Proverbs 20:10

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about integrity:

Proverbs 20:10 (ESV)

Unequal weights and unequal measures

are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

Unless we lived in Solomon's day we may not understand this proverb.   Today when we buy food at the market, stores are required to print on the package the weight or measurement or size of the content.   It is hard to fool today's public.  But in Solomon's day when you went to a market and asked for a pound of a certain product they would put the product on one side of the scale and on the other side they would put the proper weight.   Crooked sellers would use false weight on one side thus making the product look more than it actually was.   Solomon uses the word "abomination" over 15 times in Proverbs.  He is not bashful in telling us what is abominable to God.   God tells us that lying, pride, arrogance, wickedness, and many more things are abominable to Him.  We wouldn't add crooked shop keepers to the same list.   But God hates anything wicked.  Even bad business practices.   How we do our business is as equally important to God as if we are untruthful or prideful or wicked.   Bad business practices are in God's view and hated by God.  So many people think they can cheat in their business and still be rewarded by God.    It is an abomination to God when we cheat others in our business.   God can and will avenge differing measures.   God stands for justice.  When we are not just God knows and hates it.

Proverbs 19:12

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight leaders:

Proverbs 19:12 (ESV)

A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

If you have ever been in the cross-hairs of a powerful leader you can relate to this proverb.  In my military days I was once chewed out by a Full-bird Colonel.  Scary!!  He was upset about something our unit did or didn't do and he simply used me as his focus for the message for us all.  I was an Acting-Jack Buck Sergeant at the time. I was 22 years old.  He was about 60.   Almost 20 years later I was also chewed out by a Superintendent of Schools who was frustrated by some action I had done (or not done).   I simply got up and walked away.   But, in each case, it was the "roaring of a lion."   The ruler who shows his wrath is scary.   God meant the ruler's wrath to be scary.  God's wrath, revealed, is more than scary ... it is frightening.  But, as horrible and fearful the ruler's wrath can be, it is so true of his grace.   As gentle as the dew hits the grace in the morning, so grace lays on those around the ruler.    God's grace is so comfortable.  His grace comes like rain on a hot day.   The king (ruler, leader, boss) who is living in the fear of The Lord will know when and how to use his/her wrath.   He or she will balance that wrath or administer that wrath with his/her grace.   However, the ruler who does not know God or has not experienced God's grace will not be able to minister in grace, other than the common grace given to all men.    God's grace is such a beautiful experience.  He forgives by grace, He heals by grace; everything we have in this life that is any ounce of good, is from God's grace.   Don't live in fear of the Lion.  Know His grace.

Proverbs 18:23

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about money:

Proverbs 18:23 (ESV)

The poor use entreaties,

but the rich answer roughly.

Money talks!!!   Solomon is providing us insight into the way society observes and responds to the aspect of wealth and poverty in our society.   The poor, because they are poor and have no influence, are left to beg and ask and request.   The rich, on the other hand, can say what they want and do so without the concerns of their hearers.   They can answer "roughly" because they are rich.  Bluntness is the tool of those who feel they have no want.   They can be rich in confidence.  They can be rich in many things and have no need to win the hearts and minds of others.   The poor on the other hand have a need.  They can be poor in friendship so they beg, ask and request for friendship.  The can be poor in influence and must act accordingly.   The contrast in Proverbs between the rich and poor is obvious by the many times the Spirt, through Solomon's pen, records these type of observations.  See further:

Proverbs 10:15 (ESV)

A rich man's wealth is his strong city;

the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

Proverbs 14:20 (ESV)

The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,

but the rich has many friends.

Proverbs 14:31 (ESV)

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,

but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

Proverbs 17:5 (ESV)

Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;

he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 22:2 (ESV)

The rich and the poor meet together;

the LORD is the Maker of them all.

 We all should find ourselves poor in the spirit.   That is the only way we can truly find fulfillment.   Those who believe they have righteousness, without Christ, will never utter supplications.  They, instead, will speak roughly and proclaim their ignorance about God:

Psalms 53:1 (ESV)

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;

there is none who does good.

Proverbs 17:23

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about justice:

Proverbs 17:23 (ESV)

The wicked accepts a bribe in secret

to pervert the ways of justice.

Wicked men in leadership prefer to accumulate possessions more than they prefer to enact justice.  That seems to be Solomon's statement in the above proverb.  We all know politicians and leaders who have tried to get rich or accumulate wealth and possessions and position based on subverted bribery.  The Hebrew word for“secret” (“bosom” in the NASB) conjures up in our minds the place of a child; a dear possession.  Solomon seems to be telling us that the person who is offering the bride has some sort of compassion, or passion for what they are offering.  This passionate bride is given to the one in high position who then subverts justice for the purpose of personal gain.   Note what Solomon has just told us a few verses back in the same chapter: 

Proverbs 17:8 

A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.  

In one proverb a bride is used in corruption in the hands of a wicked man. But in the other proverb a bride is used as a charm in the hands of its owner. The assumption in the second proverb is that the owner of the bribe will use it in a way that is righteous to promote justice.  The use of favors and promotion to pave the way for communication and relationships stands in stark contrast to those who use the same tools to pervert justice and promote wickedness.

Proverbs 16:8

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight wealth:

Proverbs 16:8 (ESV)

Better is a little with righteousness

than great revenues with injustice.

This is a much needed proverb for the day we live in.   In our world today we think that the accumulation of things brings peace, satisfaction and goodness.   However, the real measure of a person is not in the wealth they accumulate but how they handle wealth and how they use it to impact the world around them.   Wealth brings much corruption.  See:

Proverbs 15:6 (ESV)

In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

Proverbs 15:16-17 (ESV)

Better is a little with the fear of the LORD

than great treasure and trouble with it.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

As we read this we have to remember that Solomon was a very, very wealthy man.  He was the most wealthiest man in the world at the time.  And, we have to remember that God gave it to him.   God promised him all these riches because he choose wisdom over wealth.   God gave him wealth and the wisdom of how to use it.  Without God's wisdom wealth can and will corrupt.   Solomon is telling us that it is better to have no wealth than to have wealth that comes via injustice and ill gain.   It matters not how much wealth you have, it appears.   But, it does seem to matter, according to Solomon, what you do with it and "HOW" you got it.   Don't measure yourself by how big your bank accounts are.   Measure yourself by HOW they are filled and how you will dispose of them.

Proverbs 15:13

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about a glad heart:

Proverbs 15:13 (ESV)

A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

This is contrasting Hebrew poetry: The first line is contrasted by the second. You can’t really understand the first line (a glad heart makes the face cheerful) without considering the second line (a sorrowful heart crushes the spirit). So, we can easily conclude that whatever is in our hearts will affect what we look like and what we feel like. If we want to have a great spirit to show to the world we have to have contentment in our heart. Believers who trust God will have that trust showing on their faces. When we worry, we wear that, as well. So, we can show what we wear in our hearts by what we wear on our faces. People who trust God and don’t worry show a cheerful heart. What do you show others about what you are wearing in your heart? Solomon would later say:

Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Our emotions are connected to our disposition.  God is working on our hearts and as we allow Him and yield to Him we can expect a change in emotions.  Emotions are outward and visible while God's work is done inwardly and in secret, between God and us.

Proverbs 14:21

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the poor:

Proverbs 14:21 (ESV)

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,

but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

The above proverb is packaged, in chapter 14, within three other proverbs that discuss how we should interact and treat the poor (Proverbs 14:20-23).   In Solomon's day there were many poor and he was very much concerned with how they were treated.  Their treatment was the extension of the heart of others.  Note what the NIV highlights about this proverb:  

Sharing food (22:9), lending money (28:8) and defending rights (31:9) are ways one can show kindness. Such a person “honors God” (v. 31; cf. 17:5) and “will lack nothing”.   So, the above proverb gives us one more insight.   

It is not enough that we do good for those of low estate but that we also should make sure their status is not despised in our hearts.  Notice the contrast between the first and the second line.   One can "despise" the poor and one can be "gracious" to the poor.  To do the former is to sin and to do the latter is to add a since of "happy" to one's life.  The Hebrew word used here for "happy" is what it means to be blessed by one of high degree on the one of low degree.   Note the irony of the proverb.  When we who are better off (high degree) extend grace to the one who is poor (low degree) than we can be assured that God (high degree) will bless us (low degree).   The is the principle of proportionate grace.   With the same measure we measure other it will be measured to us.  Note what Christ will tell us later in the Sermon on the Mount"

Matthew 7:1-2 (NASBStr)

 “ Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

God is concerned at how we interact with others, especially those of low degree.   The poor are here for Him to care for through us.  Let us make sure we neither despise them or neglect them.

Proverbs 13:13

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about listening to correction:

Proverb 13:13 (NASB)

The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

Proverbs 13:13 (ESV)

Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

The "commandment" or "law" or "Word" of the Lord has two requirements everyone should know. These two things should be taught to everyone upon birth. The instruction manual that comes with children ought to include these two warnings: 1) The Law requires Perfection - you have to keep the whole law (all of God's word) if you want to please God. (You can't pick and choose). 2) If you don't keep the law in perfection there is Condemnation awaiting. Failure to obey the whole law means you are responsible to pay the consequences of that disobedience and the consequence is death. So, the above proverb tells us the simply truth of life: If you despise the law you have to pay its consequences. If you obey the law you get its blessing. Of course, no one can keep the entire law to perfection, so we all fall under the condemnation consequence side. That is why we need Christ. Christ is the fulfillment of the law. When we put our faith in Christ He meets the requirements of both parts: He perfectly kept the law and paid for our consequences in death and ressurection. We will receive the reward of the Word based upon His keeping the perfection of it.

When we think of God's Word and how we respond to it, we seldom think of being "in debt" to it.   Most people who reject God's Word think that rejection means they are not under obligation to the Word.   However, God's Word has authority over us, no matter what we feel about it or have faith in it.   We are subject to God's Word and all of its commands.  When we choose to not believe in God's Word or disobey God's Word, we are still in debt to it.  We will serve God's Word.   It just matters if we do so in the state of rejection or in the state of belief.  Those who believe God's Word are those who "fear" it.   The Word "fear" here is the word that we use in "fear of The Lord" (which is the beginning of wisdom).   Fearing God's Word is rewarded by God.  The rewards you receive are the rewards God's Word declares for us.   So, again, our approach to God's Word determines our outcomes in life.    Outcomes are not based upon our efforts, profession, skills, talents or passions.   We should view outcomes in life that are based totally on how we respond to God's Word.   We are either in debt to it or it will give us rewards.

Proverbs 12:13

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about avoiding trouble:

Proverbs 12:13 (NIV)

An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,

but a righteous man escapes trouble.

Proverbs 12:13 (ESV)

An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

but the righteous escapes from trouble.

This proverb is self-explanatory and needs little help for us to understand.   The beauty of the Proverbs is that they are easy to understand and easy to relate to day-to-day life.   Here we have that truth demonstrated.    Those with no character will eventually use their tongue and speech to destroy themselves.  They fall into the very trap they are trying to set for others.  Their lies and deceit catch up to them and they have little hope for freedom.   There are plenty of examples of this every day in today's politics.  The converse of this truth is also relevant for us.  Those who are righteous due to God's grace and their faith in His redemptive plan will not be caught in his words because he/she is a man of truth.  Christ said that "truth sets  you free."   Speaking the truth enables you to be free and escape the pains of death and traps.   We can be assured that the lies of those around us who are trying to hurt us will eventually bring them down.   Righteous people are not caught in those traps as the truth on their lips sets them free.

Proverbs 11:9

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about how we used our words:

Proverbs 11:9 (ESV)

With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

Some people use their words to destroy and some use their words to deliver.   According to this proverb, these two seem to be based upon a person's standing before God.   A man who has no place for God (godless) will use his mouth to inflict harm on his neighbor.   A person who has been declared righteous (only possible through faith in God) will use the knowledge he has to deliver himself and, by implication, others.   The godless can try to hurt the righteous but the knowledge obtained by the righteous through their faith in God will allow them to be delivered (that does not mean they won’t be attacked by the ungodly). Those who walk with God ought not fear the words of the wicked.   In fact, worrying about the words of the wicked and putting them high no your list of fears is paramount to idolatry.  Righteousness provides the knowledge necessary to avoid the godless mouth.   We are told in Ephesians 6 that the "breastplate" of righteousness is giving to us to protect us from the attacks of godlessness.   Don't be discouraged by the tongue of the wicked.  The position we have in Christ means the hurtful and destructive words of a godless world will not harm us.  To fear them is to honour them and worship them.  The righteous do not worship the words of the godless.

Proverbs 10:4

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about work ethic:

Proverbs 10:4 (ESV)

A slack hand causes poverty,

but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Isn't it amazing how many people complain that life hasn't given them what they deserve!   They sit around and complain and groan and find fault with the system and with "the man".   They envy the wealthy and believe the wealthy were given their wealth and don't deserve it.  It would be probable that they are often right with their assessment of wealth.  However, this proverb tells us that poverty and wealth are not always a problem with the system.   Whereas the system may be wrong and broken, it is not the system that always leads to the distribution of wealth.   There are some who sit around and complain and have nothing because all they do is sit around and complain and do nothing.   They neglect doing work with their "hands" and find they have nothing as a result.   It is equally true that those who have wealth also have a "diligent" hand.   Diligence produces wealth while negligence produces poverty.   The next time you want to fight "the man" and think the rich should be asked to "sacrifice" for the common good, ask yourself if the "negligent" should be rewarded by the hands of the "diligent"?   That is not what God teaches in this proverb.  The system certainly needs to be upgraded, or even dismantled.  But, whatever replaces it can’t be something that rewards the negligence of some by the diligent hand of others.  That is not God’s way.  Work ethic matters to God.  

Proverbs 9:7-8

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about scoffers:

Proverbs 9:7-8 (ESV)

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,

and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;

reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

When you work with, lead or are in a position where you have to have a relationship with a scoffer, you are in a hard spot.   Scoffing in our society is often defined as an act of jeering or mocking something.   And, even though the Old Testament uses a similar meaning Solomon carries an additional aspect of the scoffer's life in that he/she is often tied to the rejection of wisdom, sound advice, or correct counsel.   The scoffer DOES mock and jeer, but the reason they mock or jeer is because they reject the truth being spoken.   Scoffers are like fools in that they reject truth, but the scoffer is the outward, verbal or aggressor of this rejection.    The scoffer has passed the point of the fool and is certainly far more advanced than the naive one.   The scoffer not only can't handle the truth and doesn't like the truth, they want to attack and ridicule the truth, thinking that promotes them.  In the above two proverbs the scoffer is seen as a the one who attacks the one correcting him and actually brings dishonor on the person speaking the truth.  You WON'T win an argument with a scoffer.   He will hate you in the end.   In contrast, a wise man looks for and desires correction.    You can tell if you are talking to a wise man or scoffer by how they handle correction.   You will walk away with honor or dishonor depending on the person you are talking to, not the truth you are talking.   Odd, but true.

Every day we come across those who make fun of God or of Christ's resurrection or of belief in general. They "scoff" at God's sovereign rule as though they are in charge and have their own destiny in their hand. It is not humorous but we might see how funny it is when they are faced with death or pain or suffering or troubles. The same people who scoff at God's rule and believe they are "in charge" have no hope when things turn tough. The typically blame others ... still not taking personal responsibility for anything. Our temptation is to correct them; to bring them to the knowledge of the truth. But, Solomon, probably surrounded by his own lot of scoffers, warns us that if we try to correct one we will in turn become someone we don't want to be. Dishonor and insults are in line for those who try to correct a scoffer. Solomon gives very little hope to correct a scoffer. Don't expect them to change if you try ... rather it will come back upon you.

Proverbs 8:3

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about wisdom’s availability:

Proverbs 8:3 (ESV)

beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

Wisdom is accessible.    That is the point being made in the above proverb.    Proverbs is about wisdom and the difference between wisdom and folly.   Chapter eight of Proverbs is about wisdom crying out to every person.  In the above passage we see that it is “besides the gates, in front of the town.”  Solomon wants us to know that wisdom is not hiding. It is openly available to all who seek it.  James echos Solomon’s words about how God makes wisdom available:

James 1:5-6 (ESV)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Solomon said it earlier in Proverbs this way:

Proverbs 2:3-6 (ESV)

yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.

For the LORD gives wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

God makes wisdom available.  But, the world rejects God’s wisdom:

1 Corinthians 1:20-21 (ESV)

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

God wants to give us wisdom. It is available to all who seek it by faith.