Neither Riches Nor Poverty Lead to Life Yes, many live with wealth in their riches on this earth. They have strong cities, even lands with many houses circled around them. They possess the wealth of cities. Meanwhile many live in poverty and their lives hurdle towards ruin. Yes, life comes not…
May we exemplify wisdom and understanding to the world As Christians walking in a fallen world, may we be known for wisdom and understanding. May it truly rest upon our lips and be shared frequently and freely with others. Strive after understanding so that we can enrich others with wisdom. Yet, even wisdom must be…
The Love Hate Relationship Two different emotions lead to two very different outcomes. Hatred beyond a static existence, taking on a life of its own, self-replicating. Hatred begins as felt strife against another and bears more strife. Hatred stirs and stirs, creating more strife that it feeds off of. In contrast, love denies strife the…
So many ways to stumble The little boy of yesterday knows that a wink can stir up consequences, but this wink hints at more than an elementary school crush. This wink disrupts justice and makes a deal against truth in the halls of justice. It makes a deal with deceit. Again, the fool who babbles…
Receiving and Walking Wisdom receives commandments from the One who orders all things. Their hearts are open to what is best for them. In contrast, a fool who overflows with babbling only comes to ruin. Their overflow serves neither them nor their listeners. Integrity requires action. Even standing on principles requires the action of standing.…
We fuss and fume. We fight and flurry. We push and shove thinking that our success comes from the American way of hard work. Whether in church, at work, or at home, hard work comes out at the top of most lists of how to get ahead. Here we see that if our heads are…
Folly is a Seductive Witch While Wisdom was seen to have prepared great blessings for her followers, Folly does nothing more than call others to fall into her pit. She offers stolen water and bread to entice, but offers nothing of her own to those who succumb to her temptations. Folly is loud. Folly makes…
A reverence for our Creator and Sovereign Lord is the starting point for all wisdom. Knowing God is the greatest source for insight into life. This beginning leads to great blessings. Wisdom multiples our days, adding years to our life. Wisdom blesses the possessor while scoffing brings burdens. When you next face a time of…
Scoffers versus the Wise man One’s response to admonition reflects the internal state of their soul. We all hesitate to tell a scoffer that they are mistaken or that they did something wrong. We know that they will repeat their past responses which stung us before. Rather than pausing to consider our words, they will…
Proverbs 9:1-6 Wisdom has prepared blessings for those who listen In contrast to what folly prepares for its followers, wisdom offers far more to those who seek it. Wisdom builds a house with strong pillars offering dependable shelter. Wisdom prepares a banquet of meat and wine, setting a table waiting for us. Wisdom not only…