Morning Manna

Proverbs 23:24 reveals the ultimate reward of faithful parenting—the double joy of raising a righteous and wise child. This joy is not momentary satisfaction, but a deep, overflowing gladness rooted in a life formed by instruction, discipline, and the fear of the Lord. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles teaches how the entire chapter builds toward this promise, why righteousness and wisdom must...

Proverbs 23:22–23 calls for both reverence and resolve—listening to godly instruction and valuing truth above all else. Honoring father and mother, even into their old age, reflects a heart that recognizes the weight of wisdom passed down. The command to “buy the truth, and sell it not” elevates truth as a treasure that must be acquired, guarded, and never traded away. In today’s Morning Manna, Ri...

In this Faith Friday edition of Morning Manna, the focus turns to Mark 10:23–27, where Jesus declares the difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom of God and shocks His disciples with the image of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. What seems attainable by human effort is revealed to be impossible by human means. Yet Christ anchors hope in God alone: “With men it is impossible, but n...

Proverbs 23:19–21 calls for intentional direction of the heart and disciplined separation from destructive influences. Wisdom begins with listening and allowing the heart to be guided in the right way. The passage warns against joining with drunkards and those given to excess, whose lifestyle leads to poverty and ruin. What begins as indulgence ends in loss and decline. In today’s Morning Manna, R...

Proverbs 23:15–18 reveals the deep connection between wisdom, joy, and hope. A wise heart brings gladness not only to itself but to those who have invested in it—“my reins shall rejoice” when truth governs the inner life. The passage then warns against envying sinners and urges the heart to remain continually in the fear of the Lord. This steadfast reverence anchors the soul in a sure future where...

Proverbs 23:9–11 warns against wasting wisdom on those who despise it, while affirming God’s fierce protection over the vulnerable. Speaking truth to a fool invites scorn rather than growth, but violating boundaries—especially those protecting the fatherless—invites divine opposition. The Lord Himself stands as Redeemer and Defender, pleading their cause against any who would exploit them. In toda...

In this Faith Friday edition of Morning Manna, the focus turns to Mark 10:17–22, where a rich young ruler approaches Jesus seeking eternal life—but leaves sorrowful when confronted with the one thing he lacks. Though outwardly obedient, his heart remained bound to his possessions. Jesus exposes the deeper issue: true discipleship requires surrender, not just compliance. In today’s study, Rick Wile...

Proverbs 23:6–8 warns against accepting the outward generosity of one whose heart is not aligned with his words. The “evil eye” reflects a stingy, calculating spirit—offering food while inwardly resenting every bite. What appears as kindness is corrupted by hidden motives, and the experience ultimately turns bitter. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine the danger of decept...

Proverbs 23:4–5 warns against exhausting oneself in the pursuit of wealth and trusting in what cannot last. Riches have a deceptive allure—they appear stable, yet they can vanish suddenly, “making themselves wings” and flying away. Wisdom calls for restraint, reminding us that human understanding cannot secure what is ultimately temporary. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart exam...

Proverbs 23:1–3 warns of the subtle dangers that come with proximity to power and abundance. Sitting at the table of a ruler requires discernment, self-control, and awareness—what is set before you may be more than mere provision. The passage cautions against uncontrolled appetite and deceptive delicacies that can entrap the unwary. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine how...

Proverbs 22:28–29 brings together respect for established order and the reward of faithful diligence. Removing ancient landmarks represents more than property theft—it is a rejection of inherited boundaries, justice, and wisdom. In contrast, the man diligent in his work rises above the ordinary, standing before kings rather than remaining among the obscure. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and...

In this Faith Friday edition of Morning Manna, the focus centers on John 6:58, where Jesus completes the contrast between the manna in the wilderness and Himself as the true Bread from heaven. The fathers ate manna and died, but the one who feeds on Christ will live forever. Temporary provision could sustain life for a moment, but only Christ sustains life beyond death. Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart...

Proverbs 22:26–27 warns against careless financial entanglements and impulsive agreements. To strike hands in pledge or guarantee another’s debt is to place oneself at risk of loss and humiliation—even to the point of losing what little one has. Wisdom calls for restraint, foresight, and personal responsibility rather than assuming obligations beyond one's control. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick W...

Proverbs 22:24–25 warns against forming close ties with those given to anger and uncontrolled temper. Association is not neutral—spending time with a wrathful person trains the heart in the same patterns, leading to a learned snare. What begins as influence becomes imitation, and imitation becomes bondage. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine how character is shaped by com...

Proverbs 22:22–23 delivers a direct command and a divine warning. The poor are not to be exploited simply because they are vulnerable, nor should the afflicted be oppressed where justice should protect them. God Himself takes their case personally—He will plead their cause and repay those who rob them. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine God’s defense of the weak, why inj...

Proverbs 22:20–21 affirms the reliability and purpose of God-given wisdom. These “excellent things” are written to provide certainty—to make known the sure words of truth so that what is received can also be faithfully answered and shared. Wisdom is not vague or shifting; it is precise, trustworthy, and transferable. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine how God’s instructi...

Proverbs 22:19 reveals the ultimate purpose behind instruction: “That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.” Wisdom is not an end in itself—it is given so that confidence rests fully in God. Knowledge, rightly received, leads to trust; understanding directs the heart toward reliance on the Lord rather than self. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc...

Proverbs 22:18 reveals the purpose of receiving wisdom—it is not merely to be heard, but to be kept within and ready upon the lips. “For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.” Wisdom stored in the heart becomes wisdom fitted—ready, appropriate, and rightly expressed at the proper time. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart ex...

Proverbs 22:17 marks a turning point—an intentional call to listen, receive, and internalize wisdom. “Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.” Wisdom is not absorbed casually; it requires humility, attention, and a willing heart. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine the posture required to receive truth, why wisdom must...

Proverbs 22:16 delivers a clear warning about unjust gain and misplaced favor. Those who oppress the poor to increase their own wealth, or give to the rich in hopes of advantage, ultimately move toward loss rather than gain. What appears profitable in the moment is overturned by God’s justice. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine how exploitation and partiality corrupt the...

In this Faith Friday edition of Morning Manna, the focus centers on John 6:56, where Jesus declares that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood abides in Him, and He in them. This is the language of deep union—not surface belief, but an ongoing, living connection with Christ. To partake of Him is to dwell in Him, and to have His life dwelling within. Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart explore what i...

Proverbs 22:15 declares a foundational truth about the human heart: foolishness is not incidental—it is bound up within. Left unchecked, it directs life toward error and ruin. Yet God provides a means of correction—the rod of discipline—that drives folly far from the child and sets a course toward wisdom. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine the reality of inherited folly,...

In this study of Proverbs 22:14, the focus shifts to the Septuagint, whose expanded text presents a fuller theological progression than the Hebrew rendering. Received and taught by the early church, the Greek version traces a complete arc—from the danger of the transgressor’s voice, to a deeper diagnosis of the human will, and finally to an urgent call to turn. This is not a repetition of the KJV...

Proverbs 22:14, in the KJV, delivers a sobering warning: “The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.” The imagery is severe—seductive speech becomes a trap from which escape is difficult, revealing both moral danger and divine judgment. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart focus on the KJV rendering, examining how flattering words...

Proverbs 22:12–13 contrasts God’s watchful protection with human avoidance of responsibility. The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, ensuring that truth stands while deceit is overturned. Yet the sluggard invents danger to justify inaction, claiming threats that keep him from doing what is right. In today’s Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine how God upholds truth, why excuses rev...