Proverbs 15:29-33 – Being receptive to God and godly counsel

Nothing is more important than having our LORD with us in the journey. We can be sure that this is the wish of every true believer of God. The perpetual presence of God is possible for us who trusts in the Lord Jesus. Remember, He promises to be with us to the end of the age. Proverbs 15:29 affirms the promise that God will be with us, who have chosen to believe in Him. This verse begins by telling us that He is far from the wicked. The emphasis is to make known that He will never respond to the cry of the wicked. When they call out to him even in desperation, they will not be heard. But this is not so for the righteous, people who are walking aright with Him. He inclines His ears toward us and will respond to our prayer. This is so encouraging for us who make prayer a major part of life.

While bad news sell, it is good news that will gladden the heart. It is explicitly clear that it is better to hear good news than to entertain bad ones. A twinkle in the eye delights the heart suggests the brightening of one’s eyes when a person receives good news. It cheers a person up and makes his day. Just imagine when you receive news from a doctor that you have a clean bill of health. Or imagine your boss tells you of your promotion and an increment in pay. The second part of this verse makes it clear that good news brings vitality to fortify the body. It is indeed good news that our covenant GOD promises to hear us when we call.    

The last three verses of Proverbs 15 underscore for us the importance of being open to sound counsel. One who hears and takes heed to the correction of the wise will find ways to make life better. He takes the word of the wise seriously and finds answers to issues that confound him. A person who disregards the counsel of the wise is throwing his life away. It is therefore important that we accept the counsel of the wise and seek to associate with them. It is among them that we can be appropriately corrected when it is needed. Verse 32 tells us that to ignore words of correction or disregard discipline is detrimental to living a righteous life. As we have discovered, discipline includes teaching, coaching, counselling, instructing, and admonishing. And one who is receptive to the right kind of discipline gains insight to life. One who has no regard for sound advice or counsel suggests that he is not taking the path to true life seriously. Verse 33 caps this chapter with the emphasis on the fear of the Lord. It is in reverential fear of the Lord that we find instruction leading to wisdom. Besides, when we fear the LORD, we are led to a life of humility that will bring us to a place where we will be receptive to receive His wise instruction. Such a person will find the delight of God and the honor of man.

Here in these verses we find the affirmation to the Words of Psalm 1. Let us make it our business to be that blessed man that will not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Let us make it our business to delight in the Word of God and meditate on them day and night. We shall find fruitfulness and stability and rich resources for life and living. Let’s actively approach God and commune with Him and find richness in life!   

Proverbs 15:25-28 – Live and speak rightly

As believers, the goal of our life is to please the LORD. To be sure that we are achieving this goal, we need to keep a check on our attitude and speech. As we have been told earlier that the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are inclined toward them. It is important, therefore, that we seek to be numbered among the righteous.

The first thing to cultivate in life is humility. The Bible constantly exhorts us to be humble and not proud, for the LORD hates the proud. It was pride that caused Lucifer, the archangel of God, to fall from grace. So, we can see how much God detests pride. So here in Proverbs 15:25 the author tells us that “The Lord tears down the house of an arrogant person.” In the context, the arrogant person seems to be referring to a person who is prominent but abuses the power he has. By saying that the LORD “protects the property of widows” we get the picture that the arrogant person uses his power to oppress the widows, a reference to people who are weak and in need. God will protect the oppressed and the arrogant person will be removed. This is a call to live humbly.  So, live humbly!

Verse 26 tells us that God also detests wicked people. They are repulsive to Him. Such people scheme through their deceitful words. By saying that “pleasant words are pure to Him (God),” implies that people who are wicked do not use such words. Their words are never kind and pleasant. Hence, they are oppressive to the people and offensive to the Lord. The words of the humble are usually kind, pleasant and fittingly spoken. This is a call to speak rightly. So, speak appropriately!

Verse 27 tells us that greed invites trouble not just to a person but also his household. Whatever wealth that such a person had gained through ill-gotten means never bring peace but trouble. The peaceful existence of his family will be disrupted. On the other hand, a person who refuses bribe will find life pleasant. We need to understand this in the context of people who are in authority, like a judge or magistrate. Such a person can put his power to good use by alleviating the plight of the poor or he can abuse it by accepting bribe to oppress the poor. The crux of verse 27 is to show us that integrity makes life wholesome, abundant, fruitful and fulfilling. This is a call to live honestly. So, live honestly!

Verse 28 suggests that what we say reflects our inner thought. People who walk in integrity always reflect carefully before they speak. They ensure that their words are kind and motivating and helpful. They seek to prevent giving wrong impression and falsehood. So, they think before they speak. The wicked people do not exercise such caution. They speak impulsively, mindlessly and recklessly without considering the impact of their words. Such people often cause great damage. Therefore, we must think before we speak. This is a call to speak carefully. So, speak carefully.

Proverbs 15:20-24 – Maximizing Life

The book of Proverbs provides us with plenty of wise quips. The purpose of it all is to make us wiser and not more foolish. When taken seriously and making a point to practice them, they help us to advance life and avoid those that lead to irrational, uncontrolled, and unfettered living. They are aimed at helping us to become more sensible so as to progress in life. They will help us to align our steps and go about living life with timely and priceless counsel.   

Verse 20 commends a person for showing respect to one’s parents. Although it focuses on respecting the father, there is no denial that mother ought to be shown the same loving devotion too. Godly parents find delight in watching and guiding their children to walk vigilantly and live thoughtfully. William Wordsworth, the poet, first used this paradoxical phrase: “the child is the father of the man.” On reflecting, it tells us that every person is the product of his habits, manner and behavior since young. Good parents seek to inculcate them in the life of their children through wise teaching and training. When a child takes to heart what the parent had imparted, it gladdens their hearts. But if a child does not take to heart the good parental intention and instruction, he will be the cause of his or her mother’s innermost grief. Parents are there to guide us and instruct us, it will do us a world of good to take heed to their teaching.

Verse 21 commends a person who is understanding. To have understanding is to have the ability to perceive and discern issues accurately. It suggests that a person with understanding has the ability to accurately distinguish between good and bad, and right and wrong. When one lacks the ability to distinguish between what’s good and bad, and what’s right and wrong, he or she tends to be pulled in a direction that winds down the path of recklessness and foolhardiness. But when a person chooses a path that he had aptly discerned, he will end up in the straight and right path that will lead to great fulfilment and fruitfulness. Here we are advised to choose discerningly and to make a conscious decision to walk in the right path.  

Verses 22-23 commend that we should always seek wise counsel. What we plan to do has a better chance of success when we seek the wise inputs of others. This is especially so when we are talking about a community project. Life is not lived in isolation. This has been God’s intention from the onset. Whether at home, work or recreation, we live in groups. Hence, we should make a habit of seeking counsel, especially from the wise and experienced. In so doing we could prevent disaster. Our plan can find enhancement with the multitude of good counsellors. Most people have opinions. And it would be folly to be egotistical and self-centred, and only accepts one’s own opinion. No matter how sound we may think our argument is, there will be angles that we have failed to explore. Many a times, a fitting word given at the right time and right moment has saved our day for us. Hence, we should seek to be discerning as we hear the counsel given by others.   

Verse 24 commends us to consider the outcome of life. There are only two outcomes: upward or downward, heaven or hell. We can choose to live wisely and live with God eternally, in the wonderful place Christ has gone back to prepare for us. Or we choose to live carelessly without considering our eternal destination and end up in Sheol or hades, and then to a final eternal damnation. The choice is clear. The way to start a journey upward is the fear of the Lord. Let us not miss it. Let us love the LORD our God with one hundred percent devotion i.e. with all our hearts and minds and strength. Anything less is an inappropriate response. Wise up and live life maximally!     

Proverbs 15:12-19 – Guides to sensible living

It is obvious that the book of Proverbs sets out to show us how wise and sensible living looks like. In so doing the author brings out two sets of lifestyles adopted by the wise as well as the foolish. They are contrasted to bring out the characteristic of each so that as we reflect on them we can discerningly choose the right path.

Verse 12 tells us that mockers or scoffers will not welcome correction. They are egotistical and arrogant and will resent counsel that will enable them to set their course straight. They will avoid people whom they should go to for counsel, but they just won’t even though they know they will be help. Such a person is self-absorbed and too proud to seek the counsel of the wise. In verse 14, we are told that this type of people thrives on folly. They are gratified by nonsense and foolish stuff. They have no desire to seek godly counsel and the Word of God is furthest from their desire. As quickly as they gullibly accept senseless talks they will also disseminate them. In verse 14, we are also shown another kind of people. They are the type that hunger for knowledge because they do not presume to know everything. They are aware that there is always more to learn in life and they are a long way to arrive at where they ought to be. Hence, they maintain a seeking heart, desiring to know and understand more. And it is true that the more knowledge they acquire, the more they realize how little they know.

Know it or not, our outer disposition has a way of revealing our inner condition. When our inner being is aligned and peaceful, they are visibly clear on our face. Our face is a clear indicator of the condition of our soul. Our outward appearance reveals the condition of our heart. Our appearance will reveal our ability to cope with the stresses of life. One who has a gloomy outlook of life shows how conflicted he is within. He is a pessimist and can only see gloom and doom. He sees only the hole in a doughnut and will miss the dough. He fails to realize that outlook affects the way we go about life. Even a poor person can find life meaningful when he cultivates a spirit of positivity.  Our mentality is a determining factor to the richness of life. Even if we have little, we learn to make the most out of life. Verses 16-17 tell us that a rich relationship with God is better than great wealth. Why? It’s because when we have a relationship with God we have peace of mind and minimum worries. With plenty of riches people are taken up with care and worry, wondering how to preserve them. When a person has precious little, he learns to make do with what he has. Such a person is not encumbered with many choices to make. But when one has plenty he becomes choosy and that can induce undue anxiety and care.  

In verses 18 and 19, we see two destructive forces in life. They are anger and laziness. One who is hot-headed generates strives. Whereas a calm and collected person can squash a dispute quickly.  It always takes two persons to quarrel. But when one of them chooses to keep his cool and refuses to be uptight, the anger and heat will soon dissipate. Laziness tends to hinder a person from engaging in needful task. Even though the hedges of his house are infested with thorns he still refuses to bulge. Whereas the upright takes a different stunt. They are diligent and go about their tasks resolutely. He is not hindered by what seems like an impasse. He finds ways and means to turn them into highways for progress. So choose and live wisely each day!

Proverbs 15:5-11 – Godly counsel to an upright living

There is no denial that godly parent is vital to the progress of the son. Verse 5 begins with the presupposition of a good father giving godly counsel to his son. No father who is worth his salt would not have the best interest of his son at heart. So, when a son accepts the counsel of this father and acts upon it, he is considered wise. The father on his part ensures that he provides the right discipline. Here the word discipline is more than just about taking punitive measures. It includes admonishing, counselling, coaching, teaching, instructing, training, and correcting. Thus, when a son or a child who has regard for the reprimand or correction of a godly father, he has done a sensible thing.  Only the foolish one would reject the father’s discipline.

In a home where there is a great healthy parental-children relationship there is great wealth. Their home is filled not only with physical goods but also moral and spiritual ones. They are protected by God, thus will enjoy the rich resources He will supply. But one who is wicked will not have such peaceful existence. They will experience trouble in untold measures. The word income suggests the gains which the wicked has acquired wickedly. They are nothing but only trouble. They are usually attained by dubious means or expanded on dubious lifestyle. Hence, they will bring about troubles and ruin.    

Verse 7 tells us that the wise and the foolish are distinguished by the things they say. “The lips of the wise spread knowledge.” The words of the wise can be relied upon. They provide encouragement and insight to listeners. This is not so for the words of the foolish. They are not encouraging because their heart would harbor malice that would disable them from speaking positive and edifying words. Their words are devoid of spiritual character and will only accomplish mischief and misunderstanding.

Just as wisdom and righteousness are correlated so also are foolishness and wickedness. The latter pair will bring about the judgement of the LORD while the first pair will be heard for their uprightness. Whether God values our offering to Him or not depends largely on how we live. Our disposition, mentality and the way we approach God will determine how acceptable our worship to Him will be. The simple prayer of the upright is preferred to the ostentatious showiness of a wicked person who makes his worship a big performance. No wonder the worship of the wicked will be repulsive and revolting to God. On the other hand, God loves one who pursues righteousness and makes it his aim in life to live by it.

Verses 10-11 consist of warnings that will befall the unrepentant wicked. Though they were given stern discipline, they nonetheless hate the correction. They have neither the desire to repent nor change, hence, will receive their just dessert. Their persistence in evil will only lead to their ultimate death. Both Hades or Sheol, the place of the departed spirit and Abaddon, the place of eternal perish, are ever before the LORD. This expression emphasizes that God is all-seeing. And if the realm that is unseen to human eyes after his earthly existence, how much more will God be able to see the human heart now. Our unseen thoughts and intentions are ever before His watching eyes. This encourages us to be vigilant and circumspect in our thoughts that will lead to actions. Be aware of your secret thoughts! 

Proverbs 15:1-4 – The effect of appropriate words

In life, disagreement will surely happen. There are times we are offended by the harsh words of others. At other times we offend others by our abrasive words. Yet verse 1 points us to the best way to interact. A soft word turns away anger. This is especially true in a disagreement. In a responsible position, we may need to correct a subordinate. Yet if we use kinder words, we create a condition more conducive and more receptive to discussion and resolution. When harsh words are spoken they usually evoke a defensive stunt from the one we are speaking to. The suggestion here is that we should be cool-headed and broad-hearted. This is more superior to being hot-headed and impetuous.

Remember what James said, anger should not be used to drive the righteous work of God. It is true that the way we engage in a discussion or dialogue will definitely elicit an unspoken response from the person we are talking to. It is logical that when we listen to a wise person, we become wiser. We become more astute in conducting ourselves. It is equally true that when we listen to fools we are only given nonsense that cannot be useful to the way we conduct our life. In a community that has more wise people than foolish ones, there is stability and advancement.

Verse 3 is a timely reminder that we have a God who is not only all-powerful, but He is also all-knowing and all-seeing. Nothing escapes His sight. He sees the good things we are doing as well as the evil ways we go about life. Like it or not we are all subjected to divine scrutiny. How we conduct our life is important in the light of that divine scrutiny. Remember, He is the ultimate judge of our life. It is needful therefore for us to be respectable, honest, discreet, prudent and farsighted in our conduct and behaviour. Our actions will be judged. What’s done for Christ will be rewarded but what’s not will be censured and disciplined.  

Appropriate words always bring healing and health. Our words have consequences. We either bring good will or bad feelings. Hence, we must speak carefully and mindfully. For our words either encourage life or bring about dismay and depression. In speaking wisely, we edify but in double talk and duplicity we break the spirit of our hearers. Let’s do life!

Proverbs 14:28-35 – Being effective leaders

These verses are written to rulers to guide and help them govern the nation effectively. Though not many of us hold that kind of governmental position, but we can hold leadership position in our careers, organization or church. We can apply these verses to our position as leaders. We shall consider how to apply this to our leadership role.

In essence verse 28 tells us that the strength of an organization is in the quality of its leader. His competence as a leader will encourage devotion from his followers. A great leader is seen in the number of followers who will pledge their allegiance to him. For in garnering more devoted followers who support him, he secures his own honour. The people he has under him attest to his capability as a leader. One who lacks followers cannot be said to be an effective or impactful leader. He lacks the people to help him advance his cause.

Verses 29-30 tell us the temperament of a leader helps us to differentiate between a good or not so good one. A good leader is one who does not take offense quickly. He is even tempered and patiently seeks to make sense of any given situation. No wonder James, the Lord’s brother, in his letter admonishes believers to be slow to anger, for an angry man cannot do the righteous work of God. Note that a person who flies off his handle quickly exhibits folly. A ruler who learns to take things in its stride shows even temperedness. He demonstrates a peaceful disposition and an inner tranquillity. By this his physical health will not be affected by undue stress. Being hot-headed a person entertains undue stress that will harm both his physical and moral health.

To help a leader be an effective one, verse 31 provides a very fundamental principle. It tells us that an effective leader works on the supposition that God is the maker of every person. Though fallen, everyone is still made in the image and likeness of God. It is wonderful when in Christ that image is restored and the person acts congruently. Whatever the case, a good leader treats all with evenness. For he knows that to ill-treat anyone is to despise and mock that person’s creator. When we have in mind that God is everyone’s maker we will be more likely to accord each one with honour and respect.

Verse 32 shows us that a good leader understands his obligation. He deals with each one appropriately. He should aim to help each one live righteously. For he knows that the wicked will have a terrible end. But one who is righteous will find security and his refuge in God. Verse 33 shows that a good and effective leader is astute. He is endowed with wisdom and has the ability to see things in perspective. On the other hand, a fool can never lead for he lacks insight and sharpness.

Verse 34 shows one very fundamental goal an effective leader has i.e. righteousness. This quality helps him to enhance the community and highlights its effectiveness. Conversely, sin will bring reproach and disgrace to the community.  In verse 35, we are told that an effective leader appreciates the discerning followers. Those followers who act shamefully he must censure. Remember that God has called all of us to be influencers. We all assume some leadership roles in some capacities. Hence, let’s consider these fundamentals and apply them where appropriate.    

Proverbs 14:26-27 – The fear of the Lord and true life

The Bible makes it absolutely clear that God, whom we have a relationship with, is a covenant keeping God. The Word used is “the LORD.” It is translated from the word Yahweh and is spelled in all capital letters. This word Yahweh is built around the word “I Am.” It is the covenant name of God. It’s a name God Himself made known to Moses as He sent him on a mission to deliver His people from the bondage of Egypt. Moses needed confidence to represent God correctly, so he asked for His name. So, In Exodus 3:15. God said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”

The name of this covenant making-keeping God is the LORD. He is the great “I Am,” the ever-existing one, ever present One. “I Am” is in the present tense. Notice that He is the “I Am” not “I was” or “I will be.” He never had a beginning like us. He has always been present and He will never cease to be present. He is the only being, whose existence is not dependant on any other being outside of Himself. This is the God whom we have a covenant relationship with. Hence, it is undeniably true that the fear of this God is the beginning of wisdom.  

With this God, how can we not have strong confidence and boldness? If He is for us who can ever be against us. Victory is already assured when we fear Him. In Proverbs 14:26-27, we are told that “in the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence….” When we honour and respect Him by placing Him at the centre of our life, we have nothing to be afraid of. Nothing in life can intimidate us because He is our refuge and fortress. He will be our shield, our rock, and a strong shelter in the storms of adversity we all face in life.

Furthermore, the fear of the LORD is the fountain of life. Having a reverential fear for the LORD connects us to the source of life - earthly, spiritual, and eternal life. This attitude will set us on the right course and keep us secure and safe in the right direction. When we do so we find strength to sustain life. The fear of the Lord always produces obedience that will nurture faith and trust in Him, thus, preparing us to meet Him. This attitude will also free us from the trap often brought about by the dread of death. Death will no longer be a snare. In reality this attitude prepares us for life here, now and hereafter. So, let us be sure to fear the LORD and place Him at the centre of our being.

Proverbs 14:20-25 – Every effect has a cause

Every action in life induces a response. That’s why we need to look closely at the fruit of our life. Here in Proverbs 14:20-25 we see some principles on the cause and effect that take place in life.

The word “hate” in verse 20 is better seen as being rejected. Why are the poor rejected? Because they become a constant burden to their friends. Hence, they only have a few friends, because people being selfish, by and large don’t like to be inconvenienced. The rich on the other hand is treated differently. People who love the rich are many and so they have many friends.

The way we treat the poor determines the way God will view us. By showing disregard for the poor and view them with contempt, we have already sinned. The idea is for us never to adopt a superiority attitude and despise the poor. People who are godly have consideration for the poor and needy. When one shows graciousness to the poor one is blessed because God has regard for such a person. For this reason, in James 2:1-7, we are advised not to be impartial. We are at liberty to make friends with the rich but must never despise the poor. For how we treat the poor will have definite effect on how God views us.

The outcome of life, whether we live in a state of confusion or serenity, depends largely on the way we engage life. When one has evil intention and motive, that person will certainly stray from the right course of life. He or she will have a distorted perspective and can no longer see rightly. But to one who practices kindness in life will be shown mercy and truth i.e. the graciousness of God. Their kindness will be recognized and they will be appreciated, honored and respected.

Verses 23-24 tell us that there will be profit with honest and hard work. No matter how tough or insignificant a task may seem, some positive result will ensue when we tackle it with diligence. But when one refuses to put his hand on the plough but merely engages in idle talks, poverty is guaranteed. The contrast is on those who act and those who merely talk. One who merely talks and refuses to work will amount to nothing. One who wisely works hard will be rewarded with plenty. Their gain will be a demonstration of their diligence. For one who is a fool, what will be seen of him will be his folly. No profit can be expected from a senseless person, whose action will only be characterized by folly. The result of falsehood and truthfulness are clearly evident.

Verse 25 tells us that the result of truthfulness or falsehood are clearly evident. When one is truthful, he delivers himself and others of false charges. One who has the propensity to practice lie and deceit will end up being a fraud. His very nature is characterized by falsehood.

The principles in these verses elaborate on the law of sowing and reaping. We will never harvest oranges when we sow apple seeds. We will always reap what we sow. The key is if we want to harvest oranges than we must sow orange seeds. We must examine the fruit we are producing in life. If we don’t like the fruit we are harvesting, we must examine the seeds we are sowing. Be honest with yourself and the truth will set you free!

Proverbs 14:13-19 – Cultivating wisdom

Wisdom is discernible. Verse 12 advises us not to consider only surface facts or lean on first impression. Appearance cannot give us an accurate picture. It may appear right but the end is destruction. So, consider deeper. Don’t conclude that everything is well just by the laughter of a person. A person may appear joyful but deep in his heart he may be enduring inexplicable pains. We ought to consider the end also because of life’s uncertainty. The outward joy of a person may be a camouflage of his deep inner pain. Look deeper than the surface.

In verses 14-17 we are called to consider and weigh the seriousness of a matter. One who is backslidden doesn’t care too much about the consequence. They deliberately turn from the right path in order to satisfy their own desire. Such people are driven by one goal – to gratify their hedonistic and carnal pleasure. They are devoid of moral and ethical concerns and don’t care even when they know that they are finally accountable to God. On the other hand, one who is fervent for the Lord does not consider the worldview of the backslider. He holds to a higher view, the Biblical worldview.

The simple is gullible. They don’t consider the deeper implications of a matter. They don’t weigh the value of a decision. Recklessly, they believe everything and enter into a deal or take a plunge into a decision without carefully evaluating the conditions. They just accept a point of view without thinking deeper. Such people are not governed by sound principles and are at the mercy of others with the gift of the gap. Undiscerningly, they will find themselves caught in what they did not bargain for. Conversely, the wise seeks to understand his steps before he rushes in. He will not engage in any activity without careful investigating, weighing, evaluating and planning. Besides, he exercises caution. He practises the carpenter’s rule – measure twice cut once. Wanting to live a God-pleasing life, he keeps a distance from evil. By faith he measures every step to take.  A wise person is not prone to fly off the handle. A fool has a short fuel and is quick to anger. In his quick anger he acts foolishly. As a result, he brings harm to his total man - spiritually, mentally, social-emotionally and even physically. We are shown that quick temper can lead to foolish behavior but a mischief-maker provokes hatred.

In verses 18-19, one more way to discern wisdom is to consider the ultimate outcome. Lack of sense and thoughtfulness lead one to act hastily and foolishly. Their price possession is folly. But one who is prudent has knowledge as his crown. By them his character is enhanced. In the final reckoning, those who are evil will bow before the honest and good people. Those who are wicked will camp at the gate of the righteous.  There will come a day when the wicked will be thoroughly defeated. This will be their dreadful outcome. Victory belongs to the righteous and wise. Defeat awaits the foolish and wicked. Let’s choose wisely, act astutely, walk circumspectly, live thoughtfully and aim to glorify God in everything.

Proverbs 14:8-12 – Two discernible ways to stay in step with God

Wisdom demonstrates itself in clear, concise and comprehensible ways. They have identifiable marks, therefore are clearly noticeable. A prudent person weighs the options, considers what will lead him to his goal, then chooses the best and appropriate route before he makes his move. A foolish person, on the other hand, is easily misled. Unlike the prudent man, he has no patience to weigh his options. Hence, he makes obvious mistakes, takes the wrong actions and walks in erroneous ways. How can we know the discernible ways of wisdom that will keep us in step with it? Verses 9-12 shows us two discernible ways to stay in tune with the Lord’s way.

We consider the common feature of people. The trait that makes fools common is their nonchalance towards sin. Whereas the wise are drawn together by their good will.  That’s what attracts them to each other. However, no matter what links people together, there is no way to know exactly how each individual feels deep within. We can share the joy or the anger of another person but we will never know the exact feeling that he or she experiences.  

We also need to take the end goal into consideration. No matter how much the wicked may accumulate, their ultimate end is destruction. This is a clear obvious result because of the wicked ways they go about amassing them. They will all be annulled before the Lord ultimately. The honest and upright will not have such an end. They will go about engaging in conscientious and honest activities that are pleasing to God. They seek to delight the heart of God. Hence, they will prosper beyond what they can imagine. A person may engage in what seems apparent but leaves God out of the equation. The trouble with such a step is that it will lead to destruction. The path may seem easier and shorter to the goal he desires but he fails to consider the pitfalls.   

We must therefore not be wise in our own ways. Never leave God out of all our planning. Always put God at the centre of our decision and mission. Make Him the prime consideration in life. Be assured that we will never be short-changed when we do that. He will never fail us.

Proverbs 14:1-7 – Characteristics of wisdom

Wisdom is a very important factor to a meaningful and fulfilling life. It is best seen as the ability to apply whatever knowledge and experience one has to make right and good decisions and judgments. And we know that the best knowledge and wisdom one can find are recorded in the Bible. Therefore, we must never neglect the Word of God. The whole chapter of Proverbs 14 is devoted to help us understand what wisdom is and how to identify and pursue it. We shall prayerfully consider each component of wisdom and then pursue it to find joy and an enhanced living. Proverbs 14:1-7 give us several key characteristics of wisdom.

Wisdom is seen in the context of a wise woman in verse 1. Its emphasis is focused on the family. A wise woman makes building up the home a top priority. She makes building the well-being of her family her number one goal in life. The home of a wise woman is solidly established on the firm foundation of God’s word and divine principles. Nothing, however attractive, will distract her from this priority. But one who is foolish would be attracted to engage in all kinds of activities and she singlehandedly will tear down the home. What this verse suggests to us is that a woman has tremendous influence in the home. She can help build it up or foolishly tears it down.

  

Verse 2 is critical and central to a person with wisdom. He places great emphasis on the fear of the LORD. Note the LORD is in capital letters. The author is talking about Yahweh, the covenant making-keeping God, with whom we are related to. The upright and wise have a deep reverential fear and awe for Him. It is not merely a confession of their lips but holy conducts that they pursue in life. Their lifestyles, their habits, their words are all motivated and characterized by their deep devotion for the LORD. Not so are the foolish who choose to walk in perverse ways and spurn the love of God. They choose to live sinful, careless, unrestraint and God-opposing lifestyles, totally devoid of any reverence for the Almighty. And they are totally nonchalant and unconcerned about pleasing Him.

Next a person with wisdom can be seen in his speech. Unlike the mouth of a fool that spews out conceit and pride, the words of the wise is conciliatory. Such a person finds himself free from the trap of troubles. He does not insult and neither will they speak ill of others. Being peace-loving his words and actions always promote good-will and peaceful co-existence with others.    

Verse 4 hints to us that such a person is not afraid of hard work. He is aware of the necessity to clean a manger when he has oxen. He knows he will not be spared the chore of cleaning up the mass created by keeping his oxen. But they are needful for his work and survival. Without the oxen he will not be able to plough and farm and hence will have no harvest to reap. Hence, he knows that having oxen far outweighs the inconvenience of hard work. If we expect a harvest, we need to invest our time. Success and achievement are never accomplished by sitting on an armchair.

Verse 5 tells us that a wise person is full of truth and integrity. He will never be caught testifying falsely. So wholesome is he that no bribe or threat will cause him to bear false witness. On the other hand, a false witness is totally the opposite. Out of his mouth will come countless number of lies and deceits. Falsehood is his second nature.  

As far as a scoffer is concerned, wisdom does not exist in him so say verse 6. He lacks the wherewithal to acquire wisdom. The scoffers are too conceited and thus totally closed to the instruction of others. They are too arrogant to even seek the opinions of people other than himself. Knowledge, on the other hand, comes easily to a discerning person. He has a fear of the LORD. Therefore, earnestly seeking God and knowing Him is like breathing to him. He will find plenty of insights for godly living. Verse 7 concludes with a call to exit from the presence of a fool and not be influenced by him. He has nothing great to offer one who has chosen to please the LORD. The writer Bo Benette has this to say: “Those who improve with age embrace the power of personal growth and personal achievement, and begin to replace youth with wisdom, innocence with understanding, and lack of purpose with self-actualization.” How true this is, we must make it our aim to pursue wisdom and grow in the LORD!

Proverbs 13:20-25 – Godliness induces effective living

In Proverbs 13:14-19, we saw how being receptive to sound teaching can impact our life for effectiveness. Continuing in the same vein, verses 20-25 tell us several other things sound teaching will help to us to shape godliness in life. This in return, induces effectiveness in a person’s life journey.

Firstly, we see in verse 20 that sound teaching can only be found among those who are wise. If one wants to be wise, he must walk with the wise and not the foolish. This suggests the choice of one’s companion affects a person greatly. Wise people have a positive influence on those who spend time with them. Similarly, running with fools will also rub off to those who run with them. Their bad habits will quickly be emulated and often to one’s detriment. Remember, when we sleep with dogs, we can expect to have fleas.   

Secondly, wise teaching will guide the godly to mix with those who pursue righteousness and not those who make sin their regular diet. This verse warns us that sinners invite adversity. Misfortune is inevitable because of their lifestyle. The obvious consequence of mixing with sinners is a risk to one’s life and reputation. Having the righteous as our companions bring rich rewards in life on earth and in eternity.  

Thirdly, in verse 22 we are told that “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” The godly learn to live frugally. Their wealth gets to be passed down to their descendants. It’s a family principle that is kept from generation to generation. On the opposite end, the wealth gained by the wicked will eventually go to the righteous. The lack of discipline of the children of the sinner squander their inheritance. Correspondingly, they leave nothing for their heirs. What they have acquired will fall into the better hands of those who wisely steward wealth.

Fourthly, the godly believe in honest toil and are opposed to fraudulent gain. One may not be very rich but with diligence and honest work he incrementally secures a good return for his labour. Whereas, they are those who through dishonest work lose everything because of illegal conduct.  

Fifthly, a godly man demonstrates his love for his son by administering discipline on him when he needs it. He is not one who pampers his child and not correct his wrong. It is precisely because he loves his son that he corrects, instructs, counsels, admonishes and even punishes him to help break his resistance to good conduct. The word discipline is more than mere punishment. It includes instructing, counselling, admonishing, and correcting. The timing of administering discipline matters. We must deal with a child’s waywardness before it becomes his lifestyle. Tough love includes strict discipline. One who refrains from correcting his child’s waywardness shows hatred for him. A godly parent disciplines his child when he notices the flaw immediately. The first opportunity to correct must be seized so that the child will not be given the time to develop the waywardness. Godly parents also do not give opportunity to their children to test the level of their endurance before they act. Discipline must be applied diligently to be effective.  

And finally, in verse 23, we get the idea that the godly find satisfaction in the ordinary things of life while the ungodly lust after many things but are never satisfied. It’s because they are not easily satisfied. Listen to what Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”     

Proverbs 13:14-19 – The impact of good teachings

Like a candle, a good teacher will consume himself to light the way of others.  And his teachings come from his heart. And what he teaches will guide his students to direct their sails, though he knows he cannot help to change the direction of the wind. So, with his instruction he guides his student onto the right path. That’s why good teaching is so necessary to righteous living.

Verse 15 tells us that the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life. They point the way to live life abundantly. Good teachings help us to set our heart in the right direction and away from dangerous and hazardous path. No wonder we are told that it will turn us aside from the snares of death. Good teachings affect eternity because there is no limit in its influence. When taken seriously and act upon they will impact our life positively. When they are not taken to heart life will be counter-productive.   

When understood, good teachings build favourable character and not a churlish one. It helps one to perceive life rightly and properly and help to live life with grace. Teachings that impact a student will make him or her a person of character and find acceptance with others. One who is not impacted by sound teaching lives a harsh and rude life and ends with a sad destiny.  

Verse 16 tells us that one who is receptive to good teachings will be vigilant. He acts prudently with knowledge and will not be misled easily. Such a person learns to assess every circumstance and carefully chooses path that maximizes life for him. It is not so of one who is foolish. Such a character will play the fool with his life. He acts impetuously showing a lack of wisdom.  

Verse 17 shows a wise person impacted by sound teaching lives and serves faithfully. He becomes a wise steward to his Master. Unlike an unfaithful steward that shows no integrity, this wise one is trustworthy. He brings health and vitality to others. An unfaithful steward, on the other hand, shows disregard for his Master. In his couldn’t- be-bothered attitude, he brings a bad reputation to the Master. He will be punished ultimately.

Verse 18 tells us that a person impacted by sound teaching will bring honour instead of shame.  He shows discipline and acts with wisdom. His humility will win the respect of all he deals with. But one who has no regard for sound instruction acts in his own conceit. He has no appetite for good counsel and will end up being contemptuous to those who are associated with him.  

In verse 19, a person with sound instruction will find deep satisfaction and a fulfilled desire. Such a person does not sit idly by without working passionately to achieve his desire. He will surely reach his worthwhile goal and derive deep satisfaction from his achievement. But for a fool, to turn from evil is a detestable thing. He will never see his dream realized because he has neither the intention nor the will to depart from evil.

We all need good teachings and the Bible has plenty of them. We thank God for the many good Christian teachers He has given to guide us. But we thank God most of all for the Holy Spirit, whom He has sent alongside us to teach us the things of God. He is the best teacher and guide we have. Never stop seeking sound teachings, for more than informing us, good teachings inspire us to live for God.

Proverbs 13:1-13 – Discipline and godly living

Instructions and discipline are needful if we seek to advance in life. Like the earlier chapters of Proverbs, these verses are set in the context of a father-son relationship. If life is to be fully attained and appreciated, godly instructions and discipline are key elements to help us reach it. To begin with, a wise son is one who listens to his father’s instruction and sets his heart to obey his godly counsel. It’s true that our parents had seen more days and eaten more salt then we have eaten rice. Their insights are usually more honed and keen. A son or a daughter who has one to advise him or her is blessed indeed. We must take heed to their instructions. A person who rebuffs the instruction given is likened to a scoffer. He does not listen and even if he does, he mocks and resists the moral principles and spiritual insights given. Such a person will amount to nothing eventually. Here Solomon delineated several areas disciple must be exercised.   

Verses 2-3 deal with the discipline of words. In the earlier chapters, Solomon already talked about the importance of controlling our lips. Here in these two verses, he again reiterates it. Our words will either help us to lead a peaceful life or lead us into a life of misery. By the words we speak, we elicit the good will or the scorn of the people we relate with. But one who schemes evil and lives life at the expense of others, will find the violence he has schemed, boomerang back to affect him. One who learns to guard what he says keeps his life. He speaks judiciously. Whereas one who speaks unnecessarily will come to ruin. His words will cost him his life. Verse 4 deals with the discipline regarding work. A lazy person has appetite but not the will or desire to pursue work. To have good intention but not the will to act is pointless. But one who diligently goes about his task will be satisfied with plenty.

Verse 5-9 say, “A righteous man hates falsehood, but a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.” This is about exercising discipline in the way one lives. What this means is that one who is righteous hates lying and falsehood. He is not given to act deceitfully but in fact detests it. Whereas a wicked man acts and lives disgustingly. He brings shame to himself and has no regard for those he ought to honour. A person who walks righteously finds his life being guarded. He does not stray into paths that spell disaster. Staying on the straight and narrow way, he is not attracted by the glamour of the broad way. In so doing, he is preserved from evil. And unlike the wicked, he is not destabilized by sins. Besides, he seeks to live a disciplined lifestyle. He lives within his means and does not live to impress others. Such a person is true to himself. He does not pretend that he is rich when he is not. Neither will he feign poor when he has the wealth. He lives appropriately and measuredly. He lives without flaunting his wealth or feigning poverty. This suggests that we should not trust impression and judge a book by its cover. Verse 8 tells us that a person who parades his wealth live life with a threat hanging over his head. He exposes himself to the exploitation of others. Whereas a poor has no such threat and has nothing to be blackmailed. In verse 9, with a disciplined lifestyle one finds grace and virtue. He does not do life with gloom. His cheerful disposition is an attraction to others. But one who is wicked may put up an empty show only to realize that it will soon be extinguished.  

Verse 10 teaches us to seek discipline in relating to others. In relationship, one must be measured. Contentions are usually started by arrogance. When one is not insistent and is willing to be reasonable, and be willing to back down, any quarrel can be dealt with amiably. When a person is conceited and haughty, quarrel shall be the call of the day. But a person who humbles himself and seeks counsel will find the capacity to end any quarrel.

Another area in life needing discipline is the handling of one’s wealth. Verse 11 suggests that riches and assets that one has acquired dishonestly or illegitimately usually do not last. They will never be approved or blessed by God. But what wealth one honestly works for will surely increase. Bear in mind that there is no get-rich-quick scheme that can be sustained over the long haul. Wealth hastily gathered is usually quickly squandered.

Verse 12 counsels us to handle disappointment with care. If we don’t exercise discipline regarding our expectation, we may be discouraged easily. Discouragement has a way of minimizing our joy and diminishing our vitality. Hence, we need to manage our expectation. We need to plan realistically and not to set our bar to an unachievably high. For when we don’t deal with our expectation carefully, we will end up in despair. But when we handle our hope realistically, we can achieve it in good time and with good measure, and find great fulfilment in life. When our goals in life are attained, we are invigorated. This is part and parcel of an abundant life.

Verse 13 is critical for us as people who love God. We must never relegate the importance of obeying God. This must be given high priority in life. Obeying the Word of God is what guarantees our wholeness. When we walk with obedience to the Word, we will walk with reverential fear to the true source of living. Remember, being obedient is the best evidence of our love for God. It demonstrates faith and trust in Him.  Let us not call Him Lord and then not obey His Word.       

Proverbs 12:27-28 – Righteousness leads to true life indeed

Seriously speaking, our speeches do have a way of revealing the kind of a person we are. Whether one is a wise or a foolish person, it can be picked up through our words. For this reason alone, Proverbs 12 plays a key role in telling us to shape our speech life correctly. Negative speech patterns ruin relationship. But healthy speech patterns edify and build up others. The choice on what type of speech pattern to adopt is obvious. We have established in Proverbs 12:24 that there are people who talk and talk yet accomplish nothing. And there are those who speak little but quietly and diligently work on their goals in life and attain position of honour.

The time a person spends talking will reflect whether he is a diligent worker or not. A person who talks away his time, displays his idleness and laziness. He should have spent the time roasting his game but he allows his laziness to lead the way. His laziness led him to neglect cooking his game. While he might have caught something to live on, his laziness causes him to discard it without doing something positive about what he had caught. Whereas, one who is diligent takes care of the substance he had acquired. Both of them view what they have acquired differently. The slacker couldn’t care about what he had obtained but the one who is prudent, with frugality, takes care to value what he had gained.

The end point of a righteous man is life for now and also life forever. To understand this verse more aptly, we need to understand the reality of death. Death as we know is a penalty for sin. And it is best defined as a separation. Physical death is a separation between one’s spirit and body. Spiritual death is a separation between one who may be alive physically but separated from God. Such a person is like a stalk of flower cut form the stem. It may appear alive but in essence is already dead. Why? Because it is no longer connected to the source of life. Without a relationship with God we are cut off from the source of life. And finally, eternal death is a separation from God for all eternity.

Here we must see righteousness as a God given privilege for people who believe in Him. He becomes a person in right standing with God. With righteousness he will live and act right.  He can then attain a meaningful life now on earth. Spiritual and Eternal death will not come in his way. He is connected to God on earth. When his journey on earth ends, though finally his spirit will separate from his physical body, yet he will lives on in the eternal presence of God. Righteousness is the key to both life now and life hereafter. No wonder we are instructed by the Lord to seek His reign over life and to have His kind of righteousness in our daily conduct in life. The Bible tells us that righteousness is the result of our relationship with God. We appropriate it by faith. Be sure that we are closely connected to God through Christ.  He is the bridge to righteousness and life. Stay connected to Him!

Proverbs 12:23-26 – Speaking rightly

In Proverbs 12:15-22, we are counselled not to develop negative speech patterns because of the negative impact they will have on relationship. As people who love God and neighbours, we must avoid speaking words in anger or words that can perjure or provoke. We must of course not be deceitful. Having dealt with negative speech patterns, the teacher now shows us in verses 23-26 what is right speech, the kind we should be engaging in.  

In verse 23, we are admonished to exercise control in our speech. A wise person keeps check on the things he says. Exercising caution, he is careful with his words and not unnecessary spew out what is not helpful. Such a person can be trusted with secret. What he says are usually words that befit the occasion. On the other hand, a foolish person has no restrain. Filled with folly in his heart, he rushes in to speak uncontrollably, displaying his ignorance. His words are often spoken inappropriately and not at the right moment.  Not only will a person wise in speech seeks to speak at the right time, but he is also a diligent person. He is made to rule and control. Unlike him, a slothful person ends up being a servant. What is the connection between verses 23-24? The aim of verse 24 is to tell us that there are people who would talk and talk and not progress in life at all. Whereas there are those who don’t talk much but quietly and diligently pursue and reach their goal in life.    

Verse 25 shows us another speech pattern we should cultivate. We are encouraged to speak words that are encouraging. Many people allow anxiety and the stress of life to weigh them down. They allow their mind to dwell on problems and end up in depression, dismay, despair and in defeat. Just imagine such a person is given a positive word of encouragement. It will definitely help to alleviate and free him from his anxiety and worry.

In verse 26, we are encouraged to provide guidance to our friends by our speech. One who is a true friend can be counted on to say words that will guide a person to make right decisions. This verse also indirectly encourages us to seek the counsel of the wise and be open to his wise words. However, in life we will also find people who are highly opinionated and will not listen to the counsel of others, such people are often misled and would stray from the right course of life.  

In James 1:19, we are encouraged to be quick to hear but slow to speak. We are told also by James that we must bridle our tongue. If we have nothing positive to help another person progress in the Lord, we should just keep quiet. Remember, we are here to refresh others. Let us speak only words that edify and build up. Let’s speak life!

Proverbs 12:15-22 – The negative speech patterns we must not adopt

In Proverbs 12:13-14, we concluded that our world can be framed by the words we speak. Continuing in the importance of cultivating correct speech pattern, Proverbs 12:15-22 show us how to be careful not to engage in developing destructive speech pattern. In verse 15, the teacher begins with a precursor. The attitude we adopt will determine the kind of speech pattern we will develop. The fool, a senseless person, who is wise in his own eye, will not care to consult nor seek the counsel of others, even those wiser than them. Such a person has no respect for the opinion of anyone other than himself.  He seems to think that his way is the only means to accomplish anything. Yet, there is another kind of person that this verse proposes that we should be, one who is prudent and would not discount the counsel of others, especially the wise. He is not self-deluded and does not think that his own unassisted judgement is infallible. Here are a few speech patterns we should not develop. 

In verse 16, we get the first kind of negative speech pattern we must not develop. It is speaking out in anger. A senseless person cannot control himself and he speaks out in anger immediately when he’s upset. Such a person cannot pause to check his wounded ego. He just shoots off his mouth and his unbridled tirade just rolls out uncontrollably in the heat of anger. The outburst always become fuel for deeper contention. A prudent person on the other hand has the capacity to conceal shame. He is tolerant and can bear with the insult. Aware that if he retaliates, the misunderstanding and resentment would be aggravated. Coolly he would control his passion and exercise restraint as he sets to align the misunderstanding. 

Verse 17 deals with perjury. We must see this in the context of a scene in the courtroom. The witness is expected to tell the truth. A righteous witness is one who will not engage in perjury, he just speaks the truth, bringing justice to light and helping in administering justice.  But one who gives false witness not only speaks with deceit but misleads, and leading to the miscarriage of justice. A person who perjures is perverting justice and promoting deceit.

Verse 18 deals with provocation. The speech pattern of such a person is usually inflammatory. He is thoughtless and speaks recklessly. The end result is harm and often fatal. His tongue is likened to a sharp sword. And like a sword that can bring hurt and damage severely, is a provocative tongue. On the other hand, one who knows how to control his tongue uses it to bring healing. Soothing words are like healing balm that sooth the nerve and restore a wound to wholeness.  

Verse 19 deals with deceitful speech pattern. When a person develops a pattern of truthful speech, he establishes veracity and genuineness. Truth is reliable and irrepressible and can stand the test of time. But the same cannot be said of lies. Lies will eventually be found out because they cannot stand the test of time. It’s momentary and short lived. 

Verses 20-22 suggest counsel that is evil. Devious intention always begins from the heart. A treacherous counsellor conceives evil in his heart. Whatever counsel he gives will lead to adversity, misadventure and discomfort. Whereas a peaceful counsellor finds joy as he delightfully brings joy, helping others solve their problem. The righteous will not be afraid of harm because his very nature makes him recoil from acting wickedly. Thus, he will not invite evil consequence for he will not engage in activities that warrant it. The wicked man would not be so. His action is the very opposite of the one who acts righteously.  He is attracted by evil and will be easily lured to act wickedly, despite being aware of the consequence. The truth is stated categorically in verse 22. In no uncertain term, it says, “Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh.” God detests intensely a lying lip. He hates perversity. The opposite is equally true, God delights in those who are honest and faithful in their dealings. Remember life and death lies in the power of the tongue. Let’s rather speak words of life than words of death. Let’s speak to edify others and we shall delight our Lord.