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Hiding Hatred

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In our previous Wisdom Note, we explored Proverbs 10:14-17. All of Proverbs give us bits of wisdom to help us 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 18-22 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. I certainly have fallen prey to this many times. This is why we should make sure to choose our words wisely and sparingly. Few people have gotten into trouble by speaking too little, but we certainly understand how easy it is to say the wrong thing when we speak too much. Many of the wisdom nuggets that we will dig for today have to do with our words.

We start with the subject of…

Hiding Hatred – Proverbs 10:18-22

Hiding hatred makes you a liar;
slandering others makes you a fool.

You might ask, how does hiding hatred make you a liar? I think we all know people that are nice to our face, but we know that they really dislike us. We may do the same thing to others. So, how do we make sure that we do not continue this habit ourselves? First, we should forgive other people. Even when someone hurts us, we should not hate that person. Instead, we should pray for them.

If we truly dislike or hate a person but are nice to them to their face, then we are liars. When we hate another person, we are really destroying and enslaving ourselves. We are controlled and trapped by our internal hatred. We need to learn to let it go and to forgive, even if they don’t ask for it or deserve it. To forgive is to set ourselves free. Christ certainly forgave us even though we did not deserve it.

Closely related to this is when we slander others. Slandering others really does make us a fool. Anyone who hears your slander will realize that they are probably the target of it when they are not around. We need to stop gossiping and talking ill about others. We should encourage and build them up.

Too much talk leads to sin.
Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

This verse really describes most of us well. We all love to hear ourselves talk and expound on our wisdom. We give advice when none is asked for. We become an expert in areas that we have no true experience in. During many a conversation, we go on and on and on, usually about ourselves. When we don’t control our talk, inevitably it will result in saying too much, or the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong person. It will lead us to sin. Contrasting that, if we learn to keep our mouths shut, especially when many others are still speaking, then we will become wise and sensible…or at least, appear that way.

The words of the godly are like sterling silver;
the heart of a fool is worthless.

As we learn to only speak when it is appropriate and only speak what is necessary at that moment, we will become more good and godly. Then when we do speak, it will have an effective influence and bring value to others, just like the value of pure silver. Contrasting that is the fool. This person prattles on so much that the quality of their speech becomes worthless due to the quantity of the speech.

The words of the godly encourage many,
but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

As we learn to control the quantity and quality of our words, then they will become effective and powerful. Instead of insulting others with our speech, we will encourage others. Our words will be good and godly. On the contrasting side of that are those who speak foolishly. When you speak too much, and speak what is not appropriate, it will reveal your lack of common sense. A truly wise person with good sense does not have to speak a lot for others to realize they are wise.

The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.

To shift our focus a bit now, we see that our true riches do come from the Lord and are provided as blessings to us. These could be financial riches, but there is so much more in life that truly makes us rich. As Christ-followers, whether we have little or much materially, we should be rejoicing daily in all the blessings that we do have. The Lord wants us to live a rich and satisfying life – one that contains no sorrow. Choose to live abundantly today.

There are so many morsels of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs, and we are taking them slowly. As we uncover each one, let them melt within your soul in the same manner that chocolate melts in a finely made s’more. Let them permeate your thoughts and impact your life so that your living legacy will shine through for everyone to see. We will continue with a few more nuggets of wisdom from Chapter 10 in our next Wisdom Note. In addition to our Wisdom Notes, encourage your friends and family to also join us on our daily podcast – Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

Wise People Treasure Knowledge

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In our previous Wisdom Note, we explored Proverbs 10:9-13. All of Proverbs give us bits of wisdom to help us 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 14-17 of Chapter 10:

As we continue this 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 apply to everyone. Let’s continue as we gain wisdom, insight, and understanding with each new bite.

We become what we think about most, which is based on the type of information we allow into our minds. In order to change and improve, we must change what we think about. This requires that we remove the old thoughts and transplant good and godly knowledge into our minds. This is one of our objectives as we consider these nuggets of wisdom in Proverbs. Let their wisdom be transplanted in your minds, replacing those thoughts which are not good. That brings us to our starting point for today which is…

Wise People Treasure Knowledge – Proverbs 10:14-17

Let’s start right in digging for those wisdom nuggets in verse 14:

Wise people treasure knowledge,
but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

If you desire to be a wise person, then you must be willing to learn, to study, and to expand your knowledge. You must seek for it as if it were a treasure. One thing that I have learned through the years is that you cannot learn when your mouth is open, unless it is to ask a question. In contrast to this is someone who is always talking, expounding on their so-called “wisdom” but actually babbling, as it is referred to in this verse. This person has a foolish concept of themselves. Since he is talking, he is unable to learn. Therefore, he will not make wise decisions in his life. This will ultimately lead to disaster and hardship.

The wealth of the rich is their fortress;
the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

In this world, there are advantages to having wealth. There is no other way to look at it. God never condemns a person for being wealthy. He just cautions us not to allow wealth to take His place in our lives. Financial success provides us with many more options in life. The analogy of a fortress here has significance. A fortress was used as a means of protection from outsiders who would like to harm a town or group of people. If we are able to accumulate wealth, we should use it to help and protect those that are in need. It will not only be a fortress for us but can also provide a place of safety to those who are in poverty. Without that assistance, those who are poor will be taken advantage of and run into destruction.

The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,
but evil people squander their money on sin.

This verse dovetails nicely into the previous one. If we are wise financially, then our lives and the lives of those we impact will be enhanced. As a wise person who is good and godly, the financial decisions that we make are based on the precepts in God’s Word. We can invest our resources into the lives of those that we impact. In contrast to this, if we are not wise with our financial decisions, it will be evident because our resources will be squandered on those activities that are not pleasing to God, nor in line with His precepts.

People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,
but those who ignore correction will go astray.

Let me ask you this question. Do you like to be disciplined? I know I struggle with the concept of it, and you probably do also. It may be that our connotation of discipline is skewed today. To be disciplined is to become a disciple of another, who is a master. It is the basic premise of learning, of being eager and willing to improve, even when your shortcomings are pointed out. It gives you a plan and a way to improve because you know what the standard is for achievement.

When you are willing to accept discipline, then you are gaining wisdom, which puts you on the trail to becoming better. In contrast to this is the person who refuses to be disciplined or corrected. This person will end up on his own trail, which will not lead to a successful life. This person will find himself wandering without direction or a plan for his life.

There are so many morsels of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs, and we are taking them slowly. As we uncover each one, let them melt within your soul in the same manner that chocolate melts in a finely made s’more. Let them permeate your thoughts and impact your life so that your living legacy will shine through for everyone to see. We will continue with a few more nuggets of wisdom from Chapter 10 in our next note. 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.

Life Is Like a Seed, Part 1

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Within Wisdom Note this week, we will begin a three-part series on how life is like a seed. There are so many lessons that we can learn from farming. It is rich in its analogies of life. Growing up on a farm, more specifically an apple orchard, we learned first hand the struggles and hardships of farming. So it is with life at times, but unless we plant good seeds continually, we will never reap a good harvest.

God instructs us to learn spiritual principles from Creation. Have you considered the example of the seed?

Let time travel backward a few months and imagine that it is now springtime! Farmers are busy planting their fields. Gardeners are cleaning up their yards and preparing their gardens. They are taking little seeds and placing them in the ground so that they will grow into beautiful flowers and fruitful plants. There is nothing quite like a bouquet of fresh flowers or the taste of fresh vegetables from your own garden!

Growing up on the farm, our primary crop was apples from the 40 acres of apple trees in our orchard. We also had a very large vegetable and flower garden that we all worked in. Regardless if the plant is an apple tree, corn stalk, or hollyhock flower, each one starts with a seed of the same kind of plant.

Seeds come in different shapes and sizes, with each type having different requirements for germination (the process in which seeds sprout and begin to grow). Small seeds must be placed as delicately as possible in the soil so that they do not get buried too deep. They are usually planted together in groups, ensuring that some will grow into thriving plants. Larger seeds, on the other hand, are buried deeper and generally with fewer in a group. Some seeds prefer warm, dry environments while others require environments that are cold and moist. There are seeds that germinate in less than five days while others take five months—or even longer!

Because there is a wide range of seed types, man has learned a seemingly endless variety of methods to cause seeds to sprout and grow. One common treatment is exposing the seed to a cold, almost freezing, temperature for a specific length of time, mimicking winter. Certain seeds, such as some carnivorous plants from Australia or some pine cones germinate when they are exposed to fire. Some germinate when immersed in water. Others, such as Cyclamen, germinate when they are kept in the dark for a certain period. Hard-shell seeds must be scarred or cracked. Some seeds can sit dormant for several years before something triggers them to germinate.

As you will come to see, the seed has many spiritual parallels to God’s work and our Christian lives. Following the teaching of Jesus when he shared the message of the end times in Mark 13:28-29, “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door.” So now let us “learn a lesson” and learn the example of the seed.

What Is a Seed?

A seed is basically a copy of the plant it came from. Genetically, it has all the information needed to grow into a complete plant. A seed consists of an embryo and a food store, surrounded and protected by an outer seed coat. The food store is large enough to allow the plant to grow its first leaves so that it can start producing its own food through the plant and roots. The outer coat varies in size and thickness, depending on the plant. Under the right conditions, this perfect little “package” will grow and develop into a wonderful new plant, providing food, shelter, or beauty.

As mentioned earlier, a seed with a thicker shell may need to be scarred or cracked to ensure germination. In addition, some seed embryos are not fully developed for germination. In such cases, the seed needs to go through a waiting or curing period before it is ready.

One universal truth of every plant that grows from a seed is that the original seed will die or be destroyed in the process of the birth and growth of the new plant. In the same manner, for God’s salvation to grow through his disciples, the original seed, which is Christ, had to die. This is taught by Jesus in John 12:23-26, “Jesus replied, ‘Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.'”

In our Wisdom Note for this week, we had our first of three lessons on how life is like a seed. We considered the example of the seed, what the seed is made of, and that to produce fruit the seed must die to itself. Next we will explore the five basic conditions that every seed needs to grow.

Anyone Ever Feel Rich or Happy

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On our trek today, we discover why no one ever feels rich or happy.

One day I’d like to meet someone who is actually rich. Sometimes I think I’ve found one, but it always turns out I’m wrong. No matter how rich I assumed the person to be, within a few minutes I find out just how “poor” that person really is.

Take the guy who sold his company for more than $40 million. (Well, actually $100 million in total; $40 million is his share.) I was sure he was rich. Then he told me how for tax and estate planning purposes he had structured the disbursement of funds over 10 years. So sure, on paper, he may be “worth” $40 million, but he only gets around $4 million each year. And despite all that nifty financial planning, the taxes are still so high he doesn’t see nearly that much. It’s a bummer.

Another example is the guy who just splashed a cool $450 grand on a Lexus LFA with the Nürburgring package. His everyday car is a Porsche 911 Turbo S. I was sure he was rich. Then he told me what he wants most in life is a Bugatti Veyron only they cost about $2 million. Sure, he has money he said, but he doesn’t have that kind of money. He thinks about it all the time. It’s a bummer.

Then there is the guy with the 110-foot yacht. Strictly speaking, it’s a ship, not a boat since it’s big enough to carry several small boats and a couple of jet skis on a platform at the stern. And, it has a pool. I was sure he was rich. Then he told me how expensive the yacht is just to own: fixed costs like cleaning, upkeep, dock fees, and crew run over six figures a year. And what about the expense of actually taking it for a cruise? He told me firing it up is so expensive he sometimes has to think twice about whether to take it out of the harbor. It’s a bummer.

How about the story of the guy who – I know it’s a cliché, but it’s still true – started a company in his garage, financing it with credit cards and a loan from his father-in-law. A couple of decades later his company owns its building (and a few more), employs 500 people, and generates tens of millions in annual revenue. He put his three kids through Ivy League schools and then gave them significant seed money to start their own businesses. I was sure he was rich. Then he explained how he still has to work 60- to 70-hour weeks and can maybe take one week of vacation a year. Sure, he would like to have more free time, but running a company that size requires constant and total attention. Why it could all go away in an instant, he said. And then what would happen to his family? The very thought makes him shudder. It’s a bummer.

So I decided to set my sights on a different target. By definition there can’t be that many rich people; maybe statistical probability was the problem? So I decided to look for someone who is happy. After all, not everyone can be rich, but anyone can be happy.

I thought I found one when I met an entrepreneur who had just landed her first big customer. And, it was not just a big customer, a truly enabling customer – one who made it possible for her to hire much-needed employees, make long-delayed equipment purchases, and finally get creditors off her back. I figured that surely made her feel happy.

Then she told me how much she hates to recruit and interview…and actually having to supervise those employees on a daily basis? Ugh. She told me how adding equipment, maintaining a larger inventory, and managing the huge increase in production was such a pain. “Don’t get me wrong,” she told me as she looked around to make sure no one overheard, “but I often long for the good old days when life was a lot simpler.” It’s kind of a bummer.

Another example is the guy who, after years of putting out feelers and constant hints, was finally invited to serve on the board of a startup. The company has potential, he said, but it’s not Twitter or Facebook or even Google. Now serving on one of those boards would be cool. This? He thought it would be fun, but it’s kind of a bummer.

Then there is the gal who just bought a bigger house? Bummed because it takes so much work to clean. The guy who just doubled his income? Bummed because now his taxes are higher. The gal who just landed her dream job? Bummed because now her daily commute is half an hour longer.

Seems no one I meet, no matter how much money or success they’ve achieved, is actually rich, not really. And although I’m stretching the premise to make a point, it seems no one I meet, no matter how fulfilling and gratifying their life might be, is actually happy, not really.

But that’s okay. I’ll keep looking. Someday I might find someone. And hopefully, that someone is you.

The moral of this story is anytime we place our financial confidence and personal happiness on earthly resources, we will never have enough and never be happy. If you are not content and happy where you are today with what you currently have, you will never be content or happy with more.

The 1st letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to understudy Timothy gave us the solution if you don’t consider yourself wealthy. It is found in 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”

If God has allowed you to obtain wealth in this world, the key to a life that is happy and full of joy is in 1 Timothy 6:17-18, “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.”

Let me ask you another question. When will you be content with what you have? What will make you happy? In our next Wisdom Note, we will explore another short story. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along each day for our day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy podcast.

10 Principles to Make Wise Decisions – Part 3

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In this Wisdom Note, we will continue our series about making wise decisions. As humans, most of us are resistant and hesitant to change as we are comfortable with the habits that we have formed over our lifetimes. Habits can be both good and bad. One good habit that we want to foster in our lives is that of making wise decisions.

As with any skill in life, making wise decisions comes with practice and experience. C.S. Lewis said it well when he said, “Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.”

Since it is our desire to make wise decisions in all that we do, our 10 waypoints on this wisdom trail will help us to choose wisdom instead of folly in our decision-making. So, let’s continue this week and finish our wise decision-making trail with waypoints 7 through 10. Because of my faith walk, I will base our discussions of decision-making on Biblical principles.

7. Have I Honestly Considered the Warning Signs?

When we desire to make a particular decision, we tend to highlight the benefits and minimize the potential bad outcomes. Making wise decisions requires that we are honest with our advisors and ourselves. Take into consideration all the good advice that you have solicited. If those advisors have your best interest at heart, then their advice must be considered.

Proverbs 10:17, “People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.”

Proverbs 16:25, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”

Proverbs 27:6, “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.”

Points to consider:

  • Don’t think you are the “exception” to the rule. There are certain principles in life that are true for all persons. If a decision is not wise for someone else, be very cautious in thinking that it is okay for you. (self-delusion)
  • Remember that God’s way is the best way. If there are warning signs, then no amount of justification will make the decision right. It is one thing to take a chance and quite another to be stupid. Sometimes that is a fine line.

8. Have I Considered the Possible Outcomes for My Course of Action?

When making decisions, especially major ones, it is best to make a list of all possible outcomes from this decision. Write them down, with potential benefits on one side and potential negatives on the other. Don’t forget to take in lost opportunities that will result in a “side effect” of this decision. For instance, if the decision involves a monetary purchase, you need to consider what other items you will not be able to purchase because of this decision. No decision is made in a vacuum. If you are saying yes to one choice, by default you are saying no to something else.

Proverbs 14:1, “A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.”

Proverbs 14:15, “Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.”

Proverbs 27:12, “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

Points to consider:

  • Take into consideration all information that will be impacted by this decision. Don’t rationalize your desires.
  • Assess the potential risks. There are negative potential outcomes for every decision made. “Yes” to this decision means “no” to another.
  • Have a contingency plan. If everything just went wrong based on the decision made, what are your plans that will allow you to survive?

9. Could This Decision Jeopardize My Integrity or Hinder My Witness for the Lord?

Never make a decision that has the potential to hurt your reputation, hinder your integrity, or destroy your character. There is nothing in life that is worth obtaining if it will tarnish who you are as a person, especially as a person of faith.

Proverbs 25:26, “If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.”

Proverbs 10:9, “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.”

Proverbs 20:7, “The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.”

Proverbs 22:1, “Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.”

Points to consider:

  • As with most principles of life, when it comes to making wise decisions, you need to remain balanced without going to extremes in your decision-making.
  • Make sure you do not make any decisions that would soil your reputation. Would you want this decision published on the front page of the newspaper or social media post?
  • Don’t keep a record of wrongs committed by others, it will have a negative impact on the wise decisions that you need to make.

10. Is There A Better Option That Would Allow Me to Make A Greater Impact for God’s Kingdom?

As mentioned at waypoint #8, for every decision or choice we say yes to, we are saying no to something else. Ask yourself, “Is this decision that I am making the best choice or option for me at this season in life?” A decision that may not be wise today, could be wise 20 years from now. For every decision, always ask “Is this the best and wisest decision that I can make for today considering this season of life?”

Proverbs 11:30, “The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”

Points to consider:

  • Ask yourself, “What story could God be writing?”
  • Don’t assume that just because something is hard that it is not God’s will.
  • Understand how God has uniquely gifted and resourced you.

We have explored the 10 waypoints that will help you to make wise decisions every day for every situation that you encounter. Next week we will learn the advantages of walking with a limp. Based on my experience this past year, I will have some practical advice.