“Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God’s holiness and sovereignty… acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours” (J. I. Packer).
The wise nourish others with their speech and seek genuine relationships with the poor. To do this, we need God’s perspective.
The words of a person with sound wisdom and understanding speech bring nourishment like deep waters and a bubbling brook. Dishonor and reproach lead a person to separate himself, reveal his own mind, being partial to the wicked and rejecting righteous judgments. In contrast to nourishing words, his words bring strife, blows, ruin and ensnare others through gossip (Prov. 18:1-8). The wise nourish others through their words, but the wicked ruins others through gossip and revealing their own mind.
The lazy or prideful person reaps destruction, thinking that his wealth is security. The righteous or humble person reaps honor and runs to safety in God. He listens before he answers and acquires knowledge by considering both sides of an argument. He opens doors to great men through gifts. Knowing that death and life are in the power of the tongue, he speaks carefully without offense (Prov. 18:9-21). The wise speak carefully and find their security in God instead of wealth.
The righteous or humble person finds favor from the Lord through his wife. He prays fervently because His closest friend is the Lord (Prov. 18:22-24). The humble develops strong relationships with God and his or her spouse.
A person with integrity refuses perverse speech. Their insight and wisdom prevent sin. A fool rages against the Lord and his wealth only brings superficial friendships. Lies lead to certain punishment. A generous man has many friends, but people avoid and hate the poor (Prov. 19:1-7). A generous man with integrity seeks genuine relationships with the poor.
A wise person loves his soul and finds good. False witnesses and liars receive punishment and perish as a result. Luxury and ruling over princes are not fitting for fools. Discretion makes people slow to anger as they overlook a transgression (Prov. 19:8-11). A wise person loves his soul by finding good, being slow to anger and overlooking a transgression.
The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion but favor like dew on the grass. A foolish son is destruction to his father, but house and wealth are inheritance from fathers. Contentions of a wife are a constant dripping, but a prudent wife is from the Lord (Prov. 19:12-14). Blessings from God include a prudent wife, inheritance from fathers and favor of a king.
Idleness creates deep sleep, hunger and even death because of carelessness. He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul. By being gracious to the poor, you lend to the Lord who repays any good deed. Discipline your son and don’t desire his death. You have to rescue an angry man repeatedly. Wisdom comes as you listen to counsel and accept discipline. Man plans his way, but God’s counsel stands. Kindness is desirable and the fear of the Lord leads to life so you are untouched by evil (Prov. 19:15-23). Listen to counsel, keep the commandment and be kind so you can live without evil.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish without bringing it back to his mouth. Strike a scoffer and the naive become shrewd. Reprove someone with understanding and he will discern knowledge. You stray from knowledge by not listening to discipline. Rods are prepared for scoffers and blows for backs of fools (Prov. 19:24-29). Reprove those with understanding so they can discern knowledge, but strike scoffers.
Have you rejected the world’s perspectives on wealth?
Are you seeking to nourish others through your words?
Are you seeking genuine relationships with the poor to increase their opportunities for advancement?
Do you listen to counsel to gain more understanding?
Do you reprove others so they can gain discernment?
