Wise Up: Proverbs 12
Proverbs 12 (NIV)
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid.
2 Good people obtain favor from the Lord,
but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.
3 No one can be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
5 The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8 A person is praised according to their prudence,
and one with a warped mind is despised.
9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous endures.
13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,
and so the innocent escape trouble.
14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
and the work of their hands brings them reward.
15 The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
16 Fools show their annoyance at once,
but the prudent overlook an insult.
17 An honest witness tells the truth,
but a false witness tells lies.
18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.
21 No harm overtakes the righteous,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
22 The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
24 Diligent hands will rule,
but laziness ends in forced labor.
25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.
26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The lazy do not roast any game,
but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
28 In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality.
15 The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
I memorized this verse while in college. The wisdom found in it has served me well ever since. It gets at my own tendency to think I’m right, so right that any advice telling me that I might not be right – is rejected. The words of this verse are like a cold splash in the face reminding me to LISTEN. I’d rather talk, defend, debate, reject. Listening becomes much easier for me when my goal is to be wise – not right. Sometimes listening confirms I’m on the right path, sometimes listening tells me I need to make adjustments, or totally change my direction. It’s always worth listening. God help me to listen well.
I could and should heed this advice. I too often think I am right and do not listen to people offering sound biblical correct advice. Too often I am the fool following the bigger fool. I am so glad we are going through Proverbs, the book of wisdom.
The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
Proverbs 12:15
A few notes to myself:
1. I am never so foolish as when I am too wise to seek and listen to good advice.
2. A great danger of pride is rejecting good counsel because it conflicts with my desires.
3. The advice of men is not always sound. Therefore, a wise test of all advice is to weigh it against the truth of scripture.
4. I am following the path of the fool when I see the need for wisdom in others but not in myself.
I don’t want to be a decay in his bones. : ( That is quite descriptive and something to take to heart.
Verse 16: Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
This verse definitely hits home for me. At times it take every once of discipline I can muster not to allow myself to become consumed by things, people, situations that annoy me. However, it’s amazing during those times that I stop and take a breath and pray that my soul is uplifted, and the ill feeling dissipate. I guess the key here is to be proactive vice reactive, and always pray for humility and patience before no reaches the boiling point! A state of mind….
12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge but whoever hares correction is stupid.
I used to believe that discipline from God meant punishment. I’m so glad to be made aware that His discipline is because He loves us and want to direct us out of things that are hurtful. Oh what an amazingly wonderful God, Abba we have!
12:23. The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves but a fool blurts out folly.
Oh Lord, be a watch over my lips, help me to speak only what is fitting.
Verse 1 of this chapter was the one that stood out to me. As humans living in a sinful world we are frequently making mistakes or doing something foolish. It is through discipline that most people seem to learn the most. Most people have to always learn the hard way and through discipline correctness is learned and foolishness is avoided in the future.
Proverbs 12:16
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
This is a good reminder to not be easily offended. There are so many things that I can just let go of. I don’t have to be offended or annoyed by everything. This goes hand in hand with vs. 20b- those who promote peace have joy. I want to be someone who promotes peace, not someone who is always offended or annoyed. If I promote and pursue peace then I will find joy.
Happy Tuesday Church!
v.18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise bring healing.
My choice of words will either be hurtful (pierce like a sword) or will bring healing (we all need more of that these days). Lord, please help me to be wise & not reckless with my words today.
Apparently I’m a day behind! Don’t take offense!
Proverbs 12:16 Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
A few years ago after some family members intentionally offended, God challenged me to practice not taking offense. Just don’t take it. I quickly became aware of how often I was looking for offense, wondering if someone’s words or actions were meant to hurt me, tear me down, or dismiss me. Once I decided to refuse to be offended a couple of things happened. I was happier and much more secure. I learned to trust God more to be my defender and defense should I actually need it. At first it felt like a loss, but it didn’t take long before I saw what God wanted to give me instead. I learned that very rarely are people trying to offend me, and that most weren’t thinking of me at all. In exchange for this small discipline God gave me wisdom and insight into other people’s hurt, pain and insecurities. He gave me compassion and understanding and the ability to bring reconciliation. All I had to do was get myself out of the way. It’s an incredibly freeing and profitable exchange. I highly recommend it.
18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Father, please make my mouth an instrument of Your glory!