Humility Prevents the Fall

Proverbs 11:2-3:

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Like so much of our modern idioms, there is a Biblical source. Faith in ourselves will fail us. A person made righteous by Christ finds their strength in humility and freely admits it. That kind of honest integrity helps the wise produce wisdom to avoid the treachery of the miserable.

Honest Business

Proverbs 11:1:

1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.

The balance here is a scale for measuring. A rigged scale, one meant to swindle, is hated by God. Good business, on the other hand, is loved by God.  For someone who thinks a lot about business and virtue, I'm glad to see God delighting in honest business interactions.

The Wise Produce Wisdom

Proverbs 10:31-32:

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

We've heard that the wise desire wisdom. Here we see that the wise also produce it. They are able to determine what is right and apply it. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true.

Godly Steadiness

Proverbs 10:27-30:

27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
28 The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers.
30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

Religion can be seen as a refuge for the uncertain. But here we see that God is the only place where certainty can be found. His rich promises are our protective tower. Without it his followers would surely be destroyed. So perhaps the stereotype is true. Followers of God are unstable. But the hope of stability brings a uniquely Christian joy.

Bothersome Laziness

Proverbs 10:26:

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

The unique claim of Christianity is that it is not your work that gains you salvation, but that of Christ. However, that certainly doesn't free Christians from hard work. In verse we see that not only is hard work beneficial when appropriate, it helps those around us. When we don't work hard, we irritate everyone we come in contact with.

The Joke is on the Wicked

Proverbs 10:23-25:

23 Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
24 What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.

For those who don't submit to the authority of God, rebellion is amusing. Scripture is clear in its warnings, what they most fear will come true. The good news is that those who find true wisdom pleasurable with get what they most desire. No matter how large the storm, their foundation is firm. The same cannot be said for those outside the fold. Hopefully this bring both believers and non-believers closer to Him.