Wisdom for the Day - Standing Strong

Send us Fan Mail James Knows  19  Evil people will bow before good people;      the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly. 20  The poor are despised even by their neighbors,      while the rich have many “friends.” Verse 19 This is not our experience today. Solomon is describing what should happen. Really, a good man is important. He is even more important than a famous person, or a king. Peop...

Send us Fan Mail Why So Angry? 17  Short-tempered people do foolish things,      and schemers are hated. 18  Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,      but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. Verse 17 Solomon contrasts two different types of people. The first person is quick. In a moment, he becomes very angry. He has a terrible temper. He does not think about his actions. He does evil thin...

Send us Fan Mail What I Said? 15  Only simpletons believe everything they’re told!      The prudent carefully consider their steps. 16  The wise are cautious and avoid danger;      fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence. Verse 15 Solomon compares a wise person and a simple person. Unlike a fool, a simple person does not hate God. You can teach a simple person. He can learn to do good things....

Send us Fan Mail Sad Clowns 13  Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,      but when the laughter ends, the grief remains. 14  Backsliders get what they deserve;      good people receive their reward. Verse 13 When we laugh, sometimes we are sad. Other people do not know this. They think that we are happy if we laugh. God knows our real feelings. He cares about us. Verse 14 Here, Solomon compares a g...

Send us Fan Mail  WHERE DO YOU LIVE?  11  The house of the wicked will be destroyed,      but the tent of the godly will flourish. 12  There is a path before each person that seems right,      but it ends in death. Verse 11 The wicked man might be rich. He might live in a wealthy house. The good man might be poor. He might only live in a poor tent. Other people might think that a wicked man is rea...

Send us Fan Mail If it Aint Joy? 9  Fools make fun of guilt,      but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation. 10  Each heart knows its own bitterness,      and no one else can fully share its joy. Verse 9 When someone becomes a Christian, he will receive a welcome from other Christians. See Luke 15. However, some people will laugh at a new Christian. Solomon calls these people, ‘fools’....

Send us Fan Mail Foolish Fools 7  Stay away from fools,      for you won’t find knowledge on their lips. 8  The prudent understand where they are going,      but fools deceive themselves. Verse 7 A fool is someone who hates God’s wisdom. You cannot learn from this man, because he himself has learned nothing from God. Verse 8 A sensible person is cautious. He uses his knowledge to make good plans....

Send us Fan Mail A Lie is a Lie 5  An honest witness does not lie;      a false witness breathes lies. 6  A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it,      but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding. Verse 5 You must make your choice. A person might say nice things. He might be very clever. Many people might want to hear his words. However, if his words are lies, then he cannot help us. A...

Send us Fan Mail Fools and Oxen  3  A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him,      but the words of the wise keep them safe. 4  Without oxen a stable stays clean,      but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. Verse 3 A fool’s pride makes him talk too much. His many words will lead him into trouble. A wise man speaks with care. His words will save him from many dangers. Verse 4 The wis...

Send us Fan Mail Funny Woman 1 A wise woman builds her home,      but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. 2  Those who follow the right path fear the Lord;      those who take the wrong path despise him. Verse 1 This is a little story that uses humor. We walk along the street and we see two women. Both women are working on their homes. The first woman is wise. She carefully builds he...

Send us Fan Mail  EIEIO 23  A poor person’s farm may produce much food,      but injustice sweeps it all away. 24  Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.      Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. 25  The godly eat to their hearts’ content,      but the belly of the wicked goes hungry. Verse 23 Evil people can destroy many good things. This is one reason...

Send us Fan Mail Sinners Wealth 21  Trouble chases sinners,      while blessings reward the righteous. 22  Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,      but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly. Verse 21 Trouble is like an enemy who follows an evil man. The enemy will catch the evil man and attack him. This means that an evil person will suffer his punishment. He cannot avoid it...

Send us Fan Mail What Dreams May Come  19  It is pleasant to see dreams come true,      but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them. 20  Walk with the wise and become wise;      associate with fools and get in trouble. Verse 19 When God gives good things to somebody, then that person is glad. The person is even happier if he has had to wait for these things. A fool is someone who refuses to...

Send us Fan Mail PaperBoy Blues 17  An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble,      but a reliable messenger brings healing. 18  If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace;      if you accept correction, you will be honored Verse 17 If we are Christians, then we carry a message from God to the people in the world. This message is very important. We must always tell the truth...

Send us Fan Mail Aint Got Good Sense 15  A person with good sense is respected;      a treacherous person is headed for destruction.[b] 16  Wise people think before they act;      fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness. Verse 15 We should listen to other people. We should try to help them with their problems. If we are wise, then people will appreciate this. People will ask for our advi...

Send us Fan Mail  Ask Me Tell Me 13  People who despise advice are asking for trouble;      those who respect a command will succeed. 14  The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;      those who accept it avoid the snares of death. Verse 13 People write books of instructions to help us. We should read and obey the instructions. Then, we shall be safer. A foolish person refuses to...

Send us Fan Mail Pyramid Scheme 11  Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;      wealth from hard work grows over time. 12  Hope deferred makes the heart sick,      but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Verse 11 An evil person does not spend his money wisely. Often he does not save it for the future. He wastes it. Perhaps he spends it on beer and wine. Perhaps he places bets. Per...

Send us Fan Mail  Light and Joy 9  The life of the godly is full of light and joy,      but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out. 10  Pride leads to conflict;      those who take advice are wise. Verse 9 Light is better than darkness. On a journey at night, the wise man carries a bright light. He is safe, because of his light. He knows the right way, because of his light. He will arrive hom...

Send us Fan Mail Better Off Dead 7  Some who are poor pretend to be rich;      others who are rich pretend to be poor. 8  The rich can pay a ransom for their lives,      but the poor won’t even get threatened. Verse 7 is similar to Proverbs 12:9. There is an interesting connection between verses 7 and 8. A man, who pretends to be wealthy, places himself in danger. Unlike a rich man, however, he ca...

Send us Fan Mail Wicked Lies 5  The godly hate lies;      the wicked cause shame and disgrace. 6  Godliness guards the path of the blameless,      but the evil are misled by sin. Verse 5 A good man hates lies, but an evil man loves to tell lies. This is why the evil man causes shame. Verse 6 We cannot make ourselves perfect. We must ask God to forgive us. He loves us. He even sent Jesus to suffer...

Send us Fan Mail Bite Your Tongue 3  Those who control their tongue will have a long life;      opening your mouth can ruin everything. 4  Lazy people want much but get little,      but those who work hard will prosper. Verse 3 Our words can place us in danger. Or our words can protect us. Our words can make evil plans. Or our words can encourage and help other people. We have a choice. Verse 4 Ev...

Send us Fan Mail Love the Whip 1  A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline;[a]      a mocker refuses to listen to correction. 2  Wise words will win you a good meal,      but treacherous people have an appetite for violence. Verse 1 When we teach people about God, some people will listen. Other people refuse to listen. This is not our fault. Some people are ready to hear us, but other people are...

Send us Fan Mail Lazy Hunters Don’t Eat 27  Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch,      but the diligent make use of everything they find. 28  The way of the godly leads to life;      that path does not lead to death. Verse 27 The lazy man wasted his food. A wise person would cook his food and enjoy it. A lazy person wastes his life. He achieves nothing, because he refuses to work. A wis...

Send us Fan Mail Don’t Worry Be Godly 25  Worry weighs a person down;      an encouraging word cheers a person up. 26  The godly give good advice to their friends;[a]      the wicked lead them astray. Verse 25 This verse expresses sympathy. A person who worries is sad. Life can be hard. People fear many things. As Christians, we should look after other people. We should speak words of kindness and...

Send us Fan Mail Humble Wisdom 23  The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge,      but fools broadcast their foolishness. 24  Work hard and become a leader;      be lazy and become a slave. Verse 23 A wise man is still wise, even if he does not speak. When Jesus was in court, he remained silent (Matthew 26:63). Isaiah wrote, ‘A sheep is silent before the farmer cuts its wool. So he (Jesus) rem...