Proverbs 18

"The wealth of the rich is their fortified city they imagine it an unscalable wall."

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run to it and are safe."

We all choose to put our security in something. I reversed the order of these two verses on purpose. Because If I read about the Lord being a strong tower and THEN read about money being my security I always judge myself as trusting in God more than money.

The problem is that I often really look at money as something that provides for me instead of looking at money as a resource to be managed. (Stewardship) It seems the more money I have the more power it has over me. I start to look at it differently, I find myself trusting in it. The passage clearly shows us the only place to put our faith.
So why do we often turn our gaze to money and look to it to fill so many emotional needs? Why is money often  the filler of the holes in our hearts?

The Name of the Lord...amen! Let that be enough for us today!

"The tongue has the power of life and death..."

Remember the last time someone said something to you that just "killed" your soul? This verse is true, we know because we have also been around someone who brought so much life and energy to our souls by just a single word or phrase.

Use your tongue to spread life today and not death. Let's quit being the verbal Grim Reaper of our dorm or office.

"A man of many companions may come to ruin but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

I hope you have someone you consider closer than a brother. It usually takes some sort of effort and time to accomplish such a relationship. Most people tell me their wife is that person, the problem is their wife doesn't really know if she is or isn't. Speaking from the male perspective (its the only one I have currently), I believe that men need a great relationship with their spouse. They need a lover, a partner for life's ups and downs, they need a cheerleader, they need honest feedback, they need help in areas of their weakness, and permission to soar in their areas of strength....man we are pretty needy.

But us men types also need a friend who isn't our wife. It may be your literal brother it may not be. I have that in my life and I am so grateful. I'm probably not the easiest guy to be friends with but I have found a very small number of men who will stick closer, they are one's I can depend upon. I don't talk to them all that often but we don't really need to talk to be men. I trust them and I can depend upon them and I hope they know they can trust me and depend upon me.