Proverbs 10:1-9; 11-14; 16-32
V1: "The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father;
a foolish child brings grief to a mother."
Children are a parent's greatest joy and treasure. Imagine how much more joy a child that lives, walks, and breathes in, by, and through the wisdom of the Lord brings! It is by following Jesus that we, as children of God, stay away from foolish paths.
V2: "Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life."
Our salvation and hope of eternity are not rooted in how wealthy or rich we are here on Earth. It comes from right living; we live right when we give Jesus total control and follow as He leads, not holding back anything at all.
V3: "The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked."
God is watching out for His children. In fact, He promises that our souls will never lack His presence, to the point of hunger, giving us hope to know that He is always with us. The Godly will never lack in the gifts that God gives, and if anything, we will have it in abundance! It is those who are wicked that will never be satisfied as the world can't fill us up as Jesus does.
V4: "Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich."
This verse cuts straight to the point: people who are lazy become poor as they sow nothing, and therefore reap nothing. But, as for those who work diligently, they are blessed and made rich.
V5: ""A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.
Wisdom tells us to take advantage of the season of life God has given to us to sow into His kingdom. To be lazy and "sleep through" those seasons to let them pass us by is unwise and disgraceful.
V6: "The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions."
The people that are showered with blessings are those of us who are Godly. These are blessings that come from the Lord sort of as a reward for being faithful. Instead of the wicked choosing to be Godly, they instead choose the path the enemy has laid out for them to follow, and evil and violent intentions are what they reap.
V7: "We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away."
The legacy that is left behind by a Godly person is one that will last. The wicked will rot away and be forgotten.
V8: "The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces."
The people who are wise enjoy righteous instruction. They see obedience not as a chore, but a gift. The fools who babble on with their lives aren't secured in anything and fall flat down on their faces.
V9: "People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed."
The favor of the Lord shields the honest and integrity-filled people and their walk through life is protected by Him. The wicked who follow the crooked paths of sin will have their wicked and crooked ideas and plots exposed.
V11: "The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions."
Life abundant is found in the words of those who are wise. Whatever is in your heart is what comes back up. Since life is what their hearts are rooted in, it makes sense that what is poured out is life! The same thing goes for the the wicked: what is reproduced and spewed back out is the evil in their hearts.
V12: "Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses."
Hatred and strife is from the enemy, and the spirit of quarrels and arguing is not of the Lord. The opposite of hatred is love, and what covered all wrongdoing and offenses is love. We, as children of God, are called to operate not out of spite and hatred, but out of love.
V13a: "Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding..."
Wisdom is inspired by God, but flows out of the lips of those with Godly understanding as their guide.
V14: "Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster."
Wise people treasure knowledge and accept it not as a burden, but as a gift from God. The babbling fool who never takes the time to listen invites disaster in to take control.
V16: "The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin."
As people, we cannot serve both God and money. We just can't! Now wise and rich people who put their identity into the Lord instead of their material possessions, will live lives enhanced by the Lord. Evil people are the ones who place their entire identities in riches and choose to serve money, not their Maker.
V17: "People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray."
The pathway to life is for a certain kind of people: those who accept discipline. Those who ignore the nudgings of Godly correction are destined to fall off of the path the Lord has for them, and instead, go astray.
V18: "Hiding hatred makes you a liar, slandering others makes you a fool."
Having any hatred of any kind in your heart is evil, but to try hide it and cover it up with anything other than the blood of Jesus is dishonest. Another way we become fools is by slandering others with harsh words or actions too. The way we live matters.
V19: "Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut."
God gave us one mouth and two ears for a reason. Wisdom leads us to take the time to listen more than we speak. Oftentimes, too much talk can lead us to destruction. Sometimes, the most sensible thing to do is simply listen to what the Lord is saying instead of being so quick to speak.
V20: "The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless."
We already know that the gifts God empowers us with are great treasures, and it's encouraging to know that the words of the Godly are as precious as silver. Our words carry a weight of great value! Now, on the flip side, the words that stem from a heart rooted in foolishness are worthless and reap nothing good or beneficial.
V21: "The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense."
The power of life and death is found in our tongues. The Bible says here in verse 21, that the words of the Godly encourage many. Our words have the power to either encourage those around us, or stir up foolishness.
V22: "The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it."
Our true riches and wealth shouldn't stem from the gifts the world offers, but instead, from the blessings of the Lord! He is the One who makes us rich, and there are no strings of sorrow attached, just blessing.
V23: "Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible."
At the end of the day, living a life dedicate to Jesus is the most enjoyable and hopeful thing we as a people could ever agree to! Sure, sin may seem fun in the moment, but it is wrong and brings nothing but sorrow and destruction.
V24: "The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted."
Not only do the people who are living in walking in wickedness have to fear the judgement and wrath coming their way, they also now have to fear their fears as whatever they are afraid of will come to pass! The encouragement that we as a people who live in Jesus have, is that our hopes will be granted to us, and we have nothing to fear.
V25: "When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation."
Life has many seasons and storms: some are better than others, but we can rest assured knowing that the Godly have a lasting and firm foundation in the Lord, and we won't be whirled away, but instead, stay secure in HIm!
V27: "Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short."
The key to long life is simply fear of the Lord. When we are rooted in Him and develop a reverence or respect or fear, that crowns Him as Lord over our lives is what brings the promise of long life.
V28: "The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing."
It's simple: when we as people of God have any hopes, dreams, or desires laying on our hearts, they will come to pass and reap happiness. Those who are wicked are the ones who have to fear, as all they will reap is nothing.
V29: "The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked."
The path that the Lord leads us on is strong and firm when it comes to those of us who live and walk in integrity. That same Godly path that is laid out for the righteous to follow is the very same one that can destroy the wicked. That is why it is so important to choose to follow Jesus and not the world.
V30: "The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land."
Those of us who are in the Lord can rest in the promise of the Lord: the Godly will never be disturbed. This means that no path or plan the Lord has laid out for us can be interrupted or disrupted by the enemy ever! If anything, one day, wickedness will soon be eradicated.
V31: "The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off."
As Godly people, we speak under the influence of the wisdom of God. Our very words carry the weight that comes with living in Godly wisdom, for us to be able to give good, wise, and Godly advice. The tongue of those who deceive others and try to live as they please will be cut off from the Kingdom.
V32: "The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words."
From the lips of the Godly come helpful words: words to uplift or encourage is what we have been given to speak. For those who are wicked, words of perversion are all that spew out. A lot of it has to do with who we choose to follow, and what path we choose to take. Do we pick the easy and wide road of sin that looks enticing, or do we follow the steep and narrow path to Jesus so we can live anew in Him?
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