Steve Webb 0:00 There is no good way to answer fools when they say something stupid. Steve Webb 0:05 This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. I'm your OG Godcaster. Steve Webb. It's poetry Thursday and Our reading today is Proverbs 26 and 27. The website is Lifespringmedia.com. and I'll have contact information at the end of today's show. I forgot to give it to you yesterday. It'll be there today. Before we read, let's pray. Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father How we thank you for our time together today. As we read your word, I pray that You would bless us Speak to our hearts. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Are you ready? Let's begin. Steve Webb 0:49 Proverbs 26 like snow in summer or rain in harvest. Honor is not fitting for a fool. Like a fluttering Sparrow where a darting swallow and undeserved curse does not come to rest. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey and a rod for the backs of fools. Do not Answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him, Answer a fool according to his folly or he will be wise in his own eyes. Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison. Likely useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. Like a thorn bush and a drunkards hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passerby. As a dog returns to his vomit, so fools repeat their folly. Do you see a person wise in their own eyes, there is more hope for a fool than for them. A sluggard says there's a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets as a door turns on its hinges so a sluggard turns on his bed. A sluggard buries his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answered discreetly like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor in says I was only joking. Without wood a fire goes out. Without a gossip. A quarrel dies down as charcoal to Amber's and his wood to fire so as a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, they go down to the inmost parts. Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speeches charming do not believe them for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. If someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. a lying tongue hates those it hurts and a flattering mouth works ruin. Steve Webb 3:35 Proverbs chapter 27. Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring. Let someone else praise you and not your own mouth and outsider and not your own lips. Stone is heavy and sand a burden. But a fool's provocation is heavier than both. Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming but who can stand before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than hidden love. wounds from a friend can be trusted but an enemy multiplies kisses. One who has full loads honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home and perfume it incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family and do not go to your relatives house when disaster strikes you better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away. Be wise my son and bring joy to my heart. Then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt. The prudent see danger and take refuge but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Take the garment of one who puts up security first Ranger hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider. If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning it will be taken as a curse. A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm. Restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored as water reflects the face so one's life reflects the heart of death and destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes. The Crucible for silver in the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise. Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them. Be sure you know the condition of your flocks give careful attention to your herds, for riches do not endure forever. and a crown is not secure for all generations. When the hay is removed and new growth appears, and the grass from the hills is gathered in the lambs will provide you with clothing and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goat's milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants. Steve Webb 6:28 I've got comments on both proverbs 26 and 27. Today 26 I used to listen to political talk radio and watch political TV talk shows but I got tired of the arguing back and forth. You see, I noticed that no matter how logical or well thought out an argument was on either side. seldom if ever was an opponent persuaded to listen objectively. and most of the time both sides ended up looking foolish. So when I read verses four and five in chapter 26, today I was reminded how silly it is to argue with a fool. Hear the verses again? Do not Answer a fool according to his folly or you yourself will be just like him, Answer a fool according to his folly or he will be wise in his own eyes. well, I like the way the easy to read version renders these two verses, there is no good way to answer fools when they say something stupid. If he answered them, then you too will look like a fool. If you don't answer them, they'll think they're smart. So what are we to do? I guess it partly depends on the situation, right? If possible, I think it's a good idea to avoid the fool altogether. But if that isn't possible, then don't engage them in conversation that brings out the foolish in them. There are people in my life whom I consider to be foolish. Come on, let's be honest here. Most of us have this type of person in our lives that we're forced to have contact with. My way of dealing with his people is to just be polite. We talk about the weather or rather mundane things that don't really matter. Because I know that if we get into the cheap water, nothing but trouble will ensue. and if they bring up a subject that I think will go the wrong way, I'll just smile politely and let them drone on until I can gracefully make an exit. I do the same thing online. By the way. I don't engage in debates there. Nobody ever has their mind changed by arguing online. It's a waste of time. As they say, Don't feed the trolls. All right on proverbs 27. I like that Solomon spent some time giving counsel to his son about the importance of good friends, like a rare jewel, truly good friends are hard to find. But when you do find them, they're much more valuable than even jewels, because more than bringing fellowship and good times, they can help you through difficult times. They can help make a better person out of you. and sometimes God can use them to speak his words into your life. I consider myself truly blessed because I have three such friends in my life. One of them has been a part of my life since I was about 10 years old, probably even eight or nine. His name is Mark. The second I met when we were in junior high school. That's still the husband of Kathy whom we've prayed for many, many times on the show. and there's nobody alive today that I've known longer than these two. The third jewel of a friend of mine is a fellow podcaster. We met in 2005. and for a long time we were friends but not particularly close. But over the last couple of years, we've had a standing date to talk via video at least two Saturdays a month. Sometimes we'll talk for an hour sometimes we'll talk three or four or five hours. and we've really developed a deep, deep friendship. His name is Ron. I treasure all three of these guys and I do anything for them. and I think they do the same for me. I consider myself a very blessed man to have each one of them in my life. So let's take a look at three of these verses that deal with friendship from chapter 27. Verse six says, wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. What that means is a true friend is one who's willing to risk hurting us if it means that we'll be better for the correction. and enemies kisses are just lies. Remember, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Verse nine says, perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. This verse is sort of a partner to the last verse. When a friend offers kind words of advice from a heart of love. It's as pleasant as a good perfume and then dropping down to verse 17. That says, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. This is sort of an opposite of the friendship coin. Verse nine talked about the kind words of advice being as pleasant as a good perfume. But when iron sharpens iron, there is grinding on the wheel, heavy hammers striking the iron and always sparks fly. The iron being prepared goes through a bit of stress, pounding and abrasion. If the iron could feel there would be pain involved. But the end product is better and more useful. When a friend sharpens a friend, it can be a difficult process for one or both of them. But in the end, both can be better off. Do you have a friend like that? Tell me about them. At the end of today's show, I'll have the various ways you can contact me and of course you can always send to boostagram to tell me what to think. Tomorrow will be prophecy Friday and will read the entire book of Obadiah. Jingle 11:52 Now it's time for the boost to boost to boost boostagram karna boostagram corner. I don't know a thing about crypto. Steve Webb 11:59 That's all right. You don't need to know. I got a 500 sat boostagram from fountain user number 2558. and they said thank you. well, thank you 2558. You know, boostagram had been a bit sparse lately. Maybe I'm just not saying anything worth boosting. Let me know if you agree or disagree with my comments on the booster grams. But I got a really good boostagram from the Lovely Lady LeeAnn, this past Tuesday, we read Second Chronicles six through 10, which said, If my people who are called by my name, humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. well, instead of 500, sad boostagram. and she said, Steve Webb 12:40 Let's start our own Lifespring 714 club as in Second Chronicles 714. She said pray for the country and the world. Set those alarms Humble yourselves and pray seek God's favor. well, I think that's a great idea. What is the 714 Club? well, like she said, set an alarm on your device for 7:14am or pm or both. and when the alarm goes off, take some time to do a Second Chronicles 714 says, Let's humble ourselves and seek His face. Ask Him to reveal to you the things in your life that He wants you to forsake to turn from to repent off, and pray for your nation wherever you are. I believe that God will honor that beloved, at a minimum God will begin to bring changes into your life as you faithfully make time to meet with him in this kind of prayer. Will you do that? Join LeeAnn and I and I'd love it if you would let me know that you're on board with this, email me at steve@lifespringmedia.com or send to boostagram. When you email me put 714 club in the subject line. and as you send your emails or boostagram. And I'll read your name on the show and I'll create a 714 page at the website. If you want to remain anonymous. That's okay, just let me know. But let's see how many in the Lifespring family are willing to do this. Join the 714 Club today. You know a weekly donation can be a painless way to support the show and I'm very thankful when you sign up for one. You can also sign up for a monthly or quarterly donation as well. I don't take any advertisers on the show. So it's up to you the Lifespring family to support it. Whatever works best for you. You decide the amount and the frequency based on the value you receive from the show. Pray about it. Ask the Lord what he would have you do. Are you willing to help keep the Show coming to you? When you support the show? I will thank you and I believe that God will bless you as you do. Jingle 14:31 Lifespringmedia.com/support Steve Webb 14:46 Remember, Sunday will be the next time of prayer requests and praises on the show. So if you have something that you would like the Lifespring family to pray with you or for you about here's how to let me know. To leave a voice message call the Lifespring family Hotline at plus one 19517328511 Or if you prefer to type your message for prayer requests and praises, go to prayer dot Lifespring media.com and for comments or questions go to comment dot Lifespringmedia.com Then you can even do it the old school way by sending an email to me at steve@lifespringmedia.com dot com. Thanks to Sister Denise Michael Haner Scott Snider, Jason Paschall, today's show art artist and sister Brittaney for their donations of time and talent. and Thanks for the booster grams. I enjoyed our time together today. Remember the 714 Club? Let me know if you'll be joining. I'll see you tomorrow. Until then, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye. Announcer 15:53 Chapters, transcripts, images, links stream micro payments to the podcast and send Satoshis in real time over the Lightning Network using a compatible podcasting 2.0 app. Just go to newpodcastapps.com newpodcastapps.com and for more info go to podcast index.org Transcribed by https://otter.ai