Proverbs

This Proverb says, “The way of a guilty man is crooked, but as for the pure, his conduct is upright.” Who we are is reflected in the way we live. It is reflected in our words and the choices we make. The upright person will live their lives according to the Word of God. They will desire to obey God, and their desire will be displayed in the lives they lead. On the other hand, those…

This Proverb says, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes to poverty.” Gaining wealth rapidly may seem like a good thing. However, wealth must also be managed. There are stories of athletes who have become wealthy at a very young age who did not manage their wealth very well. As a result they became poor with nothing to show for their efforts. On the other hand, when one…

This Proverb says, “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.” The Bible says that God hates pride. It was pride that led Satan to rebel against God. It is pride that keeps people from trusting in God. It is pride that keeps us so away from God. God is our creator. He created each and every one of us. He enabled us to have certain abilities, and He enabled us…

This Proverb says, “To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord rather than sacrifice.” Through Moses, God gave Israel His laws and rules by which Israel was to live. God also gave Israel guidance on how they were to worship Him. God gave Israel their religion. This religion consisted of sacrificing animals to atone for sin. It was a rather methodical process which we can characterize as rituals. Some religions today have rituals. However,…

This Proverb says, “Every man's way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.” What we do is important. The Bible says that we will be judged for our actions and deeds during in our lives. However, our motives behind those deeds are also important. God’s most important commandment for us is to “Love the Lord with all your mind, with all your heart, with all your strength, and with all your…

This Proverb says, “Stripes that wound scour away evil, and strokes reach the innermost parts.” Discipline may be painful. However, it is a good thing when it turns a person away from sin. Discipline provides the necessary motivation to pursue the right path. I grew up in the 1950s. During that era, fathers discipline their children for wrongdoing. Sometimes they disciplined physically with a spanking. This physical discipline was effective in motivating children to behave and…

This Proverb says, “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching the inmost parts of his being.” The essence of a person is their spirit or soul. Their spirit defines them, who they really are. The Bible says that God tests our spirit to validate who we really are. In that sense the spirit is a lamp which illuminates us. It reveals the path that we truly want to follow in our lives.…

This Proverb says, “Man's steps are ordained by the Lord. How then can man understand his way?” The Bible says that before we were born all of our days were written for us. This indicates to me that God formed each of us to fulfill His purpose. Additionally, God knows in detail how we will accomplish that purpose. God also knows the choices we will make during our lives to achieve His purpose. Because of this…

This Proverb says, “Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord and He will save you.” When someone wrongs you the natural urge or desire is to get even. We want to do to that person the bad thing they have done to us. However, like many of our natural urges that is the wrong response. The right response is to let God deal with it. The Bible says, “Vengeance is mine, sayeth…

This Proverb says in part, “He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp will go out in time of darkness.” The Bible indicates that God will condemn a person who does not respect his or her parents. One of God’s Ten Commandments says, “Honor thy father and mother.” It also indicates that those honoring their father and mother will live a long life. If honoring mother and father leads to living a long life,…