Proverbs 12: 25-26

How many times have you heard this verse, and how many times have you been a recipient of an encouraging word? There’s nothing like being heavy with worry and discouragement walking through the grocery store when you hear your cell phone chime. You look down to see a text, but not just any text, one that was meant for you at exactly that moment, a word of encouragement!

It’s true what King Solomon says in verse 25 and 26, I mean what a relief, especially when you start sobbing right there in the produce section. Now I’m not saying that this will always be the case, you know, tears strewn over the strawberries. However, the fact is, it was helpful and it came from a friend who loves God, speaks his truth, and gives wise counsel.

So now I encourage you to be a light in a dark world, speaking life and thoughtful things, you don’t know how and when God can use you. Maybe it’s the person you work with or the friend that lives down the street. It’s the little things and the good advice when all seems lost that can cheer someone up. Today pray and ask God how he can use you, and then don’t forget to thank him when he does.

Proverbs 12: 23-24

²³ The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness.

As a younger man I sought to be noticed, recognized, and seen as valuable. I tended to lean towards a great sense of embarrassment at not knowing something or seeming unintelligent. I found great pleasure in proving myself right and vanquishing anyone who would stand in the way of me being right. As I grew in my faith, I started to recognize that my value is far beyond what I could ever understand. After all God sent his Son to be a living sacrifice to atone for my sins. My hunger for his word grew and my willingness to “win at all costs” began to wane. I became more and more convicted by the truth that I could be right or I could do right. Simply put I finally understood if I am to live as a disciple of Christ then I must do right even if that means that I could no longer hold on to being right. Instead, I must be Christ like. That is to say humble, open, and vulnerable, instead of broadcasting my foolishness in an attempt to demonstrate my own righteousness. I must be a seeker of wisdom, understanding, and listen intentionally to God as he directs my life.

²⁴ Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

If we are to be Godly leaders we must sacrifice in service to others. As mentioned previously, we must seek to do right instead of just seeking to be right. Knowledge without the wisdom to apply it is folly. Next, we must seek first to understand then be understood. Many disagreements happen because we don’t understand and don’t seek clarity before becoming offended, casting judgment, or blame. Finally, we must listen with intent to others and to God. What is God saying to you today about his plans for your life? Are you calling on him and listening with intent or are your conversations with God one sided. Ultimately, to be a Godly leader we need to be less selfish and more selfless. Conversely, the lazy can and do become slaves. They become slaves to self glorification, dreams, and desires that are completely inward focused. When a person becomes a slave to their own desires and self glory they put themselves above the work of service to others. As a result they may miss out on the wonderful blessings God has for them and the opportunity to be a blessing in others lives.

In summary, I encourage you to consider four questions:

1. Is it better to be right or do right?
2. Is it better to be heard or to hear?
3. Is it better to be understood or to understand?
4. Based on your responses above do you seek to serve or be served?

Lord…I pray these words resonate and that your will be done, I pray for those who would see this, that they would know you today and forevermore. Thank you for sending your Son to redeem us Father. We are seekers of your wisdom. May we do right, listen intently and understand so that we may glorify your name.

Proverbs 12:21-22

“No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”

What am I more concerned about, being a delight to God or having an easier life? What guides my decision-making? Is it the desire to avoid trouble or the desire to pursue integrity? Both of those options sound like a good idea, but at the end of the day if I pursue safety prior to principle then I’ll never hold up the many jewels that the Lord desires to place on my crown. As we seek His will, we replicate His character. Therefore, we should be aiming for the righteousness that delights God prior to the protection that His sovereignty offers.

Priorities are a huge principle that the kingdom of God highlights on. As humans, we are subject to cause and effect. But sometimes things happen that we didn’t cause or mean to effect. That is where the priorities of the heart come to the rescue. If we seek to delight in God and yet the world around us is falling in on us, we can take a rest knowing His delight in us isn’t based on just the way life looks. At the same time though, if we evaluate our life and find it to be troublesome, sometimes you will also discover some misprioritizing. If that is the case, thank God that He uses everything messy to create something beautiful. In that moment of self realization you have the opportunity to realign yourself with the pursuit of holiness instead of other things you may have been more concerned about.

It’s a daily exercise to reflex on the motives of your heart, but a very healthy habit to develop. If it becomes consistent, evaluating life’s causes and effects becomes less tasking and more empowering. Above that though, it sets us up for the true fulfillment in life, which is to honor God, not to just avoid troublesome situations.

Proverbs 12:17-20

“An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies. Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed. Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!”

Life and death are in the tongue. The Bible teaches that there is power behind our words. We have been entrusted with this responsibility. What does our speech say about what we believe? Do we really believe this truth? That words bring death and life.

We have all had people in our lives that speak truth and lies to us. Can you remember a moment when you had a friend or mentor that encouraged you? In that moment were you empowered to move forward beyond your current circumstance? Maybe it was during a heartbreak, divorce or financial stress. Or did you have the opposite, maybe it was someone you trusted and they discouraged you or even spread lies and rumors about you? Can you remember the feelings you had after these two events? What did you feel? Uplifted? Accepted? Betrayed? Attacked? If we have lived for five minutes on this earth, we have most likely experienced both of these multiple times. Words are impactful. Words change things. In moments of great need, words spoken have the opportunity to direct the course of our lives and the lives around us. We often hold on to the false or negative words spoken to us rather than the positive and encouraging. The words that have been spoken to us can mold who we are and what we believe. Words have the ability to bind or break strongholds. There is power in our words.

The real question we probably should take away from these verses, however, is where do you fit, who are you?  Are you the false witness who spreads lies, the one who spreads cutting remarks whose hearts are being filled with deceit? Or are you the honest witness that always tells the truth, are you the one who speaks words that bring healing? Your words will stand the test of time and joy will fill your hearts. True fulfillment is found here. We most likely have fallen into both of these categories at one time or another…I know that I have. But as we move forward who do we want to become? What will be our experience? And the experience that we share with others?

Proverbs 18:21; James 3:5-8; Matthew 12:33-37; Ephesians 4:29; Hebrews 4:12

Proverbs 12:15-16

15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

Have you ever felt the need to prove yourself to other people? If you have then you probably know that overwhelming feeling that comes over you saying, “You’re not good enough” or something to that nature. In those times, it’s easy to retract back into your shell and try desperately to accomplish everything on your own, no stopping to ask for help, just a persistent go so everyone will see you as something special. Problem with that is that we all are better with other people than we are by ourselves. In every walk of life, community trumps solitary living.  Don’t get me wrong; I am a person that enjoys spending time alone, dreaming new dreams, solving problems and admiring creation. But when it comes to doing life in the best way possible, there’s always someone who’s walked the same path you’re walking and may have great words to share to help you overcome your current obstacle. Shake off that “not good enough” feeling. John3:16 says that God loved this world so much that He sent His only begotten son to pay the ultimate price for us to be reconciled with Him through salvation in Jesus Christ for His good and perfect will for our lives. This means that you are good enough. You are loved and cherished by God almighty. Moreover, you are created fearfully and wonderfully in His image. Perk up and seek out wisdom that is readily available to you. All you have to do is ask God and the bible says He freely gives without measure. That also means to keep good people around you who will build you up but also who will be honest with you to help make you the best version of you that you’re meant to be.

16 A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

When I first got married, I found out very quickly that I wasn’t as calm natured as I once thought I was. For some reason I felt myself losing my cool at many things that I would never have normally lost it over. Looking back at that time in my life, I’m grateful to my incredible wife for her patience as I learned to rule my temper in all the little moments that got the best of me. I know now that there were a lot of various things contributing to my sky rocketing temper during that time. It all came down change. My life was changing and unknowingly, I was not handling it well. Thankfully, I became aware of my temper issue and was able to cling to scripture. Nothing but destruction came out of my “lost” moments. Even though my good wife was(is) patient, I know I hurt her every time I gave her a side glare, answered with a sharp tongue or was just simply selfish in my actions. I was a FOOL. But although I was once a fool, I’m now striving for wisdom through redemption in the Lord and taking every human thought and outburst captive in Jesus name, choosing to act, the best I can, how Jesus would act and treat his loved ones. Staying calm when insulted is one of the most difficult things to learn and even harder to put into diligent practice. Sometimes we just want to vent, right? Think realistically about the consequences “just venting” might cause to you, your relationships, etc. Give it to God, breathe and receive the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. After that, do it again! Every day, every moment, decision and thought require our best. This world needs Christians to be what God says we should be. The good thing is that Christ knows our struggles and invites us to freely go to Him and He promises to give us rest and a light yoke. Trust Him; He is our salvation after all.

Proverbs 12: 13-14

The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble (verse 13).

Integrity is highly underrated in our culture. It takes just a few altered sentences to make a better sale, a more interesting story, or a cleaner alibi. However, the stretching or altering of the truth is wickedness from the lips. This verse says that the wicked are trapped, translated from the Hebrew word meaning “snared,” by their own words.

This gives the image of a hunter who has laid a trap along the usual path of a wild animal. He has studied the creature, has observed its normal routine, and knows its habits. He has therefore set a snare in the animal’s normal path that he knows it will walk right into. Why? Because that’s where it goes daily.

The same can be said of those who do not fight to have God-honoring, integrity-filled speech. The more routine wicked speech becomes, the more the enemy knows just how to set a trap. Just as the animal in the woods is being studied, so is the one who regularly makes a habit of stretching the truth, spreading gossip, and causing dissention with their speech. It’s only a matter of time until the wicked person stumbles into the snare that is waiting for them.

The godly, however, are protected. They escape this snare because when confronted, they don’t have to worry about what they said or how much someone knows of their speech. Their conscious is clear, their integrity intact.

Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards (verse 14).

If you think guarding your speech is easy, you are far stronger than I. It takes genuine work to keep speech clean, full of integrity, and God-honoring. However, it brings benefits. Think of people in your life who you know wouldn’t say something negative about another person. Mayne they’re not as fun to be around when you want to feed your flesh and gossip, but you know that those people are safe-harbors. Their word can be trusted at face-value and others feel loved and cared for by them. People know that their success comes from genuine, hard work, rather than cutting corners.

The work that it takes to keep speech full of integrity is worth it.

Photography: @jacobnnorris