Proverbs 13 - 15

Click HERE to read the passage.

Solomon's proverbs within these 3 chapters touch on SO MANY things, but we'll keep them to a few. It's really hard to narrow down which ones are the best, and of course the following passages that I like the most may not be the ones that really catch your eye or mean something to you. So, let me begin with some of the ones that jump out at me:

Right off the bat, I find a few that make me chuckle because they are SO TRUE!

Here's the first, "Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything." 

The Stupid Things We Say:
As I read this verse, my first thought was how often I've opened my mouth to only later roll my eyes and ask, "That's got to be one of the stupidest things I've ever said!" Can you remember a time or two when you've said things that other people have misconstrued and words that have actually hurt someone deeply? Have gone through the dissolving of a relationship because of the lack in refraining your tongue? Have you ever spoken words in haste that have caused you to lose a job, lose a spouse, exile a child, or destroy a long-time friendship? Solomon was right, we need to control our tongue...because in the end it could ruin everything!

The Stupid Things We Do:
The next verse I see in chapter 13 is "Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor."

Have you ever seen that? All to often, I've seen people who have lived paycheck to paycheck, live in large homes, and drive expensive cars only to eventually lose it all.  

I'm reminded of how Sam Walton - who built WalMart - was one of the richest men in the world, but drove an old pick up truck everyday to work, wore cheap suits, and never flaunted his wealth in any way. It's amazing how Solomon is right again.

Why Advice Is Important:
In the next few verses, Solomon tells us just how important it is to receive wise advice. He says in verse 13, "People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed."

If you want to succeed, finding the right advice is critical. It shortens the learning curve! In fact, to really shorten the learning curve, here's some additional advice Solomon gives: "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble."

I was asked to speak at a graduation ceremony at a high school one evening. I was only 22 years old. I had learned an important lesson early in my life, and it's exactly what Solomon is talking about here. If you hang around those who are older and wiser than you, you'll become the wisest person your age." In fact, that was the message I shared the night of that graduation ceremony.

Solomon even adds in the next chapter, "Stay away from fools,  for you won’t find knowledge on their lips." So, my question is, who is in your sphere of influence?  The wise are a fountain of wisdom, but the foolish don't offer any knowledge.

Are you a SIMPLETON?
As I write this devotional, our country is reeling from the aftermath of Covid-19 and riots over race relations in America. While all of this is going on, we can see the acts of many who I believe could fall into the category of what King Solomon refers to as "simpletons." He describes them as...

- They believe everything they're told and rush into judgement about issues.
- They plunge ahead in reckless abandonment of what's right, ethical, and moral.
- They are short-tempered, lack patience, and act out in foolish ways.

Jealousy is like Cancer!
Listen to what Solomon says, "A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones."

Jealousy eats away at a person at a deep level. In fact, professional counselors have said for years that jealousy can be an underlying reason for a decrease in one’s perceived self-worth, emotional instability, feelings of bitterness, the breaking of relationships, prolonged depression and extreme anxiety.  Remember, emotions are temporary but actions can be irrevocable.

If you find yourself in a jealous situation, take it up with God in prayer! Ask Him for help. Peace in your heart is better than any kind of medicine your doctor can provide. It's like Solomon said in Proverbs 17 - "A cheerful heart is good medicine,but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

And also in chapter 15 - "A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit."

Have you noticed how a person's countenance can tell others how they feel? 

I remember when I was the founding pastor of a church that was growing quickly and we were involved in buying up surrounding property. The pressures and demands of that alone is enough for any pastor to become exhausted. But, I was young and inexperienced so I continued with other things like - finishing up my Master's Degree, completing my first book, hosting a daily radio broadcast, and serving as the senior chaplain of our local police department.

Needless to say, my energy was sapping quickly.

I didn't notice just how emotionally and physically exhausted I was until I was asked to go to lunch with a friend of mine at a local Bible college. I parked the car, jumped out, and made my way up the long walk not knowing he was watching me the whole time. When I arrived at his office, his first words were, "Wow! You look like a guy that's carrying the weight of the world." My face told the whole story. I thought everything was fine, but it wasn't. I was totally exhausted and my face was telling the world.

A few months later, I found myself visiting our local hospital thinking I was having a heart attack. I literally thought I was going to die. I have to admit, while I did A LOT of righteous things, I'm not sure that ALL of them were the right things to do. I had more on my plate than I could handle.

Little did I know how my emotional and physical depletion was crushing my spirit, and in turn leading me to have a countenance of one under a great deal of stress. I've learned just how important a broken spirit or a broken emotional part of me can steal away the happiness God wants us all to enjoy.

There is so much more we can talk about, but we'll stop here for now.

What verses mean't something to you?