Proverbs 6:16–19 (NKJV) — 16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Seven things God hates. The wording of Proverbs 6:16 indicates there are fully seven things God hates, but He particularly despises the seventh. The word translated “abomination” means detestable.

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Seven years ago today, Susan and I were not yet married. Our wedding was scheduled for September 28, 2013. We owned separate homes, and we had decided to sell them and build a new home.

We were leaving town for a trip to Memphis, Tennessee to visit Susan’s son and his family. We had been looking for a new home, and we were in the car to begin this trip when we decided to stop first to check out some display homes near where both of us lived. We loved one of the models, wrote a check for $1,000 down payment to reserve the spot where we wanted our new home built, grabbed the sold sign and drove it into the ground.

We then continued our trip! Payne Family Homes broke ground for our new home the week before Christmas 2013. We were married, both of our homes had sold, and we were living in a local Marriott Resident Inn, where we would stay for six months while our home was being built.

Our home was finished in April 2014, and it has been perfect for us! We are so grateful to God for providing this lovely place for us to enjoy our new life together, and we are thankful that Terry and Julia Gunn provided their expertise as our realtors to sell our previous houses and help us purchase the home pictured below.

Our Lord has been good to us in every way. He has seen us through some health challenges, provided all our needs, and given us lives filled with love and joy. After the loss of our first spouses, Robert Fuller and Judy Segraves, neither of us knew we would ever again experience such blessed marriages.

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Proverbs 6:14–15 (NKJV) — 14 Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. 15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

The wicked person has a heart problem. Since his heart is lawless, he has no reservations about doing wrong. His full-time business is planning evil or trouble. He plants discord, which God hates. Calamity and brokenness come upon this person without warning or remedy unless, of course, he turns from his wickedness.

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Proverbs 6:13 (NKJV) — 13 He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers;

The wicked person is deceptive. He sends misleading, deceptive signals. For example, winking has long been a signal that one is deceiving a person and for others not to interfere. To many people, the crossing of the fingers supposedly nullifies any promises made while they were crossed. Basically, this person does not mean what he says. He will say anything to get what he wants, but he has no intention of keeping his word.

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Proverbs 6:12 (NKJV) — 12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;

A person’s character is revealed by his words. This truth is stated repeatedly in the Book of Proverbs and elsewhere in the Scriptures. It is possible to tell what kind of person someone is by the words he speaks.

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What wonderful news! These two schools, both owned and operated by the United Pentecostal Church International, have now been granted regional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. In addition, the graduate school is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.

Urshan College offers the following degrees:

• Associate of Arts in General Studies
• Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry
• Bachelor of Arts in Music Ministry
• Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership
• Bachelor of Arts in Human Services
• Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
• Bachelor of Music

Urshan Graduate School of Theology offers these degrees:

• Master of Divinity
• Master of Arts in Christian Ministry
• Master of Theological Studies

You can view complete information at urshancollege.org and ugst.edu.

I had the privilege of serving as a member of the adjunct faculty at UGST from the first year of the school’s operation in 2000. In 2007, after serving Christian Life College in Stockton, California for twenty-five years, I returned to the St. Louis, Missouri metro area and began teaching on campus. Since retiring on July 1, 2018, I have functioned in the role of professor emeritus.

Congratulations to the administration, faculty, staff, consultants, the board of directors, and others who worked diligently to bring Oneness Apostolic education to this significant level of academic achievement!

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Proverbs 6:10–11 (NKJV) — 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

A love of sleep results in poverty. Those who love sleep, those who are lazy, will fall into poverty. The implication is that poverty will overtake them as a person who travels quickly overtakes one who walks slowly, or like an armed robber.

These and other passages of Scripture teach us it is not wrong to save, but wise. Our level of spending should not automatically rise to meet the level of our income. Rather, we should set aside some of our income for future needs. Saving and paying cash for needed purchases is much wiser than borrowing, presuming on the future, and paying high interest rates.

Proverbs 6:9 (NKJV) — 9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?

Too much sleep is a sign of sluggishness. Sleep is not wrong, but lack of activity and industry is. The question is not, “Why do you sleep?” but “Why do you sleep so long?”

Proverbs 13:4 (NKJV) — 4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

Proverbs 19:24 (NKJV) — 24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

Proverbs 20:4 (NKJV) — 4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

Proverbs 21:25 (NKJV) — 25 The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.

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Proverbs 6:8 (NKJV) — 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.

The ant works at the right time and prepares for the future. Even though she has no one to tell her what to do and when to do it, the ant works hard at the right time and prepares for the time when no food will be available. She knows how to budget and save. She is industrious. Whenever we see the ant, she is working.