When Did It Become Booty?

Proverbs 12:11-12  Amplified Bible
11 He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits is lacking in sense and is without understanding. 12 The wicked desire the booty of evil men, but the root of the [uncompromisingly] righteous yields [richer fruitage].

Don't you just love reading and reading the Word and while reading a word really stands out to you? So you stop and investigate it, right? For where our hearts are located is the amount of treasure we truly have either to: wickedness and booty or to righteousness and that which is life, not only to others but to others as well when we tell others about Jesus.

So in looking closer at this word, what does this mean to me, and to those I encounter daily? Asking God this surely has its benefits and one is that sometimes I listen  a fair amount of time, and then a download happens.

The Living Bible reads this way:
Proverbs 12:11-12...
11 Hard work means prosperity; only a fool idles away his time.  12 Crooks are jealous of each other's loot, while good men long to help each other.    TLB

And the Message Bible: Proverbs 12:11-12
11 The one who stays on the job has food on the table; the witless chase whims and fancies. 12 What the wicked construct finally falls into ruin, while the roots of the righteous give life, and more life.

Now what stood out was "that of crooks jealous for each other's loot" and how good men long to help each other. And in the Message Bible, the roots of the righteous person give life and more life!

Imagine a crook, who is the jealous, of another crook's loot! Really, crook's are jealous of each others booty? Wow! And then in the second part: good men long to help each other. Harboring jealousy in our hearts is a dangerous avenue to venture down!

Yes, there are circumstances that are in our control like keeping gas in the car, the kids fed, clothes washed to wear another day, and the bills paid on time,but there are events like tornadoes or hurricanes, no one can control. And when those kinds of destruction occur, I am always amazed how many people move quickly to get out to help their neighbor in need. And in all that which is lost either in this state or one on the east coast,  the work to do is in some cases increased  10 thousand times over, to bring back many people to some kind of stability, yet there are the crooks in the same equation of restoration. And in many cases a report comes back to be highlighted on the terrible destruction of how some "folks" took advantage of another's grievous time.

But we are told those who stay on the job like taking care of the family will have food on the table. That taking care to stay in the Word of God is food on "your table". It is that "righteous person who gives life and more life as they live out their journey, not just for themselves, but also sharing with others in "disaster" type situations that the foundation in you and me is truly food for our soul, spirit and body! Amen!

There are things we need to hear from God! It is not just for the man of God to hear God speak, but for the whole body of Christ to hear God the Holy Spirit speak. He wants to warn us, guide us, protect us in the plan He has for us to walk. The Word of God prepares us to hear.

As in unbelief, not trusting in God causes us to not hear Him or His Word. An undeveloped spirit: will not hear. The undeveloped spirit is not trained in hearing God speak. (They read no word, and they will not attend a service where it is given) And many, many times it is just because the spirit man is ruled by things like anger, resentment, jealousy and un-forgiveness! So fruit is developed but is towards deafness or the hardness of heart.

A spirit of deafness, an insensitivity, is one of hardness and refuses to comply to the Word of God.

Ephesians 4:26….26 Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.  NKJV

We are to let go of un-forgiveness, any anger or resentment or jealousy. Those things cause us to harden and not hear HIM speak. If any of these are allowed to incubate within our heart, then deafness is evident, because of our not being sensitive to hear God’s voice when He does speak.

Jesus tells us of such in the sower sows the seed!

Mark 4:2-20

2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 3 "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." 9 And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" 

10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that 

'Seeing they may see and not perceive,

And hearing they may hear and not understand;

Lest they should turn,

And their sins be forgiven them.' " 

13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?

 How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 

16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 

20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred."   NKJV

The most informative part for us is found in what He told them when He was alone with the disciples. He said:"to you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables.

Now remember Jesus was, is and will always be the Prophet. And He spoke in Parables!  He was, is and will always be Savior to the world. And He is our coming King!

And in His speaking He tells them that there are those who see, but not perceive (recognize). There are those who hear and never understand (never having insight that is God's knowledge and wisdom). For those who will not perceive and hear to understand, are they who will not repent of a wickedness.

Of course, we know satan to be the leader of those who lead revolts to steal, kill and destroy. And it looks like this: one receives a word but is sown on stony ground, and they receive it but there is no root to hold it. And then some care like tribulation or a persecution arises and with no foundation holding them, they stumble. Those seeds sown among thorns, are they who hear the word and the cares of the deceitfulness of riches and for desires for other things (those of the world) choke that word and they become the unfruitful. But those who have the word sown on good ground are those who hear the word, accept it and bear fruit.

They hear it, accept it and bear fruit to that account!

That perceive is to identify and recognize (  as a baby with it's mother) with something. So are we identifying with what Jesus speaks or identifying with the empty words of the outside world? Those who look upon the word and receive it, are those who will pull it into their hearts, hold it and guard it. They allow His Word to work in their lives.

Now I would not label people as crook's. But they are mentioned in the Word, so they exist! In looking at Proverbs 12:11-12, is there any part that would play into what Jesus spoke in Mark 4:2-20? Do we value more the Words Jesus spoke or do we value more of what the world has?  Are we working for the world's things or for God's that is life to us?

I believe those careless in their ways follow the devil's highway into that which the world fondly looks at as riches and those desires for other things. (or worldly things that carry no life in this time or even for the future) They look like the world, act like the world, and at the end of day, their box goes back into the closet to be pulled out another day!
God does not mind us having riches, but He is concerned with the riches having or owning our hearts.

And the Lord knows what we have "need" of, and He keeps us in that place that is secure and with no lack. Holding firm, we search the Word, we keep working on that which is life to us, and not just some magic get rich quick scheme but to make a difference in other people's lives in the here and now!

Psalms 23 

23:1 A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

3 he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness 

for his name's sake. 

4 Even though I walk 

through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me. NIV

The Amplified Bible reads like this: Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my Shepherd [ to feed, guide, and shield me]. I shall not lack. ( that means I lack no good thing)

2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures, He leads me beside the still and restful waters. 3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him---not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake. 4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil; for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide]; they comfort me.

In making the LORD our Shepherd, that means having asked Him into our hearts, we allow HIM to feed us with His Word, to guides us through this journey of life and He shields us as we stay close to Him. We lack nothing!

As our Lord, He causes us to relax in Him, the more we read His Word, delight in praise to HIM, then we find we are feed in that which is like sheep in deepest and tallest green grass. We rest by those still waters, and He restores while we rest in Him. HE BRINGS RESTORATION TO ANY THING THAT WAS TAKEN FROM US BY THE ENEMY. HE CAN BRING BACK TO US THE LONG LIFE, THE HEALTHY MARRIAGE, AND OUR CHILDREN SAVED BY HIS GRACE OF SALVATION!

We do not have to look over at the neighbor and covet their stuff for they should be desiring what we have in the LORD!

In those paths of righteousness, we stay in right standing with Him. We move beyond the veil into His throne room and have conversation with HIM. He is with me, with you, and with those who love Him.

Those who long to help another are giving them that which they, the survivor of a traumatic event requires to keep their walk or even find their walk with God. In this my hope is that others will know, hear and perceive God is greater than stuff. He is greater than the worst news forecasted on CNN. God is greater, stronger, wiser, and is the one True God! And in the Crucifixion of His Son, we have received His love and grace of salvation. May we not take it lightly............that which is a lightly esteem for we should be so highly favored and look upon the Word daily, to continue to receive that goodness that comes from God alone. 

To move back, outside of His will and plan for our lives, is like siding with the enemy, and those who are the deceitful, and who look for those artful ways to separate you from what you have. When our treasure is in heaven, no one can break in to take it. Our checking account is located there: we can withdraw from there when we have made deposits to that account. And God's system is not lacking, never fluctuates. The only one who is fluctuating is the one who will not keep to His purpose and will choose not to read or pray His Word. If we put nothing into that account, then there is nothing to withdraw.

Luke 12:32-34

32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  NIV

Sell those things you do not need, that which is no life to you. Ask God for that which you need and you will have it. Provide for yourself that which no moth destroys, a treasure that is in heaven, and will brought to you from the place where it is never exhausted, never runs out, but comes from the Father who delights to give to His son (or daughter).
Speak His word, declare Him God in your life, and pray for others. Do not delay to start your account. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be found.

The real and truly valued is that which is in Jesus. And we can have that every minute of the day! We can talk like Him, and expect the same as He, when we stay close to the Father and understand what our identity is in Jesus.  We too can live the miraculous life Jesus experienced.
 It should never look like booty, or what the other has..........for the Word speaks that "crooks" desire the booty of another crook! Stay in the light of God's Word and expect good from the Father of lights of whom there is no changing in Him ever. He is same yesterday, today and forever. 

1 John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. NKJV

Amen!

Father, I pray for all who read this and realize that we all can have a flaw and if not checked and given over into Your hands and covered by the Word of God, we can look like the world.  It is in Jesus’ name that we pray today and agree that faith in You is more important than stuff. And in that faith we understand that YOU redeem our souls from negative emotions. You have said in YOUR Word that You redeem our souls when we put our trust in You. (Psalm 34:22)

 Father, it is our desire to not be controlled by depression, anger, anxiety, jealousy, fear

or hopelessness. You provide for those who love YOU!

 Enable us to understand and have words to say that will bring life. It is our desire to not have a spirit of deafness, an insensitivity, AS THE ONE WHO hardens and refuses to comply to the Word of God.

Liberate us to cry when we need to and not bottle emotions inside. And at the same time, give us the gift of laughter and ability to find humor  in any serious situations. For we understand storms can come, and tornadoes can destroy cities and towns, yet may we be found in praise to YOU Who made the heavens and the earth. You who keeps watch over the sparrow can keep watch over us . YOU even know the hairs on our heads!

Give us patience to possess our souls and the ability to take charge of it

(Luke 21:19) . Anoint us with the “oil of joy” (Isaiah 61:3), refresh  us with Your Spirit, and set us free from any negative emotions this day.

Help us to see that a relationship with You is not legalism. It is not rituals and agendas. We desire to seek Your face and abide in the shadow of Your wings that is safety to us and to that of our emotions. Help us to see any refusal, or any time we are not prompt to act on YOUR Word. Help us Holy Spirit to see how it is detrimental to us and our families when we do not obey. Helps us to see when we are just making excuses when we really need to seek You and pray about something specific. For any amount of time of making the same excuses we only receive the evaporation of Your Word in our lives and what runs like a river now may no longer run like a river, but be a dry bed of defeat, anxiety and pain!

We truly desire to NOT GET off the path of Your plan for us. Today, we desire to stay safe and have Your wisdom. Today Father, of any neglect of Your Word, we repent.  Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV