Counseled to Take Counsel

Proverbs 13:13-15:

13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.

Taking counsel from trustworthy places is essential to life as a follower of God. Not only because it is commanded, but because it reaps the ultimate reward of escaping death and the practical reward of finding favor with your community.

Satisfaction of Hope Fulfilled

Proverbs 13:12:

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Unlike most of Proverbs, this isn't a command or suggestion, but more of a description of the reality of the human heart. Longing and disappointment can be a huge burden. But it's important to understand this verse in the context of the the last verse. Instant gratification goes as fast as it comes. So I don't think this verse means deferred hope is bad, just hard. The proof is in the second half. When the desire is fulfilled, it was worth the wait. Perhaps this is just an encouragement through hard times and a warning against unrealistic hope.

Get Rich Slowly

Proverbs 13:11:

11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

It's interesting when Biblical truths show up in popular culture and scientific research. Whether it's the sad result of Ted Williams' rise to fame or the likelihood of bankruptcy's after winning the lottery, money gained quickly can leave just as fast. For most people, financial security is more behavior than actual accounting. That's why a little bit gained over time trains us how to spend/save it.

Root of Conflict is Pride

Proverbs 13:10:

10 Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Proverbs talks so much about desiring wisdom, it's nice to see such a clear example of it. When conflict arises, it's an issue with pride. This is why understanding our own weakness and gaining humility is so important.

House Divided Cannot Stand

Proverbs 13:9:

9 The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

What a great metaphor for something Proverbs has been saying over and over (and over and over). The biggest loser in sin is the sinner. The life of the follower of God is like a lit house. The life of those whose life is separate from God is dark and deserted.

God's Backward Economy

Proverbs 13:7-8:

7 One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat.

More than most, I cherish the wealth that is possible for me as an American living in 2011. That's why this verse is so convicting. Appreciating hard work is one thing, but often I fall in the trap of relying on my wealth as my safety net. In God's economy, it is those that admit their poverty that are actually wealthy. It seems hard to believe, but the next verse clarifies it. For the rich man can be trapped by his wealth, where as a poor man knows all he has to stand on is God's grace.

Righteousness as a Tool and a Protector

Proverbs 13:5-6:

5 The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked.

Because to be righteous is to admit unrighteousness, there can be no self-deception. On the other hand, the wicked thrive on the deception of themselves and others. This passage hints at one of the mysteries of faith I've yet to fully understand. Righteousness is simultaneously manifested by our actions, our belief, and our acceptance of it as a free gift.

The Mouth as a Gate

Proverbs 13:2-4:

2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

The Bible often uses both the mouth and the lips as metaphors for what is taken in and given out by people. Here we see that those in rebellion from God have a taste for harming others and speaking rashly will bring you to ruin. It's not a lack of desire that condemns us, but a lack of correct desires. One way to know if what you desire is righteous, is it ever quenched?

Simple But Hard Lesson

Proverbs 13:1:

1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Submission to parental authority and the keeping of their teaching is clear throughout Proverbs. So is the desire to many to scoff at good counsel. The choice seems clear, we just need to be humble enough to accept it.

Where Righteousness Leads

Proverbs 12:28:

28 In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.

I've mentioned over and over again about the practical benefits of wisdom. Everything from a good meal to the praise of your community. But here we see that there are bigger stakes than our life on earth. It's is a afterlife or death question.

The Diligent Man Eats

Proverbs 12:27:

27 Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.

Even Benjamin Franklin, America's first wise man, has his ideas based on Biblical truths. "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise." Proverbs says it too, again and again. The lazy do not produce, so the lazy do not consume. To us that sounds like they get less TV's and cars. But to the original readers of this text, not consuming meant starvation. Whether in careers, relationships, or in the search for truth, hard work is important.

Inner Stress Solved by Outer Support

Proverbs 12:25-28:

25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Worry is like a disease that corrupts our common sense. Encouragement from a friend is the best medicine. I've mentioned the external benefits of wisdom in family before, but we see it's also true for neighbors. Choose your friends carefully, because the opposite is true as well.

Don't Read This Post at Work

Proverbs 12:24:

24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

We've already established that hard work pays off and being slack also gets what is deserved. That's from my usual ESV translation. The less academic Message translation says something slightly different.

Proverbs 12:24:

24 The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.

This implies that those who put forth the needed effort find their satisfaction in what they do. And those who avoid work will be a slave to it. Either way both translations praise work and its inherent rewards.

Don't Read This Post on Wisdom

Proverbs 12:23:

23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

You can't fool everyone every time. If you have practical wisdom others will recognize it. If you are simply talking to be heard, you will be heard and exposed. Perhaps knowledge is like a bank account. If you send it out you have less. If you store it up it will increase and seep out into the world as investments. Is this a call for me to end this blog? What about blogging in general?

The Truth Doesn't Hurt, Lies Do

Proverbs 12:17-22:

17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.
21 No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Obviously, the truth makes things more clear and lies do the opposite. But because our words matter, what is said can either bring pain or healing to others. The good news is that truth has more staying power than lies. Sometimes it may not seem that way, but in the long run I think it is true. Part of the reason is the inherent value is truth over falsehood. Another reason is that honest/positive speech gives power and peace to the speaker. Deceit brings it's own trouble. There is a natural cause and effect is created by God's description of truth as delight and lies as an abomination. There is a gravity in what we say, not only in it's importance, but also in the natural pull it has.

Let it Go

Proverbs 12:16:

16 Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.

I'm coming to find that anger is the easiest emotion. It's clear. It's perceived as powerful. And it requires no vulnerability. For those same reasons, I'm also coming to believe that anger is overused. Not that we should avoid anger all together, but we should know that it is our default for too many situations. Here we are told that the prudent or wise ignore insult instead of letting it get to them. This could be people the insult was an accident and we are pushing for peace. It could also be a recognition that God determines our worth, not man. Either way, it's foolish to have a short fuse.

The Wise Listen to Wisdom

Proverbs 12:15:

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Although Proverbs is a book about Wisdom, it talks a lot about "the fool". Sometimes it's easier to understand what something is not, than what it actually is. The righteous admit their own unrighteousness, they are also willing to heed suggestions from reliable sources. This is a good measure of wisdom for politicians. Often our biggest enemy is our mind, which does not always notice it's flaws. A trustworthy community can be the best form of checks and balances.

Positives of Positive Speech

Proverbs 12:13-14:

13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.

Gossiping with a friend only reminds that friend you're not trustworthy. Words can hurt. This is yet another example of how sin not only hurts other people, but also ourselves. Like a hard days work, only uplifting words are their own reward.

Consumption Requires Production

Proverbs 12:11-12:

11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
12 Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

The height of a tree doesn't always imply the strength of a tree. It's the roots that ensure it gets enough water and withstands large storms. In the same way, hard work, even if it's not noticed, will produce what is needed. If you spend your time chasing every whim, what you produce will not last. It's not just about effort, it's about effort towards the right thing.