31 Days of Wisdom: Proverbs 15
Please visit the link below if you would like to read through Proverbs 15 before continuing.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2015&version=NIV
Disclaimer: This is a personal journey of discovery for me. I am not claiming any special wisdom or exposition of my own, only sharing how 31 days of wisdom affect me and stir my spirit. I highly suggest, no matter who is speaking or sharing, that you check their words against the words of Scripture.
Proverbs 15
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”. So many times Solomon says not to argue with a fool or with someone who doesn’t want correction; I think this verse goes along with that. In many cases, people like to stir up arguments, but a gentle answer will take the wind out of their sails. But, if you take the bait, and respond with a harsh word, it keeps the argument going. (v1)
Wisdom is spoken of as an adornment, something that beautifies while foolishness is always spoken of in hasty and unpleasant terms. (v2)
“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”(v3)
Have you ever been soothed by a sweet word or crushed by a harsh one? If yes, then you understand the power of the tongue. Again, the power of life and death is in the tongue. (v4)
“A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.” Disobedience and foolishness are bedfellows. (v5)
Ill-gotten gains bring ruin but the righteous store up treasures. (v6)
The wise share their wisdom. Solomon pairs something interesting here, “The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.” I’m not sure how the two relate. Is he saying that the wise share their knowledge because they are upright of heart? (v7)
The wicked do not please God, but He loves those who pursue Him. (v8-9)
“Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.” Such strong words! It’s so true that the Lord sternly disciplines us when we leave the path, it could eventually lead to our death. Strong words. (v10)
The Lord can see all that happens, it all lies open before Him, how much more then does He know what is in our hearts? (v11)
“Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.” I’ve done this when I have felt guilty about something or been convicted about something; I’ve avoided the wise people in my life. I think it’s easy to remain in what you’re doing wrong if you remove all of the wise influences from your life. That’s why accountability is so important. Sometimes the very lives of the wise convict us, they don’t even have to say anything, so people who feel guilty avoid them entirely. (v12)
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”Our emotions are reflected in our being. (v13)
“The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.” “Feeds on folly” is a great picture of what it is like when foolishness gets whipped into a frenzy; it feeds on itself. (v14)
Life is about attitude, if you feel oppressed you will have wretched days, but if you have a cheerful heart, your days will reflect that. (v15)
It is better to fear the Lord and not have much than to have great wealth and turmoil. (v16-17)
“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” Again, being slow to speak is wise while the fool is hot-tempered and stirs up conflict. (v18)
“The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.” (v19)
“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.” The relationship between a child and his parents shows his level of wisdom. (v20)
Someone who had no sense rejoices in things that are foolish, but one who has understanding keeps moving straight ahead. (v21)
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”(v22)
“A person find joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word!” It is important to respond promptly; it shows wisdom, understanding, and concern for others. (v23)
The path of the prudent leads to life. (v24)
“The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.”(v25)
The Lord loves gracious words. (v26)
“The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.”(v27)
“The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” Patience. Speak before you think. (v28)
“The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.”(v29)
“Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.”(v30)
“Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” The wise listen to instruction. (v31)
“Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.” Heeding discipline and correction is the mark of the wise. (v
32)
“Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.” (v33)
Dear Father of Wisdom,
Teach me to love Your discipline for I know it saves me. Teach me to be wise and slow to speak and respond. I want to have a tongue that soothes and heals. Amen
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2015&version=NIV
Disclaimer: This is a personal journey of discovery for me. I am not claiming any special wisdom or exposition of my own, only sharing how 31 days of wisdom affect me and stir my spirit. I highly suggest, no matter who is speaking or sharing, that you check their words against the words of Scripture.
Proverbs 15
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”. So many times Solomon says not to argue with a fool or with someone who doesn’t want correction; I think this verse goes along with that. In many cases, people like to stir up arguments, but a gentle answer will take the wind out of their sails. But, if you take the bait, and respond with a harsh word, it keeps the argument going. (v1)
Wisdom is spoken of as an adornment, something that beautifies while foolishness is always spoken of in hasty and unpleasant terms. (v2)
“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”(v3)
Have you ever been soothed by a sweet word or crushed by a harsh one? If yes, then you understand the power of the tongue. Again, the power of life and death is in the tongue. (v4)
“A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.” Disobedience and foolishness are bedfellows. (v5)
Ill-gotten gains bring ruin but the righteous store up treasures. (v6)
The wise share their wisdom. Solomon pairs something interesting here, “The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.” I’m not sure how the two relate. Is he saying that the wise share their knowledge because they are upright of heart? (v7)
The wicked do not please God, but He loves those who pursue Him. (v8-9)
“Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.” Such strong words! It’s so true that the Lord sternly disciplines us when we leave the path, it could eventually lead to our death. Strong words. (v10)
The Lord can see all that happens, it all lies open before Him, how much more then does He know what is in our hearts? (v11)
“Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.” I’ve done this when I have felt guilty about something or been convicted about something; I’ve avoided the wise people in my life. I think it’s easy to remain in what you’re doing wrong if you remove all of the wise influences from your life. That’s why accountability is so important. Sometimes the very lives of the wise convict us, they don’t even have to say anything, so people who feel guilty avoid them entirely. (v12)
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”Our emotions are reflected in our being. (v13)
“The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.” “Feeds on folly” is a great picture of what it is like when foolishness gets whipped into a frenzy; it feeds on itself. (v14)
Life is about attitude, if you feel oppressed you will have wretched days, but if you have a cheerful heart, your days will reflect that. (v15)
It is better to fear the Lord and not have much than to have great wealth and turmoil. (v16-17)
“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” Again, being slow to speak is wise while the fool is hot-tempered and stirs up conflict. (v18)
“The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.” (v19)
“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.” The relationship between a child and his parents shows his level of wisdom. (v20)
Someone who had no sense rejoices in things that are foolish, but one who has understanding keeps moving straight ahead. (v21)
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”(v22)
“A person find joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word!” It is important to respond promptly; it shows wisdom, understanding, and concern for others. (v23)
The path of the prudent leads to life. (v24)
“The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.”(v25)
The Lord loves gracious words. (v26)
“The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.”(v27)
“The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” Patience. Speak before you think. (v28)
“The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.”(v29)
“Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.”(v30)
“Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” The wise listen to instruction. (v31)
“Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.” Heeding discipline and correction is the mark of the wise. (v
32)
“Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.” (v33)
Dear Father of Wisdom,
Teach me to love Your discipline for I know it saves me. Teach me to be wise and slow to speak and respond. I want to have a tongue that soothes and heals. Amen
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