Those Who Take Advantage, Do So Because Their Hearts are Evil – (Proverbs 22:22-23)
Daily Proverbs
Daily Bible Study
It takes wisdom to live in a world today where the hearts of men are focused on wickedness and not on the Lord. Therefore, God through His word gives us practical wisdom for everyday life. In addition, as we learn and grow in Christ, we become more aware of the world around us and we discover the true heart of man, which is wickedness. God's wisdom, not only helps us to live a better life, but also a more effective life for the kingdom of God. As followers of Christ, we cannot forget the true spirit of this age, it's a spirit which is evil and works against God and the things of God. A spirit which comes from the one whom the Apostle Paul calls the "prince of the power of the air" who is Satan. We often hear from others the phrase, "it's just business" or "you have to look out for number one." These are really clever little sayings devised by the wickedness of men's hearts. They're used to hide their true intentions and desires of greed and deceit, in order to get something they covet. However, there are no intentions of the heart hidden from God. Moreover, God is sovereign, and unlike humanity, He will not enter into silly debates with us.
We won't argue with God, in order that we may justify our actions. God's not concerned with the words we speak in order to justify ourselves or our bad behavior, He's concerned with the condition of our hearts. Those who take advantage of others, especially the poor and the weak gain something else besides their illicit profit, they also gain God as an enemy! While their hearts are merry over fulfilling their desires, they must remember God's justice is sure and He will plead the cause of the week and the poor. And the wicked should not mistake God's long-suffering because He wants no man to perish, as God's blindness to their wicked behavior. There is only one cure for a spirit which is dead in trespasses and sins, and that is a relationship with Christ Jesus our Lord. God has promised when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our old spirit which is dead in trespasses and sins is replaced by a new spirit which is alive to God and the things of God. This is why our main focus as children of God and joint-heirs with Christ, is to spread the Gospel as far and wide as possible, for the saving of souls and the changing of hearts. In order that none should perish, but all should come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.