Undeserved Acceptance

Proverbs 14:9:

9 Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.

As Proverbs has suggested before, one of the most important pieces of wisdom is the admission of sin. Humility sounds foolish if you don't understand your need of forgiveness. But nothing is better than feeling acceptance when you know you don't deserve it.

Pursue Good Influence

Proverbs 14:7-8:

7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

We know that fools loves company and that we should be weary of their influence, but the past reasoning has been because they are bad for you. Here, Proverbs suggests that they are simply not good for you. Whether it's health, wealth or morality, almost all the research I've read suggest that peer pressure, even for adults, matter most. The wise produce wisdom, the unwise deceive with a bad sales pitch.

Seeking Wisdom ≠ Accepting Wisdom

Proverbs 14:6:

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

There is a interesting reality of the wisdom of God. In some ways it is so simple a child can serve God. In other ways it is so complex the smartest man cannot comprehend it. It is simultaneously shallow and deep. As I said in the very first post on this blog, we are all to search for wisdom. However, there has been a recurring theme that it takes wisdom to desire wisdom and wisdom to listen to wisdom. There is a momentum that comes with Godliness (and ungodliness). It's clear that even though wisdom is offered to all, it is not truly sought out by all. For some, those that God has come alongside, it is easy, for others,who have resisted discipline, it is an impossible task.

Truth is Truth, Lies are Lies

Proverbs 14:5:

5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

There is a very straight forward distinction between someone who tells the truth and someone who lies. It's very convicting to see that the Bible leaves very little wiggle room between the two. Perhaps the question is this: When you are explaining, are you attempting to reveal what reality or obscure it somehow? If you're goal is not to completely bear an honest witness, then you're lying. Now, that's not to say obscuring the truth is always bad. 1 Samuel 16 gives an example of lying to protect the innocent. Another example from recent history is the hiding of Jews from Nazi Germany. That said, if you belief the righteous thing to do is reveal the truth, be sure not to muddle it for selfish gain.

Live for the Future

Proverbs 14:4:

4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

The power of investment discussed in Proverbs! Without an ox you cannot have any stores of crops. But with an ox you can keep an abundance of crops in your storage, or manger. It also seems like too much of a coincidence for manger to simply means a place to store food. God is ox who produces Jesus the crops so that we can take part. The lesson here is to live for the future. Invest financially for your earthly future and invest spiritually for your heavenly one.

Word for the Wise

Proverbs 14:3:

3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Your mouth can either be a tool for good or bad. Our words are the primary outlet of our intentions. I think there is a lot of wisdom to the quite person. Not sure what this means for my blogging.

Momentum In Either Direction

Proverbs 14:1-2:

1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.

A callback to the female personification of wisdom from before (which is also an important feminist comparison). So what are the actions that bring growth and not destruction? Being upright (honest) and having a healthy fear (respect) for God. You're either building up or tearing down, pick which you prefer.

Satisfaction

Proverbs 13:25:

25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

One of the biggest differences between short term happiness and long term happiness is satisfaction. Those who pursue God are satisfied. Those who make themselves God are not.