Bitterness of Stolen Sweets

A welcome to today's word of encouragement from Our Daily Bread. The reading for today, titled Bitterness of Stolen Sweets, was written by Marvin Williams. Thieves in Germany stole a truck's refrigerated trailer filled with more than 20 tons of chocolate. The estimated worth of the stolen sweetness was $80,000.

Local police asked anyone who was offered large quantities of chocolate via unconventional channels to report it immediately. Surely those who stole the massive amounts of sweets will be facing bitter and unsatisfying consequences if they're caught and prosecuted. Proverbs 20 confirms this principle. Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouthful of gravel. Things we acquire deceptively or wrongfully may seem to be sweet at first, seasoned with excitement and temporary enjoyment.

But the flavor will eventually wear off and our deception will lead to our being left wanting and in trouble. The bitter consequences of guilt, fear, and sin can end up ruining our lives and reputations. Even small children are known by their actions if their conduct is really pure and upright, says the writer of the proverb. May our words and actions reveal a pure heart for God, not the bitterness of selfish desires. When we're tempted, let's ask God to strengthen us and help us remain faithful to Him. He can help us look behind the short-term sweetness of giving in to temptation and guide us to carefully consider the long-term consequences of our choices. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Proverbs 20 verses 11-17. Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright? Ears that hear and eyes that see, the Lord has made them both. Do not love sleep or you will grow poor.

Stay awake and you will have food to spare. It's no good, it's no good says the buyer, then goes off and boasts about the purchase. Gold there is and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel. Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger, hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouthful of gravel. Let's pray. Father, we face temptation every single day. And whether it's the temptation to take something that's not ours or something that seems innocuous, compromise always undermines our integrity and tarnishes our reputation.

Even worse, it acts as a wedge between us and our relationship with you. Please give us the strength we need by your spirit to fight temptation and to remain faithful to you. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' loving name that we pray. Amen.