FBC Daily Devotions

Today’s proverb is not kind to the foolish and lazy! But the verses that stand out to me are the ones regarding gossip in vv. 20, 22. Want to diffuse a quarrel? Get rid of gossip. Heresay – especially negative hearsay – begins and fuels many arguments. There is just something about gossip that has an irresistible quality to it. Gossip isn’t just something we “allow” into our lives; let’s face it, gossip is something we “take” into our lives. It is so often sought after. But it is a terrible thing, never good, always putting someone down in order to raise us up. If we participate in gossip, this proverb tells us that it will work down deep and poison our hearts and minds. So let’s remember to avoid gossip at all costs because when we do, we are protecting ourselves and our relationships from a deadly poison.

Proverbs 26

 ¹ Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
       honor is not fitting for a fool.

 ² Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
       an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

 ³ A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey,
       and a rod for the backs of fools!

 ⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
       or you will be like him yourself.

 ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,
       or he will be wise in his own eyes.

 ⁶ Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence
       is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

 ⁷ Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp
       is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

 ⁸ Like tying a stone in a sling
       is the giving of honor to a fool.

 ⁹ Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
       is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

 ¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds at random
       is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.

 ¹¹ As a dog returns to its vomit,
       so a fool repeats his folly.

 ¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
       There is more hope for a fool than for him.

 ¹³ The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road,
       a fierce lion roaming the streets!”

 ¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
       so a sluggard turns on his bed.

 ¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
       he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

 ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
       than seven men who answer discreetly.

 ¹⁷ Like one who seizes a dog by the ears
       is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

 ¹⁸ Like a madman shooting
       firebrands or deadly arrows

 ¹⁹ is a man who deceives his neighbor
       and says, “I was only joking!”

 ²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
       without gossip a quarrel dies down.

 ²¹ As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
       so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

 ²² The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
       they go down to a man’s inmost parts.

 ²³ Like a coating of glaze over earthenware
       are fervent lips with an evil heart.

 ²⁴ A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
       but in his heart he harbors deceit.

 ²⁵ Though his speech is charming, do not believe him,
       for seven abominations fill his heart.

 ²⁶ His malice may be concealed by deception,
       but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

 ²⁷ If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;
       if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.

 ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
       and a flattering mouth works ruin.

I thought I’d share a story while it was still fresh in my mind. Last weekend Lyanne and I were sitting in a Starbucks in Seattle. Ly was talking with another teacher while I was working on some things for Sunday. Afterwards, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant, a thoroughly enjoyable morning/afternoon. But as we drove away, there pinned to the windshield under the wiper was a potential downer. Could it be an advertisement? I hoped so. Unfortunately, it was what I dreaded — a ticket. A ticket for something like a incorrect license plate display with the added information: current tabs not displayed. Now, I know I renewed those tabs last October. In fact, I was proud of the fact that I did it before the actual expiration date! But then, where were they? Did I put them on the front license plate by mistake? Nope.

A mad search through the glove compartment yielded only last year’s registration, which meant those pesky little tabs and registration slip were hiding somewhere. I looked under the seats (found an old coupon), but no tabs. And who knows where they might be at home among the mass of junk mail accumulating in our under-construction house. Did I actually get them? Was I fooling myself into believing I had actually renewed the tabs? I looked through the checkbook — aha — indeed, there it was, the carbon copy of the check to the DOL dated last October. I searched through the house, but to no avail. Where were they?

By now I had resigned myself to simply going down and paying for another set of tabs. Heading over to the licensing place down the street, I thought, “I should check my backpack that’s at church first.” So i postponed buying the new tabs, and headed to church. But before I looked through the backpack, i decided to look through my computer bag first. All sorts of old papers and miscellaneous stuff, and… my tabs. I was overjoyed!

Now what’s the point of this long story? It’s like this. I renewed my tabs a long time ago, but I never put them on the car. It was raining outside; it was cold. I’m sure I thought I would put them on when the conditions were better. I must have put the tabs in my bag, and forgot them ever since. What is ironic and disappointing is the fact that when my ticket was being written, I was just across the street, the tabs securely in my bag, but of absolutely no use there. So close, and yet so far! So it can be with the Scriptures. We can have them in our heads, but tucked away for a more convenient time to put into practice – when it’s not rainy or cold or inconvenient. If there’s something I’m learning from the Proverbs, it is that putting off the practice of God’s Word can have grave consequences. Like getting a ticket for not applying my tabs, a person will face grave consequences for not applying God’s Word.

So as you read through the proverbs, don’t forget the all important task of applying them to your life. They are after all, more than words.

V. 15 caught my eye today. I am reminded that impatience and a harsh tone can never accomplish what patience and gentleness can. Lord, give me a paitent heart and mind and the tongue of angels.

Proverbs 25

More Proverbs of Solomon

 ¹ These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

 ² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
       to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

 ³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
       so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

 ⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
       and out comes material for the silversmith;

 ⁵ remove the wicked from the king’s presence,
       and his throne will be established through righteousness.

 ⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
       and do not claim a place among great men;

 ⁷ it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
       than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.
       What you have seen with your eyes

 ⁸ do not bring hastily to court,
       for what will you do in the end
       if your neighbor puts you to shame?

 ⁹ If you argue your case with a neighbor,
       do not betray another man’s confidence,

 ¹⁰ or he who hears it may shame you
       and you will never lose your bad reputation.

 ¹¹ A word aptly spoken
       is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

 ¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
       is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

 ¹³ Like the coolness of snow at harvest time
       is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;
       he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

 ¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain
       is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

 ¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
       and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

 ¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough—
       too much of it, and you will vomit.

 ¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
       too much of you, and he will hate you.

 ¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
       is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

 ¹⁹ Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
       is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.

 ²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
       or like vinegar poured on soda,
       is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

 ²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
       if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

 ²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
       and the LORD will reward you.

 ²³ As a north wind brings rain,
       so a sly tongue brings angry looks.

 ²⁴ Better to live on a corner of the roof
       than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

 ²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
       is good news from a distant land.

 ²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
       is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

 ²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,
       nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.

 ²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken down
       is a man who lacks self-control.

Proverbs 23

 ¹ When you sit to dine with a ruler,
       note well what is before you,

 ² and put a knife to your throat
       if you are given to gluttony.

 ³ Do not crave his delicacies,
       for that food is deceptive.

 ⁴ Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
       have the wisdom to show restraint.

 ⁵ Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
       for they will surely sprout wings
       and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

 ⁶ Do not eat the food of a stingy man,
       do not crave his delicacies;

 ⁷ for he is the kind of man
       who is always thinking about the cost.
       “Eat and drink,” he says to you,
       but his heart is not with you.

 ⁸ You will vomit up the little you have eaten
       and will have wasted your compliments.

 ⁹ Do not speak to a fool,
       for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.

 ¹⁰ Do not move an ancient boundary stone
       or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

 ¹¹ for their Defender is strong;
       he will take up their case against you.

 ¹² Apply your heart to instruction
       and your ears to words of knowledge.

 ¹³ Do not withhold discipline from a child;
       if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.

 ¹⁴ Punish him with the rod
       and save his soul from death.

 ¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,
       then my heart will be glad;

 ¹⁶ my inmost being will rejoice
       when your lips speak what is right.

 ¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy sinners,
       but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

 ¹⁸ There is surely a future hope for you,
       and your hope will not be cut off.

 ¹⁹ Listen, my son, and be wise,
       and keep your heart on the right path.

 ²⁰ Do not join those who drink too much wine
       or gorge themselves on meat,

 ²¹ for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
       and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

 ²² Listen to your father, who gave you life,
       and do not despise your mother when she is old.

 ²³ Buy the truth and do not sell it;
       get wisdom, discipline and understanding.

 ²⁴ The father of a righteous man has great joy;
       he who has a wise son delights in him.

 ²⁵ May your father and mother be glad;
       may she who gave you birth rejoice!

 ²⁶ My son, give me your heart
       and let your eyes keep to my ways,

 ²⁷ for a prostitute is a deep pit
       and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

 ²⁸ Like a bandit she lies in wait,
       and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

 ²⁹ Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
       Who has strife? Who has complaints?
       Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

 ³⁰ Those who linger over wine,
       who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

 ³¹ Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
       when it sparkles in the cup,
       when it goes down smoothly!

 ³² In the end it bites like a snake
       and poisons like a viper.

 ³³ Your eyes will see strange sights
       and your mind imagine confusing things.

 ³⁴ You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
       lying on top of the rigging.

 ³⁵ “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
       They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
       When will I wake up
       so I can find another drink?”

Recently, I was invited to join a facebook group called “Proverbs”. It was started by Yohei Sakata, and several people have already joined and started discussing the daily proverbs. If you’re on facebook, consider getting in on the discussion. It’s encouraging and uplifting, and a great way to share the blessings of God with one another. Here is the link to the group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=241951168309