Proverbs 6:1-19; Acts 21:26-40

Proverbs 6:1-19
This chapter gives us some practical lessons for daily life.
vv. 1-5 warn us not to become over-extended in helping people financially. This is not to say we shouldn't be generous, but we must use our resources wisely and not lend or give money we can't afford to lose. Financial bondage is not fun.

vv. 6-11 tell us to learn good habits from nature. The ants work hard. We should be like them and not be lazy!

vv. 16-19 list 7 things the Lord hates. We don't often think of God as hating, but according to these verses he hates the following:

• Haughty (proud) eyes
• A lying tongue
• Hands that kill the innocent.
• A heart that plots evil.
• Feet that race to do wrong.
• A false witness who pours out lies
• A person who sows discord in a family.  

Thinking about that last one, it's a bad idea to cause trouble anywhere. I think it's appropriate to apply this to the church (the family of God), the work place, or really anywhere.

Acts 21:26-40
 Speaking of trouble--Paul didn't have to cause it. It seemed to find him where ever he went! In this passage we remember that Paul was deliberately practicing the Jewish traditions in the Temple so as not to offend the Jews. In spite of Paul's good intentions, the mob rose up against him and tried to kill him. They could not even really agree on what he had done or what crimes he had committed. He ended up being arrested and taken prison. In the next few verses we will read about Paul's words to the crowd. He will spend the next 5 years as a prisoner of Rome, but God is still in control! We will see how God uses Paul's troubles to accomplish His purposes. He can do the same of us.