SPIRITUAL GEMS: Week of August 25-31, 2025, PROVERBS 28, Answers.

SPIRITUAL GEMS: August 25-31, 2025, PROVERBS 28, Answers.

Let's look for hidden gems (10 mins.)

Pr 28:14. What warning do we find in this proverb? (w01 1/12 11 par. 2)

Many heart attack victims, for example, were certain that their health before the attack was very good. Because of this, they rejected and even mocked the periodic medical checkups they were required to undergo, even claiming that such tests were unnecessary.

Similarly, some may think that since they have been Christians for years, nothing will happen to them, and therefore, they stop submitting to “spiritual recognition.”

Just as someone needs to have medical checkups, we need to have spiritual examinations or self-examinations—that is, to self-examine ourselves—before disaster strikes.

It's essential to keep in mind the good advice against overconfidence given by the apostle Paul. He wrote: "Let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall." Prudence dictates that we recognize our imperfect nature and periodically examine ourselves spiritually.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We must not become overconfident, because thinking we are firm or secure can lead us to overlook the importance of conducting a “spiritual self-examination” and thus end up distancing ourselves from Jehovah.

This text teaches us that, just as ignoring medical checkups is dangerous for physical health, neglecting self-examination is also dangerous for spiritual health. Those who fall into overconfidence can let their guard down and be caught by the consequences of not taking care of their spiritual health.

What spiritual pearls have you found in this week's Bible reading?

Proverbs 28:1. The righteous are like a young lion with confidence. They exercise faith, fully rely on God's word, and boldly advance in Jehovah's service in the face of any danger. To achieve this confidence, it is not enough to be content with our spiritual state; on the contrary, it must be strengthened by Jehovah's word.

Proverbs 28:5. Those who practice evil are spiritually blind. They don't understand judgment or what is right according to God's standards; therefore, they cannot judge correctly or make appropriate decisions. On the other hand, those who seek Jehovah through prayer and the study of His Word understand everything necessary to serve Him acceptably.

Proverbs 28:7. As a warning, the book of Proverbs even condemns companionship with gluttons, because the drunkard and the glutton will end up in poverty and clothed in mere rags. Squandering the few resources we have in these end times is unwise. Therefore, we must be careful not to imitate them, lest we fall into want.

Proverbs 28:9. In Bible times, God ignored the prayers of those who disobeyed his laws. Today, Jehovah still thinks the same. If we want him to answer us, we must strive to obey his commandments. What if we did something wrong in the past? Does that mean Jehovah will never listen to us? Of course not! He is willing to forgive us if we show our repentance and do everything possible to fulfill his will.

Proverbs 28:13. What does this mean? If we confess our sins to God and change, He will forgive us. Therefore, we should confess our faults to Jehovah and ask for help from the elders of the congregation, who have the important responsibility of assisting those who have fallen into sin. If we do this, we will undoubtedly see Jehovah's mercy.

Proverbs 28:15. When hungry bears smell prey, they utter a shocking wail. The prophet Isaiah said the Israelites kept “wailing like bears” in anticipation of justice and salvation, only to suffer repeated disappointments. Therefore, it was fitting to compare the wicked ruler who harasses and oppresses his lowly subjects to a charging bear. That is why Jehovah will bring judgment upon the nations for the oppressed, to whom this system has caused so much injustice.

Proverbs 28:19. Sometimes financial problems can be prevented if we use our resources wisely. If we spend it on vices like alcohol, drugs, or gambling, we are wasting it and won't be able to support our family. On the other hand, if we use money wisely, it will be like "cultivating the land and having plenty of bread."

Proverbs 28:19. We must especially guard our motives regarding money. It's not wrong to buy things, but by "rushing to get rich" to acquire material goods, one runs the risk of losing sight of something much more precious: the spiritual. It can even cause disunity in the congregation, as others might be offended if we put money before the interests of the Kingdom.