it will not give you any satisfaction nor joy. For your inward self will condemn you daily until you give up and do what is right. If you have done such things, humble yourself before God. Ask for forgiveness and start doing what is right. If you can still make everything right, do it right away and so God will turn your sorrows into joy. 

Do what is right while you still can. Labor with love and honesty.

May God bless your heart today and keep you away from evil. Have a wonderful day and God bless.  

You are your Parents’ Pride

“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.” Prov 10:1

Are your parents proud of you? Do you hear them talk repeatedly about your awards in school from 10 years ago and exaggerate how good you are at something in front of their friends and family?

 

It is normal to find your parents talk about you very often, more often than they talk about themselves or their other half. From the moment, you are born, your parents adore you and say all kinds of good things about you. This is because they love you and are so proud of what have you become.

However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, our parents became so sad and disappointed because we did not turn out to be the person they want us to be. 

The Scripture tells us that a wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. We bring joy to our fathers when we obey them and follow their footsteps. But, when we turn from our parent’s instruction and go in our way, it brings grief especially to our mother who bore us into this world.

Being wise is crucial to everyone in the family, not only to the children but as well as to the parents. This is because the children look up to the parents and watching every move they make. If you are a parent, don’t expect your children to be respectful if you are not. Don’t expect your children to clean the house, if you don’t even do it. Parents must set as an example themselves. That is why a child’s wisdom comes from the parents who carefully mold him from the wisdom of God.

God wants us to build our family in his wisdom. God wants us to be wise not only in our own eyes but in the eyes of our children and their children’s children. So that we can gain respect and love from them and they will give wisdom from us that they can pass on through generation.

Do you know anybody who named their children after their great-granddad? The obvious reason why they do this is because they are proud of their grandpa and they want their legacy to be passed on by attaching their names to their children.

If you are a child, are you bringing joy to your parents? If you are a parent, is your child looking up to you and proud to be your child? 

Today, let us ask God for his wisdom to dwell in our family so that we call all live a Godly life and be a good example to the generations to come.

Prayer:  

Dear God,

            

     Thank you for this wonderful day! There are so many reasons to thank you but today, I would like to thank you for my family. Thank you for my mom and dad. Thank you for my siblings. I would like parents to be proud of me and I would like to become a proud parent to my children. Help me that I will do your will within my family. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.