Proverbial Wisdom: Solomon Says....

 Read Proverbs 10

In the very first verse we are told that these are the proverbs of Solomon.  While the whole book is largely written by Solomon, we are told that these proverbs are of him probably because these were proverbs that he held close to his heart and life.  In this chapter, we are given many practical steps in life to follow which again will help us lead an abundant and wise life in the Lord.

Fools create problems and bring sorrow, especially to their parents.  Every godly father and mother encourages their children to be wise, to follow the Lord, and teaches their children to not make the same mistakes they have.  The Bible however has a record of sorrow that children have brought to their parents.  History, from the very start, has been marked by children who were foolish like Cain and children who were wise like Abel and Seth.

God has ordained that parents are older and more experienced than their children and should therefore lovingly guide their children and prepare them for adulthood.  If any of their children end up sluggish, gluttons, fornicators, rebels, and robbers, it should be in spite of their parents' training and not because of it.  If you are a parent, and you raised your child in the way of the Lord, remember that it’s not your failure if the child chooses another path.  Remember, God, who created us perfect, saw us go astray when He put us in perfection.  We should also let this fact convict our hearts.  Not only should we think about the impact of sin against God, but also the insult it is to our own parents when we sin.

Wise people are hard working.  Diligence in one’s work and laziness are key topics in the book of Proverbs.  Solomon makes it clear that God has nothing good to say about careless, lazy people.  Wise people are working men and women, those who make the most of their opportunities and who carry their share of the load.  Wise people are those who keep in mind what is said in the book of Colossians that when we work, we work as unto the Lord.

One of the blessings of diligent labor is the joy of developing the kind of ability and character that others can trust, thereby fitting ourselves for the next responsibility God has prepared for us.  Joseph was faithful in suffering and service, and this prepared him to rule Egypt.  David faithfully cared for a few sheep, and God gave him and the entire nation to shepherd.  Joshua was faithful as Moses’ helper and became Moses’ successor.  The wise remember what our Lord Jesus Christ says, that if we are faithful in the small things, He will entrust us with the larger things.

A lazy person also wastes God given opportunities.  When the fields are ready for harvest, the reapers have to go to work because the opportunity won’t be there forever.  Diligent people are alert to their God given opportunities and seek to make the most of them.

In verse 8, we basically see that foolish people do a lot of talking, but they never accomplish what they’ve talked about.  The word translated “prating” in the NKJV means “to babble, to talk excessively.”  It’s much easier to talk about things than to hear God’s Word and obey it.  Sometimes God is talking to us but we are too busy babbling on to hear Him or we are too busy talking to the fools around us that are babbling on and giving unwise advice rather than first going to the Lord for His instruction.  Good words are like refreshing water.  Listening to and appropriating the words of a godly person is like taking a satisfying drink.  God’s word tells us that wisdom itself is a fountain of life.  But just having the wise speak to us isn’t enough; we must be prepared to listen.  Our hearts must be prepared to accept the seed of wisdom and let the water that we receive from it allow it to grow into our lives.

Verse 12 is a strong verse and one we should memorize.  Instead of covering our anger, we should cover others’ sins with sincere love.  Love doesn’t condone sin or encourage sinners to try to hide their sins from the Lord, but love doesn’t tell the sin to others.  If we are angry with someone and that person sins, we will be tempted to spread the news as a way of getting even.  This is not wise nor the godly way to react.  We need to act in love.  Matthew 18 is a great chapter that correlates to verse 12 as well.  We need to heed Jesus’ words on how to handle conflict in our lives.

Verse 14 again gives us some advice which we should take on a daily basis.  Reading and meditating on God’s Word ought to be a daily habit.  For us to grow in our faith we need disciplined, systematic reading of the whole word of God, because we never know when we’ll need some truth from the Bible to help overcome a temptation or make a decision. 

Verse 17 is yet another verse we should always remember and sadly it is one that is not heeded in today’s world.  Those who are wise profit from rebuke and from advice.  The wise will not be insulted when they receive correction or godly advice.  Any more in today’s world it seems like everyone is on edge and are very defensive when any advice or opinion offered is contrary to what we have.   Wise people don’t think so highly of themselves that they can’t learn from others.  If we’re “wise in our own eyes, “ we certainly won’t be wise in God’s eyes!

Verse 19 also gives us very much needed advice for daily living.  We hurt others a lot frankly by talking too much.  People who can discipline the tongue can control the whole body as the book of James tells us.  There is a time when we should speak and there are times when we should stay silent.  Silence is golden as the old adage says.

Verse 26 again reminds us and warns us of the lazy lifestyle.  Lazy people are more of a nuisance than a help.  Vinegar on the teeth and smoke in the eyes irritate us.  So does a lazy person who won’t get the job done.  All that person does is dream about the things he or she wants to enjoy but won’t work hard enough to earn them.

In the closing of this chapter, God gives us some reassurance.  He reminds us that the lips of the righteous know what is acceptable.  In our heart of hearts for those of us who belong to the Lord, know what is right.  What is right is that we follow in God’s steps and His wisdom.