The Bible Study Podcast, episode 478. Today, the Bible Study podcast continues the study of Proverbs with chapter 16.

Welcome to the Bible Study podcast. I'm your host, Chris Christensen. When we get halfway through this episode,

we are halfway through the book of Proverbs. Let us continue. To humans belongs the plans of the heart,

but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. Well, if from the Lord comes the proper

answer of the tongue, it sounds like before we say things,

we ought to think about them, and especially if they're important, pray about them.

All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

What that says to me is that quite often we all think that we're doing the right thing to the extent that we understand right and wrong, but that God gets to decide, that God gets to weigh the motives.

It's also talking about the motives of the heart, so it's not just what we do, but why we're doing them that God weighs. He understands why we're doing the things

that we do, even if they're the right thing. We can do things with the wrong motives. Commit to the

Lord, whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. This seems like a good companion verse to the

verse from the New Testament. Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.

If our eyes are set on him, if the end of the path we're on is being with him,

then our plans will tend to align then and head in the right direction.

The Lord works out everything to its proper end, even the wicked for a day of disaster.

The first part of that also reminds me, again, of a companion verse from the New Testament,

in all things God works together for good for those who are called according to his purposes.

Or that sometimes gets translated, all things work for good for those who love God who are called according to his purposes, or that sometimes gets translated, all things work for good

for those who love God who are called according to his purposes, which isn't quite the same

thing, but basically that God is working. This doesn't say that God is observing and watching and

hoping things will turn out, but that God is working. God works out everything according to its proper end. Whether you or I take part in

the plans and purposes of God, God is at work. God is at work in us, through us, around us, in spite of

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