Without direction, even the good lose their way.

Proverbs 11           June 11, 2012

Memory Verse: 11:14   "Where no counsel is, the people fall."

Today's Proverb has 2 strong messages for us. The first is the importance of direction, and the second in the God-shaped life. There are many individual lessons in these 31 verses.

Without Good direction, people lose their way quickly.

1) God hates cheating in business, but loves honesty.

2) Honest Integrity keeps one on track; deviousness brings ruin.

3) Money doesn't help when life falls apart, but peaceful life stands up.

4) Moral character makes a smooth trip; evil life is a hard life.

5) Good character insures; crooks are trapped in lust.

6) When the wicked die, that's it, end of story and hope.

7) A good person is saved from much trouble, but a bad person runs into it.

8) Loose tongue of evil spreads destruction; Godly common sense saves.

9) Good happens to the Godly and the town cheers; bad happens to the bad and the town celebrates.

10) Righteous bless the city and it flourishes; evil talk destroys the city.

11) Slander is heartless; discretion accompanies good sense.

12) Gossip can't be trusted with a secret; integrity guards a confidence.

13) Without good direction, people lose their way; good counsel followed betters one's chances.

14) Deals with strangers burn, cool heads avoid rash, rush bargains.

15) Grace is respected; violence seeks short term gain.

The God-shaped life.

1) Kindness helps yourself; cruelty hurts you

2) Bad work is paid with a bad check; good work is solid pay.

3) Stand with God's community to live; or, chase phantoms of evil and die.

4) God hates deceivers, but really loves integrity.

5) Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a pretty face on an empty hand.

6) Visions of good people lead to the best; wicked ambition is frustration.

7) World of generous increases; world of the stingy is reduced.

8) Bless others to be blessed; helping others will help oneself.

9) Curse the hard bargain; bless the fair and square.

10) Devotion to things is a dead life; a God shaped life flourishes.

11) Seeking good brings delight; seeking evil is evil.

12) Exploit or abuse of a family brings a fistful of air; common sense tells one it is a stupid way to live.

13) A good life bears fruit; violence destroys souls.

14) If the good barely can make it, what is in store for the bad?