The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:To know wisdom and instruction,To perceive the words of understanding,To receive the instruction of wisdom,Justice, judgment, and equity;To give prudence to the simple,To the young man knowledge and discretion--A wise man will hear and increase learning,And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,To understand a proverb and an enigma,The words of the wise and their riddles.The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,But fools despise wisdom and instruction.My son, hear the instruction of your father,And do not forsake the law of your mother;For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,And chains about your neck.– Proverbs 1:1-9

My son, if sinners entice you,Do not consent.If they say, "Come with us,Let us lie in wait to shed blood;Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,We shall fill our houses with spoil;Cast in your lot among us,Let us all have one purse"--My son, do not walk in the way with them,Keep your foot from their path;For their feet run to evil,And they make haste to shed blood.Surely, in vain the net is spreadIn the sight of any bird;But they lie in wait for their own blood,They lurk secretly for their own lives.So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;It takes away the life of its owners.– Proverbs 1:10-19

Wisdom calls aloud outside;She raises her voice in the open squares.She cries out in the chief concourses,At the openings of the gates in the cityShe speaks her words:"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?For scorners delight in their scorning,And fools hate knowledge.Turn at my rebuke;Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;I will make my words known to you.Because they hated knowledgeAnd did not choose the fear of the Lord,They would have none of my counselAnd despised my every rebuke.Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,And be filled to the full with their own fancies.For the turning away of the simple will slay them,And the complacency of fools will destroy them;But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,And will be secure, without fear of evil."– Proverbs 1:20-23, 29-33

For the Lord gives wisdom;From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;He guards the paths of justice,And preserves the way of His saints.Then you will understand righteousness and justice,Equity and every good path.– Proverbs 2:6-9

When wisdom enters your heart,And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,Discretion will preserve you;Understanding will keep you,To deliver you from the way of evil,From the man who speaks perverse things,From those who leave the paths of uprightnessTo walk in the ways of darkness;Who rejoice in doing evil,And delight in the perversity of the wicked;Whose ways are crooked,And who are devious in their paths;To deliver you from the immoral woman,From the seductress who flatters with her words,Who forsakes the companion of her youth,And forgets the covenant of her God.For her house leads down to death,And her paths to the dead;None who go to her return,Nor do they regain the paths of life--So you may walk in the way of goodness,And keep to the paths of righteousness.– Proverbs 2:10-20

Wisdom Brings PeaceMy son, do not forget my law,But let your heart keep my commands;For length of days and long lifeAnd peace they will add to you.Let not mercy and truth forsake you;Bind them around your neck,Write them on the tablet of your heart,And so find favor and high esteemIn the sight of God and man.– Proverbs 3:1-4

Today I want to briefly focus on part of verse 2 (the fourth line of this passage). Solomon writes that using wisdom can add peace. A person who uses wisdom and routinely makes wise choices doesn’t have a lot of negative consequences to deal with, in contrast to someone who does not make the same wise decisions. Therefore, such a person can focus less on this world and more on God, allowing His wonderful peace to flow freely into his or her heart and mind.

Trust in the Lord, Not in YourselfTrust in the Lord with all your heart,And lean not on your own understanding;In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He shall direct your paths.Do not be wise in your own eyes;Fear the Lord and depart from evil.It will be health to your flesh,And strength to your bones.– Proverbs 3:5-8

Verses 5 and 6 of this passage are two of the most frequently quoted verses in the entire book of Proverbs. I want to ask you to reflect on yourself for a moment. How often do you truly “trust in the Lord with all your heart”? How often do you do what He leads you to do and follow His commands without hesitation? So often we want to understand what God is doing, but we can’t always see the big picture like He can. But if we follow Him regardless of whether or not we understand what He is trying to do, then we have learned what faith is all about.

Honor God with PossessionsHonor the Lord with your possessions,And with the firstfruits of all your increase;So your barns will be filled with plenty,And your vats will overflow with new wine.– Proverbs 3:9-10

The first line of this passage gives us some pretty clear instructions. The question is, do you live your life in such a way as to honor the Lord with your possessions? Perhaps you’re not even sure what that means. To me, it means that everything ultimately belongs to God. While I think God is okay with us making an occasional purchase just for pleasure or entertainment, we should not go around spending a whole lot of money on ourselves when so many people across the world have absolutely nothing compared to all that we have been blessed with in this country. If we honor God first, giving away as much as we can to help those in need, He will bless us in return, and we will always have everything that we need (not “want” but “need”). But you have to first trust God enough to do what seems unnatural: Give more away in order to receive more in return.

Correction = LoveMy son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,Nor detest His correction;For whom the Lord loves He corrects,Just as a father the son in whom he delights.– Proverbs 3:11-12

This is one key part of God’s love that fewer and fewer people seem to fully understand as time goes on. Why does God present so many rules and guidelines for us to follow? Some people believe that God doesn’t want us to have any fun, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. He just knows the pain and unnecessary drama that so often results when people do things that seem “fun” in a worldly sense. For example, look at adultery and divorce, two sins that are rampant in our society today. Jesus specifically tells us not to do those things because He loves us so much that He doesn’t want us to have to go through the pain that, in one way or another, always accompanies those sins. Just as a loving parent corrects a child’s mistakes (though, sadly, many parents have become misguided in this area), our Father corrects our mistakes because of how much He loves us.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom,And the man who gains understanding;For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,And her gain than fine gold.She is more precious than rubies,And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.Length of days is in her right hand,In her left hand riches and honor.Her ways are ways of pleasantness,And all her paths are peace.She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,And happy are all who retain her.– Proverbs 3:13-18

My son, let them not depart from your eyes--Keep sound wisdom and discretion;So they will be life to your soulAnd grace to your neck.Then you will walk safely in your way,And your foot will not stumble.When you lie down, you will not be afraid;Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.Do not be afraid of sudden terror,Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;For the Lord will be your confidence,And will keep your foot from being caught.– Proverbs 3:21-26

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,When it is in the power of your hand to do so.Do not say to your neighbor,"Go, and come back,And tomorrow I will give it,"When you have it with you.Do not devise evil against your neighbor,For he dwells by you for safety's sake.Do not strive with a man without cause,If he has done you no harm.– Proverbs 3:27-30

Darkness and LightDo not enter the path of the wicked,And do not walk in the way of evil.Avoid it, do not travel on it;Turn away from it and pass on.For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.For they eat the bread of wickedness,And drink the wine of violence.But the path of the just is like the shining sun,That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.The way of the wicked is like darkness;They do not know what makes them stumble.– Proverbs 4:14-19

Perhaps this idea explains why some people tend to blame others for their mistakes. If they are walking in darkness, they cannot see what causes them to stumble and fall. As Christians it is our job not to walk the same path and cause it to be even darker but to be the light to the world, helping lead others to the light of Jesus.

Smooth-TalkersFor the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,And her mouth is smoother than oil;But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,Sharp as a two-edged sword.Her feet go down to death,Her steps lay hold of hell.Lest you ponder her path of life--Her ways are unstable;You do not know them.Therefore hear me now, my children,And do not depart from the words of my mouth.Remove your way far from her,And do not go near the door of her house,Lest you give your honor to others,And your years to the cruel one.– Proverbs 5:3-9

This passage can apply to both men and women. Be careful never to let yourself be led astray by someone whose words are as sweet as honey and as smooth as oil. Many, many people have brought ruin upon themselves by falling into the sensual trap of another person.

LazinessGo to the ant, you sluggard!Consider her ways and be wise,Which, having no captain,Overseer or ruler,Provides her supplies in the summer,And gathers her food in the harvest.How long will you slumber, O sluggard?When will you rise from your sleep?A little sleep, a little slumber,A little folding of the hands to sleep--So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,And your need like an armed man.– Proverbs 6:6-11

Laziness is becoming a big problem in our society today. It seems that more and more people want to be given everything instead of working for it, in stark contrast to the hard work that our ancestors were known for. But this proverb encourages us to work hard and take care of ourselves. Certainly, God will also take care of us, but He doesn’t want us to become lazy in the process because laziness harms us as well as the work we need to be doing for Him.

A worthless person, a wicked man,Walks with a perverse mouth;He winks with his eyes,He shuffles his feet,He points with his fingers;Perversity is in his heart,He devises evil continually,He sows discord.Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.– Proverbs 6:12-15

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

I find it interesting that most of these things that are called abominations to the Lord are things that many people consider to be “not all that bad.” Being overly proud, lying, or causing discord in the church--those may not sound like they would be at the top of the list of things God hates, but clearly they are. The third item on the list (hands that shed innocent blood) probably doesn’t apply to you, but what about the other six? Examine yourself closely and honestly to see if you have been guilty of doing any of those things, and remember this passage the next time you are tempted to do them again.

The Parent-Child RelationshipMy son, keep your father's command,And do not forsake the law of your mother.Bind them continually upon your heart;Tie them around your neck.When you roam, they will lead you;When you sleep, they will keep you;And when you awake, they will speak with you.– Proverbs 6:20-22

This passage has lessons for both parents and children. Children need to remember to respect their parents and their rules, as is repeated in other parts of the Bible as well. At the same time, however, parents need to be there to make those rules in the first place. Our world is filling up quickly with parents who do not want the responsibility; they just want to be friends with their child(ren). However, that isn’t good for anyone involved. Children need a set of rules to follow; they need order and discipline to learn the difference between right and wrong. That is the way God intended for the relationship to work.

For the commandment is a lamp,And the law a light;Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,To keep you from the evil woman,From the flattering tongue of a seductress.Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.For by means of a harlotA man is reduced to a crust of bread;And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.Can a man take fire to his bosom,And his clothes not be burned?Can one walk on hot coals,And his feet not be seared?– Proverbs 6:23-28

Adultery Destroys Your Own SoulWhoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;He who does so destroys his own soul.Wounds and dishonor he will get,And his reproach will not be wiped away.– Proverbs 6:32-33

Adultery is a sin that is becoming more commonplace. But make no mistake about it--if you go down that road, as this passage clearly says, you will destroy your own soul. The act of adultery carries with it serious consequences that will last for the rest of your life. Even if you are fortunate enough to restore your family life back to normal after the fact, you will never be able to change what happened. Committing adultery also shows complete and total selfishness, as you are only concerned with how you feel and getting pleasure for yourself without thinking about the impact on your spouse. I urge you, don’t alter the rest of your life for one fleeting moment in which you feel the illusion of pleasure. It is never worth the price you’ll pay from that point forward.

For at the window of my houseI looked through my lattice,And saw among the simple,I perceived among the youths,A young man devoid of understanding,Passing along the street near her corner;And he took the path to her houseIn the twilight, in the evening,In the black and dark night. ...Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;Let us delight ourselves with love.For my husband is not at home;He has gone on a long journey;He has taken a bag of money with him,And will come home on the appointed day."With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,With her flattering lips she seduced him.Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,Till an arrow struck his liver.As a bird hastens to the snare,He did not know it would cost his life.– Proverbs 7:6-9, 18-23

The End Result...Till an arrow struck his liver.As a bird hastens to the snare,He did not know it would cost his life.Her house is the way to hell,Descending to the chambers of death.– Proverbs 7:23, 27

Last week we took a look at a bigger part of the story given in Proverbs 7 about a young man who was seduced by a woman. Today we will focus on the not-so-happy ending to that story. I don’t think it literally means that he died; I think it means that he gave his life over to these sinful desires, letting them control him and his decisions. Satan may trick you into believing that things like adultery and premarital sex (which nearly 80 percent of young people in the church are doing, according to a disturbing survey I recently read about) are exciting in the moment, but they always lead to a spiritual death. God doesn’t give us these commands because He doesn’t want us to have fun; He simply loves us and knows how destructive such behavior can be in the long run. Don’t compromise your spiritual walk for a few moment of pseudo-pleasure. It’s never worth it.

Does not wisdom cry out,And understanding lift up her voice?She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,Beside the way, where the paths meet.She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,At the entrance of the doors:"To you, O men, I call,And my voice is to the sons of men.O you simple ones, understand prudence,And you fools, be of an understanding heart.Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,And from the opening of my lips will come right things;For my mouth will speak truth;Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.They are all plain to him who understands,And right to those who find knowledge.Receive my instruction, and not silver,And knowledge rather than choice gold;For wisdom is better than rubies,And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her."– Proverbs 8:1-11

"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,And find out knowledge and discretion.The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;Pride and arrogance and the evil wayAnd the perverse mouth I hate.Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;I am understanding, I have strength.By me kings reign,And rulers decree justice.By me princes rule, and nobles,All the judges of the earth.I love those who love me,And those who seek me diligently will find me.Riches and honor are with me,Enduring riches and righteousness.My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,And my revenue than choice silver.I traverse the way of righteousness,In the midst of the paths of justice,That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,That I may fill their treasuries.– Proverbs 8:12-21

"The Lord possessed me (wisdom) at the beginning of His way,Before His works of old.I have been established from everlasting,From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.When there were no depths I was brought forth,When there were no fountains abounding with water.Before the mountains were settled,Before the hills, I was brought forth;While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,Or the primal dust of the world.When He prepared the heavens, I was there,When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,When He established the clouds above,When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,When He assigned to the sea its limit,So that the waters would not transgress His command,When He marked out the foundations of the earth,Then I was beside Him as a master craftsmanAnd I was daily His delight,Rejoicing always before Him,Rejoicing in His inhabited world,And my delight was with the sons of men.– Proverbs 8:22-31

Fearing the Lord, Hating EvilThe fear of the Lord is to hate evil;Pride and arrogance and the evil wayAnd the perverse mouth I hate.– Proverbs 8:13

Over the last three weeks we have taken a look at the bulk of Proverbs 8, in which we get a better view of the characteristics of the personified wisdom. Today I want to go back and look at one of those verses in particular. Do we really fear the Lord today as we should? Unfortunately, most of us do not. So many Christians have fallen into the sins of the world; instead of hating evil, many not only tolerate it but participate in it as well. God made it easy for us when He sent Jesus to die for our sins and all we have to do is accept Him into our hearts, but sometimes I wonder if He made it too easy because many Christians don’t seem to take Him seriously anymore. God hates evil, and we should too. We should avoid it and we should take a stand against it. Considering all that God has done for us, this is just one small thing we need to do for Him. That is just one of the things that we can do if we live a life filled with wisdom.

"Forsake foolishness and live,And go in the way of understanding.Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.For by me [wisdom] your days will be multiplied,And years of life will be added to you.If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,And if you scoff, you will bear it alone."– Proverbs 9:6, 9-12

A foolish woman is clamorous;She is simple, and knows nothing.For she sits at the door of her house,On a seat by the highest places of the city,To call to those who pass by,Who go straight on their way:"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here";And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,"Stolen water is sweet,And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."But he does not know that the dead are there,That her guests are in the depths of hell.– Proverbs 9:13-18

The proverbs of Solomon:A wise son makes a glad father,But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,But righteousness delivers from death.The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish,But He casts away the desire of the wicked.– Proverbs 10:1-3

LazinessHe who has a slack hand becomes poor,But the hand of the diligent makes rich.He who gathers in summer is a wise son;He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,So is the lazy man to those who send him.– Proverbs 10:4-5, 26

A problem that is becoming increasingly worse in our country today is discussed in the tenth chapter of Proverbs, among other places in the Bible. Many younger people (and though I am of that generation, I am most certainly not of this mindset) seem to have the belief that everything should just be given to them and they shouldn’t have to work for anything. That creates a culture of laziness, and if it persists long enough, can cause serious problems across a society. In these verses, Solomon gives us several specific warnings related to laziness. We need to learn from our ancestors who knew the value of hard work, and we need to follow their example.

Blessings are on the head of the righteous,But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.The memory of the righteous is blessed,But the name of the wicked will rot.The wise in heart will receive commands,But a prating fool will fall.He who walks with integrity walks securely,But he who perverts his ways will become known.The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.– Proverbs 10:6-9, 11

Love Covers All SinsHatred stirs up strife,But love covers all sins.– Proverbs 10:12

Solomon wrote these words a long time before Jesus came to the earth, but this echoes much of the wisdom that Jesus gives us and does so in such a simple and concise manner. If we could all love one another--truly love each other just like Jesus loves us--that would instantly solve the vast majority of the problems we create as human beings. But hurt feelings, jealousy, mistrust, and a variety of other things creep in and disrupt that love that Jesus intended for us to have for one another. Just as Jesus’ ultimate love for us and what He did on the cross literally covers all our sins, so can our love for one another cover a multitude of sins.

Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.Wise people store up knowledge,But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.The rich man's wealth is his strong city;The destruction of the poor is their poverty.The labor of the righteous leads to life,The wages of the wicked to sin.He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,But he who refuses correction goes astray.– Proverbs 10:13-17

Manipulating With WordsWhoever hides hatred has lying lips,And whoever spreads slander is a fool.In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,But he who restrains his lips is wise.The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;The heart of the wicked is worth little.The lips of the righteous feed many,But fools die for lack of wisdom.– Proverbs 10:18-21

I especially like the second of these four verses. Always be wary of people who talk with a “multitude of words.” Now, some people just talk more than others, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But other people are very crafty with those words, attempting to coerce or manipulate you in some way, and those are the people that Solomon is warning us about. Be very wary of someone if what he or she is saying sounds too good to be true because, as the old saying goes, it probably is.

A Solid FoundationThe blessing of the Lord makes one rich,And He adds no sorrow with it.To do evil is like sport to a fool,But a man of understanding has wisdom.The fear of the wicked will come upon him,And the desire of the righteous will be granted.When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more,But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.– Proverbs 10:22-25

The last verse in this passage reminds me of Jesus’ words about the two men who each built a house--one on the rock and one on the sand. In the modern day, it can better be applied to people who put their hope and faith in worldly possessions, money, or things like the stock market or the housing market. None of those things last forever, and in recent years we have seen some of them crumble in a whirlwind. God is our Rock and the only everlasting foundation; He is the one in which we need to place our hope and faith!

The fear of the Lord prolongs days,But the years of the wicked will be shortened.The hope of the righteous will be gladness,But the expectation of the wicked will perish.The way of the Lord is strength for the upright,But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.The righteous will never be removed,But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,But the perverse tongue will be cut out.The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.– Proverbs 10:27-32

Dealing HonestlyDishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,But a just weight is His delight.– Proverbs 11:1

I think the primary message here is to be honest when dealing with others. Back during the time that this was written, I assume scales were perhaps used to weigh fruits and vegetables, fish and seafood, currency, or other things that were traded back and forth. That type of thing isn’t done as much these days, but the principle of dealing honestly and truthfully with other people still stands. For example, if you are selling something, be truthful about it and about any problems that it may have. Don’t try to cover those things up just to make a sell like some people do. A small lie or a lie of omission is still a lie, and any type of lie is sinful to God. If you’re honest about something, you may or may not still sell it, but your actions will be more pleasing to God, and isn’t that of greater importance?

Pride & HumilityWhen pride comes, then comes shame;But with the humble is wisdom.– Proverbs 11:2

Not only is pride a sin and something God hates (Proverbs 6:17), but it can also cause you to do all kinds of silly things. Pride can make you think too much of yourself, it can make you think you’re capable of doing something on your own when you really aren’t, and it can cause you to think that you don’t need to ask others for help. Those are just a few general examples. Worst of all, pride can cause you to think so much of yourself that you think you don’t need God, and that kind of attitude will most certainly lead to failure and shame. Humility is the way to go instead, just as Jesus showed us over and over by His example. Pride is very restrictive, but humility allows us to freely serve God and others without worrying so much about ourselves.

IntegrityThe integrity of the upright will guide them,But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.– Proverbs 11:3, 27

Integrity is something that is becoming increasingly difficult to find in our society. A lot like the world was in Noah’s day, most people live for themselves and readily explore sinful pleasures while fewer people live with integrity. But if you lack integrity, you are lacking something significant. People don’t know if they can trust you or rely on you, and you’re certainly not shining the light of Christ in the world. Speak the truth, keep your promises, and stand up for what’s right. We desperately need more people with integrity in this world.

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,But righteousness delivers from death.The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright,But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,And the hope of the unjust perishes.The righteous is delivered from trouble,And it comes to the wicked instead.– Proverbs 11:4-8

A gracious woman retains honor,But ruthless men retain riches.The merciful man does good for his own soul,But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.The wicked man does deceptive work,But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.As righteousness leads to life,So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,But the blameless in their ways are His delight.Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.The desire of the righteous is only good,But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.– Proverbs 11:16-23

Giving FreelyThere is one who scatters, yet increases more;And there is one who withholds more than is right,But it leads to poverty.The generous soul will be made rich,And he who waters will also be watered himself.The people will curse him who withholds grain,But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.He who trusts in his riches will fall,But the righteous will flourish like foliage.– Proverbs 11:24-26, 28

Don’t put so much trust in worldly possessions and don’t horde the things that belong to you, because ultimately everything belongs to God anyway. So live with a generous soul; freely give back to Him and help others who are in need. Show God that He can trust you with everything He has given to you and blessed you with.

Do You Trouble Your House? (Part 1 of 2)He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.– Proverbs 11:29

Today’s proverb is geared specifically toward families, and mainly to the parents of those families. What is the attitude like in your house? Is it peaceful or argumentative? Now, even the best of families will have the occasional disagreement; there’s nothing inherently wrong about that. But take a moment to think about what the prevailing attitude of your house is like. If you don’t feel a sense of peace, then that indicates a problem. Is someone troubling your house? Is it you? Before you blame your spouse or someone else, take a look at yourself first to see if there is anything that you could be doing differently. If you are certain it is mainly the fault of your spouse, try to have a talk with him or her, approaching the subject gently and with a careful, listening ear. These sorts of problems are common in many households, and they are most often rooted in selfishness from one side or the other, or in some cases, selfishness on the part of both spouses.

Do You Trouble Your House? (Part 2 of 2)He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.– Proverbs 11:29

Many households are troubled, and those sorts of problems are most often rooted in selfishness from one side or the other (or from both sides). Although I am not yet married, I am a careful observer of others, and I have noticed several things that relate to this topic. Trust is the key. If you truly trust your spouse to take care of you and do what’s best for you, as God wants a marriage to be, then you will rarely have a major conflict. But if you don’t fully trust your spouse like that, then selfishness starts to creep in; you feel like you can’t completely trust your spouse to take care of your needs, so you feel the need to take care of those needs yourself, and that’s when selfishness begins to enter into the picture. Having a completely open and honest dialouge with your spouse can be a good starting point. Listening to your spouse without jumping to conclusions is also key. This single problem causes many marriages to be much more difficult than God ever intended.

The Benefits of CorrectionWhoever loves instruction loves knowledgeBut he who hates correction is stupid.– Proverbs 12:1

This verse highlights something that is becoming increasingly problematic in our society. So many people have gotten it in their heads that they can just do whatever they want to do and they don’t want anybody to tell them that what they are doing could possibly be wrong in some way. They expect everyone to simply tolerate their behavior, closing their minds to any other points of view. But wise is the person who openly accepts correction and constructive criticism, because that is something that we can all learn from. Don’t just do whatever you want based on feelings; listen to the advice of wise friends and family around you. They can often keep you from making tragic mistakes.

Thinking About Your ThoughtsThe thoughts of the righteous are right,But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful – Proverbs 12:5

Take a few moments to ponder this verse. What kinds of thoughts go through your mind in a typical day? Are they thoughts that are right in the Lord’s eyes, or are they wicked and sinful? If they are wicked and sinful, you may want to take a closer look at what you are feeding into your mind through things such as immoral TV shows and music.

Things We Should DespiseA man will be commended according to his wisdom,But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.– Proverbs 12:8

This ties in with verse 5 which I used in my devotional a week ago. As I read this verse I started to think, is this really how we act? Of course, we should show love to all people just as Jesus did, but we should also despise perverse behavior. Sadly, though, most Christians don’t do that anymore. Many just blindly accept it, watching filthy TV shows and listening to music with questionable lyrics. But that isn’t the way we’re supposed to treat perverse behavior. Please, stop watching and listening to the same disgusting things that non-Christians find to be funny and entertaining. It is way past time for Christians to start taking a stand for what is right! I challenge you to start by only watching things on TV that are clean and wholesome, and if you don’t already, start listening to a Christian radio station such as Spirit FM (90.5 FM in the Martinsville area). Fill your heart and mind with the things that are clean and pure and let’s start to despise the evil that has become so commonplace in this country.

Laziness vs. Hard WorkHe who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.The wicked covet the catch of evil men,But the root of the righteous yields fruit.A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,And the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him.– Proverbs 12:11-12, 14

The Proverbs frequently speak about the topic of laziness in one’s work. Many of the people who are currently unemployed simply don’t want to work, and that is a horrible attitude to have. Yes, there are some who desperately want to find a job. But plenty of others would be happy just continuing to receive checks from the government without having to do anything. In the early days of this country, everyone had to work hard in order to survive, and that is the model that we all should continue to follow. God expects us to work hard, both in our jobs as well as in our efforts to advance His Kingdom here on earth.

Accepting AdviceThe way of a fool is right in his own eyes,But he who heeds counsel is wise.– Proverbs 12:15

Have you ever noticed how so many of these self-proclaimed “enlightened” people, who feel they have advanced beyond morality and God, don’t like for someone to try to tell them that they might be wrong? That’s what came into my mind when I read this verse. Those people don’t seem to see anything wrong with what they’re doing, yet for some reason they deeply fear advice from others. I find it ironic that these are the same people who say Christians are closed-minded, yet in reality, they are the ones who close their minds to what anyone else tries to tell them! On the other hand, just like I said in a similar devotional a few weeks ago, those who accept the advice of others with an open mind are wise indeed.

He who speaks truth declares righteousness,But a false witness, deceit.The truthful lip shall be established forever,But a lying tongue is but for a moment.Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,But counselors of peace have joy.Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,But those who deal truthfully are His delight.– Proverbs 12:17, 19-20, 22

25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,But a good word makes it glad.

26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully,For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

(through Proverbs 12:24)