I'm continuing to look at the book of Proverbs. Today let me share which verses I loved from chapters 13 through 15. I'll pick one proverb from each.
Proverbs 13
"He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20
Want to be wise? Hang around wise people. Also, remember that wise men and women teach others to be wise. For a sports example of this look at Hayden Fry's coaching tree. Coach Fry was a legendary football coach at the University of Iowa and his greatest accomplishment wasn't wins and losses but the men who learned how to lead young men under his tutelage. Want to be wise? Hang around wise people. Want to leave a legacy of wisdom? Pass on what you know.
Conversely, if you hang out with fools you will suffer the consequences. Whether you just end up guilty by association or if you pick up their foolish habits, fools will only help you become more foolish. Now, a fool is not someone who doesn't know better, a fool is someone who knows better and still choses to do dumb things. Hang around these people and you'll find that trouble accompanies them. I'm sure your parents already told you this, I'm here to let you know that they're right.
Proverbs 14
"A simple man believes anything,
but a prudent man gives thought to his steps." Proverbs 14:15
How many of you know people that believe things because "they saw it on the internet"? We laugh to ourselves when we see people share articles that are clearly fake or false or too biased to be real. We are simple if we believe everything we read, see or hear.
Don't simply receive information, process it. This includes information from teachers, preachers, books from the Christian book store, this blog... anything. We must think all things through. We have to be able to think, research, question and when find the truth we must be able to recognize and accept it.
Proverbs 15
"Better a little with the fear of the LORD
than great wealth with turmoil." Proverbs 15:16
Do I believe this? To be honest this was my first thought after reading this proverb. I think it's a good question to ask ourselves.
All riches turn to nothing but God and His ways last forever! Jesus taught about this, His disciples taught about this, King David wrote psalms about this idea because it is true. Our wealth is worthless if it leave us with turmoil and our life can only be completely fulfilled with the fear of God.
There is always a reason to be discontented. We are constantly wanting what is next and once we get that thing we want what's next after that. Many rich people feel a deep desire for something better in the same way a poor person does. When I was single I longed for a wife. Then when you get married you long for a house, etc.
Satan tells us this lie, "If you only had _____ then you'd be happy." This lie is a great tool of the Devil. We all have believed it. But here is the truth... if you can't be content right now you'll never be content. Unless the thing you long for is to know Jesus it will fail you. I challenge you to try to be content the way you are right now.
So, surround yourself with wise people and look to pass down what you know. Process and think about every bit of information you're fed. And finally, strive to be content with exactly where you are today.
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