Proverbs
20 – 21
Verse 20:1 will start another rapid fire review of some valuable
lessons:
Too much wine begins
to mock you,
too much strong drink leads to noisy
fights,
and whoever is misled by either is not wise.
Never does the Bible say don’t drink, but rather don’t drink
in excess. This is why, they tend to deceive you into thinking you’re actually
able to do things. “I’m invincible” is a common mindset of the inebriated with
a “watch this” as ones final words.
Verse 20:4 points out the importance of putting work first:
A slacker procrastinates when it is
time to plow;
so when it’s time for harvest, there are no crops in
the field.
Today our work ethic does not directly affect our crop
yield, but it does our ability to purchase food. Food stamps help feeding those
in need, but helps promote slackers at the same time. Verse 20:13 reemphasizes
the importance of a good work ethic:
Do not fall in love with sleep, or
you will awake a poor person.
Stay awake, get to work, and you will
have more than enough food.
Got to point out verse 20:29 as we all age:
The best asset of youth is the
strength of the body,
but the beauty of age is gray hair.
Although since my “incident” I have been eating better and
getting in shape. Maybe I can regain my “best asset” while keeping my “beauty
of age”? This is the age ole “fountain of youth” quest, clinging to something
once lost.
Verse 21:2 is actually a critical one to ponder:
Everyone may think his own
way of living is right,
but the Eternal examines our hearts.
This is the source of most conflicts since ones opinions
feed their pride and often lead to destruction. We have to have two critical
attitudes; one is listening to others and have a fluid mindset. There are some
things it’s important not to drift from but how often are arguments started
because one believes the other is thinking something that is far from their
minds? Read Crucial Conversations for a good understanding of how we view the
world.
Verse 21:5 talks about planning:
A well-thought-out plan will work
to your advantage,
but hasty actions will cost you dearly.
This is important for one to consider. How many times have
we started out doing something in a rush only to have to do it over and over
again?
Verse 21:17 talks about going overboard:
Those who live to party, who
pursue pleasure, will end up penniless;
those who enjoy lots of wine and rich
food will never have money.
Unfortunately the culture in today’s society is party first
and have fun today. We have lost the idea that our hard work upfront in the
spring leads to food for the winter since we can just scrape by on the dollar
menu at Wendy’s year round.
Verse 21:23 is emphasized by James in the NT:
Guard your words, mind what you
say,
and you will keep yourself out of trouble.
Lord knows this was a problem of mine in the past since I
would often speak my mind without thinking of the consequences. We need to
think before speaking and throttle our words since often we speak without true
understanding of the situation. These may be extreme in some cases where you
can crush someone’s feelings without knowing their story. Again read Crucial
Conversations to gain some awesome tools.