Measuring Up (Proverbs 13:15-16)

Knowledge is good. To have it is to also have understanding. Understanding brings a happier and healthier life.

"Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard [like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp]." Proverbs 13:15, Amplified

I like how the Amplified Version delivers this verse. I calls the way of the transgressor like barren, dry soil or an impassable swamp. There is either not enough moisture, or there is too much. In other words, there is no moderation. The thing a child of God has going for him, is that the Lord guides him in his daily life. He has a governor telling him when it is too much or too little. The child of the world has no one guide him and must rely on his own instinct and understanding. The one problem is that he has nothing to measure himself up against other than the world.

"Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a [self-confident] fool exposes and flaunts his folly." Proverbs 13:16, Amplified

This is the problem of not having anything real to measure yourself up against. For the Christian, there is God and the Bible. For the man of the world, there is only others from the world. You will never be able to draw a 12" line with a ruler that is only 10". You will fall short every time. The Bible is our measuring stick. To ignore it's contents is to ignore knowledge and expose shame.