Reading:
Proverbs 18:1-12

American and global economic structures have sure taken a pounding the last two or three weeks.

Insurance companies, mortgage companies, banking companies, credit companies, auto companies — who else has been shown to be unstable, weak, and cracking?

This week in particular, stock markets have trended overall downward. The plunge from record highs has been stunning and breath-taking. Today is the last day of the business week — will they regain lost ground or will they collapse into a pile of financial rubble?

How does this or how will this impact me and my family?

Will this fear-inducing display of economic gravity take down Anabaptist Bookstore with it?

In what or whom will we find rest and peace?

“The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit” (11).

So many people thought they were secure and safe and sure in their investments, in their savings, and in their jobs.

Those strong cities have been besieged. Those strong walls have been breached.

Now what will they do?

[The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit (Proverbs 18:11)]
Proverbs 18:11

[The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe (Proverbs 18:10)]
Proverbs 18:10

A little bit more from Proverbs 18: Before

Reading:
Proverbs 17:20-28

When someone has a cough, offer them a zinc lozenge or a dose of cough syrup or some Vitamin C or all three.

If the problem is a headache, offer aspirin or acetaminophen.

For a cut, a triple antibiotic.

A stab wound? Call 9-1-1. (At least.)

But what about hurts and wounds to the soul and spirit?

What if the threat of infection is to the mind or the will or the emotions?

Or the morals? Or the values? Or the convictions?

My thoughts have flowed along that channel after reading this verse:

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (21).

I want to be one whose state of heart and spirit does good to others (and to me).

[Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise (Proverbs 17:28)]
from Proverbs 17:28

A little bit more from Proverbs 17: That You?