Proverbs 27:1-19
V1: "Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring."
With the way that our Westernized World is set up, we are always on the go and looking to plan what is coming next. Even though this mindset of seeking ahead and looking toward the future is not entirely wrong, we may end up losing sight of the here and now. Every day that God gives us is a gift, and if we take that gift for granted, one day, that gift will be taken from us, and we'll have regrets. God is the one who holds our future, so it is important that we take the time to be grateful for the here and now and take life a day at a time, instead of wanting to brag about what is to come.
V2: "Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips."
Our self-centered tendencies will oftentimes seek self-praise and approval. The problem with self-glorification is its root: pride. Humility tells us to lay off on the self-adoration, but instead stay humble, and therefore let someone else praise us.
V3: "A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier."
Foolishness carries great and heavy weight. That weight is not a joy to carry, instead, it is a burden. We all know just how heavy large boulders and tons of sand weigh, but the reality is that the load of foolishness weighs more!
V4: "Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous."
The spirit behind strife and anger is one that seeks to cause division among people, especially Believers. What is even worse than these things is jealousy. Jealousy starts from a thought that may seem small at first but grows to completely penetrate one's mind and heart. We must stay rooted in the things of the Lord, that way when those intrusive thoughts arise, we can stand firm in what we believe in.
VS 9-10: "The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away."
One of the greatest gifts someone can have is a good and loyal and Godly friend. A person who will lead you closer to the Lord, stand by you when life gets tough, and counsel you through some of your darkest moments is a gem. These genuine and Godly friends are the ones you can lean on when disaster strikes, and you can trust that they will stay and stand with you no matter what.
V12: "A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."
Another word for a prudent person is someone wise. A person filled with wisdom gets insight from the Holy Spirit and can sense when something dangerous is on its way, and therefore, is cautious. A person who is not filled with wisdom from the Holy Spirit has no discernment and walks right into danger and suffers.
V17: "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."
In order for iron to be made sharper and more useful, it needs to be put against another piece of iron. The same thing goes for us as people: if we want to grow in our calling, we need someone in our corner to bring that out in us through encouragement, support, discipline, and even sometimes, criticism. We have to be pushed together to grow in the destiny the Lord has for us, just like iron.
V19: "As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person."
A person's heart is the root of all that flows out from them. If you want to see the kind of person someone really is, you would look into their heart. After all, just like water reflects the image that is peering into it, your heart reveals who you really are.
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