Hold on Tightly to God

Proverbs 14:14:

14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

We are never stagnant. Christians are always growing closer or farther from an understanding of God. I would compare it to the stock market. When you zoom in on each day there is either growth or loss. But when you look back over the years, you can see how God has pursued and grown you. The trend is usually towards sanctification. But that doesn't mean we should be weary because backsliding, that is slipping, because it has consequences.

Security of Tent Cities

Proverbs 14:11-13:

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.

Those opposed God build large, supposedly safe houses. Yet, God's people are actually safer in their simple tents. Powerful words when there are thousands of people living in tents right now. We should be humbled that it is God who protects or destroys our home. Being aware of which path we are on is extremely important, but remember, worldly happiness is not always correlated with Godly satisfaction.

Limits of Relationships

Proverbs 14:10:

10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.

There have been many examples throughout Proverbs of how important interpersonal interactions are. From how we should take advice to how sons effect fathers. But this verse shows that part of human existence is solitary. There are some parts of our life, both good and bad, that others can't fully understand. The apostle Paul puts it like this in 1 Corinthians 2:11:

11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Our complexity is one of God-like qualities. Knowing that can help us interact with others. Even if you don't fully understand another's bitterness or joy, you can rest assured it is real for them.