Do the Honorable Thing
Do the Honorable Thing Proverbs 20:3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel. Insight One of the marks of a Christian should be that he does not prolong tension and strife. Someone has said that the only persons we should try …
The Wrong Spirit
The Wrong Spirit Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. Insight Almost 40 years ago, Pastor McGee said: America is becoming a nation of drunkards. I am not impressed when the news media lets us know …
Dangerous Mistake
Dangerous Mistake Proverbs 19:27 Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. Insight Our divine Master gave a similar warning when he told his disciples to beware of false prophets and to be careful about what they heard. All instruction is not positive …
A Satisfied Life
A Satisfied Life Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction. Insight The fear of the Lord does not mean that you are cringing, constantly in dread, living a life of terror. This proverb makes it clear that the …
His Counsel is Wise Counsel
His Counsel is Wise Counsel Proverbs 19:20–21 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. Insight To despise counsel is to play the part of the fool. He who …
Timely Discipline
Timely Discipline Proverbs 19:18 Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction. Insight Start with your discipline when the children are young. Don’t wait until it is too late. Don’t mind if little Willie cries when you paddle him. On the other …
Delivered from Anger
Delivered from Anger Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. Insight Patience, extolled several times in Proverbs, stems from and is a mark of wisdom (“prudence,” also “understanding”). In contrast is one who is hotheaded and impatient. …
Get Wisdom
Get Wisdom Proverbs 19:8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. Insight Wisdom translates (lit., “heart”) which here means “sense” (rendered “understanding” in 15:32). Living sensibly shows that a person loves his … soul. This does not refer to vanity or narcissism …
Friendship is Never Built with Stuff
Friendship is Never Built with Stuff Proverbs 19:6–7 Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, …
Go Tell the Truth
Go Tell the Truth Proverbs 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape. Insight If a truthful witness saves lives (14:25), a false witness destroys them. This is an offense against the Ten Commandments. The habit of lying, allowing an untruth to …