Loose Lips Sink Ships (Proverbs 11:13)

There are those of us who cannot keep a secret, or if we feel that something needs to be said we say it. Those who open their mouths too quickly often do not get all the facts right. Those with loose lips see what they want to see and say what they want to say regardless of those they may hurt in the process.

"He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy and faithful keeps a matter hidden." Proverbs 11:13, Amplified

The talebearer, though not defined as unfaithful, is compared to the faithful and trustworthy person. He is the antithesis of trust and faithfulness. We as humans need sounding boards to bounce our thoughts and desires and concerns off of one another. It is not our best interest to violate that trust by exposing our friend's and family's secrets. Lives and reputations are often destroyed by the works of talebearers. Secrets should only be exposed by the Lord, not man. Even then, the Lord does not expose our secrets. Out own actions from sinful secret behavior expose ourselves to the light. But the confessions of the heart remain between the confessor and his Lord.

Remember this one thing about the talebearer: he does not care what truth he may be speaking so long as he has a tale to tell.

Neighbors (Proverbs 11:12)

It is important for us to live at peace with everyone around us. Even more so to be at peace with our neighbor.

"He who belittles and despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent." Proverbs 11:12, Amplified

If we are to at odds with our neighbor then we may as well invite destruction upon ourselves. Our neighbor may be the only earthly protection that we have. To love your neighbor as yourself is the second most important commandment. We do so that we may dwell safely here on the earth. A good an friendly neighbor will ward off any thieves or other dangers in our absence. To endanger that by openly despising our neighbor is unwise. A wise man, however, nurtures that relationship no matter the heart of his neighbor. Who knows, we may be the only link to the Lord that they will ever experience.

Life of the Righteous and Wicked (Proverbs 11:7-11)

In the next few verses, Solomon gives to us different examples of the lives of the righteous and the wicked.

"When the wicked dies, his hope [for the future] perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing." Proverbs 11:7, Amplified

The wicked and godless man have nothing going for them on the other side of this life. They may have all their money invested, their portfolios in line, their wills updated; but death brings all that to nought. We all have an eternal future; we either live eternally with God or have a life of eternal separation in Hell. Any hope of expectation that a wicked man has will be cut off from him at his last breath.

"The [uncompromisingly] righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked gets it instead." Proverbs 11:8, Amplified

Trouble comes upon us all, it is just the way that life works. Everyone must go through trials and tribulations. However, the righteous man will be delivered from his troubles. Don't interpret this verse just as it reads. I do not believe that Solomon was trying to convey that the Lord gives our troubles to the wicked. The picture being painted here is that the righteous are delivered but the wicked are not. It is the end that trouble brings that the righteous man is delivered from. For the wicked man, that end will never be taken from him, lest he change his ways.

"With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge and superior discernment shall the righteous be delivered." Proverbs 11:9, Amplified

Gossip and rumors have destroyed many men. "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell." (James 3:6, NKJV) Though the world be set on fire by the tongue of the wicked, there will be deliverance for the righteous man. If the tongue of the wicked man be turned toward the righteous, it is the knowledge that we have in Jesus Christ that shall be our salvation. Without Him, we would never be delivered.

"When it goes well with the [uncompromisingly] righteous the city rejoices, but when the wicked perish there are shouts of joy." Proverbs 11:10, Amplified

King David, in the Psalms, always noted that the wicked seemed to thrive in this world, but the righteous always seemed to get the short end on the stick. What Solomon is saying here is when the righteous man does well or prospers, people are genuinely happy for that man. Though we are a sinful and selfish people, we still enjoy watching other people prosper. There is always happiness when the righteous man prospers. But when the wicked man comes to his end, there will be shouts of joy in the streets. When the wicked dies so does his oppression. I remember watching the news as Sadam Hussein was captured. The people were elated, the toppled his image and pulled down his statue. Though we are a sinful and selfish people, we still enjoy when a wicked man perishes.

"By the blessing of the influence of the upright with God's favor [because of them] the city is exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked." Proverbs 11:11, Amplified

This spiritual truth can be verified through the reading of the books of history in the Old Testament. The Lord made the nation of Judah prosper when it had a righteous king at the helm, but He came against it when a wicked king was in rule. Just look at our nation of America. The same spiritual principals can be applied. Our politicians were once God fearing men. This nation was once built upon the Bible. But as a nation we are slowly leaving those convictions behind. Mark my words, if we do not go back to our roots, then we will be lead away captive by our own undoing.

Righteousness & Integrity (Proverbs 11:3-6)

Righteous men and women have the Lord to fall back on. He is their fail-safe. But the wicked man has nothing to fall back on, no safety net. In the end there is only death for the wicked man.

"The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the willful contrariness and the crookedness of the treacherous shall destroy them." Proverbs 11:3, Amplified

It has been said that integrity is what a Christian's actions are even when he knows he is not being watched. The Lord's eyes are upon us all the time, however, those around us and the rest of humanity are not always watching. What a Christian does behind closed doors in the privacy of his own home, describes his integrity.

The antithesis of this is wickedness. There are those who are blatantly evil in every action that is taken. These actions could be private or public, either way it is a willful disobedience to the Lord. There is no glory awaiting the willful and contrary man at the end of his life.

"Riches provide no security in any day of wrath and judgement, but righteousness - uprightness, and right standing with God - delivers from death." Proverbs 11:4, Amplified

Riches provide so much for a man here on earth. They can even buy a temporary happiness. Bribes might even relinquish the judgement of man. But what about when it is time for the Lord to judge the earth? Will riches win out against the holiness of the Lord? No. "Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath..." (Zephaniah 1:18a, NKJV) Riches, in any form, are still of this fallen world and have no part with God. The Lord is not bound by the bounty of this earth. Man's vision is so hindered by his financial status that he tends to forget that the Lord says, "For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills." (Psalm 50:10, NKJV)

But the righteousness of the righteous shall deliver them. For their righteousness of Jesus Christ. When our righteousness is truly not our righteousness but someone else's, then we are truly righteous. What I am saying is that nothing in and of ourselves is truly righteous. Man is a sinful being from the day that he is born. It is not till we come to a saving knowledge of the grace of Jesus that we become righteous and saved from death.

"The righteousness of the blameless shall rectify and make plain his way and keep it straight, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness." Proverbs 11:5, Amplified

The path of the righteous is pretty simple and straight. The most important commandment the Lord said was to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30, NKJV)

It is only when we begin to practice the sin of lawlessness that we enter onto a path that is difficult. Now do not get me wrong, I am not trying to take away from the Sermon on the Mount where the Lord spoke about the narrow gate. In truth, being a Christian is one of the hardest lifestyles that I have ever lived, everyday is a choice to live for Him and not myself. The plainness of the the path of the righteous is is this: follow God, do His will. There is no having to come up with a story to cover lie after lie after lie when you are following your Lord.

It has been said that a tangled web is woven when we begin the practice of deception. When living a life of sin we begin to deceive ourselves into thinking that we are deceiving God. This is the complication of a life of sin.

"The righteousness of the upright - their rectitude in every area and relation - shall deliver them; but the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity and greedy desire." Proverbs 11:6, Amplified

Do not misunderstand Solomon. As I stated earlier, there is nothing righteous within man that makes him righteous. It is that plain path and righteous decisions that we will make on that path that will be our deliverance. For every decision brings us closer and closer to our Lord. Every decision should have Jesus in the forefront.

In the end, we all fall into the same fate, death. Christians nor sinners can escape the inevitability of death. Our deliverance comes from the second death, Hell. The treacherous and the wicked will have no deliverance from death when this world is gone. They heap upon themselves more and more sin because their lust is insatiable. We have a choice to either live like kings today or to live like king sin the after life.

The Cost of Pride (Proverbs 11:2)

Pride costs more than a person may think. When speaking about pride, Jesus made mention of a person choosing the best seat in the house for supper. What if the owner of the house were to come and remove you from that place of honor? Instead of thinking highly of oneself, we should allow others to bestow honor on us and not take the honor because we think we deserve it.

"When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also; but with the humble - those who are lowly, [who have been pruned and chiseled by trial] and renounce self - is skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness." Proverbs 11:2, Amplified

Pride comes in many different forms. The most common is when a person thinks more highly of himself than he ought. Pride is like the yeast in a lump of dough. Let us, for the sake of argument, say that the lump is 16 ounces. If yeast is added to the lump, it will grow to two or three times its original size. No matter how big that lump gets, however, it will still only weigh 16 ounces. Pride does the same for the human, it causes them to look bigger than they really are. This pride causes missteps in a persons walk and they soon begin to make decisions that are bigger than their britches.

However, with the humble it is different. The humble man thinks less of himself than the prideful man. This is not a self pity though. It is a sound understanding that we are deserving of nothing but Hell. The humble man will allow for himself to be sat in the greater seat, but he will not allow that luxury to rule his being. Humility of the heart is a place where the person understands his circumstances and takes nothing more than what is given to him. This humbleness allows for the saving grace of the blood of Jesus to do its work in a life, whereas pride can do everything on its own. Humbleness asks for help, reaches out for help, understands depravity, and is grateful when that help comes. Pride needs no one else, therefore when the most help is needed, success will be replaced by shame.

Deceptive Weights and Measures (Proverbs 11:1)

There is an art to lying that is rivaled by nothing else. Man fell by means of deception. Lucifer is that father of lies. Lying lips are an abomination.

"A false balance and unrighteous dealings are extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight." Proverbs 11:1, Amplified

I remember hearing a story of a butcher and a baker who would exchange goods every week. The butcher would give one pound of meat to the baker for a one pound loaf of bread. At one point the baker came into the butcher very upset. He had stated that the butcher was shorting him meat. The butcher looked at the baker and stated, "I have been going off of the weight of the loaf you give me." Both men were dishonest in their dealings with each other.

Deceptive weights have a couple of things tied up within them. First of all it is a deception that is willful. The seller of goods must know that his weights are false. He is willfully choosing to deceive his patrons. In that deception, he is also stealing from them more than his due payment.

"You shall do no injustice in judgement, in measurement of length, weight or volume. You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord you God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." (Leviticus 19:35-36, NKJV) It pleases the Lord when we follow His mandates. Sure this law was laid out for the Jew, but it is also morally right.

This is the first time that we are encountering the idea of willful deception in the book of Proverbs. It is interesting that Solomon uses scales for a "word picture" to define honesty. Every time that I see a scale I am always driven toward the thought of our judicial system in America. In the court there is a statue of a woman holding a scale and she is blindfolded. This is to signify that justice is blind. I do not think that this is what the Lord truly intended for our dealing with criminal acts. Justice need not be blind if it has a weight and measure and ruler to use. This just weight would be the Word of God. But in a nation where the Lord is being pushed out, justice will no longer need a blindfold, for she will have her eyes gouged out.

A Tree Shall be Known by its Fruit (Proverbs 10:30-32)

For the righteous good things will come. It may not be an immediate inheritance, but it will come. King David wrote of how the wicked are prospering and how the righteous are suffering. This is a very true statement. You have to remember that the earth incurred a curse after the fall of man. This world has been tainted by the fall of man. But in the end, if we were to skip to the end of the book, we would find the the righteous prevail.

"The [consistently] righteous shall never be removed, but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth eventually." Proverbs 10:30, Amplified

The righteous shall not be removed removed because our foundation is on Jesus Christ. He is the truest foundation for us to built upon, the firmest rock. The Word was before this world and will exist long after this world has ceased to exist. And there will be a time when the wicked will be removed from the earth. The Bible tells us about a 1,000 year period where the earth is restored to her original state, before the fall. 1,000 years the Lord will reign upon this earth and after that time, He will destroy it and create a new heaven and a new earth. Until then, we wait patiently on the Lord and remain consistently righteous.

"The mouth of the righteous [those harmonious with God] brings forth skillful and godly Wisdom, but the perverse tongue shall be cut down [like a barren and rotten tree]." Proverbs 10:31, Amplified

We are told in the Sermon on the Mount that a tree will be known by its fruit. A tree that is barren of rotten is good for nothing, not even for shade. It must be cut down because all it is doing is leeching nutrients from the soil around it. This bad tree takes what it cannot use and leaves less for the better trees to survive on. It is a wonderful thing, though, that we have a Ground's Keeper who will take care of His orchard. Our Master knows what trees are bad and which are good. But if we read Matthew 13, one of the Kingdom Parables is about the wheat and the tares. An enemy came over night and sowed tares in our Master's wheat field. When His angels found this out they told the Master. He decided to wait for harvest to separate the two for fear of destroying the good with the bad. My friends, out time is coming.

"The lips of the [uncompromisingly] righteous know [and therefore utter] what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked knows [and therefore speaks only] what is obstinately willful and contrary." Proverbs 10:32, Amplified

The fruit of either tree is evident. As righteous Christians, we know what is right and true and therefore our speech should signify that. I know that this is not always the case. Look at king David. He committed adultery and then killed his lover's husband and he was still called a man after God's own heart. Our fruit is a testimony of our heart. If it be bitter and rotten, then the heart of the tree is bitter and rotten.

It is high time for us all to do a heart check. The easiest way is to check the fruit on the tree. Is it good? Is is wholesome? Is it nutritious? Our lips should know and therefore utter one truth, Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Two Separate Paths (Proverbs 10:27-29)

All through out the Proverbs, we find that Solomon focuses on one point more than another. It is the walk of the individual. We can either have an upward walk toward Christ or a downward walk toward death and destruction. The decision is ours to make.

"The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord prolongs one's days, but the years of the wicked will be cut short." Proverbs 10:27, Amplified

When we focus our hearts on the Lord our years are lengthened. This is a promise from the Lord, for it would not be in His word if it were not true. I did cover this earlier, however. These length of days may not necessarily be a physical life. Length of days can very well point to the afterlife. If we are to give our hearts and lives over to Christ and accept the work of the cross, then we will live life eternally.

If we are to deny His work on the cross, then our lives will be cut short. It does seem that the wicked do live more prosperously in this life than the righteous do. I encourage you to keep your eyes on the eternal. Which ever road we choose, eternity awaits. That eternity can either be one of life or death and separation from God.

"The hope of the [uncompromisingly] righteous - the upright, in right standing with God - shall be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked [those who are out of harmony with God] shall come to nothing." Proverbs 10:28, Amplified

We, as Christians, have a hope that the world does not have. Our hope is that eternal life, heaven. This hope is verified by a right walk with the Lord, though. Hope is not just a feeling in the heart, but an action of life.

It is in the nature of the human to expect much from nothing. We are selfish by nature. The expectation of the wicked will be cut off because they have invested nothing of themselves in anything else.

"The way of the Lord is strength and a stronghold to the upright, but it is destruction to the workers of iniquity." Proverbs 10:29, Amplified

The way of the Lord keeps the children of God safe. It is what we invest ourselves in and what we run to in times of trouble. Within the word of God lies all the answers for whatever it is that we may face in this life.

However, this "way" is the direct antithesis of the wicked path. What we run to to keep us safe will be the destruction of the wicked. The same goes for the way of the wicked man, it will inevitably destroy the righteous man.

Choose today what path you will walk.

Laziness (Proverbs 10:26)

Laziness is an epidemic spanning across America. At one point in time we ad the idea that if we were to work, we would be blessed. However, in the recent years it seems that our way have thinking has shifted 180 degrees. Our youth would rather spend more time in front of the television watching shows or playing video games. Father's are taking a step back from being bread winners. The interesting thing about laziness is that affects others more than the individual.

"As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who employ and send him." Proverbs 10:26, Amplified

I have never had the displeasure of drinking vinegar straight, however, I have had it waft into my nostrils. That in itself is an uncomfortable feeling. And anyone who has gone camping can say that they have had smoke go into their eyes from the campfire.

In either instance, the sluggard causes a a strong distaste for certain circumstances. No one wants to stand in front of the fire to get an eye full of smoke. Their desire is to receive that which it was built for: warmth. The same thing with the man that is hired. The desire of an employer is to hire a man (or woman) who will perform their duties appropriately. When the employee becomes lazy and does not complete the tasks given to him (or her), the employer receives an eye full of smoke. Just as smoke overrides warmth, so laziness overrides the benefit of having employes.

Progression of Foolishness (Proverbs 10:23-25)

The righteous have taken time in their lives to build upon the rock of Jesus Christ when the foolish and the wicked have decided that there are other more important things to do.

"It is as sport to a [self-confident] fool to do wickedness, but to have skillful and godly Wisdom is pleasure and relaxation to a man of understanding." Proverbs 10:23, Amplified

This is the first time in the book of Proverbs where foolishness and wickedness finally make a connection; the first time that foolishness is associated with wickedness. It is sport for a foolish man to commit wickedness. When the word "sport" is used a few different things and ideas come to mind. Sport can also be associated with a competition. I do not think that Solomon had this in mind when he wrote the verse. The word sport can also be associated with recreational activities. Since the fool has said in his heart that there is no God (Psalm 14:1), he has nothing else to fill the void that makes up the sum of his heart. Everyone must find something to fill a natural emptiness in the heart.

The wis man has found it in Jesus Christ. The man of understanding needs not to fill his life with foolish behavior when he is doing the work of God. It may seem like the Christian is never stopping to get a breath of fresh air, he is always on the move, however, the Lord is our breath of fresh air. There is a certain pleasure and relaxation that comes with the service of the Lord. The man who serves rests easy knowing that he has pleased his Master.

"The thing a wicked man fears shall come upon him, but the desire of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be granted." Proverbs 10:24, Amplified

There is no security for the wicked man. The Lord has been called a shield and a strong tower for those who believe in Him. However, the wicked have nothing to hide behind, no strength to put faith in. So inevitably the wicked shall fall by the means of his own fears.

However the righteous are resting easy in the Lord. The righteous man has time to pray and think of what he desires. His time is not taken up by fleeing from fears, rather it is filled with the rest of the Lord. When being pursued, the prey can think of only one thing, staying alive. This is a conundrum that the righteous man does not have to deal with.

"When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous has an everlasting foundation." Proverbs 10:25, Amplified

Notice the progression in these three verses. The fool commits wickedness as sport. He then flees from his fears. Finally he is taken away by the whirlwind. This will be the way of the fool until the end of time.

It seems from the language of the passage that the righteous man is also subject to the whirlwind but remains grounded on his foundation. There is an other place in the Bible where a similar dichotomy is laid out for us. "Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came and the wind blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27, NKJV)

Blessing from the Lord (Proverbs 10:22)

When the Lord blesses, He truly blesses. There is no greater joy than to be blessed by the Lord.

"The blessing of the Lord, it makes [truly] rich, and he adds no sorrow with it, neither does toiling increase it." Proverbs 10:22, Amplified

True richness comes from the Lord. His blessing make a man truly rich. There is no sorrow or shame in the richness of the Lord either. A man who has lied, cheated and stolen to get to a place of richness in his own life may be ashamed of what he has done to get there. But the Lord is the Creator of all things, and in being the Creator, He has ownership of all things. The Lord has no need of lying, cheating or stealing to bless His children. Be not sorrowful when the Lord blesses.

Now the second part of the verse does not appear in the New King James version of the Bible; "neither does toiling increase it." Though it does not appear it is still a spiritual truth. There is nothing that human hand can do to increase the blessing or richness of the Lord. Human hands lie. Human hands cheat. Human hands steal. Human hands hide these facts. However, the Lord gives out of His own reserve and there is no sorrow.

Words About Words (Proverbs 10:19-21)

It is interesting how words work. They are like a bullet, once they have left the chamber, nothing can be done to stop them. All you can do is hope that you are a bad shot and you miss your intended target. Or pray that your target didn't hear what you had to say. The Lord hears everything, however. In fact the Lord uses Solomon to convey this message in the next few verses.

"In the multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent." Proverbs 10:19, Amplified

Have you ever noticed that the one who is guilty cannot seem to keep his mouth shut at times? The guilty party always seems to want to embellish his or her story. I feel, however, that Solomon may be on to something different here. There is a person that gets under my skin so much that I just cannot stand it. He is the one that has to suffix every sentence or thought. The person who feels that it is necessary to say, "And that's the truth," or "Honest to God," "You can trust me," or even "If I'm lying I'm dying." As Christians, we should never have a need to add anything more to our truth, it should just be.

This would be the prudent man. Earlier in this study in the book of Proverbs we found that being prudent meant that we acted or showed thought toward the future. The prudent man will not interject anymore into his thoughts and words than is needed. He has the ability to restrain his own lips because he knows the truth, and the truth dwells within him.

"The tongue of those who are upright and in right standing with God is as choice silver, the mind of those who are wicked and out of harmony with God is of little value." Proverbs 10:20, Amplified

What the prudent allows to leave his lips will bless those around him. Those who have a walk with the Lord and are in right standing with Him have choice words to share. In fact, Solomon likens their words to choice silver. Why not gold? Is not gold more valuable than silver? Even in Solomon's time this was the case, gold has always been more valuable than silver. So why then would Solomon choose to liken the tongue of the righteous to silver? Silver is a picture of redemption. In the book of Exodus in chapter 30 when everyone was bringing items for the building of the Tabernacle, all the men were to bring a half shekel of silver for being numbered. It was called a ransom (Exodus 30:12) and atonement money (Exodus 30:16).

However, the mind of the wicked has little value to anyone else because it is so self absorbed. This value placed on the mind of the wicked is solely based on their lack of ability to think of others needs. A fire extinguisher has value to many people because it has the ability to save many lives even though it will spend a great amount of time just hanging on a wall. If proper care is taken of the extinguisher, then it will be of use to any and all who have to use it. The mind of the wicked will never amount to anything more than a spiritual paper weight.

"The lips of the [uncompromisingly] righteous feed and guide many; but fools die for want of understanding and heart." Proverbs 10:21, Amplified

The lips of the righteous man have the ability to feed many. This feeding is strictly speaking about the spiritual. Words cannot fill empty bellies. Jesus, in His time here on the earth, blessed bread and fish and fed over 5,000 in a single day, but He never spoke a word to fill a stomach. The words that our Lord spoke were meant to fill empty hearts. We should have the same mindset as well. Our goal in life should be to fill the heart of everyone we pass. And if we cannot fill them, then we must guide them to the feast. Invite them to a church service or a Bible study.

However, the fool will die because he has no understanding. His mind is so self absorbed that he can neither give of himself nor can he receive anything.

The foolish man retreats within himself and dies whereas the wise man runs to the Lord and lives.

Hiding Hate (Proverbs 10:18)

This next verse has no real dichotomy to it since it deals with the fool and liar. Even so, as we read through the book of Proverbs we find that every verse is in fact a dichotomy. We can read about the fool and how not to be like him, or about the liar and how we need to tell the truth. What does this verse tell us?

"He who hides hatred is of lying lips, and he who utters slanders is a [self-confident] fool." Proverbs 10:18, Amplified

The one who hides hatred is a liar. We must be true to ourselves and speak what is in our hearts. Now I am not saying to go out and tell every one that you hate how you feel about them. If hatred stay within the heat, it will germinate and grow and clutter our thoughts. Everything that we say and do to anyone else becomes tainted by that hatred, therefore we become liars.

The second part of the verse is actually linked to the first. If that hatred is not dealt with then anything that is said concerning that individual will come out as slander. It is foolish for a man (or woman) to slander anyone. It makes us out to look small and petty when we speak such things.

Silent Sermon (Proverbs 10:17)

It is always in our best interest to receive instruction. There may be someone who knows just a little bit more about life or a certain situation than we do. To ignore instruction is to deny the possibility of bettering ourselves.

"He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life, but is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray, but causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others." Proverbs 10:17, Amplified

It has been said that the only Bible a person may read in their lifetime is you. Our actions speak so much more loudly than our words. At a couple's study yesterday, a friend of mine quoted someone and said, "Preach everyday, and if necessary use words." Everyone is a leader in and of themselves. There is always someone who is going to follow our lead.

To receive instruction, we begin a pathway to life. If we can receive instruction and correction from our fellow man, then to receive is from our heavenly Father will be much easier. Jesus said to Nicodemus in the Gospel of John, "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" (John 3:12, NKJV)

Just as we have the ability to lead someone in the way of life, we also have the ability to teach them how to err and fall astray. All we need to do is be disobedient. Again, to reiterate this application, we will not listen to the instruction of man if we refuse the correction of God. In either case, someone is always following our lead. For parents it may be children, for employers it may be employees. In truth we do not know who is watching.

Payment (Proverbs 10:16)

Anything that anyone does in this life has a price tag attached to it. It either leads to life or death. For instance we can see that the drinking of alcoholic beverages will eventually lead to death as well as smoking and other things of the like. But living a more godly lifestyle extends the life of man, because he is not wreaking havoc on his body.

"The earnings of the righteous - the upright in right standing with god - lead to life; but the profit of the wicked leads further to sin." Proverbs 10:16, Amplified

The righteous man heaps upon himself a payment of life. Do not misunderstand me please. We all know that there are Christians who have died from cancer or in different tragedies. My father gave his life to the Lord and lived a righteous life, but he still died from liver failure on Christmas Day. I, as a Christian, have the opportunity to blame God for this, or to understand that my father received his final paycheck. The Bible does not lie. Life, as we know it, does not need to be solely on this plane of existence. Life extends for beyond this world into the eternal with out Lord. My father is living that life, that abundant and eternal life that was promised to him when he accepted the Lord.

However, the wicked ear a different wage. In fact the Bible here calls it a profit. It is interesting that the word profit is used. We generally associate profit with the positive. A business is considered successful if it can bring about a profit. In essence, however, the idea of profit is "receiving more than what was put in". It would be like finding a hidden treasure at a garage sale buying it for a small price, investing yourself into that item n=by refurbishing it, then turning around and selling it for a higher price. (Again this is profit in a positive aspect.) But a man can invest himself in sin so that he is able to sin more. The profit of sin is a lie. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the world, and loses his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26, NKJV) It is a rhetorical question that the Lord presented to His disciples. The answer is obvious, nothing. The profit is nothing.

Don not be fooled. As we go about living our lives we are storing up for ourselves wages. There will be a final payment due at the time of our death. We are given a choice as to how we will be payed. It is like going to a currency exchange and you give your life to the teller. he smiles at you and gives you the exchange rate for your righteousness. But if the wicked goes to the same teller, he would find that his life was worth nothing, it had no value. Value is defined by cost. My life is valuable because it cost the life of Jesus. What is your life worth?

Security in Riches, Destruction in Poverty (Proverbs 10:15)

Society has always been built upon the hierarchy of riches and poverty. It seems to be overly dramatized in Hollywood when any type of period movie is watched. However, if we were to travel to Hollywood, or even the Los Angeles area, we would see this economic dichotomy in all its truth.

"The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin." Proverbs 10:15, Amplified

There is a certain security in riches. Now Solomon is not speaking of anything spiritual in this verse at all. What he is pointing out is a very practical truth.

The rich man has a security in his riches. If there is anything that he may need, swipe the card. The car is broken down, swipe the card. I need to up grade my insurance, swipe the card. I need groceries, swipe the card. There is nothing that stops the rich man from doing anything. He has the security of knowing that no matter what is thrown his way, he will conquer it.

The poor man, however, is another story. Try not to focus on the bum on skid row. The poor that I feel needs to be focused on is the person falling into the poverty level in our society today. Life has is no respecter of persons, it will throw the same things at the poor that it does the rich. The car is broken, wait till next paycheck. I need better insurance, let us sacrifice this bill for this month. We need groceries, wait till next paycheck.

The security and destruction spoken of in this verse are very practical and physical circumstances resulting from an economic state of being. The heart of the matter is still a matter of the heart. "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." (I Timothy 6:17, NKJV) Riches can potentially destroy a man faster than poverty can destroy a man physically.

Firm Foundation (Proverbs 10:14)

The wise store and build, whereas the foolish comes to tear down and destroy.

"Wise men store up knowledge [in mind and heart], but the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction." Proverbs 10:14, Amplified

The wise man store up knowledge in mind and heart so that it may be used in times of need. It is kind of like the body storing fat and drawing on the reserves when they are needed. Wisdom is one of those things that will not perish, it can be stored up and called upon to use later on in life.

The mouth of the fool is the antithesis of this. It will tear down and destroy anything it can. The wise man must stay away from the fool to protect his storehouse of knowledge. If he is not careful, the fool may destroy all that he has reserved in one swift action.

We can liken this relationship to the man who built his house on the rock and the one who did not. Both men are given the same opportunity to build a residence. Similar tools are used in he building of every house as well as materials. But the foundation of either one was different. One built his house on the firm foundation of the rock which is Jesus Christ. This was the wiser of the two. The destructive powers of nature came and that house did not fall, but the other house is described as having a great fall.

The fool is that destructive force for the wise man. In storing up knowledge and building the storehouse, one must be careful where he is building. Is he building around friends that are not like minded? Is he building where destruction is imminent? Or is he choosing to build responsibly, in a place where there is security and safety?

Discernment and Discipline (Proverbs 10:13)

Discipline, correction and punishment are things we associate with the relationship between the parent and child. As time progresses, these three things become less familiar to the child, however they are tools that the Lord will always use in His relationship with us.

"In the lips of him who has discernment, skillful and godly Wisdom is found, but discipline and the rod are for the back of him who is without sense and understanding." Proverbs 10:13, Amplified

It is nice to find wisdom and discernment in this life. We are promised in this verse that godly wisdom will be found on him who has discernment. This includes us as well. If we are to practice discernment, then that wisdom will be instilled in us. How then do we practice discernment? The idea of discernment is to make godly decisions. Some choices in life are obvious. We should not steal, kill, view pornography or other things of the like. But what if the choice is not that obvious. It is a common misconception that sin is very easy to distinguish. If this was the case, then none would be in danger of sin. Take for instance the book of James, "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, yo him it is sin." (James 4:17, NKJV) We can also take the stance that if it violates something in our conscience, then we should not participate in it.

There are those, however, who do not practice such discernment in their lives. The rod of correction is for their backs. The Bible encourages the heavy hand for the disobedient child. Do I spank my children? Yes. Do I beat my children? No. America and CPS have become too lax when it comes to this concept in the Christian family. As you look out in society today, you can see the changes in the dynamic of the family unit. Children are no longer listening to a parents; they are argumentative, disruptive and disobedient because there is a lack of discipline. Now do not get me wrong. I am not encouraging the spanking of children for every little thing. Discipline could include restrictions of going outside to television or video games. The Lord, however, uses discipline on his children. "My son do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12, NKJV)

Love and Hate (Proverbs 10:12)

It has been said that there is a thin line between love and hate, in fact, this phrase was immortalized in a song. But the truth is, there is not a thin line. There is a wall that separates the two from each other. A thin line would allow similar feelings to be had by either emotion.

"Hatred stirs up contentions, but love covers all transgressions." Proverbs 10:12, Amplified

Hatred is a stirrer of things. It is unsettling. The design of hatred is to rile up the heart of men. If we were to look at the character of Satan we would find that he too is a stirrer of ill feelings. It is the complete antithesis of the stirring of the Holy Spirit for the stirring up of hatred leads to destruction.

However love covers all sins, all transgressions. From the language of the verse, I would have to come to the conclusion that these transgressions are against self. We have the option to allow these transgressions to bring a wedge between ourselves and the transgressor, however, love covers those.

There was a wedge brought between God and man when man sinned against Him. But love covered those transgressions. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16, NKJV) "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us." (I John 3:16, NKJV) "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (I John 4:10, NKJV)

Wells and Bullhorns (Proverbs 10:11)

It is interesting the conversations that you can have with either the righteous or the wicked. I understand that everyone's voice is different, everyone's opinion differs from the other. However, you can distinctly hear the heart in the midst of the conversation and discern whether the person is a righteous man or a wicked man.

"The mouth of an [uncompromisingly] righteous man is a well of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." Proverbs 10:11, Amplified

The language of this verse is so beautiful and the imagery is so descriptive. Solomon is describing the mouth of a righteous man like a well. A well is a deep pit where a person would find themselves at when they were thirsty or needed water. They would lower their pail deep into the well to draw out the refreshment. This is what I wan to really focus on. A person had to go to the well and lower the pail and draw out. The righteous man is the same way. When one needs that righteous advice or conversation one must want to draw out that righteous speech. What I am trying to convey here is that the righteous man's righteousness is only as good as other's want it to be. Take for instance the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus had His own righteousness to impart to her but she had to be willing to draw it out. With her being a Samaritan it was her right to ignore this Jewish man asking for a drink. She enjoyed the righteousness so much that she also had to get the others from the city to have them partake.

The waters of the righteous well can be nothing else other than the Holy Spirit. It is our duty then to make these waters available to everyone and to not pollute the waters. The less pure the water is the less refreshing it will be.

In the second part of the verse, we come across some more imagery that is familiar. Verse six of this same chapter is read the same way. Remember, however, that the New King James does not refer to this violence as a concealing but as a covering. It is a filter to the violent and wicked man. No matter what he say or how he says it, his words will always be tainted with violence. Think of it like a person with a bullhorn. The tone of the device in unmistakable. it does not matter what country you are in or what gender is using the bullhorn, the tone is always the same. Just as the righteous man's righteousness is drawn out of his heart, so the violent man's violence comes. The difference between the two is that the righteousness must be drawn but the violence will come whether desired or not. This violence and wickedness will spill out on all peoples everywhere; every syllable is tainted.

Winkers and Talkers (Proverbs 10:10)

In most of the proverbs we see a dichotomy of the righteous and the wicked. Today, this is not the case. For some reason, Solomon desired to just focus on the wicked aspects of man in this proverb. There is, however, in this verse that two different persons will be effected by the wicked.

"He who winks with his eye [craftily and with malice] causes sorrow; the foolish of lips will fall headlong, [but he who boldly reproves makes peace]." Proverbs 10:10, Amplified

There are those who wink with their eyes, whose intent is to cause trouble. I remember watching a movie a long time ago and seeing someone on the big screen wink at someone else. I had asked my mother what that meant and she explained it to me. She said, "They knew something that no one else knew." As kids we tended to use the wink a lot when playing pranks. That wink was used to allow that other person to not blurt out the truth because we knew that they knew. But putting childish things aside we turn to the adult. I have never seen an adult take on this type of behavior, but it is not really the behavior that we are after, it is the intent of the heart. His whole demeanor is to cause harm, his intent is to hurt.

But the foolish of lips will fall. This is that word "prating" again. The babble will be sealing his own fate. He is the talker that just will not shut up. The one who winks with his eyes are a little more covert, their intent is not to be caught. But the prater will be known by everyone. When the mouth opens, heads will turn and eyes will focus. It seems that there is also no shame with the prater.

In the second set of brackets, though it may be a truism, does not appear in the other texts. If we are to reprove the prater and the winker, then yes peace is a product. I feel that maybe the author of the Amplified Version saw what I saw, the was no dichotomy in this verse. There does not always have to be that dichotomy in life, however. Sometimes we just need our attention drawn to the good or to the bad.

Integrity (Proverbs 10:9)

Integrity is such a wonderful thing. So many different things in this life can have integrity. Even an inanimate object can have integrity. But when it comes to the human being it becomes something more. It describes a lifestyle.

"He who walks uprightly walks securely, but he who takes a crooked way shall be found out and punished." Proverbs 10:9, Amplified

The more I use the Amplified Version of the Bible, the more I begin to regret it. There is some language and phraseology that I have become accustomed to. In the New King James we read this verse a little differently. "He who walks with integrity walks securely..." It is the integrity of the Christian that I wish to focus on at the moment. By definition, integrity means, "the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness; the state of being whole and undivided; the condition of being unified, unimpaired or sound in construction; internal consistency or lack of corruption in electronic data."

We must understand that the Christian who is walking in integrity is walking "undivided". As we walk in uprightness, there is a certain security that comes along with that. Being undivided means never having to look over your shoulder at who is coming after you. An undivided lifestyle means never having to cover your tracks. There should always be a certain security in our walk, not only of where we have been but where we are going to. What I mean is, this integrity of ours allows us to walk in such a fashion that we have complete faith in the Lord for our security. Being fired from a job does not disrupt the flow of the walk because there is security in every step knowing that the Lord is watching over us. Integrity naturally brings with it security.

However, the one who chooses the crooked path shall be found out and punished. Again, I have become used to a certain vernacular. In the New King James Version it reads, "...but he who perverts his way will become known." We need to understand that as we knowingly sin, it is a definite choice, a perversion of our path. I say "knowingly" because I feel that it is possible to walk outside the commandments of God without realizing it. One may not understand the ramifications of being a "talebearer", but when that knowledge does come a correction must be made in the life to ensure integrity. Perversion can only last so long behind closed doors. Eventually your secrets will become known. There is no security for the one who perverts his own may. The attributes of perversion do not include honesty, morality nor does it included a unification or soundness. Without integrity we are divided against ourselves and doomed for destruction.

Acceptance of Commands (Proverbs 10:8)

The Proverbs are full of comparisons between the foolish and the wise. In today's reading, nothing has changed. However, today we will encounter a word that we will come across only two other times in the Bible and one in this same chapter.

"The wise in heart will accept and obey commands, the the foolish of lips will fall headlong." Proverbs 10:8, Amplified

The wise in heart listen and obey any command given by an authority. The the person in the armed forces it is the commanding officer, to the Christian it is God. In either case, the obedience will bring him or her blessing. In the original King James, we only get the word "receive" in this verse, so it reads, "The wise in heart receive commands..." Reception brings with it the idea of acceptance. As Christians I do not feel that the Lord will ever give us commands that would violate our good conscience, however they may be contrary to our flesh. Though the command may be contrary to the flesh, the wise in heart still receive, accept and obey that command. This is the qualifier for any real Christian, to be able to deny his flesh to follow his Master.

In the second portion of this verse we hear about the fool. The Amplified Version already translates the word "prating" for us as one who is "foolish of lips". Prating appears only two other times in the Bible; one more time in this chapter in verse 10 and the third time in the New Testament in 3 John verse 10. The "prater" is a babbler or a trifler according to Strong's Concordance. This prater will fall for one reason, he is to busy talking and listening to the commands. It is like the commanding officer giving instructions to a raid that is to be executed. The babbler is too busy babbling to hear what is being said and places himself in grave jeopardy.

Another aspect that is not covered in this verse is that of placing others around him in jeopardy as well. The babbler must babble to someone. However, the wise in heart keep their attention glued to the commanding officer. The wise in heart take the place closest to the commanding officer so as not to miss anything that he has to say. I suggest that if we are one's who enjoy talking to inspect our hearts and see if we are wise in heart. Do we babble over the word of the Lord? Are we talking so loud that we cannot receive His commands?

How Will You Be Remembered? (Proverbs 10:7)

The legacy that a person leaves in life is very important. It seems that no matter what a person accomplished in life, whether good or bad, outweighs his or her legacy. Take for example the Beatles. They took America by storm; a simple rock band from England. After time, fame got to John Lennon and he had made the comment that the group was bigger than Jesus. That is how I remember Lennon (and this is an event that I did not even experience). Bill Clinton was a wonderful president and did so much for this country. However, an indiscretion with his intern Monica tarnished his legacy. A little blue dress is how I remember Clinton. If you were to walk into the Pizza Hut in Yucca Valley and mention my name, you would find that I left a great legacy in my wake. A great manager is how my employees remember me. But this was not always so for me. My legacy was not always the greatest. How will you be remembered?

"The memory of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked shall rot." Proverbs 10:7, Amplified

Even Solomon understood the legacy that men left behind. As we ourselves look back into our lives, we can find different figure heads that shaped our individual lives. They could be teachers, friends or employers, but these individuals left an everlasting mark in our lives. Their memory brings with it a blessing to our lives.

Then there are those individuals who have not left quite the same impression on our lives. Their wickedness has brought with it a foreboding darkness. I can think of many different individuals that left this sort of mark in my life. In truth, however, their memory is not at the forefront of my life on a day to day basis. As I get older and wiser, their memory seems to get dimmer and dimmer for me. Men like Sadam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden will always be infamous in American history, but the memory of their misdeeds will fade as better men and women step up and create for themselves a better and stronger legacy.

The Bible even lays this out as a truth for us. Different men and women left an excellent legacy for us to follow. They are the examples that we have to mimic and follow. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony." (Hebrews 11:1-2, NKJV) There are also those stories that we read that should become the antithesis of ourselves, the things not to do or the paths not to follow. "Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted." (I Corinthians 10:6, NKJV)

How will you be remembered?

More Said with Fewer Words (Proverbs 10:6)

In chapter ten of the book of Proverbs is where we begin to see the one verse proverb. This in no way weakens the proverbs, in my estimation it actually strengthens the proverbs. A lot can be said in a few words.

"Blessings are upon the head of the [uncompromisingly] righteous - the upright, in right standing with God; but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." Proverbs 10:6, Amplified

It is no secret that when good is done a reward is received. This is a practice in any secular institution as well as with Christians. I am going through the same thing with my son right now. We are having such a hard time potty training him, but when he has those victorious days, and even nights, we praise him and give him "treasures" for the accomplishment. Now the Lord rewards us in a similar fashion; of course it is not through a treasure box for not messing our pants. The rewards that we receive from the Lord for a righteous life are the benefits of a righteous life. Let me explain a little further. Lets just say that you have been pursuing a particular job for a while and you have lifted it up to the Lord in prayer because you want it to be within His will. But let us say that for the sake of argument that you do not receive the job. That is a blessing from the Lord. You have no way of knowing if that was the right job for you or what would have happened to your walk if you had received that job. However, in that denial, what if a better opportunity arises that you would not have seen if you had gotten that particular job. That is a blessing from the Lord. Every event in the Christian life, who is actually walking righteously, is a blessing from the Lord.

The wicked, however, is another story. Their mouth conceals violence. What does this mean? it is interesting to see that blessings are on the head of the righteous because the head directs the body. But the head of the wicked is not so blessed. Within the mouth of the wicked rests violence. The New King James Version of the Bible actually translates the verse like this, "But violence covers the mouth of the wicked." (Proverbs 10:6b, NKJV) When I think of a covering, I think of a sealing effect. A cover is designed to either keep something in or out. Taking the two translation into account we may be able to come up with a unique interpretation. This violence is both concealed within and covers the mouth of the wicked. I would think of it like a reverse filter. It is something that is not always seen by the user, but the effects are readily distinguishable. Drinking a bottle of Evian tastes a lot different that drinking Sparklettes because the filtration that both waters undergo is different. This violence is not seen by anyone at the onset of introduction but when the wicked opens his mouth his wickedness is made known to all.

This concealment should never be mistaken for camouflage for the wickedness in man will always be found out. Too many times in the New Testament do we see the separation of the righteous from the wicked such as in the kingdom parables found in Matthew 13. These parables distinguish the blessings of the righteous as well as the doom of the wicked. The Sower speaks of four different soils wherein only one in four is blessed. As for the Wheat and the Tares, the Lord of the harvest waits until harvest time to separate the wheat from the tares. We have a compare and contrast with the mustard seed and the little bit of yeast. And finally the dragnet speaks of separation of good fish from bad fish. Concealment can only last for so long.

Do You Remember Flannel Graphs? (Proverbs 10:2-5)

One thing that I love about the Proverbs is that Solomon gives us the opportunity to see the difference between being righteous and being wicked. Now I am not saying that as adults we do not understand this concept, but I feel that sometimes we may forget in the heat of the moment. But the Holy Spirit is always there and ready to have us remember how the Lord blesses the righteous for being righteous. It is kind of like a flannel graph. You have heard the story and you know the story, but when the teacher puts the figures up onto the flannel board, then you finally remember. It sticks because it is finally laid out for you in a way that a child can understand. The Proverbs are a kind of flannel graph for the adult then.

"Treasures of the wicked profit nothing, but righteousness [moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation] delivers from death." Proverbs 10:2, Amplified

We will be given four different dichotomies in the next four verses. For the first we will see the protection of the Lord. The treasures of the wicked, in the original language, can actually be translated as an "armory". This armory that the wicked garner for themselves will actually save them from nothing. I imagine it a bit like the armory on a movie set. You can walk in and find all these beautiful guns, big or small, but they are filled with blanks. The treasures of the wicked offer up empty promises and false protection.

However, just being righteous will deliver one from death. There is no armory for the righteous. All that we need for protection should already be worn by the righteous Christian. "Finally brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on your breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." (Ephesians 6:10-11 & 14-17, NKJV) This is all we need to survive in the world today, just be righteous and the rest will follow.

"The Lord will not allow the [uncompromisingly] righteous to famish, but He thwarts the desire of the wicked." Proverbs 10:3, Amplified

The second example that we have is the provision of the Lord. If we are righteous we will not go without. This is a spiritual truth for the Christian to stand upon. My life verse is the perfect example for this truth. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for me with your whole heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NKJV) The Lord will always be there for us, no matter what is going on in our lives.

As for the wicked, their plans will be thwarted by the Lord. There has never been, nor will ever be, a promise that this will be instantaneous. David, when he wrote the Psalms, was constantly calling the Lord's attention to the prosperity of the wicked. The Lord knows what is going on, He understands that things are a little up side down in this world at the moment. But think of it like this: our Father is dealing with His children first. "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as sons: 'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.' If you will endure chastening, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which you have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." (Hebrews 12:5-7, NKJV) The rest of the world is like a bastard child and has no inheritance in the Lord. All His focus is on the righteous for the simple reason that we belong to Him.

"He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of the diligent he makes rich." Proverbs 10:4, Amplified

The third example that we have is the prosperity of the Lord. The wicked are lazy and wish to do nothing more than sin. This verse reminds me of the movie Wall-E, where all the people of earth have become so disengaged in life that technology has taken over or them. They are so oblivious to what is going on around. Nothing good came out of that experience, nor will anything good come out of our experience in being lazy and idle. "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." (II Thessalonians 3:10, NKJV)

But the righteous man takes every opportunity to work. It has been said that idle hands are the devils playground. From experience I can attest that this is a true statement for myself. Keeping busy is the key for success. And being diligent for the sake of riches should never be the focus. Rather being diligent is a byproduct of righteousness. If one is not righteous then he will not be diligent.

"He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame." Proverbs 10:5, Amplified

Finally we have the produce of the Lord. There is a tie for harvesting and the wise son gathers that harvest in its time. We please our Father when we tend to the harvest and bring it into His storehouses. The righteous are ready and willing to gather that harvest. "Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'" (Matthew 9:37-38, NKJV)

The wicked do not wish to have anything to do with the harvest. For the harvest is work, it is sweat, it is tears. As children, we had three months of summer vacation, but as adults we need to get the idea of vacation out of our heads.

Our rest is coming. Now is not the time to sleep.

The Actions of a Son (Proverbs 10:1)

Often a child will be the reflection of the parent. I know that in the past I have seen children acting inappropriately and wondered about the parents. We tend to blame the parent for the actions of the child, often blaming lack of discipline as the culprit. In truth, however, actions are done because of the state of heart. A parent can poor their whole being into a child and still not penetrate the stubbornness of the child.

"The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish and self-confident son is the grief of his mother." Proverbs 10:1, Amplified

Chapter ten continues with the proverbs of Solomon. It is addressed as such to establish authorship because there will be some later in the book that are actually written by other kings.

It is interesting to see the dichotomy of the family dynamic in this verse. A wise son makes a glad father. This wise son in obviously making wise decisions. There is something built up inside of a father that desires others to comment on the behavior of the child, emphasizing on the good qualities, of course. It is because the father is the disciplinarian, he is the voice of authority in the family, he is the master craftsman. Due to his work, the child grows into a responsible and wise adult.

But a child who is foolish brings grief to his mother. As the father deals with the discipline, the mother deals with the nurturing of the child. She grooms the child, feeds the child, bathes the child, changes the child's diapers. Her relationship with the child is more intimate than it is with the father. As the child moves on to make more and more foolish decisions, the heart of the mother is broken with grief and worry for the welfare of the child.

Now this verse and my interpretation of it is by no means an absolute. The one question that I would have to raise is this, "What of the single parent household?" I then say that it is even harder for the single parent, because now that single parent must take on the qualities and responsibilities of two separate parents. However, the outcome will still be the same. Whether the child is wise, or foolish, the parent will still have a similar reaction. A single mother will well up with pride for her wise child. That single mother has acclimated to the idea of discipline; it is because of her new view on discipline that the child has made better choices. The same can be said of the single father. He now takes on the role of the nurturer as well. The relationship between him and his child changes in a way that is unfamiliar to him. However, he will feel differently toward the foolish child, his heart will break for that child. No longer can discipline be at the forefront of his being, rather the caring nurturer will overcome his being.

In either case, whether it be a complete family unit or not, the Lord has instilled inside the parent these characteristics. There needs to be that opposite, so the Lord has also instilled in us the ability to take on the other characteristics that are missing in the family dynamic. It is not the existence of a mother and father that make up a family, rather it is the love that fills the rooms of the house that make the family.