LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 16 The subject of the book now begins to change. In earlier Chapter s, the main subject is the difference between wise actions and evil actions. The earlier proverbs (wise words) compare a good man with an evil man (Proverbs Chapter s 10 to 1... [ Continue Reading ]
We should ask God to help us to speak the right words. The ‘plans of our hearts’ are our thoughts and ideas. We do not know everything. God knows the things that we do not know. We need his help to say the right words. See Mark 13:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
Even an evil man thinks that he is right. He even persuades himself. Other people might believe him. But God knows the truth about that man.... [ Continue Reading ]
When we pray, we should give our plans to God. We ask God to bring about the best result. We cannot control our own plans. We do not even know what will happen tomorrow. See James 4:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
A man’s plan may succeed, or it may fail. God’s plans will always succeed. God can use a horse (Numbers 22:21-28). Or God can use a stone (Luke 3:8). Or God can even use a foreign king (Ezra 1:1). God can use evil people to punish other evil people. God used King Nebuchadnezzar to punish the nation... [ Continue Reading ]
A proud person refuses to listen to God or to other people. He has his own ideas. He thinks that he is better than everyone else. God will punish proud people. God wants us to be humble.... [ Continue Reading ]
God does not want to punish us. God loves us. We must trust in him. Jesus died to suffer the punishment for our evil deeds. God wants to forgive our evil actions. We respect God, so we should not do evil things. However, sometimes we still make mistakes. If we ask God, then he will forgive us, beca... [ Continue Reading ]
Our lives should please God. We should do the things that are right. We should respect God. God can cause our enemies to become our friends. This does not always happen immediately. First, we ourselves must become friends of God. God accepts us because Jesus died for us. See Ephesians 2:13-14 and J... [ Continue Reading ]
Most Christians are not wealthy. See 1 Corinthians 1:26. We may have few possessions. However, we should earn our money fairly. God helps the poor man who is honest. God will punish the rich man who is not honest.... [ Continue Reading ]
We all make plans for the future, but we cannot control everything. Events that we do not expect will happen. There will be problems. We might need to change our plans. We might not understand the reasons. In all these changing circumstances, God is directing us. God will show us where we should go... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon was a king. In verses 10-15, he explains how kings and other rulers behave. God has given authority to kings. Their decisions are important and affect many people. So a king must always be responsible. At the time of King Solomon, the king was also a judge (see 1 Kings 3:16-28). This is wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Honest attitudes are important to God. We must not cheat people. Everybody must respect other people’s possessions. Even a king must not cheat people.... [ Continue Reading ]
If a king is evil, his nation will suffer. A king should not behave in an evil way. A good king wants his people to do good things. He encourages the people to be honest. He makes fair laws. Then the people will respect the law and do right things. God will be pleased with the king and the people.... [ Continue Reading ]
If a servant is honest, then the king should reward him. The servant might bring bad news. His honest words might upset the king. But the king needs honest servants to speak wise words of advice. If the adviser is not honest, then he cannot help the king. Compare the advisers in 1 Kings 12:6-16.... [ Continue Reading ]
An angry king is very dangerous. Many people may suffer if the king is unhappy (Matthew 2:16). When the king is angry, his servants must call a wise man. The wise man will know what to say to the king. Then the king will make a wise decision, instead of an angry decision.... [ Continue Reading ]
The wise servant wants the king to be happy. The king should not be angry. Events should not upset the king. Then the king will make good decisions. He will care about his people. He will serve God and act fairly. V16 Learn to be wise! Wisdom is better than gold. Choose to be intelligent! Intellig... [ Continue Reading ]
Gold, silver and money are not really valuable. If we only want to earn money, then we are wasting our lives. Wisdom and knowledge are really valuable. Especially, we should learn how to respect God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Life is like a journey. The honest man is like a traveller who chooses the high road. It might be a difficult road, because a high road goes over mountains. However, the traveller chooses this road because it is safe. The honest man has a guard for his journey. God is his guard. God will protect yo... [ Continue Reading ]
To be proud is especially evil. The proud man thinks that he is better than anyone else. He thinks that he deserves every luxury. God does not approve of this. God wants people to be humble, so that they can learn wisdom. God will punish the proud person. A proud man will fall down with a crash. G... [ Continue Reading ]
A man who is rich and proud is selfish. He will want to keep his possessions to himself. Humble but poor people are much more likely to share what they have.... [ Continue Reading ]
A wise person obeys instructions. He learns more, and so he becomes even more wise. We must trust in God. People may trust many different things. They may trust in money, or governments. But the wise person trusts God, so God helps him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Another translation of the second line is, ‘Pleasant words persuade people.’ A wise person is sensible, because he is careful. He thinks about his actions, and obtains advice. People like to listen to pleasant words. They can learn from nice words. If we are careful, we can use pleasant words to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon does not only mean the life of our bodies. Rather, he means the life, or energy, of our spirits. Knowledge helps us to respect God. Our spirits are more important than our bodies, because our bodies will die. (See Luke 12:4-5.) However, if we trust in God, our spirits will continue to live,... [ Continue Reading ]
Another translation of the second line is, ‘So his words persuade people.’ A wise man’s words are honest. He does not think one thing, but say something else. He does not lie. People trust the words of a wise person, because they know him. They know that he speaks the truth. So he can persuade the... [ Continue Reading ]
Honey was a favourite food for Solomon. It has a beautiful smell and a good flavour. Solomon also used it as a medicine. Pleasant words are like honey. Both are good for the body. Both bring pleasure. Both can help you.... [ Continue Reading ]
In our lives, there are many dangers. People might trust in false religions. They might follow evil leaders. Or they might drink too much alcohol. There are many other dangers also. Like the road, these things might seem good. The truth is that they are dangerous. They are dangerous for our bodies... [ Continue Reading ]
People should not be lazy. See Proverbs 6:6-11. They should work to earn what they need. This is a natural way to behave. Our hunger reminds us that we should work. See 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10. V27 An evil man makes evil plans. His words are like fire. They burn and destroy. V28 An evil man starts... [ Continue Reading ]
This evil man makes evil plans. He is dangerous. It is even dangerous to listen to this man. If you listen to his words, they are like a fire. His plans will destroy you. Do not even go near him!... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is another evil man. This evil man gossips. He starts arguments. He will turn your friends into enemies. When this evil man has spoken, your best friend will hate you.... [ Continue Reading ]
A cruel man will try to make other people behave like him. He will try to frighten them with a loud voice. He will even use force. The cruel man’s neighbour should be very careful. He cannot trust the cruel man.... [ Continue Reading ]
This man hardly says anything. But he has an evil plan. See Proverbs 6:12-15. The movements of his face are signals. You might be able to recognise his character if you watch his face. When this man is ready, he will take action. Then everyone will suffer from his cruelty. V31 An old person’s grey... [ Continue Reading ]
This person is an old man, who respects God. The man’s grey hair looks like a crown. This old man deserves a real crown, because he is wise. We should respect God and do good things. Then, we too shall deserve honour, like the old man. This man is not like the man in verse 30. The man in verse 30... [ Continue Reading ]
The last man in this passage is a patient man. He is not angry. He does not fight. He achieves results, because he works slowly and carefully. He can achieve more than a man who wins a war. V33 Men think that things happen by chance. But God controls everything.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the Bible, people sometimes made decisions by lot (that is, by a game of chance). Jesus had 12 disciples (special students). One of these was Judas, who helped to arrest Jesus. Then Judas killed himself. Afterwards, the Christians decided to appoint a new disciple (a special student of Jesus). T... [ Continue Reading ]