Proverbs 11 and 12

Missed a day. It was bound to happen, especially since I often take a tech break on Sundays. But I’ll try to do two brief ones today, even though there’s a lot of good stuff in these two chapters. First:

The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

Proverbs 11:18

Now there’s a good reminder for the weary soldier of the Lord and a convicting dart for the one who cares nothing for the King of kings.

Yes, wickedness seems to prosper here on earth. Often, there are very greedy, very nasty people who do quite well for themselves. They amass wealth and live in comfort – even in decadence.

But it is oh, so deceptive. Even if they make it through this whole life lolling on the very lap of luxury, there’s nothing pleasant for them in eternity. And eternity is long enough to make even the longest earthly lifespan count for nothing.

Unfortunately, however, the lap of luxury isn’t even all that comfortable here on earth. A look at the headlines will tell you how unsatisfied those who recline there seem to be. Divorces, suicides, and all sorts of substance abuse problems… those are not the problems of a happy and healthy spirit. Just sayin’.

Next:

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 12:1, 15

It’s hard to choose just two here. That one about rash words like sword thrusts… ouch! I’m afraid I’ve been convicted by that one once or seventeen million times.

Still, today I want to focus on the humility needed to realize we just don’t know it all. Verse one uses some pretty strong language to describe the person who hates being corrected. Stupid.

That was the dreaded “S-word” when my kids were small. Not a nice thing to say, maybe, but utterly true. Hating correction means a person is uncorrectable. And that means that they’re likely to march right through the wide gate to destruction with their eyes tightly closed and chin stubbornly raised high.

So I don’t know about you, but I’m not planning on being all too sure about belting helter-skelter down the path of my own making. Nah, I’ll pick up the Word of God every day and look for advice, and I’ll spend time seeking the wisdom of Godly men and women who are older than me.

Sounds a little bit safer and a lot less stupid.

Father, thank You for words of wisdom; for words that sting and remind us of our need for You. Thank You for keeping us humble. Please, as we search these ancient proverbs, bring them to life for us and help us to hear the very words that point out the sins we need to address each day, amen.