Proverbs 22:1-6 – The value of virtue

Virtue is priceless. It is so valuable that the famous Plato said that, “All the gold which is under or upon the earth is not enough to give for virtue.” Proverbs 22:1-6, echo the same sentiment. And blessed is every man or woman who makes it a key discipline in life to cultivate sound virtues.

According to Proverbs 22:1, one virtue we should cultivate is a great character alongside a good reputation. Character is what we are known by God and reputation is what others see in us. It is hard to truly have a good and lasting reputation without a great character. Both character and reputation are so important that they are to be preferred to wealth. It is better to have the favour of others than gold or silver. When we are a good character with pleasant personality and a good reputation, even if we don’t have much, we endear ourselves to others. Conversely, we will be avoided by others when our reputation stinks.  

Proverbs 22:2 is a reminder for us never to value people based on their wealth and status. We should never practise partiality but give equal worth to the rich and high in stature, as well as those who are not rich and lowly in status. Why? It’s because both these people are made in the image of the Creator God. They must be priced equally regardless of their financial status.

Proverbs 22:3 advocates the cultivation of wisdom. With it, we avoid dangers to our life. And when we are lacking it, we will have to pay dearly in life. It says, “The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naïve go on and are punished for it.” The wise know their limit and will stop when they sense danger lurking. The naive is totally insensitive, incapable of sensing impending dangers, and will cast headlong into crisis. In referring to the prudent verse 3 puts it in the singular, whereas for naïve, it describes them in the plural. It is because for every prudent person, there are multiples of people who are naïve. Let us be counted among the prudent and not the naïve.

Repeatedly, the book of Proverbs reminds us that we need to walk in humility and the fear of the LORD. Proverbs 22:4 is one of them. It says, “The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honour and life.” When we seek first His Kingdom and righteousness and walk yielding to His Lordship, we find riches, honour and true life. Humility and godliness equal untold blessings. They bring to us richness of life and a healthy respect from others. In contrast to one who walks humble with God and cultivate godliness, Proverbs 22:5 tells us that one who chooses to walk perversely will bear the consequences of their wickedness. Life consists of pathways that either lead us to life or to destruction. There is a way that always seems right but the end thereof is destruction. The choice remains ours. We can either walk in the straight and narrow way leading to life or the crooked and broad path that leads to destruction. Jesus exhorts us to go for the gate that leads to the straight and narrow way and to life. And He is the gate.

Proverbs 22:6 is a word of wisdom to parents. If we want our children to cultivate great virtues, we must start them young. During the impressionable years of their life, it is easy to bend their spirit and educate their will. Whatever inclination a person has, it is formed and made while he or she is still young. That’s why William Wordsworth said, “the child is the father of the man.” We all know that what the adult becomes is the product of the habits, manners and behavior that he or she had inculcated during the childhood. So, if we desire to see virtues in our children, start them young. Train and imbue in them while they are still malleable and pliable. Help them to go for what is virtuous before they adopt a vice. Remember, Aristotle’s wise words, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, it is a habit.” Let’s cultivate the habits of virtue in our children for the greater glory of Christ our Lord.

Proverbs 21:20–26 – Needful attitudes to right living

The difference between the wise and foolish, the “have” and the “have-not’s”, is in the arena of their attitudes. Zig Ziglar, the motivational teacher said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude.” And long before Ziglar coined this wise quip, God had already revealed so. Through Proverbs 21:20-26, He tells us why we need to have a set of right attitudes. It is having and living with the right attitudes that we can attain an outstanding life.

Proverbs 21:20 says we need to have a right attitude toward wealth. The wise preserve what they have whereas the foolish tend to squander it. Here, we are reminded to be wise stewards of the wealth we have. A person who stewards his wealth wisely safeguards what he has. The foolish on the other hand wastes all that he has through lavish and careless living, leaving nothing for a rainy day.

Proverbs 21:21 says we need right attitudes to pursue a fulfilled life. Making righteous and faithful goals in our life journey, we will attain a meaningful, righteous and honorable life. They must be the guiding principles of our daily living. The word pursue suggests that we make them a quest of life. And we do so by passionately cultivating righteousness and faithfulness with discipline.

Proverbs 21:22 says we need a right attitude towards work. We are advised not only to work hard but also to work smart. It is wisdom and not physical strength alone that will help us to achieve great things. With wisdom we can strategize and prioritize our activities in life. We know how to place the important over the mundane. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Bear in mind that good is the enemy of the best. Yes, we need physical strength, but by it alone is inadequate to help us scale great heights. We must mix hard work with wisdom to achieve great goals.  

Proverbs 21:23 says we need a right attitude towards speech. We must learn to guard our words. Careless and thoughtless words can get us into needless trouble. How often have we seen people saying a wrong word and regret it all their life? It is said that “Silence is as deep as eternity and speech is as shallow as time.” To avoid trouble, decide what to say before we say it.

  

Proverbs 21:24 says we need a right attitude towards relationship. A prideful and haughty attitude is damning to life. Such an attitude is overbearing. People with such high and mighty mentality tend to mock and belittle others. Besides they are unable to take correction. They will ridicule those who dare to point out their flaws. They are made poorer by such an attitude.     

Proverbs 21:25 says having a right attitude will make us shun laziness. Work is never the longing of a lazy person. Without work, one will have no means to survive. His laziness will eventually kill him. Whereas Proverbs 21:26 says having a right attitude will help us to shun greed. Being greedy can cause one to hoard goods selfishly. It’s adopting the attitude of “grabbing all you can, then can all you’ve grabbed and sit in the can.”  We all have desire and longings in life but we must learn to re-channel our longings to God. When we direct our longings toward God, the source of all we have, we will find a greater release for all that we need. Let’s seek the giver and not just the gift.

Proverbs 21:14–19 – Living meaningfully with right preferences

Life often present itself with different settings. Some situations are to be preferred over others. Everyone has different personalities and temperaments. Of course, there are those that may have similar personalities in how they will respond or react to some situations but yet very different in others. Hence, we can either bring harmony or disruption to a relationship. It is only natural that we would prefer those who will contribute positively to a meaningful living. Proverbs 21:14-19 give us a set of alternative ways people will act. One is more desirable than the other. Let’s go for what will make the life of others more pleasant and meaningful rather than those that make them recoil from us.   

Proverbs 21:14 tells us the intention in a gift is important. When a gift is offered to someone with the intention to curry favour or pervert justice, it will create unfairness in relationship. There is no denial that God expects us to be righteous and fair. But when we give something, money or goods, secretly to someone in order to gain favour and cause someone else’s disadvantage, that’s not a gift. It is a bribe. When there is a reason for a gift, one that is given not to tip the scale to one’s advantage but is given openly, than that gift is truly a gift. We may offer a gift but we should never bribe. A gift given at the right time and place expresses one’s gratitude.  

Proverbs 21:15 tells us justice rightly administered brings joy to the righteous but ruin to the wicked. We must rejoice with someone for his or her right action. When we do not register our disapproval for any sinful and wrong action, we have inadvertently encouraged iniquities. Any thriving and growing community must include justice within its core agreement. Those who choose to live righteously will be comforted and relieved but those who prefer the path of wickedness should be petrified.   

Proverbs 21:16 tells us to stay on the right path of life. In the book of Proverbs, we see wisdom and folly often clearly contrasted. They are given to help us to choose the path of wisdom and understanding. In this verse we are encouraged to stay on this path of wisdom and understanding and have the assurance of true life. If we stray from this path, we will be led to a life full of nightmares and eventual death. Remember there is a path that may seem right and good but the end thereof is destruction.   

Proverbs 21:17 is an advice to be frugal. A wanton, pleasure-seeking life is not only hedonistic but also destructive. It is true that overindulgence causes one to be wasteful. A person who chooses such a life-style will not consider the end. We always give up something in order to have others. No one can sleep on two beds in one night. Frugality and riotous living are mutually exclusive. We cannot have one as well as the other. It is a choice we must make to live frugally or to live wastefully.   

Proverbs 21:18 in essence is saying that the righteous will be rewarded but the wicked will be punished. This suggests that the righteous will be delivered from destruction whereas the place of destruction is reserved for the wicked. It suggests that a righteous lifestyle is to be preferred over a wicked one.  

Proverbs 21:19 clearly tells us that a peaceful relationship is more desirable than a disruptive and contentious one. The word desert land is used to tell us that it’s a place devoid of modern convenience and hence not conducive for living. But even this place of great inconvenience is better than living in a war zone. The home can be a place of comfort and rest or it can be a place we shun. The choice is ours to make.  We can exist harmoniously when everyone lives with moderation and consideration. Choose wisely, live harmoniously and bring glory and honour to the Lord

Proverbs 21:10–13 – Lessons from observing life

A good way we can learn from life is through a keen observation. By observing how people respond or react to different situations in life we can learn much about what to do and what not to do. People who are discerning, evaluate everything they see. They avoid mistakes that others had made and emulate models provided by insightful and wise people. And we ought to be such people. We learn to ask probing questions and test every result. The truth is this: right answers in life are often attained by asking the right questions. In these four verses, Solomon had observed life and made some wise conclusions that we would do well to take note.  

Firstly, in Proverbs 21:10, he tells us that a person overtaken by covetousness is usually ruthless, merciless and cruel. Such a person will never stop planning evil. In fact, he takes no respite when it comes to scheming for evil. Without pity, he will sacrifice his friends or foes, so long as he gains. His is a win-lose mentality. Everybody must lose so that he could win. With him no one else has any opportunity to win. Totally self-centred, he has absolutely no compassion, not even to his neighbours and friends.  

Secondly, in Proverbs 21:11, he tells us that a person who is simple and lacking sense will always have to learn the hard way. He learns only when he sees a scoffer being punished. Simple instruction cannot work with such a person. What is said will just fly over his head. Only when discipline administered to the wayward, clearly observable to him, will make a lesson stick with him. On the other hand, a simple word of instruction is enough for the wise and perceptive. He can grasp a lesson and its implication without much elaboration.

Thirdly, in Proverbs 21:12, he tells us that people who want to live righteously consider and take note of the end result of the wicked. They can see how drastically and tragically the wicked will end. They know that every life is ever under the watchful eye of the LORD and everyone will have to give a final account of how he or she has conducted their life. Knowing the wicked will be brought to ruin, the righteous shun the path the wicked had adopted so that they will not end up like them.

Fourthly, in Proverbs 21:13, we are told that a person with a hardened heart has no room within him for sympathy. This is a warning not to be merciless. Such a person has to be careful because he himself has no immunity from life’s troubles. He may face a similar situation and because of his heartlessness, his plea for help will also go unheeded. His insensitivity and hardheartedness will be remembered against him when he needs help most.

The behaviors we see in others have much to teach us. The astute learn from them. The careless couldn’t be bothered even if they are clearly discernible. They ignore what is good and acceptable and will have to pay dearly. It is so true that a wise person knows that there are lessons we can learn from everyone, if we only remain open and perceptive.  So, look carefully and live perceptively! 

Proverbs 21:5-9 – Results of a fractured relationship with God

How deeply we are impacted by the relationship we have with God can be seen in how we conduct our life. We believers are encouraged to maintain constancy in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. So, in Colossians 2:6-7, Paul said, “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” There is a co-relation between our relationship with the Lord and how we will conduct our life. We develop virtues when we walk in close connection with God. The closer we stay connected to Him, the more obvious will be the virtues. And when our relationship with Him is disrupted and we give in to our propensity, vices will also be developed.

Covetousness is one vice that will become obvious when relationship with God is not intact. What we acquire through diligence and a carefully worked out plan last longer than what we obtain hurriedly. People who are diligent plan their work carefully, then put in the required effort to attain their plan. People who are covetous tend to be hasty. Their plans are usually ill-conceived. So, Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.” What a person hurriedly attain will not last. When they scheme to get what they want quickly, they are courting disaster.   

Duplicity is another vice of a person with disrupted relationship with God. He attains through deceit and dishonesty. Proverbs 21:6 tells us so. It is already bad to acquire one’s wealth through striving but it is worst to get it through deceit. It is like moving from what is not advisable to what is forbidden. Wealth that one acquires through deceit will have no durability. It is likened to vapor that is fleeting. We all have seen vapor and misty steam rising from the spout of a boiling kettle. They rise only to disappear quickly. That’s how durable wealth obtained via deceit will be. To go after wealth through deceit is pursing death.   

Nastiness is another vice that a person with a disrupted relationship with God will have. Verses 7-8 show us how that person’s actions will regress from bad to worse. From hastiness, he moves to deceit then to nasty activities.  Seized by viciousness, such a person will not observe human decency. Unbeknown to him, he becomes ensnared by his own violence. What he dishes to others will boomerang and return to haunt him. This person is so bent on his aggression that he becomes devoid of will power to do what is right and just. He becomes oblivious to divine retribution. So numbed by his own insensitivity to wrongful behaviour that he cannot do what is just, right and fair. On the other hand, an upright person whose relationship with God is intact will act differently. He will follow his God-centred, Word-directed and spirit-guided conscience and end up acting rightly and justly.

Contentious spirit is another vice that a person with a disrupted relationship with God will develop. In Proverbs 21:9 we are told, “It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman.” It is fair to say that this verse is not here to denigrate women. It is here to show how a contentious spirit can destroy peace in any setting. A home should be a place where one can find peace and rest. When it is riddled with a spirit of contention, it becomes a place of torment. The sweet fellowship to be provided in a home can be destroyed by disquiet, dissent and discord because of a contentious spirit. Therefore, maintain a close walk with God and keep a close relationship with Him.

Proverbs 21:1-4 – God is sovereign, we must live for Him

Without a doubt Proverbs 21:1 is true. “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” He is in sovereign control. Whether the king submits to God or not, he has to bend to God’s plan and purpose. For that matter God can choose to use anyone and everyone, be that person a king or a queen, a leader or an ordinary citizen, to fulfil His redemptive plan. For us believers we are His willing redemptive agents. For unbelievers, know it or know, they are all unwittingly God’s unwilling servants. And He often uses them to help shape His people to be more effective workers in the world. The song that says, “God has got the whole world in His hand” is so true. God ordains rulers of the land to ensure a safe society. Ultimately, it is He who will put them on or take them off the reign.

Proverbs 21:2 is inviting us to factor God into our plans in life. We may have certain desires and they may seem right before our eyes but may not be aligned with His purpose and plan. We must not be so cocksure that whatever we want is the best. We need to weigh in in the light of God’s ultimate plan for the world. It is His purpose and plan that will be brought to fruition. Hence it is better that we collaborate with Him than to work against Him.   

God prefers that we live righteous and just lives than to make a big show of our spirituality, so say Proverbs 21:3. If we don’t live right, no amount of faith will please God. Be mindful that justice and righteousness are derivatives of the principle of love. This in essence is what the Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:2-3. He says, “If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” Whether we be a leader or not, our duty in life is to show love and love is demonstrated in righteous and just living. 

Proverbs 21:4 is a warning against pride. This verse is not just talking about pride that causes us to look down on others. It is also about having a wanton ambition and an unfettered yearning for wealth and power. A person with such an ambition is full of himself or herself. He may have all the wealth, power and position, but the purpose is to exalt the self. In the eye of the Lord this is sin and it displeases the LORD. This verse is a warning against self-aggrandizement. We must humbly live to fulfill God’s will. 

Proverbs 20:26-30 – Tips to effective leadership

Proverbs 20:26-30 are counsels to kings. In his context as a king, Solomon speaks of wisdom, on how a king should conduct and act. For us, these verses can be applied to what we should do as leaders. In our role in leading or guiding people who look up to our leadership, these verses give us tips on how we must act and conduct ourselves too. Take note that leadership is an action, not a position.

In Proverbs 20:8, Solomon tells us that a king’s business is to administer justice. He must do so with wisdom. It reminds us to lead with wisdom so that we can be fair to the people we are leading., However, being fair requires us, as leaders, to discipline recalcitrant. We see this in Proverbs 20:26. Using the process of separating the grains from the chaff, we are shown that leadership requires us to deal harshly with the wicked. A wise leader does not just have the ability to identify evil, he must also deal with it severely and crush it.

In conjunction with leadership and how we need to act, Proverbs 20:27 shows us how critical it is for a leader to act with an enlightened conscience. For this matter, each one of us, whether leader or not, must learn to be guided by a God-educated conscience. There is a place within each of us that is spiritual in nature. It’s the place where the Spirit of God witnesses with our spirit. When we stay connected to God in this place all the time, we find great guidance to act rightly. When our conscience is touched and educated by the Spirit of God through the Word, we have a quickened conscience to guide us to act in ways that are pleasing to God. We will be guided to act rightly and appropriately. God searches our innermost being and when we are receptive, we will be imbued with divine insightfulness to act accurately.  

Proverbs 20:28 shows leaders that their authority must be exercised with integrity. Loyalty and truth are two critical elements that a king or a leader must have. When they are evident is a leader, his leadership will be sought and relied upon. Besides loyalty and truth, a leader must also exercise and uphold his role with uprightness.  

While we need physical prowess to energize our leadership, we will be remiss if we do not come to it with wisdom. The “young” is a symbol of strength and energy and in the “grey hair” we find tested experience. Proverbs 20:29 suggests that we need both energy and the wisdom of experience to guide us into effectiveness as a leader. Here’s another way to apply this proverb. The young must learn to respect the old and the old must learn not to despise the young. In so doing, we complement each other’s strength and supplement each other’s lack.  

Proverbs 20:30 says, “Stripes that wound scour away evil, and strokes reach the innermost parts.” What is it telling us? If we are to exercise leadership wisely and effectively, we cannot dismiss adopting desperate measures when they are called for. Discipline is warranted to remove unwanted behaviours. Steps taken to correct a wrong must be able to deal with the flaws effectually. No point using measures that will gross over a wrong and not dealt with it. Effective measures are what will leave a deep imprint so that the offender will not want to repeat the same mistake again.

Spiritual Leadership is influence. We must make bringing out the best in others for the Lord, as a constant goal in exercising leadership. It will require us to teach, counsel, coach and even to take harsh measures. But always keep at the forefront of our minds that we do it to bring out the best in others.  

Proverbs 20:22-25 – Rely in the LORD

The privilege of being a child of God is the blessed access we have to Him. God is always looking out for us. He wants the very best for us in life. Thus, we must live mindfully, remembering that we are not our own, we belong to Hm. He has a purpose for us and if we live our life to fulfil His purpose, we find great satisfaction. He knows what we need most to truly live a life. So He has made every provision we need to accomplish His purpose, no matter how trying life may be. We can trust Him when circumstances are congenial and even when they are not. He has made many great promises like Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Also, Jeremiah 29:11-12 that say, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” And Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who is against us?” What a blessed life we can have when we live for Him! In Proverbs 20:22-25 we are given four guidelines on how to relate with the Lord.

Verse 22 reminds us that we are His and we can trust Him because He undertakes to deal with people with ill intention against us. We need not take matters into our hand for the injustice, He can see them and will duly deal with our oppressors. In other places in the Bible such as Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; and Hebrews 10:30, God reminds us that vengeance belongs to Him and He will repay it. Our faith in Him demands that we be patient in hope and trust Him to correct any inequalities we may have to encounter in life. Always remember that enduring hardship builds patience, and patience develops character and character brings hope. And hope does not fail us. God is waiting to intervene on our behalf.

Verse 23 reminds us to deal honestly in life. Deceit and falsehood are repugnant to the Lord. If we want to truly please God, we must never let live deceitfully. God wants us to deal fairly and with integrity. We must emulate His faithfulness and deal fairly like Him.

Verse 24 reminds us to rely on Him for guidance. We cannot expect to live full and satisfying life by trusting our own ways. Man may plan his steps, but ultimately it is God’s will that will be accomplished. We are unlike God who is all seeing and all knowing. He sees the end from the beginning. Whereas our understanding is progressive with time. It would be foolhardy not to seek His guidance and walk in His direction. Psalm 37:23 puts it this way, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” When we walk in His guided path, we bring delight to Him. Let us learn to live according to divine revelation.

Finally, verse 25 reminds us that we must never renege on our word to the LORD. To live a consecrated life is certainly good, but when we have made a pledge to do so, let’s not go back on our word. Every promise we make to God should be binding. We must do all we can to fulfil it. Be careful and think through before we make any vow to the Lord. Any promise given impulsively can become a snare to our conscience and stumbles us. Prolonged and repeated failure to keep a vow builds in us a life that is not trustworthy.  Always give our fullest consideration before we make a vow to the Lord.

Proverbs 20:20-21 – Honoring parents

Filial piety is differently demonstrated in diverse cultures. Regardless of which culture we may be, Proverbs 20:20 has this to say, “He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp will go out in time of darkness.” Loving parents and honoring them is a clear demonstration of a child’s obedience to them. To curse them is inconceivable. So, the Word of God guarantees sure punishment to those who will dishonour their parents.

The Bible makes it clear that cursing them is a no-no. One will do so at his or her own peril. In Moses’ days, it was a capital crime to curse one’s parents. A person who denigrates his parents will receive divine retribution. He or she will find himself or herself surrounded by deep darkness with no avenue of escape. Figuratively speaking, the word “lamp” refers to prosperity and happiness. A son who dishonours his parents will find his lamp extinguished. He will have no fame or reputation neither will his posterity.

Verse 21 states clearly that that there is no lasting value to a get-rich-quick scheme in life. Asset obtained via such scheme will also dissipate just as quickly as they had been attained. So, we are told that “An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.” Just like the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable, is a person who loves the father’s goods but does not love the father. What is hurriedly hassled will not last. They will be squandered just as quickly. In relation to verse 20, this verse suggests that an unfilial son, who will cheat his parents out of their possession in old age, does not consider the plight of his parents. How he prematurely obtains the inheritance he will destroy it just as prematurely.  

We must always remember parents may not be perfect, but they are God’s perfect gifts to us. So, cherish them for who they are. Remember the seventh commandment of God given through Moses. So “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” We must obey them when we are young, love them when they are old and always find time to honour and look after them. They look after us when we were young, so we must take care of them when they are old.

Proverbs 20:13-19 – Cultivating godly and effective work ethos

Work is a God-given mandate. In Genesis, the Bible makes it clear that after God had created Adam, He instructed him to dress, keep and till the garden and to have dominion over all of His other creations. That was God’s first assignment to man. Work has been part and parcel of meaningful living. Most people would feel useless when they cannot work. If we are to find life meaningful, fruitful and fulfilling, we need to develop qualities that will enhance good work ethics. In Proverbs 20:13-19, we are given several good work ethics to consider so that we can be effective workers that God intends for us to be. All roads that lead to success will have to go through the avenue of hard work. What are some work qualities we need to cultivate?

The first work ethic we need to cultivate is being industrious. Verse 13 advocates that we should not be sleeping when there’s work to be done. The difference between the have and have not’s is their willingness to apply themselves to work. When we are prepared to work we cannot remain poor for long. Hard work always pays.  

The second work ethic we need is confidence. Verse 14 says “‘Bad, bad,’ says the buyer, but when he goes his way, then he boasts.” What does Solomon mean? At a glance, this verse seems to have a negative connotation. The buyer seems to depreciate the value of the goods just to gain a great bargain. When he had obtained what he wants at the bargain price, he then goes away boasting about the goods which he had depreciated. One way to see this verse is as an encouragement to stay confident so that we will not be swayed by the opinions of others. When we are confident of the value of the product we are marketing or the service we are offering, we will not be easily hook-winked by hasslers.

The third work ethic we need to have is knowledge regarding our work. Verse 15 says, “There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; but the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.” Effectiveness comes with knowledge. That’s why it is preferred to gold or precious gems. A person lacking knowledge may adorn oneself with jewellery of all sorts, yet he is not better than one who has no jewellery but great knowledge.

The fourth work ethic we need to cultivate is smart work. Hard work is needful if we are to succeed at work but equally important if not more is smart work. The sudden discussion about not being a co-signee or a guarantor in verse 16 seems detached from the theme of work ethics. On deeper reflection, this verse advocates that we are smart if we do not stand as surety for another’s loan. But if we need to, be smart. Make sure we take a collateral. This smart move will ensure that we don’t end up incurring personal loss.  

The fifth work ethic advocated in verse 17 is to cultivate honesty. What this verse is saying is that dishonesty had no permanent fulfilment. We may seem to gain through duplicitous deal, but the negative impact is greater when that deceit is discovered. It is better to be honest and build a good name than to practise deceit and gain a bad reputation.

The sixth work ethic to cultivate is being far-sighted. Every risk taken must be calculated carefully. Remember to seek the counsel of the wise and experienced. Invest we must but due consideration and wisdom ought to be sought. It pays to be prudent. Always measure twice but cut once.   

The seventh work ethic to cultivate is to exercise caution and confidentiality. This verse seems to be talking about a gossiper. And that we should not trust one. He or she cannot be entrusted with secret. More aptly, this verse counsels us not to share freely and undiscerningly. To do so is to give away one’s trade secret. No one can do that without injuring his own venture. Be thoughtful who you share your trade secret with!    

The drive of these verses is an inducement to developing good work ethics. Having them is the key to success. Therefore, we must apply ourselves to whatever we do. In whatever assignment, our work ethics will be reflected in the way we go about it. Remember Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”   

Proverbs 20:5–12 – Live discerningly

The ability to evaluate and  judge well is important to making good decisions. God has a plan for our life so also is the enemy. Discernment helps us to embrace God’s and battle the enemy’s. Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher said, “Discernment is not simply telling the difference between right and wrong, rather it is telling between right and almost right.” Because of our fallen propensity, we believers need to be more watchful over our moral. And as we ruminate over these verses, we will realize that God expects us to be authentic in our commitment and be people of integrity. We are also encouraged to be impartial in evaluating matters and be modest in self-evaluation. And in all business dealings we are expected to be straightforward and honest. Hence, being discerning becomes an indispensable quality we must develop. It will enable us to live discerningly in a world of perplexities. 

Verses 5-6 tell us the necessity to identify the real intention of a person. Like deep water underneath the surface of earth, a person’s real intentions are concealed. What he says may not necessarily represent his real intention. It takes skills and discernment to draw understanding of his intention and draw out his hidden thoughts. Be mindful that many people may talk about their loyalty but what is said may be furthest from reality and truth. People lacking integrity are long in promises and short in performance.  

Verse 7 is an exhortation for parents. It is a call for parents to model integrity. They must live with sound, moral and godly principles in life. When these qualities are obviously clear and discernible in their lives, their children will have great examples to emulate. Truly blessed are children whose parents clearly model these values for them.  

Verse 8 refers particularly to a king on his judgement throne, which many of us are not. We shall look at it from the perspective of people in leadership role. Let’s look at it from our roles as fathers, mothers, employers, supervisors or people whom others look up to. In those roles, we often are called upon to mediate the differences between the people we are leading. We must be distinguished by our impartiality. Like a discerning king we need to shift and evaluate between what’s true and right and what’s not from all that we hear. We must discerningly arbitrate the situation fairly and correctly and dispel all wrong so that they will not be perpetuated.  

Verses 9-10 call for personal discernment. We must not be self-deluded or deceived to think that we are flawless. Paul in the letter to the Romans tells us, but for the grace of God given through Christ, there is none righteous, not even one. If we don’t exercise personal discernment, we may be deceived to believe that we are more than what we truly are. Lacking personal discernment will lead a person to self-deception, often displayed in conceit and self-righteousness. Without personal discernment, people could be blinded by a false perception of themselves, that they will strut around like a peacock pridefully oblivious to their spiritual deadness. Illustrating with weight and measures, verse 10 tells us not to measure others with standards that we ourselves are not prepared to keep. A godly and discerning person would not do to others what they would not do to themselves. We must treat others as we will treat ourselves.  

To put it simply, action always speak louder than words. What we do will depict more clearly than what we can describe in a thousand words. A key way to discern is an accurate observation. We are encouraged to be transparent and straightforward in action. Be childlike and act without guile. No wonder Jesus tells us to be as honest and innocent as little children. Why? Because a young child has not acquired the habit of hiding their true intention like an adult. When they are properly instructed, and shown the right model to live, they will learn to live life discerningly. Verse 12 is telling. Our ability to discern accurately through observation or listening are gifts from our LORD. We must deploy them to accurately discern every aspect of life. We must use the faculties of sight and listening to rightly discern the good and right way to live. Remember that spiritual truths are spiritually discerned, and we need to detect them with the help of the Spirit. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that there are “Things which eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man (but) God has prepared them for us who love Him. So, let’s live discerningly to His honor!

Proverbs 20:1-4 – Four vices we should not cultivate

A vice in life always seems pleasurable when one is indulging in it. Remember, it will not appear as a vice even after one has felt its negative effect. It may not even be realized until after one has been practicing it for many years and even for life. It is a vice because a person indulging in one is often oblivious to its harm. Proverbs 20:1-4 identify four vices we are to avoid.

Proverbs 20:1 discourages us from the vice of binging excessively over alcohol. A victim of alcoholism often realizes the harm too late. It can turn a gentle person into a brawler and causes him to behave at a level beneath that of a beast. At that drunken moment, the drunkard surrenders his reason to lust and to all kinds of undesirable appetite. He will only realize after he had sobered up, and the influence of alcohol over his drunken stupor had worn off. A drunkard has been known for abusing his wife and children. The second part of verse 1 insists that whoever is led astray by it is not wise. Always bear in mind that we human beings bear the greatest resemble to the image of God. When we are under the influence of alcohol we denigrate that image, and live below the dignity our image demands. The bane of it all is that when he becomes sober after being led astray and mocked, the alcoholic would go seeking it again. Perhaps that’s the reason Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 5:18 saying, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation….”

Proverbs 20:2 discourages us from indulging in rebelling against God’s ordained authority. In the New testament we have seen how believers had been called to submit to governmental authority, stating that they are ordained of God. It is to one’s peril to go against a God ordained government. The context when this proverb was written was monarchy and it is wrong to go against a king that God had approved and appointed. In our context it would be wrong to rebel against a constitutionally elected sound government. We do not resist the authority without jeopardizing and endangering our well-being. Wisdom dictates that we be good and orderly citizens.

Proverbs 20:3 discourages us from indulging in needless striving. A sensible person refuses to be drawn into an-uncalled-for quarrel or argument with an unreasonable person. When we walk away from such a person, we avoid his needless insults and injuries. A person lacking sense would take that person on, and end up in reckless controversy and hurting himself and his family.

Proverbs 20:4 discourages us from indulging in a life of laziness. Different seasons of life are ordained for different purposes. When we refuse to seize the moment and achieve the purpose of that season, our passivity will cause our ineffectiveness. So, Verse 4 says, “The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing.” To neglect God’s appointed moment, either through procrastination or laziness, only leads to despair and ruin. We must seize every opportunity and do what Paul in Ephesians 5:16 has exhorted us to do. “Redeem the time, or opportunity, for the days are evil.”               

Proverbs 19:26-29 – Acting right as a son and as a citizen

Generally, people who believe in the Almighty God find peace with Him, with others and with himself. They are a joy to relate with as a family member, as a friend in a community, as a fellow worker in a company or as a citizen of a nation. Such people can co-exist with others peacefully. They are not at ought with authority whether at home, at work or in the nation. As believers, we need to constantly deal with the residual of our sin nature. Remember God is constantly moulding, sanctifying and transforming us as we walk with Him in close relationship with Him. We owe our allegiance to God and are obliged to live as good members in a family, the community and the nation. God hates rebelliousness. Anyone who goes against authority is repugnant to the Lord. Proverbs 19:26-29 remind us never to mock the authority.

Verses 26-27 deal with the situation in the home. We are counselled not to neglect our parents. Verse 26 says, “He who assaults his father and drives his mother away is a shameful and disgraceful son.” It is a vile act for a son to mistreat his parents. God considers it deplorable when a son fails to provide for his aged parents. The result of such a neglect will see the father becoming a destitute and a mother driven from home to live with others. As a son, it will do us well to accept wise counsel and good discipline. When we fail to do so, we will likely become disrespectful and ill-mannered and stray from true knowledge. He will lack what it takes to live righteously and be pleasing to God.

Verses 28-29 deal with a situation in the nation. We are to honour people in authority and the rule of law of the nation. God expects us to be faithful and truthful witnesses in the society. When call upon to testify we must always show integrity and give account of what we know to be the truth. To falsify will make a person a worthless witness with no integrity.  Such a person who has no qualm in spreading falsehood and lies scoffs at justice. He has no regard for his personal obligation as a citizen.  A person may disregard authority and think he can go unchecked. He is woefully wrong. Verse 29 tells us that soon, he will have to account for his action. We must know that we cannot trifle with what God had ordained and expect to go unpunished. The blow will ultimately come.

The call of Proverbs 19 is for us to live a well-ordered life and enjoy harmony with God, self and others. And to have that we must remember that rebelliousness, whether in the home or in the nation, cannot bring about harmony. So, be sure to be a good family member at home and a good citizen in the country.

Proverbs 19:16-25 – Essentials to a well-ordered life

The strength of a society is determined by the strength of the homes. And a strong home is made up of well-ordered lives. When everyone in the home seeks to live life observing sound principles, a well-ordered home is guaranteed. In Proverbs 19:16-25 God has given us seven essentials that will help us to live a well-ordered life.

To have a well-ordered life, verse 16 said one needful thing is to be obedient to the commandment. The word commandment here is most likely referring to God’s commandments given through Moses. The Ten commandments, as we know, are the summary or the distillation of all that God expects of His people. Obedience to them means life and a well-ordered society. Verse 17 singles out an area where we can exercise obedience. In Moses’ writings in the first five books of the Bible, we find God time and again shows great concern for the poor and needy. He gave instructions that they ought to be cared for. Here we are told, The LORD becomes obligated to one who lends to the poor. Giving to the poor does not necessarily mean giving money. It can also mean providing any assistance that could alleviate the condition of the needy.

Proverbs 19:18 gives us the second essential to a well-ordered life. It is none other than discipline. When discipline is instilled, a child has a better chance of growing up to be a decent and well-mannered adult. Disciplining a child while he is still young and impressionable is needful. When good habits and conduct are instilled they will form his manners in life. The second half of this verse tells us that not to discipline a child while he is yet susceptible to training will ensure his death. This is a strong word. Perhaps the word ruin will be a good replacement. If we do not train a child while he or she is yet trainable, we ensure his ruin - moral, spiritual and ultimately physical ruin. Verse 25 also relates to discipline. In this verse we are told that discipline is not only an essential it should be commended. Here we see two ways of administering discipline. A simple person needs to be shown how to avoid trouble. When he sees how a wicked suffers, he will wise up. But for one who is sensible and street-smart, a word of reprove will do the job. Parents should evaluate their children and deploy the right way to administer discipline.   

The next essential to a well-ordered life is to exercise self-control. A lack of it spells trouble. Any one lacking it will have to pay the price for the lack. He could be salvaged from the consequence once, but if his temper is not harnessed, he is likely to repeat it again. The verse is a call for us to exercise self-control. This is certainly one of the fruits of a spirit-guided and led life. And we need it to live a well-ordered life.

Verses 20-21 show us the fourth essential to a well-ordered life. It is wisdom learned through wise counsel. People who seek wise counsel and apply them to life will be enabled to live an organized life. He will be able to live discerningly and act appropriately all his life. Verse 21 tells us that the best counsel we can have is the counsel of the LORD. We all make plans and determine how we want our life to be, nothing beats the will and purpose of God. When we seek the mind of our faithful unchanging LORD and plan to walk according to His will, we will walk securely.  

Verse 22 spells out the next essential to a well-ordered life, it is being honest. When we have a desire to be kind it is a good thing and we ought to seek to be kind. But what good would it be if we are not able to keep our word and intention. This suggests that when we promise to do something good for another person, we should endeavour to do so. It is not good to make a promise and then not keep it. We must say what we mean and mean what we say.

Godly fear is the next essential to a well-ordered life. Verse 23 says “The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.” When we yield to God and live a life pleasing to Him, He places a protective hedge over our life. We can experience peace in times of turmoil and uncertainty. His grace will be more than sufficient for all our needs. Yielding to Him will help us to lead a sanctified life.  

In verse 24 the essential is put in a negative way. It is to denounce laziness. A person who is lazy will find himself unwilling to do a thing to help himself. He will not even be willing to lift his finger to feed himself. This of course is an exaggeration to prove a point. When a person is lazy he will wince at the slightest work. He is not willing to exert the smallest effort to secure his own living.   

It is said that “A well-ordered life is like a tower; the view half way is better than the view at the base, and it steadily becomes finer as the horizon expands.” Exercising these seven essentials given in these verses help to view life from a higher plain. Let us put them into practise.

Proverbs 19:8-15 – Things to avoid in life

A person who has wisdom understands and learns much in life. He is sensible and wise and will make the most of life ensuring that his capacity is maximized. He is also one who seeks understanding and allows wisdom to dictate how he should conduct his life. He is aware that there are traits in life that will not contribute to meaningful relationship. He knows that to exist harmoniously with others, it is needful for him to identify what will disrupt relationship and will do all he can to avoid those traits.

Proverbs 19:9 says that the first thing we need to avoid is to bear false witness. It is a bad thing to tell untruth and get someone into trouble. A person who perjures will not escape punishment. God had stated this clearly in the Ten Commandments. He said that we must not bear false witness. Hence, we must be truthful and not spread falsehood.

The second thing a wise person will avoid is overdoing life. Verse 10 says, “Luxury is not fitting for a fool; much less for a slave to rule over prince.” It is inappropriate for one lacking sense to be given luxury. He won’t know how to handle it. He will surely misuse and squander the privilege he is given. The second half of this verse also suggests that we should wisely appraise a person and appropriately assign tasks that befit his capability. It is foolhardy to appoint someone into a position he is not capable of handling. Some people are promoted to incompetence. It is certainly unwise to give to an abusive servant power, because he has the tendency to become tyrannical.   

Proverbs 19:11-12 tell us the third thing we should avoid is unrestraint anger. A person with discretion does not fly off the handle needlessly. He will instead show great restraint and is not annoyed by pettiness. He will not lower his dignity to pick a quarrel over petty little matter. It is foolishness to arouse the anger of someone in authority. He will deal with us harshly when that happens. But when we do what is right and pleasing to him, we gain his favour. That is as refreshing as the morning dew.   

The fourth thing we do not want is to have a home that lacks harmony. Two individuals are singled out to show how disharmony in a home can be created. They are a foolish son and a nagging wife. A foolish son has the tendency of making bad decision that will bring the father to ruin. Because of his love for his son, the father will have to keep contending with the wrong decision this foolish son has made. A nagging wife is a constant irritation to the husband. Her nagging is likened to a leaky tap that keeps on dripping, creating needless annoyance and provocation. Both the foolish son and nagging wife will create disharmony for the home. A man who has wise children and an understanding wife is truly blessed. A good wife is a great blessing from the LORD.  

The fifth thing that’s not fitting for fruitful living is laziness. While he should be working, a lazy man would rather sleep. Without a doubt, laziness is a foolish strategy for living. Why? Because it will lead to self-destruction. It will lure one into idleness and lead to a life of poverty and want. Life is a gift from God, and we must exercise proper stewardship of our time, talents and treasures. How we handle them will determine how meaningful life will be. So, in Ephesians 5:15-17, Paul admonishes us to “…be careful how you walk, …making the most of your time, … do not be foolish, … understand what the will of the Lord is.”       

Proverbs 19:1-7 – We need not be defined by poverty

Wealth is amoral. It is neither good nor bad but what we do with it determines whether wealth has been put to good use or not. Billy Graham once said, “There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.”  Wealth and poverty are good test of a person’s character. A person’s character is often determined by how he handles wealth. Proverbs 19:1-2 tell us that the worst condition in life is not a man lacking wealth, but one who fails to walk in integrity. It is far better to be poor but live honestly than seeking to be rich through dishonest means. Only a fool believes that he can be rich using unscrupulous means. Careless usage of wealth can make one poor. Being ignorant could be a reason why a person is poor. He has no clear goal in life and hence heedlessly squanders it. On the other hand, a person could also be poor because he acts without thinking and thus squanders his wealth thoughtlessly. Both the ignorant and the thoughtless will make blunder concerning wealth and be made poor.

Poverty, verse 3 tells us, can also be the reason why some people are hostile toward God. They fail to follow divine principles in handling wealth. Foolishly, they make choices that ruin their lives and then put the blame squarely on God for their stupid choices.  

Poverty is one reason why some people lack friends. People can be attracted by a person’s wealth because they feel they can benefit from the wealthy. The poor on the other hand finds his friends separating from him. Poor people are deemed to have little to offer to anyone but burden. That’s the reason verse 7 tells us that even relatives of a poor would shun him. His plea for assistance would often go unheeded. They would instead stay away from him.

Poverty can drive one to tell lies. When a person is poor he may resort to lies and malice to seek friendship. Here the word warns against it. A tale-bearer will ultimately be punished. Poverty can also cause a person to accept bribe. Wanting to find favor with the rich and generous, a poor man can become susceptible to a bribe. While poverty is not pleasant, one need not remain poor. The Bible advocates honesty and diligence. When one puts his heart and hand to work hard, he cannot remain poor for long. This is the universal law. What a man sows, he shall also reap!