Wise Up: Proverbs 27
Proverbs 27 (NIV)
1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.
3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
8 Like a bird that flees its nest
is anyone who flees from home.
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
it will be taken as a curse.
15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping
of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
or grasping oil with the hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and whoever protects their master will be honored.
19 As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.
20 Death and Destruction are never satisfied,
and neither are human eyes.
21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but people are tested by their praise.
22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
grinding them like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove their folly from them.
23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
and to nourish your female servants.
2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.
Good reminder for me to keep pride in check just like the sermon a few weeks back from Esther.
That’s the one I chose.
A good reminder.
My thoughts today have been more like: there is no need for me to boast, our Father sees my good works done in his name. I just need to remember that. And if I should be so fortunate to hear someone speak kindly of me, I would indeed feel blessed.
I read this mornings chapter 27. I am looking forward to this study!
I have picked 27-1 to meditate on.
12 is good advise – look before you leap. Ever husband will enjoy 15-16!! ENJOY THE DAY!
2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips
5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
I’ll likely read the chapter a few more times throughout the day for more depth and clarity but in my first pass verses 2 & 5 jumped out at me. In my middle school and high school days I boasted constantly. I thought I was IT, and boy did I let everyone know it! I was labeled a… Well the softer way of putting it is conceited, arrogant and self centered. It wasn’t until my senior year that I realized I didn’t carry a positive name around campus. I asked a friend, who I trusted, “am I a jerk?!” He said very poignantly “Yes!” Let the growing pains begin! To make a long story short, It’s clear to see why these verses leaped off the page at me, I had first hand experience with both. Not only was I not allowing anyone other than myself to speak kindly or affirming of me I also sought and received an open rebuke from a friend. Today it is a reminder to not get so caught up in “my stuff” that I lose sight of those around me. I was all about me back then and I don’t want to fall back into old ways. Daily I ask myself “are you being Christ-like?” While open rebuke from a friend is important I also take this verse and look inward, meaning can I self-evaluate and rebuke myself? Those who know me well would agree that I do so daily. I am constantly challenging myself and asking myself can I do better, be better, reach deeper, love harder anger less, be more kind, more thoughtful, and so on. Some days it is tormenting and tiresome but other days its invigorating. I thank God for that fateful day when my friend was so honest, because it opened my eyes and has shaped my life. No longer am I blind to my faults, flaws and the turmoil, might be a little strong but you get the idea, I can cause, nor am I afraid to seek another person’s honest evaluation of me. Someone once told me God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle, he will never let our burdens outweigh our strength! To this day those words provide me with great comfort! If anything else screams at me in my later passes I’ll post again 🙂 until then be well Sunridgeians!
Thanks for being so honest Anthony! Good insight! It’s so hard to tell someone a hard truth, but this is encouraging to see that you took what your friend told you to heart. I hope I do the same when someone speaks truth to me!
Vs. 8. Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home.
Lord, let me rest with you a while in the nest of your glorious presence! Help me today to keep my focus on you. “When we lift our inward eyes upon God, we are sure to meet friendly eyes gazing back at us!” (Tozer)
Thank you, God that my heart can find a home in you!
Well said my friend.
Proverbs 27:12
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
So often we ignore our conscience or the Holy Spirit warning us when we see “danger” but continue on the wrong path in spite of the warning. We always “pay the penalty” as a result. We must learn to listen to what God is telling us if we want to avoid paying the penalty. Listening is a key component of wisdom.
Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
This is a reminder to me to not spend so much time making plans or being so focused on the next thing. I need to live in the present and enjoy it. I want to be careful not to miss what God has for me in the present because I am so concerned with the future.
Enjoy today!
Amen, my friend. Love, Nancy
Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Such Godly words. A wonderful reminder to be humble, kind and to think of others. Something I will share with my teenagers.
Prov. 1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Planned retirement, moved across country to warm weather, prepared to enjoy the fruits of years of saving for the future – An economic recession, an unfavorable diagnosis can turn those plans to frustration. I’ve learned and am learning to thank God for the moments, the hours, the sweetness of a smile and take those as the blessings of “retirement” and leave the future in the Creator’s hands.
I agree! I am learning to live in faith day by day and day to day remembering that God has good plans for us, and that He will never leave nor forsake us. God is so good and faithful !
As I read a whole chapter in Proverbs, I find my mind wandering as each of the verses do. One topic to the next. I’ve really only read Proverbs in few verse chunks. My mind wants to try to tie each verse together and find the common thread. And then I realize a few of these verses jump out to me and those are my verses for this morning. I love this. I love Scripture. I love God speaking to me individually. I love that He is also speaking to others individually, simultaneously.
Verse 19: “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart”.
This is my starting point in this challenge. I love this.
This is the verse that stuck out to me too. A good starting point and reminder.
I am going to meditate on Proverbs 11 to remind me that when others treat me harshly, The Lord will give me joy to answer accordingly.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
What a great reminder that as we work along side others, they all help us to improve, to mold and smooth who we are. And so it is in our church lives – it takes a lot of people working together to make our church what we want it to be, and by working closely with others, we gradually become who WE want to be as well.
Proverbs 27:21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but people are tested by their praise.
Who we are is revealed when we are praised by others. Do we receive praises from others humbly, redirecting the honor back to God or do we crave more attention and adulation?
Great point Bob.
“As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” Prov. 27:19. So what then, does my life reflect about my heart? A worthwhile question. What do I look at? My habits? Finances? Weight? Children? Spiritual disciplines? The cleanliness of my home? Job success? Whether my spouse is well-loved? I have both succeeded and failed in all these areas. Water does reflect, but it’s wavy. I know Who I want to reflect, however imperfectly. Lord, You search me, and You know me. Please guide me into all truth, transform my mind, and give me YOUR heart.
That verse jumped out at me too, friend!
Thank you Michelle, I needed reminding and your comment is a blessing.
Beautifully said, Michelle! Thanks!
Wow…there is ALOT to think about in that one chapter! Think I need to read it a couple more times.
19 As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart. I love verse 19, I want people to see from my life that I love the Lord! My best friend Patty lived a life that reflected her love of the Lord for years in front of me and was a huge reason why I became a born again believer. I wanted what she had. I pray that I am that person to someone that I don’t even know!
Truly, nearly every one of these verses jumped out at me in different ways (maybe not verse 14, as I don’t understand why that would be a curse)! I felt as if I could mediate on just one and come back to another tomorrow without moving to the next chapter! Perhaps it’s because I’ve been praying for wisdom? Here it is!
Uncertain which “one” to meditate on, I came back to this chapter several times today. I find two tugged most strongly at my heart.
V. 9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
I sent this verse to a friend with thanks for the perfect, convicting advice she gave me this morning.
And, v. 23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
Am I aware of the condition of my flock? God has entrusted me with three incredible children. Am I praying fervently for my them everyday? Do I recognize their unique, individual, God-given needs and make sure they are met? Do I know where there heart is today? Are they right with God? Are they headed in the right direction? Am I okay leaving the many fit the sake of one of needed? Am I shepherding them in how I love, lead, discipline, speak, act? Am I teaching them to follow ME, or am I leading them to the Cross that they would know which path to choose when they are on their own? Do I try to lead on my own, or am I following the Good Shepherd’s daily direction?
What about those I lead who are not my children, but still given to my care by God. Those who have reached out to me for help? Do I see their innermost needs, their heart and soul, as well as their tangible needs? Am I guiding them to Christ, a light in the darkness? Do I give them back to God and trust His care for them and pray for them diligently?
I’m left with much, still, to meditate on… Praying God moves in and through me throughout this study!
Thanks for the conviction Lisa.
Proverbs 27:11 (AMP) ~ My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me [as having failed in my parental duty].
Going through this pre-teen stage is not easy, but knowing that your child is making the right decisions when it matters is worth the rewards. Puts a smile upon a parents heart.
I read the chapter this morning and verse 19 caught my attention. I really didn’t meditate on it through the day due to other things that required my time and attention. Good things like grandchildren.
I am so grateful to God for His love, grace and mercy!
I hope that when my days are done here on earth my life is a reflection of a loving, kind and thankful heart.
23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
I have been given two awesome kids to love and guide. This verse reminds me to pray for them, to be alert, be wise, be aware and give them the attention, the time and the guidance they need to keep them safe. My family is my treasure, they are worth fighting for. They are worth the effort.
Oh, that is such a good way to look at this verse Shaye. I will have to highlight that one as well. Thank you for sharing.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day can bring.
This reminds me to live in the present and enjoy God’s grace❤️
I love this challenge!!
I was taken with verse 19. As water reflects the face so one’s life reflects the heart. I think when we watch how someone behaves and lives it will help us know who they really are. Actions not only words show the truth of who we are. I’ve been prone to believe things people say and not notice when there actions are completely opposite. It is a wisdom I need to learn.
1. Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
In past years I heard the expression, “God willing” and this verse reminds me that I must commit all my thoughts and actions to the Lord according to His desire for my life and not make decisions according to my will. In other words, check with Him first. Great reminder!
I’m just getting started in Proverbs as I had been involved in James but am enjoying it and being blessed.