(A simple series highlighting verses from each chapter of the book of Proverbs)
The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion…Happy is the one who is always reverent, but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble. (Proverbs 28:1,14 HCSB)
The guilty heart breeds loneliness.
The bold heart stands in the right.
The reverent heart knows who’s king.
The heart open to God finds security and peace.
The humble heart is strong.
(A simple series highlighting verses from each chapter of the book of Proverbs)
A sensible person sees danger and takes cover; the inexperienced keep going and are punished. (Proverbs 27:12 HCSB)
My first marathon, Virginia Beach, March 2009. I felt ready. All was going well until Mile 16. I had brought enough gels to get me that far. The race guide promised gels would be at that aid station. Promise broken. I had 10 miles to go. Without needed energy, what was I to do?
I know now what I should have done, but all I knew to do that day was keep running and deal with the eventual wall I was going to hit. Mile 21. BOOM. Nothing left in the tank.
I didn’t “take cover.” I was definitely “punished.”
What can we do with danger or the unknown?
(A simple series highlighting verses from each chapter of the book of Proverbs)
Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down. (Proverbs 26:20 HCSB)
This proverb is one of several in chapter 26 that have to do with words, and the results of not using them well.
Ask Californians during fire season what not to do and they’ll certainly include “don’t feed it.”
Ask recipients of damaging gossip what not to do and they’ll say the same thing. “Kill it. Don’t spread it.”
Remember the game “gossip”? What if you simply refused to play? What if the message never got to the last person just because you quit the game?
(A simple series highlighting verses from each chapter of the book of Proverbs)
A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples on a silver tray. A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold. To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the life of his masters. (Proverbs 25:11-13 HCSB)
Do you have a friend that knows what to say, it seems, all the time? Either they are just faster on their feet or they are just more in tuned? Verse 11-12 says they are gold. The Message paraphrase describes them as “custom made.” I can’t say I have many friends that are “gold,” but the one that comes to mind is definitely priceless. I would say his listening skills are what makes him gold.
How about friends that are reliable, that do what they say? Got many of those? Verse 13 calls them refreshing. The Message paraphrase describes them as “cool drinks in sweltering heat.” What I know is how unrefreshing unreliable “friends” are. To have “cool drink” friends, which I’m thankful to say I do, is one of the greatest blessings in life.
We should strive to be gold and cool drinks, not just receivers but givers. Who would call you gold or a cool drink?
(A simple series highlighting verses from each chapter of the book of Proverbs)
Don’t be agitated by evildoers, and don’t envy the wicked. (Proverbs 24:19 HCSB)
Social Media is full of agitation. I get agitated by all the agitation, you know what I mean?
So why do we allow ourselves to get so agitated? Yes, people do crazy things. Yes, we don’t understand how people get by with their actions. Yes, we will never agree totally with others. But must we live in such an agitated state?
Is it possible we’ve gotten so agitated by what we see in others because we’ve forgotten the evil that resides in our own hearts? We’ve gotten so used to excusing the person in the mirror that actually given enough power and freedom is capable of just as much wickedness.
This proverb reminds me to look at my own heart. See myself as God sees me. Worry about my own evil and wickedness rather than focus on someone else’s. Resist the agitation of pointing out the sins of others and let God deal with them. Enough with the agitation.
Crying. When you think of that action, most likely you think of something bad or sad happening. It ain’t good if you’re crying.
During a segment on 60 Minutes tonight, a NASA engineer described going home the night after a stressful but successful project of landing Curiosity, a car-sized robotic rover exploring Gale Crater on Mars. He said, “I crawled into bed with my wife and wept.” He didn’t sound sad at all. He sounded joyfully spent, exhaustedly happy.
Have you ever experienced that kind of crying? You might call it having a good cry. I’ve had some. One that particularly comes to mind was at the end of my last marathon in 2012. I tried to control it, but there was no controlling it. I was joyfully spent, exhaustedly happy.
What are you working on that you are so committed to that when it’s over you could have a good cry? What life mission are you following that makes you have a good cry occasionally? When was your last good cry?
Go after being joyfully spent. Go after good crying.
(A simple series highlighting verses from each chapter of the book of Proverbs)
Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the Lord. Proverbs 23:17 HCSB
What might heart envy look like?
So my boss has gotten to his position by running all over others. Looks like success. Maybe…
So my neighbors live so carefree and just seem to have everything they want. Of course, they have crazy amount of debt and fight constantly about money. But…
These guys at the gym are always talking about how much fun they have after they leave the gym. They invite me to come along all the time. I doubt my wife would like these guys, but…
Awe of God will give you the right perspective of success, finances, and fun. Guard your heart. Resist its envy.
You don’t have to be a Cardinals fan, not even a baseball fan, to enjoy this book. Here are 5 reasons why:
“If a tire goes flat, does the reason matter?” @TheeRickAnkiel #thephenomenon
Here’s some people who should read this book:
“All I had to do was look up. All I had to do was stop the fear from rising.” @TheeRickAnkiel #thephenomenon
(A simple series highlighting verses from each chapter of the book of Proverbs)
The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both… Drive out a mocker, and conflict goes too; then quarreling and dishonor will cease. Proverbs 22:2,10 HCSB
Besides the rich and the poor both being made by God, here are some other “couples”:
This list is endless. What shouldn’t be endless is any mocking between these God-created couples.
Endless Honor and Respect is what God-created couples should embrace.
(A simple series highlighting verses from each chapter of the book of Proverbs)
The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor…No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the Lord. (Proverbs 21:21,30 HCSB)
Some spiritual choices in life make no sense to nonspiritual minds. And why should they? For that matter, some spiritual-minded people often question the choices of other people of same mind. According to these verses, why should they?
For example, not all spiritual-minded people are in ideal marital relationships. They receive counsel from various sources of what they should do. It seems that no matter the choices of these people, they will no doubt receive pushback from others. What should they do?
If you find yourself in such a situation, whether it’s related to your career, a relationship, your finances, your health, or even where you should align yourself in a local church body, take heart in these truths from these verses:
Seek counsel from others, yes. But you are not a slave to them. Their counsel doesn’t outrank God’s. Your best counsel comes from him. And why shouldn’t it?
John Gregory 