Proverbs 19 - 21

 Click HERE to read the passage.

Like the past few chapters we've read, there are so many great proverbs! However, I've made a list of the ones that REALLY strike out at me. Here they are...

1) The dangers of being impulsive!  -   19:2 - "Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes."  How many times have we made mistakes by being too impulsive? Fortunately for me I have one of those personalities that tends to be much slower in decision making. I sometimes get caught up in overthinking a situation. But, I have been impulsive on numerous occasions where I wished I would have waited, prayed about it, weighed the options, and then acted. 

Do you know of someone who has a tendency to act impulsively? They have knee-jerk reactions to purchases, conversation, business decisions, and the list just goes on. Solomon is telling us that we need to act with "knowledge" before we make a decision.

2)  Blaming God when things go wrong!  - 19:3 - "People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord."  It never ceases to amaze me how often God gets blame for people's stupidity! 

Case in point - I was at the funeral of a middle-aged man who drank himself to death.  He was an alcoholic and developed liver disease and died much too young. At the funeral, I could overhear someone say, "How could God allow him to die at such a young age?"  I thought, "Really!?" The man did it to himself, not God!  Have you ever blamed God for something YOU did that was stupid?

3) Money brings sketchy friends! - 19:4 - "Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away." Having money can buy you a beautiful wife, many friends, and all kinds of connections. For those who have it, watch out!  Once you run out of it, you'll find out exactly who your friends really are!

4)  Common sense makes you aware of eternal things!  - 19:8   In this passage, Solomon says you "love your soul" if you have common sense. Why?  Because you care about "where" your soul is going after you die!  If you truly have common sense, then you know you'll one day die. So then, the question remains, "Are you prepared for that?"  The lack of common sense will cause you to avoid the question! Do you have common sense?

5) God repays those who help the poor!  19:17  -  It's never a waste of good money to give to those in need. Why?  Because it touches the heart of God!  This verse promises us that God notices our giving and that He'll repay that which we've so generously given.  Doesn't that sound good?  Who will you help today?

6) God is always searching your heart!  20:27  God is always searching our hearts. In 21:2, it says, "but the Lord weighs the heart."  When God searches your innermost being, what does He see?  Does He see a life of integrity, honesty, Godliness, righteousness, love, unity, peace, and faith in Him?  Since He's searching your heart, it's always a good idea to be taking a self-inventory of where your heart is today in it's relationship with God!

7) God is sovereign, even when we have bad leaders!  21:2 - "The king's heart is a stream of water ini the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will."  During this past presidential election (2020), the United States has never been more divided (or at least not since the Civil War). People in both major political parties were nervously rubbing their hands fretting over who would win the election. Many were prophesying a doomsday event if the opposing party won.  Well, for the Christian, our faith is NOT in our leaders, it's in God!  And God tells us to pray for our "leaders and all those who are in authority that we might lead a quiet and peaceful life."  We, as believers, don't worry because we have God. We place our trust in Him!

While there is still so much more we can discuss, at least these 7 thoughts (or proverbs) can keep you busy with reflection.  What verses stood out to you?