Proverbs 25:26-26:2 – Consistency
Verse 26 – When a servant of God gives way to the wicked, his testimony is terribly damaged. Satan makes more effective use of God’s people than of his own. Faithfulness so rubs unbelievers the wrong way, that at any hint of inconsistency or hypocrisy, they are overjoyed. None of us stand or act alone, but we all have other people constantly watching and scrutinising our actions. We must pray for the grace to be faithful.
Verse 27 – Honey is good, but in moderation. A man’s good name is honey to him. We should be careful of our reputation, but we should not seek our own praise or build ourselves up. We have to remember that what God thinks of us matters more than what others think.
Verse 28 – He who has no self-control is an easy target. Anyone can irritate and trouble him. He offers no resistance to attack. Without self-discipline, temptation leads quickly from sin to sin. Self-control is a daily exercise. Every outbreak of irritation, every spark of pride, has to be resisted. It is the beginning of a breach in the walls. Without attention, it will widen. Effective self-control comes from God, not ourselves. What do we do? When facing the first attack, we fortify the walls by prayer and trust in God to see us through.
Verse 1 – The richest blessings lose their value when given unsuitably. We need to learn, then, to be consistent as a Christian. What we profess to believe should match what we do.
Verse 2 – We don’t need to be afraid of the undeserved harsh words and angry accusations of others. God sees and knows all we do, and He is the only Judge that matters. He will protect us and care for us every step of the way, working His good and perfect plan out in our lives.
Questions
- Why do we need to be consistent Christians?
- How can we develop self-control?
Prayer Points
- Pray for Christians being persecuted in other countries.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.