“A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” (Proverbs 18:2)

We often have the mindset of supplying the world with its needs. In return, we would get rich as a result of doing so. The thing is, we should supply the need if we are able – while not looking for anything in return.

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” (Matthew 5:42)

“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” (Luke 6:35)

We sometimes cause people to desire more than what they need. Just because something pleases me in a certain area of my life does not mean that it will please somebody else in the same area of their life. A person who does not understand this is not really mindful of meeting one’s needs; he is more about receiving the profit, or showing off what his heart has accomplished.

When Paul says “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10), I think he is trying to tell us that there is a lot more than just having the actual money in your possession. Because we place such great faith and confidence in money and material things, we sometimes place those who possess these things in higher positions that they are worthy of.

I am guilty of placing my own self where I have no right to be, depending on myself – rather than on God, or even on those He has placed in my life to help supply my needs and even some of my wants and desires; not keeping in mind that “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof” (1 Corinthians 10:26).

Pride loves to be displayed!! It has been true in my life. The danger of being exalted by man was not truly a frightening issue to me. As long as I could supply them with what they wanted and they saw me as “The Man,” I was alright. The profit really didn’t matter. I had more than I needed and hoped for. But the power and feeling that it rewarded me with was what I really loved. Like the Scripture says, I was a fool – because I really had no desire to truly know or understand why I worked so hard to be “The Man.”

Being exalted by my own self and by men should be a very frightening matter, because it is only for a temporary time, and the fall will be so great. If the Lord has not placed you on a pedestal, or in a position, then it will not stand! His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. An old saying goes, “The fastest way to get up to God is to first get down on your knees.” The Word of God puts it this way:

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)

It is my belief that it is in the heart of man to be exalted or glorified. But Jesus encourages us to:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

And when He instructs us to give while hope for nothing in return, I think that He is instructing us to give unto those in need, but be expecting God to give unto us what we need.

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)

“Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” (Matthew 6:2)

“But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:” (Matthew 6:3)

“That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” (Matthew 6:4)

The above verses should explain and support our text Scripture. I hope that these Scriptures encourage us to have an increasing desire for understanding.

You have probably heard it said, or even been told many times, when faced with an important decision, hard choice, or long term commitment to, “just follow your heart.” But you may have never read what the Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9-10:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

I encourage you to follow Proverbs 4:7:

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”