Finishing Last

"A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches" (Proverbs 11:16).

We are entering a section of Proverbs which describes the benefits of righteous and kind behavior. In other words, those who live and love well do not always finish last. Today's passage contrasts the life of the kindhearted woman and the ruthless man. This is not a contrast of gender but rather a contrast of character.

A person whose character is commendable is in view here. The woman here is known to be gracious. She is honored for her loving and gentle spirit. People recognize and give tribute to the depth of her grace. They are blessed by it and thus she is honored.

However, the man who is violent (ruthless) receives something totally different. He receives only wealth. Do you find yourself asking, "What's wrong with that?" While there is nothing evil about money in and of itself, there is something really wrong with obtaining money in an evil way.  Not only that, there are several Proverbs that remind us that wealth is inferior to the really good things in life, such as honor. Read Proverbs 1:19, 10:2, and 11:4 and you will see that riches can, at best, only give us surface satisfaction in life.  It is a waste of our energy to ruthlessly go after riches when a respectable life is so much better.

Therefore, it is decision time! Are we going to be gracious people or violent (ruthless) people? Are we going to live lives that are honored by those we impact for good or resented by those we hurt as we chase after money? To be gracious is to live out of the depths of a soul truly changed by God, while being ruthless gains us only the surface satisfaction offered by the world's riches. Talk about finishing last!

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

"With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure" (Proverbs 11:9-15).


These six verses describe what it takes to live well in community. We are taught what it takes to be a great neighbor. To really make a difference in our cities and neighborhoods, we must live life according to God's spiritual design. If not, the whole community suffers.

Today's passage shows a connectedness between neighbors, cities, government advisors,  gossips, and even cosigners. Brokenness in community begins with a slanderous neighbor. Community is instantly destroyed by hateful and deceitful words. In contrast, those who love the Lord love His people and so no such words are uttered.

When the righteous live well, the city does well. Good people make the city a good place to live while the godless ruin it with their godless actions. People shed very few tears, if any, when those folks are gone.

We are taught here that when government officials have wise counsel, great decisions are made for the community. When great decisions are made for the community, there is safety. Our government leaders are always in need of great counsel. It is important that we not only pray for our leaders but also for those who advise them.

When it comes to financial matters, good neighbors never cosign a loan for someone. They may be well intentioned and they may want to help, but it is never a good idea to "put up security for a stranger." If you want to help someone financially, it is better to just give them the money than it is to loan it to them. No one should ever regret doing good by giving freely to those in need. That's what good neighbors do.

God has designed us to be in community. God said himself that it is not good for man to be alone. He Himself lives in community as our trinitarian God; three in one. He calls you and me to live in community as well. And so let me ask you this: Won't you be my neighbor?

Sure, I knew you would.

Guided and Protected

"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too. The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead" (Proverbs 11:3-8)

These six verses are strung together for us so that we can learn the wonderful value of a godly life when it comes to guidance and protection from the hardships of life. Just as a lighthouse offers guidance and protection for ships on a stormy night, integrity guides us down a path with far fewer obstacles. Not so with  a life of treachery, especially when it comes to the day we die.

Our money cannot buy us a long life. When the "day of wrath" (death) hits, our money is no good anymore. The righteousness we have, because of our faith in God, is what protects us from His wrath on that day that awaits us all. Until that day arrives, it is our righteous living that guides us down a path that has fewer pitfalls, problems, and roadblocks. The wicked are the ones who ultimately fall due to their misguided lives.

When death hits the wicked, all their hope is gone. Their hope of amassing enough wealth to bring them life is evaporated by the reality of their spiritual poverty. Their money can neither guide them toward real life nor protect them from a broken life.

While the righteous experience deliverance, the wicked remain trapped by their own lusts and wounded by their own trouble. Haman, the treacherous man we meet in the book of Esther, found this out first hand. It seems the trouble he planned for Mordecai backfired onto him instead. It was his own ship that hit the rocks he planted for another.

The righteous are guided and protected in life while "the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them." Seems we all have a choice to make as we face the day of wrath.

Don't Stand Up In The Canoe

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2).

This Proverb is very similar to Proverbs 16:18 which says, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." We have all heard that "pride cometh before the fall" but I am not sure we all knew that saying is straight from the Bible.

It is interesting that pride leads to its opposite, disgrace. The very thing most of us try to avoid, at all cost, is failure. And yet, as we succeed at doing well, we can let it go to our heads (pride) and then we fall. Our winning can lead to losing in the blink of an eye.

We are told, however, that humility leads to wisdom. The Hebrew word used here for "humility" means to "walk humbly." The picture we are given is of a person who has a modest spirit before God and man. That modest spirit is not the spirit of a loser, however. It is the spirit of a person who knows his place in the presence of his Creator. It is the spirit of a person who wins at life, yet refuses to take all the credit. Humility allows for credit to be given to those whom it is due. We are told in Scripture that humility leads to wisdom and wisdom leads to a full and significant life with God. It is the wise person among us who handles winning and losing really well.

I experienced, first hand, what it means for pride to come before the fall. It happened years ago when I was canoeing with friends on a river in the Texas Hill Country. We were having a great time racing our canoes. Splashing one another as we sped down the river was intended to gain some advantage. I eventually won the impromptu race and was full of pride... then I did something stupid. I stood up in the canoe to celebrate. Within seconds, I was underwater looking up at the canoe. I learned a great biblical lesson that day and I didn't even have my Bible with me. Don't stand up in the canoe.

For me, "standing up in the canoe" is now synonymous for "pride comes before the fall." Whether it has to do with my parenting skills, responsibilities at the church, friendships, speaking engagements, spiritual counseling, or just a simple conversation about life... I am very careful not to let  success go to my head. I have seen the bottom of too many canoes while lying on the bottom of too many rivers.

Honesty Is The Best Policy

"A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight" (Proverbs 11:1).


We know that commercial matters are a spiritual issue because honesty in business is something in which the Lord delights. Today's passage tells us that God hates all dishonesty, especially in our business transactions.

At the time this proverb was penned, there was an absence of coinage. Instead, scales were used in almost all daily commerce. Dishonest merchants, in order to increase profits, had a scam that involved different sets of stones when weighing merchandise. Lighter stones were used when selling while heavier stones were used when buying. The lighter stones allowed for a lesser quantity for the stated price while the heavier stones were used to acquire more for the stated price. This was blatant dishonesty and the Lord hated it. He still does.

It is important to the Lord that you and I live honestly in all areas of our lives. It does not honor Him when we cheat people out of money. That seems obvious but there are plenty of people who live in fear of not having enough. Not believing the Lord will take care of them, they start grabbing. Not being content with what the Lord provides, they start stealing.

Let's show the world that we absolutely trust our Heavenly Father to care for us. Let's show our children and their friends that living honestly is for sure the best policy. We have been promised by God that all our needs will be met. There's no need to lie, cheat, and steal in order to have what we need. We don't need a "false balance" to get through the day. We simply need to trust the Lord while working hard and working honestly.

Fruitful Words

"The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse" (Proverbs 10:31-32).

Talking is a big part of our lives. We use our words to communicate throughout the day and night. Sociologists tell us that women use more words each day than men do. Seems men are not as communicative as women. Whether male and female, we all use words.

Today's passage affirms the fact that those who walk closely with the Lord use their words to bring forth wisdom. The Hebrew word for "bring forth" means to bear fruit. The picture we are given is of a righteous person who naturally says good things because of the condition of his heart, just as a fruit tree naturally brings forth it's particular fruit. Just as lemon trees naturally produce lemons and apple trees produce apples, the righteous person brings forth wisdom with his words.

It is actually the opposite for the wicked. The word "perverse" means to turn away from what is natural. The person who turns away from the Lord will not be able to use his words for what is right and natural. The wicked use their words to twist truth, tell lies, tear down, and avoid being known. Deception and destruction are not God's desire for us as we interact with Him and others. He desires truth from us. He wants us to know one another and to be known. That cannot happen if we use our words as weapons.

You and I will use a lot of words today. The ladies will use more than the men but that is perfectly okay. The amount of words doesn't matter, but rather the quality of the words. Will we use our words in the proper way or in a perverse way? Will we deliver fruitful words or hurtful words today? Either way, the quality of our words will reveal the condition of our hearts. Hopefully, the condition of our hearts reveal a God given righteousness rather than a wickedness that stems from rebellion against the Lord.

The Joy Of Longevity

"The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers. The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land" (Proverbs 10:27-30).


Today's passage describes the benefits and blessings that come to those who live life intimately connected to the Lord. Those who live a life of faith experience certain things the wicked usually don't. A regular and recurring theme in Proverbs teaches us that long life, joy, safety, and security are the benefits of living closely with the Lord.

When looking at life from the perspective of eternity, the wicked do not experience these things the way the righteous do. The wicked may desire joy but they will not experience it. Joy is something much deeper and spiritual than that which the flesh can deliver. Most anyone can experience happiness because happiness is tied to circumstances. Happiness is a word that comes from the root word for "happenstance." While the wicked can be temporarily happy due to the happenstance of life, they can never really experience joy. Joy is a much deeper experience reserved for those who walk intimately with the Lord.

For the most part, when life is lived well, it is lived long. We are constantly reminded by Scripture that the Lord's protection is on His children and that this naturally prolongs their lives here on earth. Not so with the wicked. By choosing not to live their lives in intimacy with God, they are choosing to live outside His protective care. Oftentimes, their life is cut short simply because of the poor and dangerous choices they make in life.

To experience the benefits of joy, safety, security, and longevity of life, we are encouraged to live wisely and intimately with God. To choose to do otherwise is certainly an option. But to do so means you and I will pass up some wonderful benefits offered to us by God Himself. Our choices may bring us temporary happiness but they will fail to deliver us true joy and longevity of life. They will, in fact, fail to protect us from ourselves.

Good Help Wanted

"Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him" (Proverbs 10:26).

Those who hire a lazy person eventually regret it because the job is constantly left undone. Today's passage is a warning to employers, or anyone else who depends on others to get a job done, to be mindful of the irritation involved in hiring a sluggard.

The irritation is similar to the sour taste of vinegar and the burning sensation of smoke in your eyes. Just as people are bothered by both, they will be bothered by the sluggard. It is very important that those who hire workers are certain they are hiring the right kind of person. Employers are needing workers who are responsible, capable, energetic, and trust worthy. They need the kind of worker who will carry out his or her responsibilities; workers who complete the job.

This passage has a great lesson for employees as well. It is the kind of passage that casts a vision for what kind of employee a person can be. We can be responsible, capable, and energetic workers. When we are sent on a errand, the boss rests assured the job will get done.

If you do not want to be an irritated employer, do not hire a lazy person. If you do not want to leave a sour taste in the bosses mouth or be as irritating as smoke in her eyes, be a trust worthy, hard working, and energetic employee. Good help is always wanted.

Dreading The Tempest?

"What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever" (Proverbs 10:24-25).


We are constantly reminded in Proverbs that it never ends well for the wicked while the righteous have a marvelous future in store. Solomon is trying to convince those who are ignorant of this reality so that they have a chance to experience the best the Lord has to offer.

People who live their lives for the pleasure of themselves and others, rather than for the pleasure of the Lord, tend to dread calamity. This is because when someone is living for the pleasures of the material world, they are devastated when storms wipe out their possessions. The wicked tend to only care about their own comfort and they dread the calamity that disrupts their comfortable world.

Not so with the righteous. The righteous live for the pleasure of the Lord knowing that life is not about them. They are content with little as well as plenty. For them, the storms can come and go, taking what they will, but life is still good. Uncomfortable? Yes! Inconvenient? Absolutely! But the righteous do not dread calamity.  The desire of the righteous is that the Lord is honored in good times as well as bad. The desire of the righteous is for the life they have to continue on forever.

Do you dread calamity? Do you have a paralyzing fear that your material goods will one day be ruined thus ruining your life? If so, consider turning the eyes of your heart away from yourself and onto the Lord. Become a person who desires what the Lord desires. Let's become people who are content whether the sun is shining brightly or the tempest winds are blowing wildly. Let's be people who are known for the good things they desire rather than the terrible things they dread. For that which the righteous desire will be granted forever.

It's Not Funny

"Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding" (Proverbs 10:23).

We are about to study a string of verse (10:23-32) which contrast those who live wicked lives and those who live righteous lives. Because there is a contrast between wisdom and evil conduct, we know that wisdom, as spoken of in the Bible, is a moral issue.

Therefore, we see that it is the fool who enjoys committing sin. It's a joke to him. The fool loves sinning and you can tell by the expression on his face. On the other hand,  the person who understands the benefits of clean living finds enjoyment and pleasure in a life lived wisely. The expression on their face gives it away.

When someone has wisdom and understanding, it truly grieves them to sin against God and people. It hurts their heart to offend the Lord. Those who have understanding hate what God hates and loves what God loves. Sin is not a joke to them. Instead of laughing when they sin, they cry. The person of understanding is the person who comprehends the damage sin does to relationships. They don't laugh when people are hurt by someone else's selfishness, hate, greed, lust, or anger. They find no pleasure in such things.

What brings a smile to your face these days? Is it seeing someone live well or live poorly? Do you laugh or grieve when you hear that someone has been wounded by someone's sin? If you and I are people of understanding, then we will find pleasure in what is wise, not in what is wrong. We will not think that sin is funny.

Being Blessed

"The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:21).


Wow! Now this is a Bible verse I like to read. A verse that speaks of being rich and happy. Who doesn't want to have wealth with no sorrow? I can't think of a soul who would turn down that situation. Is this one of those things that is too good to be true? I would normally say it is except it's straight from Scripture. So what does this Proverb mean? How can this be?

One of the things we come to learn about the Lord, as we read and interact with Scripture, is that all good things come from God. He sovereignly assigns or withholds blessings according to an unseen plan. Our faith in Him is exercised in the midst of that unseen plan. God gives good things to His children as He often blesses them throughout their life. One of the many blessings His children receive is in the realm of finances. He allows some of His children to become materially rich. Not all His children experience this blessing, but many do.

Again, while the Scriptures repeatedly warn against trusting in wealth, the fact of the matter remains that the children of God do experience the blessings that accompany a life lived well. This means the righteous and diligent worker has no reason to feel badly about the gains he receives as a result of his work that is blessed by God.

There are no laws against making money. There are, however, laws against making money illegally. Those who prosper illegally are subject to the "sorrows" that accompany the consequences of such activity. Not so with those who prosper legally. There is no "sorrow" associated with riches gained righteously because they know they are being blessed by God.

This verse is assuring us that all good things come from God. It's reminding us that the righteous and diligent worker has no reason to feel guilty when God blesses his work. The sorrow that accompanies ill-gotten gain will not touch the one who walks and works in the righteousness of God. In other words, there is no sorrow attached to the gains made righteously.

Words Of Value

"The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense" (Proverbs 10:20-21).

There is a huge difference between the words of the wicked and the words of the righteous. What comes out of our mouths really does indicate that which is in our hearts. In contrast with the lying, slandering, and babbling words of the wicked, the words of the righteous are encouraging and uplifting. Such words are compared to choice silver.

It is amazing, as well as scary, that my words can either add value to the life of others or be absolutely worthless.  My words can either be nourishing to the souls of others or add to their spiritual starvation. This is why I want to be very careful about the condition of my heart and the quality of my speech. 

I can see how the Lord would be pleased with us as we contribute to the spiritual well being of those we encounter everyday by way of our valuable words. It is not hard to realize that adding to the spiritual starvation of others with our lying, slandering, and babbling words is offensive to God. Why would it not be offensive? It is very clear that those kinds of words do not reflect His gracious and loving character in any way whatsoever. 

Will our words today be worthless words or words of value? Let's be uplifting and encouraging to those who are spiritually starving. Let's feed them with nourishing words that are gracious and loving.

Less Talk Is Better

"When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent" (Proverbs 10:19).

If you give me enough time, I'll eventually put my foot in my mouth. It is not an issue of if but when. I have gotten myself in trouble with my "many" words so many times, I have lost count. I did not need to read about this in the Bible to know it is true.

People like me, who sometimes talk too much, realize that sin eventually follows their constant babbling. Proverbs 10:8 refers to the ruin that is experienced by the babbling fool.

In contrast, the prudent among us restrain their lips. These are the ones who could say something but choose not to. They know that their many words do nothing to enhance life and relationships. They are the ones who listen to the "little bird" that sits on their shoulder telling them to keep their mouth shut. When they listen, we all are winners.

Consider all that you could possibly say today and then cut that in half. Be the prudent one who restrains the lips so that transgressions are few and far between. If you are like me, people don't really need to hear everything you think you need to say.

A Pretender

"The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool" (Proverbs 10:18).

Proverbs 10:18-21 is all about talking. These four passages each refer to some aspect of our words. Our words can do a lot of good as well as a lot of damage. It takes great wisdom to know how to use our many words.

In today's passage, we learn that hatred can lead to all kinds of trouble. Oftentimes, when there is hatred for someone, a person is forced to lie to them. There are deceptive words used to cover the hatred. To do so makes us a pretender with people. This is different than what our mothers taught us when they said, "If you can't say something nice, say nothing at all." Trying to conceal hatred with lies is a different matter. The best solution to this problem is to not hate anyone. While this proverb doesn't walk us through that particular process, other Scriptures do. Our journey toward love and away from hate is advanced by the truth of Scripture.

What we learn from the second part of this passage is that when we lie to a person who is hated, we also tend to slander them behind their back. This passage connects the two parts with the word "and" which shows that lying and slander both result from hatred. This is why we must rid our hearts of hatred for individuals. If not, we will find ourselves saying things to the person which are either not true (a lie) or mean spirited (slander).

If we find we are lying to someone about our hateful feelings toward them, it is best to allow the Word of God to direct us to the love of God provided by His Holy Spirit. If not, there is a chance we will slander them behind their back.

Lying and slandering, born of hatred, are the characteristics of a fool. May God direct our hearts toward love for all people. If not, we will find ourselves living quite foolishly by way of our hateful and slanderous words. We will find ourselves being a pretender.

Influence

"Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray" (Proverbs 10:17).

Proverbs mentions "life" quite a bit. It seems the Lord is very interested in us experiencing life to fullest extent possible. Jesus told us that is why He came to earth. He came to give us life to the full (see John 10:10). Heeding instruction puts us on the path to a full life.

One of the things we learn from today's passage is that no one is an island unto himself. We all have influence. We all have impact. The question is whether or not our influence and impact are positive or negative when it comes to others experiencing life to the full.

The person who listens to the instruction given them, regarding life, will find that they are on the path to life. They will, in turn, lead others toward that path. In doing so, there is great reward and satisfaction. The person who rejects reproof will find that they are going astray. It is tragic that they will lead other astray as well.

It does not matter who we are; we all have influence. We need to realize that we will impact people with our lives. Our lives are like a drop of water that causes rippling circles in a glass of water. If we are wise, we will respond well to both instruction and reproof. In doing so, the ripples we make will have a positive influence on others. If not, our ripples will influence others in a negative way.

Knowing you have influence, what kind of influence do you choose to have; positive or negative?

The Real Pay Day

"A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin" (Proverbs 10:15-16).

If you are like me, you look forward to pay day. For most workers, pay day comes twice a month. Those two days of the month can be pretty awesome when there are a stack of bills sitting on their kitchen desk.

Proverbs repeatedly teaches that money is not to be trusted in. Wealth is so fickle, a person would be foolish to esteem money over honor. The Scripture teaches us that life can be lived well and enjoyed deeply whether or not we have a big bank account.

Today's passage teaches us that a person's wealth, while not to be trusted in, can serve as a strong protection (like ancient city walls) against any number of disasters. This is why the poor are often times vulnerable to disaster. They do not have the resources to deal with life's unfortunate events. Poverty is a world wide problem that continues to suppress the feeble, weak, and helpless among us. This is the main reason God commands us to help the poor.

Having reinforced this truth, our passage takes things to a new level by telling us of a natural wage or "return" that comes as a result of godly living. That "return" is life itself. While we naturally look forward to our two "money" pay days a month, the real pay day comes in the form of life to the full. This was Jesus' claim about Himself when He said, "The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). While godly living pays positive dividends in life, sin pays negative dividends. The wicked experience "poverty" of soul.

While you look forward to your "money" pay days that help you deal with life's certain disasters, don't forget that the real pay day comes from godly living. The real gains are experienced in real and abundant life!

Babble

"On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin" (Proverbs 10:13-14).

In this particular contrast between wisdom and foolishness, the focus is on what is and isn't said. For those who have wisdom, they speak from great understanding, though they may speak very few words. The fool is the one who lacks sense and thus faces certain ruin if they don't respond to the rod applied to their backside.

I have seen it happen to others as well as to myself. We talk too much about things we know very little about. Doing that gets us into a lot of trouble. We are told that those who are wise "lay up knowledge." This means they hold it in until the right moment. They don't spout off, all at once, everything they know .

Those who have wisdom speak wisely while those who lack wisdom speak foolishly. We find that the wise are prudent with their words and thus their reward is sweet. The fool lacks sense and so he babbles. We are told that his punishment (opposite of reward) is a rod across the back.

As we grow in knowledge and understanding, let's be careful not to "spout off" about we know or "babble" about what we don't know. Let's be prudent with our words; speaking only about what we really know and have experienced. If we find ourselves being the babbling fool, let's be ready to take that which we deserve; a rod across the back.

Overwhelming Love

"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses" (Proverbs 10:12).

We have all seen the havoc that is brought on by those who hate each other. There is no cooperation, camaraderie, or compassion in the midst of their hatred. There is only strife when hatred is present. But not so with love. Love leads to peace.

When there is hatred instead of love, there is dissension and distrust. People who can't stand one another can't work or play together. Hatred trumps the humility needed to be united together in a viable relationship. That is why we are called to love one another. Relationships can only flourish if love is allowed to trump hatred. Love trumps all things offensive.

Love leads to unity and camaraderie because love covers (forgives) the failings of others. Love leads to the forgiveness of all things offensive because love does not focus on the faults of others. Remember that "cover" is translated "overwhelmed" in Proverbs 10:6. Just as hateful words overwhelm relationships with violence, love overwhelms relationships with grace and forgiveness. If we are to overwhelm people, we are to overwhelm them with love.

Next time you have a chance to overwhelm someone, choose to do so with the love that God has shown you. We are told of God's overwhelming love in John 3:16 as we see a God who gives forgiveness through the gift of His Son who died of our sin. That love brings peace between God and those who believe in His Son.

Hatred cannot bring peace. Hatred does nothing but stir up the negative feelings brought on by rivalry, resentment, and rancor. Love covers over all things offensive by offering the grace of God. If you find someone who has been overwhelmed with hatred, pray that God will allow you to overwhelm them with love. For it is love which covers all offenses.

Winks And Words

"Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence" (Proverbs 10:10-11).

In life, there is such a thing as a playful wink and a malicious wink. Today's passage is about the latter. A person doesn't maliciously wink to an accomplice without being up to something. The kind of wink our passage mentions today causes trouble between people.

However, trouble from a wink of the eye is not all we must be careful of. The fool who babbles away with his mouth brings trouble as well. His words will doom him to ruin. In contrast, the words of the righteous are as refreshing as a water fountain in the heat of the day. The words of the righteous are a "fountain of life."

As stated earlier in Proverbs 10:6, the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The word "conceal" is translated "overwhelm" which tells us that the words of the wicked characterize their life which is overwhelmed by evil. Though they try to hide their evil intentions, they are always found out.

Whether it is the wink of the eye or the words of the mouth, we must all be very careful. The wink of the eye brings trouble and the words of the babbling fool bring ruin. It takes great wisdom to avoid both pitfalls. It takes a godly heart to use our winks and our words for good, not harm.

Without Wax

"The wise in heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out" (Proverbs 10:8-9).

You and I will either listen to wise counsel and obey the commands we are given by God or we won't. There is such a thing as a babbling fool who won't keep his mouth shut long enough to listen. The end result for such a fool is ruin. Proverbs warns against this so many times, it is hard to keep count.

If we are truly wise, we will keep our mouths shut and our ears open. We will listen to what the Lord tells us about life and take it to heart. Once we do that, we start walking through life with amazing integrity. To have integrity, one must be sincere. The Greek word for "sincere" means "without wax." It has to do with pottery makers who sell pots without cracks in them. Sometimes, if a pot had a small crack in it, the potter would fill it with wax to conceal it. If you bought a pot "without wax" you were buying a pot that had integrity.

The fool who will not keep quiet long enough to grow wise has to fill in the cracks of his life with "wax." He, we are told, will be found out sooner or later.

The fact of the matter is simple; we are all cracked pots. The wise person is the one who will listen to the teaching of the Lord while obeying His commands. It is through the grace of God, leading to his obedience, that a person finds healing. It is through ignoring the grace of God, leading to his disobedience, that a person finds ruin. He has no other option than to try to fill the cracks of his life with "wax." This, we are told, will lead to disaster.

Rain Or Shine

"Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot" (Proverbs 10:6-7).

The contrast between the righteous and the wicked continues with a description of what results from both lifestyles. For the righteous, the ability to acknowledge blessing is the result. For the wicked, being overwhelmed is the result.

Godly men and women all over the world speak openly about how blessed they are by the Lord. They tell of how wonderful it is to walk with Him daily, to serve Him with their time, talent, and treasure. In contrast, out of the mouth of the wicked comes violence and rot.

The strong faith of believers keeps them faithful in their journey with Him whether life is easy or difficult on any given day. Their loyalty to Christ is not dependent on whether or not the sun is shining the day they have a family picnic planned. They speak of God's faithfulness and blessing while they are going through chemotherapy. They sing God's praises while changing flat tires, folding laundry, sitting in traffic, battling the flu, or even arranging a funeral for a loved one they know they will desperately miss. The righteous experience God's blessings in the midst of life's brokenness.

Not so with the wicked. The wicked are overwhelmed by the brokenness of life. The Hebrew word for "concealed" can be translated "overwhelmed" or "covered." Those who do not walk through life with the Lord can only be overwhelmed by the rottenness of life's brokenness.

The righteous and the wicked are both hit by the junk of life. Both experience diseases, flat tires, dirty laundry, horrific traffic, loss of loved ones, and even rained out picnics. The righteous acknowledge the blessings of the Lord in the midst of life while the wicked are simply overwhelmed.

Verse 7 tells us that just remembering the life of righteous people brings blessing while most people want to forget the wicked. "The name of the wicked will rot" simply means their life was not remarkable enough to remember. Those who walk with the Lord through thick or thin, rain or shine, in sickness or in health, in riches or in poverty, are the ones who tell of the blessings of the Lord. The wicked are simply overwhelmed and then soon forgotten.

Hard Work Pays Off

"The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame" (Proverbs 10:3-5).

There is a huge difference between a person who works hard and one who hardly works. The person who works hard accumulates wealth while the sloth goes without. Diligence has its rewards. Today's passage contrasts diligence with laziness. The bottom line is that one pays huge dividends while the other doesn't.

Satisfaction in life is realized only through the goodness of the Lord. While our appetites are satisfied by the hand of the Lord, this does not mean our own hands can be slack. It is clearly stated in today's passage that "a slack hand causes poverty." This means the slacker will go without. We are taught here that diligence leads to wealth and laziness leads to poverty. This does not mean that all those who are impoverished are lazy; it is not that simple. Our passage simply states that laziness is a negative character trait and that laziness doesn't pay.

The son who is industrious is contrasted with the son who sleeps the day away. The hard working son is thinking ahead to the winter when he is going to need food. He is up early each morning gathering his crops in the summer time, way before he needs them. The lazy son who slept through the harvest is left with nothing to eat in the winter. This, we are told, is a shameful thing.

When will we learn that hard work is better than laziness, wealth is better than poverty, wisdom is better than shame, and righteousness is better than wickedness? Those who love the Lord and are wisely walking with Him daily are provided for by His generous and gracious hand. Those who live their lives by way of wicked cravings end up shamefully impoverished.

It is clearly stated in today's passage that hard work pays off. So the question needs to be asked, "Are you working hard or hardly working?" One pays huge dividends from the hand of the Lord while the other offers nothing from the slack hand of the "cravings of the wicked."

On The Take

"Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death" (Proverbs 10:2).

The treasures that profit a person are the ones that are gained in the proper way. This passage does not say that treasures are of no value. It tells us that ill-gotten treasures are of no value. They do nothing to profit a person's life the way righteousness does. To gain wealth through deceit or corruption adds no real value to life. Being "on the take" is not how we are to live our lives.

By mentioning that righteousness delivers people from death, this proverb is telling us that ill-gotten gain does not bring us real or lasting life. Life comes from walking in the Lord's righteousness. The fullness of life we seek is not found in earthly treasures that fade away. Especially if those treasures become ours due to shady practices.

Consider another proverb: "Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it" (Proverbs 13:11). To try and get rich quickly through deceitful scheming or unjust practices will not forestall death. Neither will it bring a person a deep and satisfying life.

Let's allow today's proverb to guide us toward earthly treasure that is gained righteously yet not allowed to take the place of God in our lives. Not only does life come from the hand of the Lord, but so do the blessings we experience in life. Being "on the take" does not bring real blessing. Treasure gained by shady deals or outright deception may bring temporary pleasure to one's life, but it adds no real or lasting value. Only righteousness brings us life.

Bringing Joy

"A wise son make a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother" (Proverbs 10:1).

We are entering a long stretch of Proverbs (chapters 10-15) which contrast the life of the wicked and the life of the righteous. These proverbs show us the reality of living wisely as well as living foolishly. Our lives will have impact; the question is whether the impact will be positive or negative; whether we will bring joy or grief to our parents.

Today's passage tells us that the life of the son will either bring joy or grief to his parents. To mention the father in one line and the mother in the other is very common in proverbial literature. The point of today's proverb is to affirm the joy a wise son brings his parents in contrast with the grief the foolish son brings.

I would think that all of us, if we were to be totally honest with ourselves, would say that we want to bring our parents joy. Those of us who are parents definitely want our children learning from our teaching and advice. We feel the joy the proverb mentions when we see that our children listen to us. We also feel the painful grief brought on by their foolish behavior.

This translates well in regards to our relationship with God. As His children, a great motivation is to see Him experience joy over how we live our lives rather than the grief that comes from seeing us live foolishly. When all is said and done, I want to bring joy to my earthly parents as well as my heavenly Father. The same is true for my children. I want them to know how thrilled I am when their life is lived well and how grieved I am when they miss the mark.

Children can bring either joy or grief to their parents. Knowing this, I would hope children everywhere, us grown-ups included, will make wise decisions about life. I hope our motivation is always to bring joy and not grief.

Folly's Lie

"The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, 'Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!' And to him who lacks sense she says, '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 Sheol" (Proverbs 9:13-18).

The woman Folly is described as boisterous and seductive yet ignorant. She has the looks and the volume but has no understanding when it comes to real life. All she can do is lure people into a disappointing life with her lie.

In contrast to Lady Wisdom who spends time preparing the banquet and inviting everyone to enjoy the long term benefits of her feast, woman Folly offers instant gratification to the passer by. She mimics Lady Wisdom by also standing on the high place of the city but what she offers is death rather than life. All she can offer people is the lie that "stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."

The metaphor of drinking from one's own fountain is about enjoying sex inside a marriage relationship. To steal water is to have sex with someone other than your spouse. We are not to believe woman Folly when she tells us that immorality is as sweet as godliness. She is not to be believed when she tells us that a secret life is no problem.

All who have believed her lie have stepped into her deadly trap. They have found themselves in the pit of despair known as the "depths of Sheol." Let the "water" you drink be yours alone and when you eat "bread," be sure it is bread you eat at Wisdom's table, not Folly's.

Knowing God

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it" (Proverbs 9:10-12).

Of all the benefits we have read about in association with the gaining of wisdom, personally knowing God tops them all. The ultimate benefit of wisdom is "knowledge of the Holy One." This personal knowledge leads to great insight into not just life, but into God Himself.

When someone personally knows the Creator who is Holy, they know the One true God. They know His love, grace, patience, compassion, desires, strength, and so much more. Knowing God is so different than knowing about God. The difference between the two is experience. To really know God's love is to have experienced His love. To experience His compassion is to personally know His compassion.

One of the great benefits of knowing God is found in the length of days that follow. This is not just a numbering of days here on earth but rather a numbering of days in eternity. (If our days in eternity are even counted).

Those who gain wisdom gain a knowledge of God that is personal and intimate. Their life lasts forever starting the day they come to know the Holy One. Those who spend their life mocking wisdom end up experiencing ruin. Proverbs gives this warning so many times, there will be no excuses the day they are translated into eternity, with or without the Holy One.

R.S.V.P. Wisely

"Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning" (Proverbs 9:7-9).

This passage is strategically placed between Wisdom's invitation and the invitation offered by the woman "Folly" (see Proverbs 9:13-18). Both Wisdom and Folly cry out in the streets with an invitation to feast at their table. Today's passage describes the consequences of accepting either invitation.

To accept wisdom's invitation is to accept correction and reproof. To do so means you are wise. To do so puts you in a loving relationship with wisdom. To scoff at wisdom's invitation to enjoy her banquet delights is to R.S.V.P with hateful abuse. Scoffers hate wisdom's reproof and correction and they will make that hatred known.

When instruction is given to a wise man, he only gets wiser. The righteous man who listens to wisdom's instruction flourishes in life. Wisdom brings more life to the one who is alive while folly only brings more bitterness to the one who is perishing.

"Lady Wisdom" has lots of experience when it comes to being hated and abused. She offers herself to anyone who will have her. The wise truly get wiser when she is in their life. The scoffer only gets more abusive and hateful.

Consider your response to the person who may correct of reprove you today. Allow your spirit to respond well to wisdom's instruction in your life. If you find yourself abusive and hateful to the one who offers insight and instruction, you may be heading down the wrong path. You may be listening to Folly's invitation rather than Wisdom's.

Wisdom's Invitation

"She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in town, 'Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!' To him who lacks sense she says, 'Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live and walk in the way of insight'" (Proverbs 9:3-6).

After the hostess prepared the banquet room and the food, she then sent her servants into town to invite the guests. Instructing them to call out from the most elevated spot in town shows that she wants everyone to hear her invitation. "Lady Wisdom" knows that there is a very vulnerable group of people in town who need her and she makes sure they have a chance to attend her dinner.

The most vulnerable of us all are the "simple" and the ones who lack "sense." These are the ones who are naive about life and who tend to be gullible. Their judgment of things right and wrong is poor. They need a lot of help life because life contains lots of confusing alternatives. Hope is found in the fact that a place at "Lady Wisdom's" table is reserved just for them.

To sit at her table and enjoy the meat, bread, and wine she has prepared is a metaphor for acquiring and enjoying wisdom. Wisdom assists the naive in their quest for life and godliness. Wisdom gives sound judgement to those who are lacking in that area. Wisdom turns those who are "simple" into those who are amazingly mature.

Remember that the invitation has gone out to everyone. There is a place set at "Lady Wisdom's" table for all who will attend the banquet. I hope you hear her invitation and are ready to take your place at her banquet.

Wisdom's Banquet

"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table" (Proverbs 9:1-2).

Before the invitations go out to all those in need of wisdom's delights, "Lady Wisdom" sets the scene as well as the table. The scene is a spacious house evidenced by seven pillars. Some Bible scholars have tried to guess the meaning of seven pillars by attributing the number seven to the six days of creation followed by one day of rest. Others have wondered if the seven refers to the sun, moon, and the five planets that were known at that time. When all is said and done, those are just guesses. The seven pillars probably just indicate that wisdom builds a big spacious house.

And yet the house is not meant to be empty. People are invited in. In the next set of verses we will study, we will find that everyone is invited to sit at wisdom's banquet in wisdom's spacious house. She has prepared the meat as well as the wine. The mixing of wine may have something to do with the practice of putting spices in it to enhance the flavor. Psalm 75:8 and Isaiah 5:22 make reference to this practice.

We are encouraged to realize that wisdom's banquet is filling and tasty. The meat of her banquet gives life and the wine gives that life a spicy flavor. If you find you are starving for real food and the spice of life only the Lord offers, be ready to accept "Lady Wisdom's" invitation to her banquet. Her house is large enough for a crowd. She desires you to be one of the many folks who sit at her table.

Neglect

"And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, by he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:32-36).

It is now wisdom who addresses the sons. She connects listening and blessing three times in alternating order. You are blessed if you listen and if you listen you are blessed. Her plea for the sons to listen is followed by significant promises.

To neglect her plea is to forego the promises being made. To neglect anything leads to its ultimate demise and so wisdom calls on us to avoid the demise of our lives that comes by neglecting her words.

If blessing comes from really hearing and following through with what we are taught by wisdom, we are foolish not to listen. She promises that to listen to her leads us to life as well as to God's favor. Life and favor can be ours if we do not neglect wisdom's words. The Hebrew word for "favor" means "acceptance, goodwill, or approval." It means that the life lived wisely is pleasing to the Lord.

If you truly desire the fullness of life God offers; a life that is pleasing to God, do not neglect wisdom's words. There still remain only two options when it comes to this. We will either enjoy the wonderful way of life that comes to us because we have listened to wisdom, or we will experience the folly of death brought on by neglect. Choose wisely!

A Craftsman

"When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man" (Proverbs 8:27-31).

In a poetic way, Proverbs teaches us that wisdom was a "craftsman" at the side of God when He was creating the world. This attribute of God is personified as a trusted assistant in the Lord's creative work. We are told that the Lord was wise in what He made.

To be "beside" someone is an indication of intimacy. We are to clearly understand that it was not wisdom who designed and created the world but rather God Himself. God wisely designed and created all things.

The results were magnificent. The results of His work caused wisdom to rejoice over the presence of the Lord, His creative work, as well as the children of man.

If we desire such rejoicing in our lives, we must have wisdom at our side. The great craftsman known as "wisdom" must be employed in our work. She must be present with us (beside us) as we live our lives. Simply put, if God involved wisdom in His creative undertakings, surely we mere humans need wisdom as well.

Wisdom Born

"Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust f the world" (Proverbs 8:23-26).

Wisdom was "brought forth" before the universe was created. The picture we are given is of a birth. Before God created the oceans, rivers, mountains, hills, and the dust of the earth, he birthed wisdom. This tells us, "first things first."

That was true then and it is true today. If we desire to explore the depths that life offers; to swim the "oceans" of God's truth, we must have wisdom. If our dream is to cross the "rivers" that block our journey, we must have wisdom. In order to climb to the heights of life's "mountains," wisdom must first be ours. With wisdom the world was created and in wisdom life in the world is to be lived.

Whether you are ready to face life's depths or heights, wisdom must first be yours. Let wisdom be born in your heart today as you experience the life God has given you.

From The Start

"'The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old'" (Proverbs 8:22).

From the start of God's work of creation, wisdom was there. She is personified in today's passage as God's very own wisdom. All that has been accomplished by God, in the past, has been done with wisdom. All that He will ever accomplish will be with wisdom. That is how important she is to us in our current situation.

Her various claims, in the preceding verses of Proverbs 8, are believable once we recognize her place in God's creative work. The Lord possessed wisdom as He created light, planets, stars, and moons. It was through wisdom they were perfectly positioned. It was by His wisdom that He formed plants, animals, minerals, water, and you. Wisdom has an impressive resume. She was there from the start and she is still here. She is ours if we want her.

Our creative work, important decisions, and game changing insights can be born of wisdom if only we will embrace her. Wisdom's history assures us she can impact our present and future. It is never too late for the living to acquire wisdom. She is a gift to those who will receive her. She has been that from the very start of time.

A Truly Fruitful Life

"My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries" (Proverbs 8:19-21).

Today's passage says that those who love wisdom gain wealth. It is a fact of life that material goods can be replenished with skill and hard work. Keeping one's treasuries full happens as a result of a person's skill which is refined by wisdom. There are many times in Proverbs when Solomon makes generalizations that have exceptions. There are certainly exceptions to this general truth. We all know some very wise and godly people who have not amassed great material wealth.

But we should not feel sorry for them. They have experienced something much more valuable than material wealth. Which brings us to the point.

The point that is being made, in light of one's ability to keep their treasuries full, is that there are benefits in life that are more valuable than fine gold and silver. Wisdom's fruit yields an amazing life; a life walked in the righteousness of God.

This kind of life is truly amazing because it yields benefits that are derived from "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (see Galatians 5:22).

If you want to know if you are truly rich, take a look at what your life is truly yielding. If it is yielding the fruit of God's Spirit, you are truly wealthy. If not, you are indeed poor, even if your natural skill has helped you amassed great worldly wealth.

Loving Wisdom

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness" (Proverbs 8:17-18).

Even though wisdom has called out to everyone in the city streets, she is only acquired by those who love her. The benefits of her love are described in terms of riches and wealth as well as honor and righteousness. Linking these four things together tells us that she offers the kind of riches and wealth that are not of this world.

The Hebrew word for "enduring" means "surpassing" or "eminent." The wealth that comes to the one who loves wisdom is the real thing. The riches she offers are not the worldly substitutes that come with gold and silver. As we have been told several times, wisdom is more valuable than those earthly minerals.

To truly be honored in one's community, it will take a life lived well by the loving instruction of wisdom. Superficial honor is gained by a big bank account. Those who spend their life pursuing gold and silver are chasing after the kind of honor that is fleeting, never enduring.

Today's passage reminds us that the real treasure we seek is found in godly living. It is our love for wisdom that will lead us to that real treasure, for it is wisdom that offers us our only chance at a godly life.

Wonderful Gifts

"I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes ruler, and nobles, all who govern justly" (Proverbs 8:14-16)

It probably doesn't come to you as a huge surprise that life can be very confusing. There are decisions that have to be made on a daily basis. Those decisions need to be made wisely. It helps to have people in our lives who can give wise counsel and who can give us keen insight. Wisdom is such a friend. Wisdom comes to us bearing gifts.

Wisdom presents the gifts of wise counsel and sound judgement. She gives insight for the task at hand as well as strength to complete the task. She gives us the valor of a strong soldier who fights his way through repeated battles.

Wisdom presents herself to kings, princes, rulers, and nobles as they make decisions about just laws. With wisdom they rule. With wisdom they decree. To write truly fair laws for their people, those in authority must heed the wise counsel and sound judgement wisdom offers.

This wonderful truth applies to all in authority. It applies to bosses at work as well as parents at home. It applies to teachers in the classroom as well as Presidents in the White House.

All in authority are called upon to rule with the wise counsel, sound judgement, and moral strength freely offered by wisdom. She stands ready to hand her amazing gifts to those who will receive them.

Life Untangled

"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate" (Proverbs 8:12-13).

The next ten verses contain over a dozen personal pronouns. I, me, my, and mine put the emphasis on wisdom rather than the rewards of wisdom. Therefore, wisdom is to be pursued with passion and commitment.

To possess wisdom is to naturally possess prudence, knowledge, and discretion. Our pursuit of wisdom is as noble a pursuit as we can have because wisdom leads us to an intimate relationship with the Lord. The fruit of that relationship is sensible and discrete living.

The person who lives a sensible and discrete life is the one who is not tangled in the vices of pride, arrogance, perverted speech and all things associated with the "way of evil." In other words, prudence, knowledge, and discretion will cause us to hate the same evil things the Lord hates, leading us to a life untangled.

Keep in mind that wisdom has a moral element as well as a mental element. Fearing the Lord produces a beautiful life that rejects perverse talk, evil behavior, and all things arrogant. It goes back to the fact that life is about Who we know rather than what we know. This is the meaning behind "the fear of the Lord."

If you find yourself entangled in the ugliness of pride, perverse talk, or anything associated with the way of evil, seek the wisdom of the Lord through your fear of the Lord. This will lead you to a life untangled and thus a beautiful life.

No Deceptive Twists

"All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you desire cannot compare with her" (Proverbs 8:8-11).

This passage is very similar to Proverbs 3:13-15. If I didn't know better, I would think Solomon did a little "cutting and pasting" here. But he didn't. He simply does what is necessary to drive the point home. He repeats, reiterates, and reinforces truth by saying it one more time. Hoping that if we didn't catch the truth the first time, we will catch it this time.

The message is clear: wisdom is better than gold, silver, and jewels. I know it is hard for some of us to believe this, but it's true. The very nature of wisdom should convince us of this truth. Wisdom sends us down the right path. It is the path that is straight. It does not confuse us with any deceptive twists and turns.

Confusion is caused when we believe that which is not true about life. Lies about how life can be full and meaningful apart from our Creator. Lies about us being able to save ourselves. The twisted and distorted message that life can be fulfilling if only we had enough money. The enemy wants us to believe the stairs are going down and not up.

Let's grasp the life giving truth that wisdom offers. Let's not be duped into thinking that silver, gold, and jewels fill the emptiness we all experience in life. Life is designed to be lived in intimate fellowship with our Creator. The gaps that are formed by the break in that relationship will never be filled by material things.

God is shooting straight with us in this Proverb. May we all find ourselves traveling the straight path on which wisdom points. May we not be coaxed into leaving that path in search of that which will never fill the gaps of our lives.

The High Road

"Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips" (Proverbs 8:6-7).

There is the high road of life as well as the low road of life. The high road is the noble road. A noble life is one that is characterized by high ideals and strong moral traits. Take the opposite of that and you have a life marked by low ideals and weak moral traits. That is the life that is void of wisdom.

Wisdom offers the high road. Wisdom calls us to ascend the heights of noble living. A place where are thoughts are pure and refreshing. The high road is where we can only treat others with dignity, care, concern, and true grace. Wisdom's lips speak the truth about the noble life which is beautiful. We are called to join her on the trek up the mountain of nobility and righteousness.

We have all been wounded on the low road. We have all been stung by the hurtful words of hateful people. Those who live selfishly and foolishly have treated us shamefully, with no care given for our condition, no concern for our point of view. They have not been gracious.

Choose the right road today. When the road forks in front of you, one path ascending and one path descending... ascend. Wisdom is calling us to the high road which is noble and right.

Wisdom For All

"'To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. ...'" (Proverbs 8:4-5).

Wisdom calls out to all people. To men and their children as well as to the simple and to the fools. We find in Proverbs that both the adulteress and wisdom call aloud. They both appeal to those who are naive. Wisdom asks the young to gain prudence which means they are to acquire a sensibleness to their approach to life's many confusing alternatives.

The simple are those who are untaught and the fools are those who won't be taught. Wisdom calls out to both. Those who are naive because they yet to be taught are invited to be taught. Those who foolishly reject wisdom are called to no longer live foolishly. They are encouraged to allow themselves to be taught the wise was to live.

Wisdom is for young and old. Wisdom calls to those who have yet to learn and those who have, up to this point, refused to learn. Wisdom is available to all.

Are you ready to learn from her?

Crossroads

"Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud" (Proverbs 8:1-3).

This passage is very similar to Proverbs 1:20-21 in that it assures us that wisdom is calling out to us in a way that we can hear her. She positions herself in strategic locations around the city so that we can know how to navigate the very busy and confusing roads of life.

But are we listening?

With rhetorical questions, Solomon is telling us that wisdom and understanding are calling with a loud voice. These beautiful sisters stand on high ground as well as low ground. They position themselves at the gates of town as we work our way toward and through everyday decisions. They sit at our window as we look out toward the future.

It is at the crossroads we find wisdom and understanding calling us to lean on them. Crossroads are about making a decision. Which way do I go? Do I turn here or do I go straight? Am I in the right place or not? Wisdom and understanding will let us know.

As you find yourself in the city, by the window, on the hills, or in the valleys... heed the call of wisdom and understanding. As you find yourself at the crossroads of your life, allow understanding and wisdom to call you in the right direction. For it is wisdom and understanding that will guard your steps.