Proverbs 13:14 – Life-Giving Wisdom

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. – Proverbs 12:14

Some places where else this is discussed:

Proverbs 5:22, 10:11, 12:12, 14:27

My Thoughts:

Have you a friend in your life you turn to for good advice?  Maybe you have a pastor who can speak to you frankly and with wisdom.  Life has many struggles and temptations, and we are never far from falling prey to the “snares of death”.

This proverb speaks of a wise teacher’s words being a flowing life-extender.  When he teaches well, God’s ways have an impact on his students.  I take a long time to learn and put wisdom into practice.  Thankfully, I have some great teachers who live out what they preach.

The foolish path has many snares, leading to death.  There are many a foolish person ready to guide you to an enticing but fatal end.   Seek the wise people in your life and learn from them.  Their words will be a life-giving stream for you.  And then maybe you could provide a fountain of life to someone else?

Thanks for reading! Pete

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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Photo Attribution: Raul Lieberwirth Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

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Proverbs 13:10 – Pride Causes Fights

Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. – The Bible, Proverbs 13:10

Some places where else this is discussed:

Prov. 9:9, 11:2

My thoughts:

Why am I so full of pride? I have nothing to be proud about! Everything I have and know and believe has been gifted or learnt from someone else. My skill and ability and all else come from God.

As this Proverbs states, where there are arguments and quarreling, a little examination will prove pride is at work. Pride only gets us into a fight about who is wiser. To gain wisdom we ought to be open again to what others we trust have to say. Humbleness can give us so much more in the end.

Thanks for reading! Pete.

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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Photo Attribution: Ashbridge Studios Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

Proverbs 12:26 – Picking Friends

The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. – Proverbs 12:26

Some places where else this is discussed:

Prov. 18:24; 22:24-25

My thoughts:

How do you pick your friends? I know for myself people can come into my life and I’m drawn to them, not thinking about their character too much. It can be easy to connect with people at an emotional or intellectual level, but not delve into all of who they are. Friends do influence us both in good and bad ways, and this proverb speaks of how it is the mark of the righteous to choose them carefully. Let’s be wise with who we hang out with so we aren’t influenced to turn away from God.

Thanks for reading! Pete.

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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with references, and difficult concepts and words. Plus he has a real way with words!

Photo Attribution: Tuyền Dương Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0

Proverbs 12:11 – Chasing Fantasies

Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense. – Proverbs 12:11

Some places where this is discussed in Proverbs:

Proverbs 14:23, 28:19

My thoughts:

 

Get-rich-quick schemes are so often dependent on the person being so invested no good sense will give them pause. So often it’s just not worth it; the risk is too great. A steady job is much more worthwhile, and while the dividends may be small in comparison to the promised wealth of a scheme, it is the wiser option. May we be diligent in our steady work and not chase fantasies.

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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words.

Photo Attribution: Anant Nath Sharma Used under Creative Commons licence CC BY-N

Proverbs 12:8 – Good Sense

A person is praised according to their prudence, but one with a warped mind is despised – Proverbs 12:8

Some places where this is discussed in Proverbs:

Proverbs 12:5, 11:23, 28.

My thoughts.

We all like a good laugh over silly behaviour but when it comes to real life decisions, even the world seeks for wisdom. When money, reputation, or family is on the line, no one likes a bad decision maker in their life. In this proverb we see the prudent is a compared with a warped mind. Life is no laughing matter. It is fleeting and good sense is in order to properly spend time here. Let’s pray to God for him to make us all people of prudence.

Thanks for reading! Pete.

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Photo Attribution: Thomas Hawk Used under Creative Commons licence CC BY-NC 2.0 

Choose Your Solutions – On Proverbs 12:6

The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them. – Proverbs 12:6

What is this proverb saying?

The wicked here are portrayed as willing to use violence to achieve their goals. Their very words betray them as murderous people.

The upright person here displays a wisdom with words that protects. This protection could be for themselves or perhaps for another whom they are speaking for.

In any case, the upright has a way with their words that is wise and delivers them from danger.

The wicked suggest violent and desperate solutions, while the righteous person seeks a careful defense to protect himself or others.

What can we learn from Proverbs 12:6?

First off, it’s okay to defend yourself! Regardless of whatever evil you might get accused of, you know the truth about yourself the best, so use wisdom and speak up and defend yourself. At the very least, you can  present your side of the story.

In terms of any choice in life we need to make, we should be careful of whose advice we listen to. We need wisdom to discern a godly solution. Man’s wisdom is to seek solutions that are violent, self-serving, or destructive. Seek God and his wisdom.

May our decisions be wise ones that honour God. Amen.

 Thanks so much for reading! – Pedrozki (Pete)

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More Reading:

Check out my other posts on the plans of the wicked.

Don’t Follow Evildoers – On Proverbs 1:8-19

How to Think Godly – Proverbs 12:5

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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible Gateway and is either the New King James Version or New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words.

Main image is courtesy of Emilio Labrador and the “More Reading” image is courtesy of Vermont Historical Society / Flickr – Creative Commons
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How to Think Godly – Proverbs 12:5

The thoughts of the righteous are right,

But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. – Proverbs 12:5

A man’s deliberations start in his mind, and then are later spoken, and this proverb deals with two types of men and their different thoughts. The righteous man is said to have thoughts that are right. Before a person like this even acts, they are said to have considered ideas rightly and in a godly way. The wicked person is said to have an opposite way of thinking, one of evil and deceit.

Where do these different thought-lives come from? Do some people just naturally favour good or evil thoughts?

Well Psalm 14 (links to Bible Gateway) tells us that when God surveys the world He sees only corrupt people on the face of earth, with the exception of His people, the righteous. So this righteousness is found in those who are following God in the way He has said to. Back in that time, that would mean following God as the nation of Israel had been taught.

It follows then that a person’s nature and thoughts depend on their knowledge of and relationship with God. To be declared righteous they need to seek after God’s ways in His Word and trust in His mercy daily.

A person seeking after God probably won’t always have a righteous thought, yet he will love God’s Word and his thoughts will change to be more godly each day.

However, the man who disregards God, who says the LORD does not exist, has no moral obligation or desire to be godly. He will plan to do whatever suits him and furthers his good lot in life. This means he will consider how to manipulate and deceive people in order to get his way.

So what can we learn from this proverb?

God is the source of all goodness, wisdom, and righteousness. If we want to think in a way that honours God and helps our fellow man, we must rely on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to change us. Seek after God through Jesus Christ, and your whole life will be aligned rightly.

God bless you. Thanks for reading! Pedrozki (Pete)

More Reading:

I’ve written about a similar passage here:  Good Desire, Bad Desire – Proverbs 11:23

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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible Gateway and is either the New King James Version or New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words.

Main image is courtesy of Mr Tickle – Wachoo Wachoo Tribe Congressman and the “More Reading” image is courtesy of Vermont Historical Society / Flickr – Creative Commons

Come under Instruction – Proverbs 12:1

“Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,

But he who hates correction is stupid.” – Proverbs 12:1

Do you enjoy being corrected? Does it just make your day when someone shows you a better way of doing something?

This proverb’s first line points to an attitude that seems to be rare among us Australians. We like to be our own boss and not have people laying down teaching on us. We are more likely to have the attitude of the second line.

Is this proverb in line with how life really works out? Lets follow the logic of this. Suppose a new person on the work-site comes ready to listen and be taught properly the way the site runs, does he learn better and quicker then if he hadn’t that good attitude?

It’s pretty clear that the new guy would have an easier time than if he had rejected any attempt at teaching or correction on how he did things. If he did that he would have only so long in that job!

If he is wrong in an area, a good attitude would be to eagerly listen to wiser and more seasoned work-mates and to alter his method.

The person who refuses to follow instructions from people who know better will learn the lesson the hard way.

So, are many people walking around being stupid because they reject teaching? Apparently so, but I don’t think this proverb is saying a person loses brain cells for not listening. Instead, it’s as if they were stupid and brainless, for not accepting teaching, especially when it comes from God’s Word. Anyone with a brain should accept instruction.

If instruction needs to be sought after in order to get to knowledge, a person’s attitude is extremely important. They must come with an attitude of humility, confessing that they don’t know everything and could well be wrong in some way.

Now, what can we learn from this?

Because this is such an open proverb we can apply its truth to all aspects of our lives. Whether we are still under our fathers’ authority, or are under a boss or pastor, we have a great opportunity to be taught well. Those in charge probably have had much more experience and knowledge in life.  It is wise to listen to them.

It is the same with God’s Word. We can’t learn anything from it if we don’t come under its teaching and acknowledge its truth. We need to humble ourselves to be taught to fear the LORD. As Proverbs 1:7 says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Amen.

-Thanks for reading! Pedrozki (Pete)

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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible Gateway and is the New King James Version. I am using a commentary by John A.Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words.

Image courtesy of  zigzagpress

A Righteous Life Blesses Many – Proverbs 11:30

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

And he who wins souls is wise.” – Proverbs 11:30

Have you had the experience of being around people who are so loving and giving that it’s so easy to bask in that love and to love them back?

It is truly good to be blessed by people with such a way of life, and even better to then seek to pass on that blessing as a legacy.

I feel this is similar to what this proverb is getting at, that the life and deeds of a righteous person are an ever overflowing resource for others.

For me, the idea of a tree of life here hearkens back to the tree in the garden of Eden, and how it was never eaten of. The tree of life here, though, is an accessible and abundant source of blessing.

When one lives in such a way, in living by God’s Word every day with love and godliness, people around them are blessed, and there is much growth of character.

The faithful might never realise how many people they’ve helped to grow closer to God. The goal then is not to count one’s friends as any sort of measure, but to seek godliness by reading God’s word and living by it.

People can be drawn to a righteous person, and it is the role of the godly person to then lead them to God with all eagerness.

This is a very evangelistic message for God’s people, Israel, to bring in many who might be searching for God, and to teach them in all things.

Now, what can we learn as Christians?

All goodness comes from God, and we cannot rely on our efforts to become righteous; it’s all reliant on God’s good pleasure and mercy. The aim for the Christian is to become mature in Christ, who makes it possible for us to become holy. Ephesians has a great passage about growing in Christ (Ephesians 4:7-16).

As servants of the gospel, we ought to be seeking out people to tell of the great gift of Jesus offered to sinners all across the world! May we be wise in this. Amen.

-Thanks for reading! – Pedrozki (Pete)

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Note: All scripture is taken from Bible Gateway and is the New King James Version. I am using a commentary by John A.Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words.

Image courtesy of Alexandra Campo

Are You Living Like a Fool? – Proverbs 11:29

“He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,

And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.” – Proverbs 11:29

A household that is disjointed and divided against itself can’t function well, as Jesus Himself said, and the first part of this proverb seems to have a similar message.

A member of a household who brings down his family, either through wasteful use of assets, or through causing relational rifts between their parents or children, is shooting themselves in the foot.

How can someone expect good outcomes out of bringing trouble to the people who rely on you to either lead the family or to carry on their legacy?

The problem is that when someone goes down this path, they may not realise how much longer and more effort it will take to restore relations or assets back to where they were.

His inheritance might end up being separate from family, with little hope of reunion. He might end up desolate on the streets, like in the story of the prodigal son.

Going on from there, more is said here on how unwise living can bring disaster to one’s life.

The fool is the person who has refused good teaching and has chosen instead the wisdom of men as a guide for his life. They have made decisions focused on their well-being, with little regard to others, and have accrued problems for themselves.

Proverbs tends to use extremes, and here we are told that the fool will serve the wise.

Proverbs aren’t to be taken as hard and fast rules, but rather general principles for life, and here we have indications that the wise of heart are fit for being in charge. The foolish person doesn’t stand much of a chance against them, and because of their choices in life finds themselves under their rule. Is this always the case? No, but if we live like fools, we’re asking for problems like these.

Now, what can we learn as Christians?

We are responsible for our attitude and actions in life. What we place priority on we grow in. If we seek in Christ to grow in holiness and to build up and love those around us, we can grow. It is actually the role of the disciple to seek Christ and to reach out to others with Christ.

Jesus’ last words to His disciples in the book of Matthew speak to this, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 )

-Thanks for reading! – Pedrozki (Pete)

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Note: All scripture is taken from Bible Gateway and is the New King James Version. I am using a mentor commentary by John A.Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words.

Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!

Image courtesy of hwanation