31 Days of Wisdom: Proverbs 21
Please visit the link below if you would like to read through Proverbs 21 before continuing.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2021&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 21
The Lord controls the ways of kings and nations. (v1)
“A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (v2)
“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” The Lord doesn’t want rote obedience, He wants us to do what is right and just and good. (v3)
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart – the unplowed field of the wicked – produce sin.” The wicked do not till the earth of the heart. (v4)
Diligence leads to success while impatience and hastiness lead to poverty. (v5)
Ill-gotten gains disappear like the wind. (v6)
“The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.” (v7)
If you behave in a devious manner, you are likely guilty, while the innocent are known by the upright ways. (v8)
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” Spouses have such a large impact. To have a spouse that likes to fight is to live in an unhappy home. It’s better to have nothing but a small patch of earth than to live with such a person. (v9)
“The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.” The hearts of the wicked feast on evil, they chase after it. Their hearts are hard with no room for mercy or compassion. (v10)
You can learn from other people’s mistakes and consequences; you don’t have to experience them yourself. (v11)
The righteous stand up against the wicked; they fight for justice. (v12)
“Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.” You reap what you sow. We see that principle over and over again in Scripture. (v13)
“A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies
great wrath.”(v14)
The righteous rejoice with justice, but it frightens the wicked; they wonder when it will be their turn. (v15)
Stay on the path of righteousness, straying from it leads to death. (v16)
If you are in love with pleasure, not wisdom, you will waste your wealth. (v17)
“The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright. (v18)
Again, it’s better to only have a patch of dirt than to live with a quarrelsome and nagging wife (or to be one). (v19)
The wise prepare for what is ahead. They think ahead. They plan. The poor gobble up what’s in front of them with no thought to the future. (v20)
“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. (v21)
“One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.” (v22)
Keep your mouths and tongues in check. It will save your life. (v23)
“The proud and arrogant person – ‘Mocker’ is his name – behaves with insolent fury.” (v24)
The things the lazy want will be the end of them; they do not prepare for the future or even support themselves in the present. (v25)
You can not satisfy the longings of the lazy. (v26)
The Lord hates the sacrifice of the wicked, especially if they bring it with a wicked heart and intent. (v27)
“A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.” (v28)
The wicked hide behind false bravado; but the upright are thoughtful and careful about their way. (v29)
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” (v30)
We can prepare and plan all we want, but the victory belongs to the Lord. (v31)
Dear Father of Wisdom,
Please prepare me to be a wise and good wife. Lord, may I be a jewel to my husband, and not quarrelsome and contentious. I want to learn Your ways. I want to be master of my tongue instead of ruled by eat. May Your words of wisdom seep deep into my bones that I may be counted among the righteous. Amen
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2021&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 21
The Lord controls the ways of kings and nations. (v1)
“A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (v2)
“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” The Lord doesn’t want rote obedience, He wants us to do what is right and just and good. (v3)
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart – the unplowed field of the wicked – produce sin.” The wicked do not till the earth of the heart. (v4)
Diligence leads to success while impatience and hastiness lead to poverty. (v5)
Ill-gotten gains disappear like the wind. (v6)
“The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.” (v7)
If you behave in a devious manner, you are likely guilty, while the innocent are known by the upright ways. (v8)
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” Spouses have such a large impact. To have a spouse that likes to fight is to live in an unhappy home. It’s better to have nothing but a small patch of earth than to live with such a person. (v9)
“The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.” The hearts of the wicked feast on evil, they chase after it. Their hearts are hard with no room for mercy or compassion. (v10)
You can learn from other people’s mistakes and consequences; you don’t have to experience them yourself. (v11)
The righteous stand up against the wicked; they fight for justice. (v12)
“Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.” You reap what you sow. We see that principle over and over again in Scripture. (v13)
“A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies
great wrath.”(v14)
The righteous rejoice with justice, but it frightens the wicked; they wonder when it will be their turn. (v15)
Stay on the path of righteousness, straying from it leads to death. (v16)
If you are in love with pleasure, not wisdom, you will waste your wealth. (v17)
“The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright. (v18)
Again, it’s better to only have a patch of dirt than to live with a quarrelsome and nagging wife (or to be one). (v19)
The wise prepare for what is ahead. They think ahead. They plan. The poor gobble up what’s in front of them with no thought to the future. (v20)
“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. (v21)
“One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.” (v22)
Keep your mouths and tongues in check. It will save your life. (v23)
“The proud and arrogant person – ‘Mocker’ is his name – behaves with insolent fury.” (v24)
The things the lazy want will be the end of them; they do not prepare for the future or even support themselves in the present. (v25)
You can not satisfy the longings of the lazy. (v26)
The Lord hates the sacrifice of the wicked, especially if they bring it with a wicked heart and intent. (v27)
“A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.” (v28)
The wicked hide behind false bravado; but the upright are thoughtful and careful about their way. (v29)
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” (v30)
We can prepare and plan all we want, but the victory belongs to the Lord. (v31)
Dear Father of Wisdom,
Please prepare me to be a wise and good wife. Lord, may I be a jewel to my husband, and not quarrelsome and contentious. I want to learn Your ways. I want to be master of my tongue instead of ruled by eat. May Your words of wisdom seep deep into my bones that I may be counted among the righteous. Amen
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