PROVERBS 20:3-24
V3: "Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling."
The people who constantly make strife arise are fools. Constant quarreling with others is dishonorable and brings nothing beneficial to us. The people who maintain peace and avoid fights are marked with honor.
V4: "Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest."
When it comes to the way we live our lives, we often hear that you reap what you sow. The same thing goes for the literal: whatever hard work you put into something is what you will get in return. The people who are lazy and never work will have nothing to collect when harvest rolls around. People who are diligent and plow their fields in preparation for a harvest will reap when the time is right.
V7: "The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them."
Godly people look different, act differently, conduct themselves in a different manner, and walk differently than the way people of the world do. They are filled with the things of the Lord and their integrity makes them a blessed people. Even their lineages are blessed just because of who they are!
V12: "Ears to hear and eyes to see—both are gifts from the Lord."
Out of all of the 5 senses God gave us to use, I believe that the gifts of sight and hearing are the most beneficial, especially in our spiritual lives. Our ears help us hear. Sometimes, the Lord speaks to us with a tangible voice and we need our spiritual ears to be alert to hear His instructions. When we are spiritually deaf, we have become numb to the Voice of God and will never hear what it is He is trying to tell us. The same thing goes with our eyes: our eyes help us see and the Lord oftentimes needs to show us things. Without our sight, we are helpless when it comes to seeing things.
V15: "Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies."
One of the most valuable things we have here on Earth is our natural treasures like silver, gold, and rubies. As valuable as these precious gems are, there is something much more valuable, and that is wisdom. Words that are infused with the wisdom of the Lord are worth so much more than any materialistic treasure, and if we seek after wisdom instead of Earthly treasures, we will be rich in the Kingdom.
V20: "If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness."
There is a verse found in Ephesians (6:2-3) that talks about the importance of honoring our parents. In that verse, Paul tells us that when we honor and obey our fathers and mothers, we will have a long life. This verse here in Proverbs gives the flip side of things: if we ever insult our parents, we will not have a long life but instead, it will be snuffed out.
V22: "Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter."
Whenever we are wronged, we oftentimes want to take matters into our own hands and bring justice in our own strength. The truth is that we shouldn't strive to get even with others, but instead, wait on the Lord to handle the matter in the best and most just way possible.
V23: "The Lord detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales."
Living lives with double standards is a form of dishonesty, and that does not please the Lord. In fact, He detests double standards and dishonest scales. It is in living honest lives of integrity that the Lord is then pleased with us.
V24: "The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?"
The ways, thoughts, and plans of the Lord are so much higher and more complex than anything we could ever imagine. Even though we know this, it is very easy for us, people who strive after control and understanding, to try and figure out what God has in store instead of simply trusting Him for who He is. We need to take a step back and wholeheartedly trust that He is in control and not try to lead things on our own.
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