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.”