I was standing at the kitchen sink, explaining to my grand-daughter, that God rewards us with blessings that only He knows we want, only when we obey His commands, what He tells us to do in the bible. If we don’t obey, if we are mean, hateful, rude, etc., He does not bless us, He can’t because He said He won’t, and He does not go back on His Word to us. It is everlasting, true, permanent. His Word plainly tells us He will bless us for good behavior, and punish us for bad. Yet, He is forgiving, and merciful, if we truly repent and follow the straight, narrow path.

Proverbs 1:7-10

“7The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

8My son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not nor forsake the teaching of your mother.

9For they are a [victor’s] chaplet (garland) of grace upon your head and chains and pendants [of gold worn by kings] for your neck.

10My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.”

Proverbs 1:15

“15My son, do not walk in the way with them; restrain your foot from their path;”

Proverbs 1:23-33

“ 23If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you.

24Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it,

25And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof,

26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic—

27When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

28Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me.

29Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord,

30Would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,

31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices.

32For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them.

33But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.

While speaking to my granddaughter, I realized we are kind of “in school” while we are on earth, learning how to walk in love, obey God, and praise Him. If we can’t learn while on earth, will we still get there? We are tested each day, and we receive new grace each day. Do you remember how some kids in school tried harder and even excelled better than (myself), and maybe you? Sometimes I skated through, and sometimes (in chemistry) I had to apply myself harder. But I could have done better, if I hadn’t wasted time on other things (my friends).

Proverbs 11:1-2

1A False balance and unrighteous dealings are extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.

2When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness.

Proverbs 11:8

8The [uncompromisingly] righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked gets into it instead.

Proverbs 11:17

17The merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself [for his deeds return to bless him], but he who is cruel and callous [to the wants of others] brings on himself retribution.

Proverbs 11:27

27He who diligently seeks good seeks [God’s] favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him. AMP

There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs, one for each day of the month. Coincidence?