The writer of this proverb repeats his admonition to his son to “be wise and learn good sense.” He charges him to remember the advice and act upon it. Perhaps the father is imagining those times when his son will face challenges in his life and be tempted to follow a path that is not wise.
Read More wisdomA lot of things seem to come in three’s. My favourite series of books is a threesome. When things break down in our home it always seems that three things go all at the same time. I can’t seem to sneeze only once or twice. It’s a proven fact that our minds are tuned to remember things that are grouped in triplicate.
Read More wisdom, listen, rememberIn these verses the father warns his son about falling into the web of an immoral person. He describes one whose words may be “as sweet as honey and as smooth as olive oil,” but whose character is ruined by sin. He warns that associating with such people will only lead to “bitter poison and pain.”
Read More wisdom, wordsI confess that there are days I chose to pick up my spy novel rather than sit and read my Bible. Surely there is someone who shares my guilt! Clearly wisdom and understanding of any real value is pretty scarce in that kind of morning reading! Yet in this passage we are challenged to embrace wisdom and understanding as we would a dear sister and or friend.
Read More wisdom, parentingThere is a saying, “Eat dessert when it’s worth the calories!” Wisdom is just like that decadent dessert, only it’s always worth it.
It is important to know the anatomy of wisdom; this passage of Scripture lays it out for us. We are told what it looks like and what it doesn’t. If the words coming out of our mouth ring of arrogance or boasting, wisdom is absent.
Read More wisdom, relationships, reputationWhen purchasing a house, you need to go to the basement and look at the foundation. This is especially true when houses are old. I have seen more than one basement which was crumbling. Such a house should probably not be purchased.
The absence of wisdom in our life is like those crumbling basements.
Read More wisdom, obedience, foundationYears ago my husband learned to wind surf. The instructor spoke for twenty minutes. Most of the people that surrounded the instructor had no patience to listen. They wanted to get out there and just do it. My husband is the patient sort. He listened, then went out and sailed like an expert. I watched as the others fell constantly off their boards into the lake.
Read More wisdom, obedience, listeningConsider the implications of verse 15: “It’s a dangerous thing to guarantee payment for someone’s debts. Don’t do it.”
Guaranteeing payment would include practices such as co-signing a loan for someone else. If the person defaults on the loan, you are responsible for paying it off. It’s risky business.
Read More wisdom, risk
When people are acting destructively, it is sometimes imperative we acknowledge their behavior by calling a spade a spade. However, we live in an ever-increasing contentious, politically correct culture which vacillates between feeling nervous about offending someone to out-and-out name calling.
Read More wisdom, calling people out, Jesus' teachings