Proverbs

This Proverb says, “A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.” Soothing and comforting words can make a person who is in distress feel better. Such words can help a person over a crisis and give them hope to continue. However, not all soothing speech reflects the true character of the person speaking. Soothing words can also be spoken with evil intention. Satan, the spiritual ruler of the Earth, is…

These passages contain three Proverbs. The first Proverb says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” A person does not have to be loud or angry to be effective. Quite the contrary. An emotional or angry response will promote anger and sustain an argument. Whereas, a gentle answer with well thought out words will be heard by the other person. Such a response will actually defuse an angry situation…

This Proverb says, “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people.” America was once a righteous nation. It was created with God's help and based its Constitution on Biblical principles. Evidence of this can be seen on American currency on which is stamped “In God we trust.” America was a compassionate nation, and its people were free. America's courts were just and fair, and the country was stable. President Reagan once described…

These passages contain two Proverbs. The first Proverb says, “The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing, but the righteous has a refuge when he dies.” This Proverb somewhat describes the final destinations of the wicked and the righteous. Those who are wicked during their lifetime will Indulge in sinful pursuits. However they will experience pain and misery after they die. As this Proverb indicates God will ‘thrust them down.’ On the other hand, the righteous…

These passages contain two Proverbs. The first Proverb says, “A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones.” One of the benefits of believing in God and living by His Word is contentment. The Bible says that God is in control of everything including our lives. Nothing happens in our life without God causing or allowing it to happen. God is molding and shaping us to be people that He…

This Proverb says, “He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick tempered exalts folly.” I have discovered in my life that I am ineffective when I speak or act in anger. Speaking or acting in anger does not produce good results. Quite the contrary, it produces bad results, sometimes very bad results. This is especially true in a marriage. When a person speaks or acts in anger, they do so without…

This Proverb says, “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.” The Bible says that a person must have a healthy fear of the Lord if they want to walk the pathway that leads to Salvation. This healthy fear provides motivation to turn away from sins and resist the temptations…

This Proverb says, “A truthful witness saves lives, but he who speaks lies is treacherous.” Lying is damaging and destructive. It is damaging both to the person who lies and to the person who hears the lie. Those who hear and believe lies form wrong opinions and make bad decisions based on the lies. Bad decisions lead people down the pathways that can cause hardships in their lives. Unfortunately, lying is pervasive in America today. Actually, it…

These passages contain two Proverbs. The first Proverb says, “Will they not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.” Those who devise evil do so because they do not believe in God or live their lives according to the Word of God.  Such people do not have guidance or boundaries in their life. Therefore, they act according to their natural and sinful emotions. Unfortunately, the natural state…

This Proverb says, “The poor is hated by his neighbor, but those who love the rich are many. He who despises his neighbor sins, but happy is he who is gracious to the poor.” This Proverb makes the point that we tend to be uncomfortable around those who are poor. Why is that?  I believe it is because we are fearful that the poor people around us will ask us to give them something. Most people…