In our previous Wisdom Note, we explored Proverbs 10:18-22. All of Proverbs give us bits of wisdom to help us to live a rich and satisfying life while creating a living legacy. If you miss any of our Wisdom Notes please go to the blog to catch previous installments.
The Book of Proverbs is considered the book of wisdom. This week we will explore verses 23-27 of Chapter 10.
As we continue Proverbs Chapter 10 this week, it is important to keep in mind that our words have a huge impact on others, even when we don’t realize it. Picture in your mind this week that you are sitting in front of your wood-burning fireplace when all at once the logs shift causing smoke to billow out of the fireplace filling your eyes with smoke. Solomon certainly experienced this also as he describes in one of the nuggets today. Before we get to that tidbit, though, let’s look at a situation where…
We start with the subject…
Doing Wrong Is Fun – Proverbs 10:23-27
You might be thinking, “Is Guthrie saying that doing wrong is fun? That doesn’t sound like something you would present.” Well let’s all face it; sometimes we are either tempted to or actually do wrong because it does appear to be fun. I am just as susceptible to believing this as anyone, so let’s start with verse 23.
Doing wrong is fun for a fool,
but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.
See I told you that doing wrong is fun…that is if we choose to be a fool. There are many activities that we may be tempted to participate in because they do look like fun, but we must look at the long-term consequence of such actions…Sure eating pizza every night may appear to be fun or enjoyable, but what would that do to us physically long-term? How about innocent flirtation in the workplace…That may seem fun, but what are the potential long-term results?
We could come up with dozens of scenarios, but I think you understand what I mean. To follow through doing short-term activities may appear to be fun without looking at the long-term results that makes us fools. In contrast to this is for us to live wisely, which will bring long-term pleasure because we understand the consequences of making sensible and wise decisions.
The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;
the hopes of the godly will be granted.
Fear…It seems to be so rampant today, maybe it always has been. Even among Christ-followers, it seems to be that they are full of fear and worry instead of the rich and satisfying life that we should be living. I understand it a bit more with those who choose not to follow the precepts of God. They do not have true hope for the future. Why is it that these fears are fulfilled?
I have seen it time and time again, and it is called a self-fulfilling prophecy. When we anticipate a certain outcome, we will subconsciously create a situation in our lives where what we anticipate comes true. In contrast to that, as Christ-followers, our hopes, dreams, and ambitions are much more likely to come to fruition because we position ourselves in the situations of life that they will be granted. This is what Christ referred to numerous times in His ministry when he said, “Your faith has healed you.”
When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,
but the godly have a lasting foundation.
This verse is closely tied to the previous one with a bit of a twist. When the storms of life hit, and they will for all of us, the people who do not have their hope in God will have nothing to shelter them. They will be tossed back and forth in desperation because they do not have a solid foundation on which their life is built. In contrast, those who have their hope in the Lord have a solid and lasting foundation for their lives. Although the storms may be fierce in our lives also, we can have peace because our foundation is secure. Sometimes God calms the storms for us, other times he shelters us and calms our hearts in the storm.
Lazy people irritate their employers,
like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.
As a business owner most of my adult life and as a person who tends to be self-driven, I understand this verse firsthand. A person who is lazy at work is a real irritation and pain. Growing up on an apple orchard, we made vinegar all the time and drinking a little of it really hit your tongue and teeth with pain. Also, all of us have probably experienced sitting around the campfire when the wind suddenly shifts and smoke fills our eyes. It can be extremely painful. This is the type of pain that a lazy person brings at work or at home. Let us commit to not be lazy.
Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
On a quick read of this verse, we may question this. I am sure we all know of those who were godly people who died in the prime of life, just as we know unsavory people that have lived a very long life. Once again the Proverbs are general principles for life, not hard commandments. If someone respects the Lord and follows God’s precepts, then he will make wiser decisions for life, and therefore, will be more likely to live longer or have their life lengthened. In contrast to this, if someone is foolish and does not follow God’s precepts, then they are more apt to make stupid decisions and choices in life and will be more likely to die before they would have otherwise.
This week we discovered and explored five more interesting and thought-provoking nuggets of wisdom. Take time to ponder them. Let them permeate your thoughts and impact your life so that your living legacy will be evident to all. We will continue with a few more nuggets of wisdom from Chapter 10 next week. In addition to our weekly Wisdom Notes, encourage your friends and family to also join us on our daily podcast – Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.
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