In our previous Wisdom Note, we explored Proverbs 10:1-3. All of Proverbs give us bits of wisdom 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 4-8 of Chapter 10:

As we begin a new year, it is a good time to consume and then reflect on these short and concise nuggets of wisdom. As mentioned before, regardless of whether you consider yourself a person of faith, the common sense tidbits of wisdom found in Proverbs will apply to everyone. Let’s continue as we gain wisdom, insight, and understanding with each new bite.

Last week, I introduced this section of Proverbs which contains 375 short compare and contrast statements that are actually poems in the original Hebrew text. As I sit in front of our fireplace this winter watching the fire flicker back and forth, my mind ponders on these wisdom nuggets and I reflect on Solomon’s wisdom.

Lazy people are soon poor;
hard workers get rich.

While this poem contrasts the lazy person with someone who work’s hard, it also tells us the consequences of both. This verse may seem somewhat obvious, but you need to personally ask yourself, “Which category do I fall into?” As I said last week the proverbs are general principles for life, and there could be situations where this may not apply. Generally though, if you are lazy, then don’t be surprised if you are not wealthy. If you work hard consistently, with persistence, and are wise with your money, then you will become financially secure. There is a balance to everything in life, if you work hard but are foolish with your spending, then you will reap the consequences. Strive to follow all the principles found in Proverbs.

A wise youth harvests in the summer,
but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.

This contrasting scenario is similar to the previous verse. If you expect to have a harvest from your work, then you must prepare ahead of time, but also be ready and willing to reap the harvest when it is time. You can’t expect to have a result from your work if you work hard and then you sleep when it is time to produce results. If you are not ready to work when it is needed, Solomon says it is a disgrace.

The godly are showered with blessings;
the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

In this verse, we can equate the godly person with a good person. A person that makes a practice of being good to others, and themselves, will receive the blessings of living a good life. Keep in mind those blessings can be many things in our lives and what is a blessing to one person, may be different to another.

In contrast to this, a person who makes it a practice of doing bad things, which can be immoral or unethical in nature, will usually make an attempt to cover up their true intentions. We need to have discernment when dealing with others, especially if we are aware of the unsavory habits they are involved in. While we should be compassionate, we need to be wise also. A person may say one thing, but their actions will reflect their true intentions.

We have happy memories of the godly,
but the name of a wicked person rots away.

The people that are good and godly will leave us with pleasant and happy memories, even when they are not around or even when they die. Contrasting that are the people who have bad behavior or wicked aspects in their lives. This is especially true when it comes to their relationship with other people. They will not leave us with a good memory, and we will soon forget them because of their bad behavior. Let us make sure that we are living a good legacy each day so that others that know us will have happy memories of us and our interactions with them.

The wise are glad to be instructed,
but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

A sure indicator of a person who is truly wise is that the person always desires to learn and improve. The person is not hurt or intimidated when others teach them and instruct them. Even when he needs to be taught because he is not doing something correctly, he quietly listens and is glad to be taught how to improve.

Contrasting to this is a fool, which is a person who thinks he knows better than others. This person loves to expound on his false wisdom. A fool is proud. He thinks that he is wiser than other people. In fact, he thinks that he knows better than God. He trusts only in himself. A foolish person is usually one who talks too much, and in doing so makes a fool of himself.

We have discovered more great wisdom nuggets today. Although it may take several weeks for each chapter, if our lives are changed by what we uncover, then it will be worth digging for. 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.