He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin. (Proverbs 10:10)
Here we have grief and ruin with both active and passive participants. The ‘active’ chattering fool comes to ruin, but the ‘passive’ victim of malicious winking experiences grief. We need to keep our eyes open to both. A chattering fool is so preoccupied with his or her own opinions that they are often easy prey for those who would take advantage of them. When we stop talking and start listening, we will begin to discern people’s motives for their involvement in our lives. Then, we can hold on to those who will bring us joy and let go of those who will cause us grief through their deception.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Proverbs 10:9
The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. (Proverbs 10:9)
What we want is to walk securely. We don’t want our whole world to suddenly come crashing down all around us. Yet, if we do secret things in the dark, this is exactly the risk that we are taking. To walk with God is not only about God. It is also about you. God’s way will protect you from the saying, ‘be sure, your sins will find you out’.
What we want is to walk securely. We don’t want our whole world to suddenly come crashing down all around us. Yet, if we do secret things in the dark, this is exactly the risk that we are taking. To walk with God is not only about God. It is also about you. God’s way will protect you from the saying, ‘be sure, your sins will find you out’.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Proverbs 10:8
The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. (Proverbs 10:8)
When we think we know everything and don’t need to listen to other people, we are usually headed for trouble. Are we a ‘talker’? If we are, we need to seriously ask ourselves if we can learn from this proverb. The wise listen, accept, acknowledge and adjust. The fool just keeps talking. This also applies to all of our relationships. Do we listen to our spouse, children, family, friends, co-workers, etc…? If we don’t listen, we are going to miss out on so many things we could learn from them, and our relationships in life will be far less satisfying as a result. This also applies to God’s Word. Do we regularly read it in order to ponder, learn and adjust our lives accordingly? If you don’t, you really are missing out on becoming the ‘ultimate you’.
When we think we know everything and don’t need to listen to other people, we are usually headed for trouble. Are we a ‘talker’? If we are, we need to seriously ask ourselves if we can learn from this proverb. The wise listen, accept, acknowledge and adjust. The fool just keeps talking. This also applies to all of our relationships. Do we listen to our spouse, children, family, friends, co-workers, etc…? If we don’t listen, we are going to miss out on so many things we could learn from them, and our relationships in life will be far less satisfying as a result. This also applies to God’s Word. Do we regularly read it in order to ponder, learn and adjust our lives accordingly? If you don’t, you really are missing out on becoming the ‘ultimate you’.
Monday, 13 February 2012
Proverbs 10:7
The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. (Proverbs 10:7)
While it is very important to not have a ‘fear of man’, we should realise that the way others see us and feel about us is relevant. They can see what we can’t. We might focus on only our good points or even only our bad points, but others don’t. If people don’t like your personality, there are likely issues there that you need to address.
While it is very important to not have a ‘fear of man’, we should realise that the way others see us and feel about us is relevant. They can see what we can’t. We might focus on only our good points or even only our bad points, but others don’t. If people don’t like your personality, there are likely issues there that you need to address.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Proverbs 10:6
Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:6)
Controlling the tongue is a lot easier said than done. We must be careful that we do not lose control of our tongue when we are angry. The ‘wicked’ use their tongues in such a way that it actually incites violence in the other person, and violence is the final result to what they have said. He who lives by the sword dies by the sword. What we actually want is for people to be ‘nice’ to us and bless us. Paul said, "For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?". Let’s take the ‘right’ tongue into our households and lives and reap the wonderful benefits of those around us making us ‘glad’.
Controlling the tongue is a lot easier said than done. We must be careful that we do not lose control of our tongue when we are angry. The ‘wicked’ use their tongues in such a way that it actually incites violence in the other person, and violence is the final result to what they have said. He who lives by the sword dies by the sword. What we actually want is for people to be ‘nice’ to us and bless us. Paul said, "For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?". Let’s take the ‘right’ tongue into our households and lives and reap the wonderful benefits of those around us making us ‘glad’.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Proverbs 10:5
He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. (Proverbs 10:5)
Laziness is not only about whether we eventually do the things we need to or not. It is also about whether we do the things that we need to do within the appropriate time frame or not. ‘A stitch in time saves nine’ to use an expression. I think a lot of these habits are established in our teenage years. We are actually helping our children if we teach them to take responsibility for certain chores and do them in a timely manner.
Laziness is not only about whether we eventually do the things we need to or not. It is also about whether we do the things that we need to do within the appropriate time frame or not. ‘A stitch in time saves nine’ to use an expression. I think a lot of these habits are established in our teenage years. We are actually helping our children if we teach them to take responsibility for certain chores and do them in a timely manner.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Proverbs 10:4
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Proverbs 10:4)
We need to ask ourselves, "what are we actually doing at work or home". Most of us tell ourselves that we are doing enough, but are we. Are we working hard at work, or just clocking in the hours? If we don’t have enough money, there is likely a problem there that needs to be addressed. All of us can come up with great excuses for why we can’t make the money we need. However, God is capable of opening doors to those who already have the momentum of working hard.
We need to ask ourselves, "what are we actually doing at work or home". Most of us tell ourselves that we are doing enough, but are we. Are we working hard at work, or just clocking in the hours? If we don’t have enough money, there is likely a problem there that needs to be addressed. All of us can come up with great excuses for why we can’t make the money we need. However, God is capable of opening doors to those who already have the momentum of working hard.
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