Matthew 4:4
It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Elvis Presley had everything he wanted – money, fame, a beautiful wife, a kid, big house, nice car, etc. Yet he was feeling empty inside. When he approached his pastor, he was crying and shared this with his pastor. Fast forward to another famous personality many years later, Leslie Cheung, a Hong Kong actor and musician who suffered from clinical depression also followed suit. Known affectionately as “Gorgor,” Leslie Cheung, 46, committed suicide on April 1, 2003 by jumping from the 24th floor of Central Hong Kong’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

And you read in the newspapers of people committing suicide even though they have everything that we desire, the fame and money that we envy. It is very true as written in the first book of the New Testament of Matthew in chapter 4, verse 4 which says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Do you place God first in your lives or do you put temporal tangible things and unreliable human relationships first in your lives? Let God the Heavenly Father be the master of your lives and He will guide you to health, wealth and prosperity.

As today is the 20th of November 2006, this is my reading for today from King James Version:

Proverbs 20

1. Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2. The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.
3. [It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
5. Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7. The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.
8. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10. Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the Lord.
11. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right.
12. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
13. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14. [It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15. There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel.
16. Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17. Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18. [Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19. He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21. An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22. Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23. Divers weights [are] an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance [is] not good.
24. Man’s goings [are] of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
25. [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27. The spirit of man [is] the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28. Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29. The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.
30. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Today is the 19th of November 2006 and this is my reading this morning. It has become my daily ritual to read a chapter of Proverbs each day corresponding to the 31 chapters of Proverbs.

Proverbs 19

1. Better [is] the poor that walketh in his integrity, than [he that is] perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2. Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth.
3. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.
4. Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall not escape.
6. Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth [them with] words, [yet] they [are] wanting [to him].
8. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall perish.
10. Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression.
12. The king’s wrath [is] as the roaring of a lion; but his favour [is] as dew upon the grass.
13. A foolish son [is] the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dropping.
14. House and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] from the Lord.
15. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; [but] he that despiseth his ways shall die.
17. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
18. Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19. A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it again.
20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21. [There are] many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
22. The desire of a man [is] his kindness: and a poor man [is] better than a liar.
23. The fear of the Lord [tendeth] to life: and [he that hath it] shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
24. A slothful [man] hideth his hand in [his] bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25. Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge. 26. He that wasteth [his] father, [and] chaseth away [his] mother, [is] a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. 27. Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causeth] to err from the words of knowledge.
28. An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29. Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

King David was a shepherd boy who challenged the Philistine giant Goliath. If David wins, then the Philistine camp will be slaves to the Jews but if Goliath wins, then the Philistines will be the master of the Jews. So when Goliath challenged Isreal for days, no one dared to come forth but a young shepherd boy by the name of David took to the challenge. He said, “How dare this uncircumcised Philistine challenge my God the most high! I will kill him and cut off his head.” So when the day came, Goliath was fully armored from head to toe except for his face while David was only clad in his shepherd clothes. Young David then immediately swing his sling shot, release the stone and it hit Goliath on the forehead bull’s eye and the giant began to fall. David quickly used his sword and decapitated the giant. Hence, David’s victory was Israel’s victory. Are there any giants in your life? If so, pray to God about it.

This is my reading of Psalms Chapter 90, early this morning

1. *A Prayer of Moses the man of God.* Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 

2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.

3. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

4. For a thousand years in thy sight [are but] as yesterday when it is past, and [as] a watch in the night.

5. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are [as] a sleep: in the morning [they are] like grass [which] groweth up.

6. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

7. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret [sins] in the light of thy countenance.

9. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale [that is told].

10. The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

11. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, [so is] thy wrath.

12. So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom.

13. Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

14. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15. Make us glad according to the days [wherein] thou hast afflicted us, [and] the years [wherein] we have seen evil.

16. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.

17. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Taken from King James Version, here is my reading for the day.

1. Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

2. He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but [he that is] perverse in his ways despiseth him.

3. In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

4. Where no oxen [are], the crib [is] clean: but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox.

5. A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

6. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge [is] easy unto him that understandeth.

7. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not [in him] the lips of knowledge.

8. The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way: but the folly of fools [is] deceit.

9. Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous [there is] favour.

10. The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

11. The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness.

14. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.

15. The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh well to his going.

16. A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

17. [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

18. The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19. The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich [hath] many friends.

21. He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy [is] he.

22. Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth [shall be] to them that devise good.

23. In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.

24. The crown of the wise [is] their riches: [but] the foolishness of fools [is] folly.

25. A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies.

26. In the fear of the Lord [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27. The fear of the Lord [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

28. In the multitude of people [is] the king’s honour: but in the want of people [is] the destruction of the prince.

29. [He that is] slow to wrath [is] of great understanding: but [he that is] hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30. A sound heart [is] the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

32. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

33. Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but [that which is] in the midst of fools is made known.

34. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin [is] a reproach to any people.

35. The king’s favour [is] toward a wise servant: but his wrath is [against] him that causeth shame.

Corresponding to the 11th November 2006, here is my reading this morning.

1. A false balance [is] abomination to the Lord: but a just weight [is] his delight.

2. [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.

3. The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

5. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

6. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in [their own] naughtiness.

7. When a wicked man dieth, [his] expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust [men] perisheth.

8. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

9. An hypocrite with [his] mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

10. When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, [there is] shouting.

11. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12. He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

13. A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

14. Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.

15. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart [for it]: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

16. A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong [men] retain riches.

17. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but [he that is] cruel troubleth his own flesh.

18. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness [shall be] a sure reward.

19. As righteousness [tendeth] to life: so he that pursueth evil [pursueth it] to his own death.

20. They that are of a froward heart [are] abomination to the Lord: but [such as are] upright in [their] way [are] his delight.

21. [Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

22. [As] a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, [so is] a fair woman which is without discretion.

23. The desire of the righteous [is] only good: [but] the expectation of the wicked [is] wrath.

24. There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and [there is] that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] to poverty.

25. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

26. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing [shall be] upon the head of him that selleth [it].

27. He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

28. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

29. He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool [shall be] servant to the wise of heart.

30. The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.

31. Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

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