Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 616 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Wisdom and Right-Living – Proverbs 11

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 616 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore Proverbs 11 from The Voice Translation which will give us a fresh perspective on this book of timeless wisdom.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This past week has been a bit less hectic, and I have been able to get caught up on some of the workloads which have been lagging behind. We are so blessed to be able to have a flexible work schedule that permits us to focus on our children and grandchildren’s needs during this season of life.

Our granddaughter Hazel is at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for two days again this week as she continues this phase of her treatments. Her markers for leukemia do fluctuate some on a weekly basis, but according to the physician staff, her overall progress is very positive. It is difficult for her parents and us as grandparents to see her go through the effects of the strong chemo regimen that she is currently on. Some of the chemo is so potent that no one is allowed to handle it with bare hands, and yet it must be ingested daily by Hazel. We all realize that her situation requires this to eradicate leukemia from her body, but that does not make it any easier to deal with emotionally.

We are grateful to God and to everyone who has prayed or helped out in any other manner. If you would like to keep up with the news about Hazel and read the blog that her father Nat is writing about Hazel’s progress, you can access it at basilforhazel.org. We would appreciate your continued prayers for Hazel and her tribe.

As we transition to our trek for today, we will see that there is a direct link between wisdom and right-living. Those who live according to God’s precepts found in His Word are living correctly and are wise for doing so. The opposite is also true. As we explore Chapter 11 of Proverbs our focus today will be…

Wisdom and Right-Living

This chapter repeatedly focuses on “righteousness,” a biblical word meaning “right-living.” The wise person strives to do right by others in all of life’s areas: personal relationships, neighbors, fellow citizens, co-workers, family members, and ministry.

Notice how often right-living is connected with “deliverance.” In contrast, the wicked will “trip,” be “conquered,” “walk into trouble,” “perish,” and “die.” This chapter makes a life of “right-living through right relationships” look really appealing! After all, you could save your life.

While each proverb usually stands alone, there are sometimes clusters that explore the same idea. In chapter 11 there’s a group about self-control (12-13) and another about generosity (24-26) exploring these topics through two contrasting ideas. Look carefully at what we are supposed to hold back (criticism and slander) compared to what we are to share (our possessions). We love to share our critical opinions, but not our money! Right-living creates real wisdom and knows when to shut its mouth and open its hands.

Also, take note of how Chapter 11 puts wealth in perspective (4, 16, 28). We’re reminded that money pales in comparison to such things as life, honor, and well-being. Even if wealth comes, don’t put your trust in it. You don’t need a lot of money to live the rich and satisfying life.

Is there anyone you need to show generosity to today? Is there someone you need to criticize less? Allow this chapter to mold you in the way of right-living.

Now listen up as I read Proverbs 11.

¹ Dishonesty in business disgusts the Eternal,
but fair dealing delights Him.

² When pride comes, shame is not far behind,
but wisdom accompanies those who are humble.
³ The right-living are guided by integrity,
but the crooked ways of the faithless will lead to ruin.
⁴ Riches won’t matter on the day of wrath,
but right living will rescue from death.
⁵ The good deeds of the blameless pave a peaceful, productive path,
but wrongdoers trip over their own faults.
⁶ The good deeds of the upright will rescue them,
but the faithless will be conquered by their shallow desires.
⁷ When wrongdoers die, their hopes die with them.
Their great expectations vanish into nothing more than a dream.
⁸ Those who do right are pulled from trouble;
it falls on wrongdoers instead who are left to sink in their own problems.
⁹ The words of the godless ruin those close to them,
but through insight the right-living are spared.
¹⁰ When prosperity comes to those who do right, the whole city celebrates;
but when the wicked get their just punishment, there is joyous cheering.
¹¹ A city thrives through the blessing of those living right,
but the words of a wrongdoer will bring it to ruin.
¹² Whoever puts down another is not wise,
but one who knows better keeps quiet.
¹³ A gossip can’t keep anything confidential,
but a reliable person protects a secret.
¹⁴ Without wise guidance, a nation falls;
but victory is certain when there are plenty of wise counselors.
¹⁵ Trouble compounds when you guarantee a stranger’s debt,
but you’ll be safe if you refuse the pledge.
¹⁶ A gracious woman acquires honor,
but cruel people are only interested in acquiring money.
¹⁷ Kindness is its own reward,
but cruelty is a self-inflicted wound.
¹⁸ The wicked earn a living by deception,
but the one who plants righteousness gathers a true harvest.
¹⁹ Indeed, those who do what is right will live a good life,
but those who pursue evil will die.
²⁰ The Eternal detests a crooked heart and a warped mind,
but He takes great pleasure in those who follow the right way.
²¹ Certainly those who do wrong will not escape punishment,
but those who do right will go free.
²² Much like a gold ring in the snout of a pig,
so is a beautiful woman who lacks good judgment.
²³ Those who live right crave what is good,
but the prospect of wrongdoers is wrath.
²⁴ One shares liberally and yet gains even more,
while another hoards more than is right and still has need.
²⁵ A giving person will receive much in return,
and someone who gives water will also receive the water he needs.

²⁶ Curses fall upon those who hoard food,
but blessings come to those who sell food.
²⁷ Those who seek good find the goodwill of others,
but those who look for evil are sure to find it.
²⁸ Those who trust in their wealth are headed for great disappointment,
but those who do right will sprout like green leaves in the spring.
²⁹ A person who stirs up trouble in his family will inherit stormy winds,
and foolish troublers will end up serving the wise.
³⁰ The tree of life grows where the fruit of right-living falls,
and whoever wins souls is wise.
³¹ If the righteous can expect to be repaid on earth,
how much more can the ungodly and the sinners?

That will conclude our exploration of Proverbs 11. If we practice right living according to the precepts found in chapter 11, then we will be wise. If we are wise, we will follow these precepts. Each week we will explore a full chapter in Proverbs so I hope that you will join us next week for Chapter 12 so that you can gain wisdom, insight, and understanding for yourself.

The entire book of Proverbs provides us with rich wisdom, insight, and understanding on a myriad of life issues. Regardless of where you are in your faith walk, if you follow the precepts in Proverbs, your life will be rich and satisfying. I encourage you to take them and plant the seeds of wisdom in your heart so that you will reap a harvest of wisdom throughout your life.

Tomorrow we will hike another short trail of Wisdom Unplugged where we will discover an inspirational wisdom quote. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along with us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. If you would like to listen to any of our past treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. You can also subscribe at iTunes or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!