Who is ready for Proverbs 10?!
Get excited about this word, because it is good! Some of you may know that I have a podcast called, Whoa, That’s Good!. The concept of the podcast is to ask influential people this question, “What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given, and how did it shape who you are and what you do?” I feel like chapter 10 of Proverbs is a Whoa, That’s Good episode with Solomon, because everything is so good! There are actually so many good one-liner-lessons in this chapter that I decided it would be more like putting some important tools in your toolbox, as my bible study leader used to say, than a one topic lesson. Each verse in this chapter speaks for itself. Let’s dive in!
Verse 2 (TPT): “Gaining wealth through dishonesty is no gain at all. But honesty brings you a lasting happiness.”
I was in an uber once and could tell the guy who was driving me was upset. I ended up getting into a conversation with him where he told me that he is the emptiest person I will ever meet. I asked him why he felt like that way and he began to share his story. He said, “I thought if I moved away from my family and made money then I would be happy. Now, I have more money than I ever thought I would have, but I am emptier than I have ever been.” This is a guy who moved away from everything in search for happiness through money and ended up with nothing. I think that uber driver is a prime example of who this verse is speaking too. I’m not saying he earned his money dishonestly, but he learned that money doesn’t bring happiness.
Verses 4-5: “Slackers will know what it means to be poor, while the hard worker becomes wealthy. Know the importance of the season you’re in and a wise son you will be. But what a waste when an incompetent son sleeps through his day of opportunity!”
Here is a link to a sermon I preached called Don’t Waste The Waiting. It is echoing all that this verse is saying. Sometimes, in expectation of what we want God to do in our future season, we sit down in the season we are currently in. It is SO important we do not get lazy. God has so much He can teach you RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE and those are the things that will prepare you for what is to come.
Verse 9: “The one who walks in integrity will experience a fearless confidence in life, but the one who is devious will eventually be exposed.”
My mom told us when Duck Dynasty started not to hide anything, for hidden things carry the danger of exposure. Whether what we were trying to hide was ever exposed or we constantly worried that it would be exposed, life would be miserable. Either way is not a fun way to live. My mom’s advice and this verse, I can say from personal experience, hold true! I have been able to experience, and even write about, living with a fearless confidence by living honestly and authentically – not perfect – but with integrity. The definition of integrity is the state of being whole and undivided. When you chose a path and walk into it wholeheartedly (again not perfect, but honest) a sense of confidence follows.
Verse 12: “Hatred keeps old quarrels alive, but love draws a veil over every insult and finds a way to make sin disappear.” Verse 17-19: “If you readily receive correction, you are walking on the path to life. But if you reject rebuke, you’re guaranteed to go astray. The one who hides his hatred while pretending to be your friend is nothing but a liar. But the one who slanders you behind your back proves that he’s a fool, never to be trusted. If you keep talking, it won’t be long before you’re saying something really wrong. Prove you’re wise from the very start— just bite your tongue and be strong!”
PREACH. You may want to read these verses again! I put them together because sometimes a lot of little pills are hard to swallow and it’s better to just take them all at the same time! I am going to ask you some questions to think about to help you navigate through these verses.
- Who can you choose to love instead of replaying what they did to you over and over in your head?
- How well do you handle correction?
- Who can you choose to bite your tongue around, to make your relationship right again? Good friend, Elizabeth Hasselback, says, “May we never be so right that we are wrong with people.”
- Who do you need to be honest with?
Here’s something important to remember: Do the hard thing to be the right person.
I will end with the last verse in chapter 10.
Verse 32: “Words that bring delight pour from the lips of the godly, but the words of the wicked are duplicitous.”
Choose words that bring delight to those around you. It will make their day!
Jesus is using you, Sadie! I needed this! “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” That’s YOU, girl! ?? May Jesus refresh your soul and spirit!
Love from a sister in Christ,
Annalee 🙂
Thank you for this !! I may be 52 , but you can never learn too much !!! I enjoy learning all I can an about scripture and the bible.
I am absolutely loving these monthly studies!! I love how over and over the book of Proverbs remind us to use our words carefully. The words we speak to ourselves and to others can either make or break the situation.
Very cool! God bless u guys!
Amen!!! Thank you lord Jesus Christ for your blessings!!!
This is so hard on me but i will keep on forgetting what the enemies do to me behind my back. God is my friend and he knows i need him. I am praying God will protect and cares for me.
Thank you so much for such an encouraging study and questions to think on! Martin came to my church a couple months ago as our speaker for an outdoors-man day, being part of the staff, I had the opportunity to talk to him for a couple hours before the event started. His heart for Christ and authenticity is what really got me started on researching the “Duck Dynasty” gang a little deeper and the reasons behind why you folks gave up your privacy to become “Duck Dynasty”. I found LO in that search and have finally taken the time to read some of your posts and boy has it been an encouragement to me! Thanks a bunch and keep on loving Jesus!
Love, your sister in Christ,
Michaella~
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
written by Marianne Williamson.
Trust in God for nothing is impossible with God for he made you- “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
Psalm 139:12-18
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.
Preach it, Proverbs is so incredible! Sometimes good practicality is what we all need to hear!! Thanks so much, Sadie! Especially on the verse on teachability, it’s something God’s been teaching me lately.
Abigail @ spiritsongblog.blogspot.com