April 8, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 20:14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
The true nature of man is revealed in this one verse. The verse gives us the idea of deceit. It is like a person going to buy a car and upon inspection of the car he berates the car. He says the car has bald tires and a rough sounding engine. Eventually the seller relents and sells the car at a bargain price. The buyer takes the car home and brags to family and friends on how good a deal he made.
When I lived over seas, I knew a man who had opened an automobile shop. He was serving in the military and had his shop on the side. He was a believer, a Christian, and loved the Lord. Howbeit, many of his fellow believers would take their car to him to get fixed.
When the car was fixed He would quote them the price, which was normal service, parts and labour. His fellow believers would balk at the price and expect him to lower it because, after all, they were brothers in Christ. They would use verses like Galatians 6:10 to compel him to lower the price.
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
He would relent and lower the bill. They would go home and rejoice in the fact that they got a good deal. The mechanic suffered because he was losing money.
After a while the mechanic had to close his shop permanently because he lost so much money.
Galatians 6:10 works both ways; it means to bless and do good into all men, buyer does good to the seller, not just the seller doing good to the buyer. The person who has their car repaired does good to the mechanic not just the mechanic doing the good.
Proverbs 20:14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Psalms 37:27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Having said all that, If the seller, or the mechanic, or the merchant, or friend, or anyone wants to be a blessing, that is fine. It is not good to use deceit to coerce or guilt someone so you can get a better deal at their expense.
One thing you will never see in scripture is the Lord coercing people to be saved. He gives the unbeliever free will and free choice.
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
