Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 411 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Better to be Patient Than Powerful – Proverbs [16:17:33]
Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 411 of our trek, and today 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 the 2nd half of Chapter 16.
We are broadcasting from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We returned from Arizona on the red eye flight very early Monday and then drove from Atlanta to Charlotte arriving back early afternoon. We had a productive and encouraging few days finalizing some needed company forms, reviewing the progress on the major construction project, and setting processes in place to move forward more efficiently. There is a lot of potential for good projects in the Phoenix area over the next few years. It will require a significant amount of patience, planning, and perseverance on our part as we plant the seeds and wait to see the harvest that God brings to fruition.
It also requires a lot of wisdom, insight, and understanding to handle the details of the various companies that we work with and incorporate our podcasting projects into the mix. I take comfort in going to the source of wisdom for business and life in God’s Word and specifically the book of Proverbs.
On our trek today, we will dig into verses 17-33 of Chapter 16. The title for today’s trek is taken from verse 32, and it is…
Better to be Patient Than Powerful
Let’s start in with verse 17…
17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;
whoever follows that path is safe.
Your life is a trek, and you choose which paths that you will take. If you take the path of virtue and integrity, it will lead you away from that which is harmful or evil and provide a safe trail for your life. If you choose the opposite, you will find yourself on a path that is not good or safe.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and haughtiness before a fall.
Pride is at the heart of nearly all wrong choices that we make in life. It may be disguised as something else, but inherently pride is at the core. When you allow pride to take over your life, it will lead to your destruction and ultimate downfall. Each day all of us must work at becoming humbler and putting aside our pride.
19 Better to live humbly with the poor
than to share plunder with the proud.
Somewhat connected to the previous verse, we see that Solomon proclaims that it is better to be humble, even if it does not provide you with financial prosperity. If you become wealthy but have a spirit of pride in obtaining that wealth, then it does not bring lasting value.
20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
those who trust the Lord will be joyful.
One of the best ways to gain financial freedom and prosper is by being open to the instruction of those who have already obtained wealth. Listening to the wise advice of others is not limited to financial gain, but also to being prosperous in all areas of life. Even if you are successful in obtaining wealth, realize that wealth will never provide joy in your life. The only way to obtain and have a growing joy in your life is to trust that God is in control, and He will provide for all of your needs.
21 The wise are known for their understanding,
and pleasant words are persuasive.
If a person is wise, it will be evident to everyone they come in contact with because they will exude a spirit of understanding. This same person has learned and understands that pleasant words are much more persuasive than harsh and negative commands.
22 Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,
but discipline is wasted on fools.
A person of discretion knows when to speak and when not to. They also know what to say and what not to say. This type of person is refreshing to be around. It is like a cold fountain in a hot and dry desert. The opposite of this is a person who is unwilling or unable to accept discipline or correction. Attempting to disciple a foolish person is a waste of time and energy.
23 From a wise mind comes wise speech;
the words of the wise are persuasive.
Similar to verse 21, a person who is wise based on a wise mind will also be wise in speech. This person’s words will radiate wisdom, and his speech will be very persuasive.
24 Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Kind words are easy to share with everyone, and they do not cost anything. It provides strength and health to those to who we are kind. The analogy is that kindness is as beneficial to the soul as God’s natural sweetener honey is to the body.
25 There is a path before each person that seems right,
but it ends in death.
When we choose our own path for life, it may seem like the right path, but if it leads us in ways that are contrary to God’s precepts and commands, then it will ultimately lead to our destruction and death.
26 It is good for workers to have an appetite;
an empty stomach drives them on.
In any occupation, the best workers are those that have a passion, need, and purpose for what they are doing. This appetite creates a great desire to do well because they are hungry for results.
27 Scoundrels create trouble;
their words are a destructive blaze.
Individuals who lack personal integrity and concern for others are proud and selfish. Because of this, they are always creating trouble for others. They leave a path of carnage wherever they go.
28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
gossip separates the best of friends.
We have often referred to the law of planting and harvesting and in this verse, we see that it is the troublemaker who plants seeds of strife. One of the primary ways this occurs is through the spreading of gossip. Gossip will separate friendships and cause factions. This will result in broken relationships.
29 Violent people mislead their companions,
leading them down a harmful path.
Individuals who are selfish and prideful are also deceptive, and their actions are violent toward others. If you are a friend or companion of this type of person, you will easily be misled into activities that are harmful. We all need to be careful not to associate closely with this type of person.
30 With narrowed eyes, people plot evil;
with a smirk, they plan their mischief.
You can tell a lot about a person by observing him or her, even in facial expressions. There are certain character traits that are hard to hide from one’s facial expressions. This verse refers to two – the narrowed eyes and the smirk. Both are indications of plotting evil and planning mischief. If they are used together, it is a double indication of a person you need to be careful of.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained by living a godly life.
While this verse is not implying that everyone with gray hair has lived a godly life, it does indicate that those who live long lives usually make wise and prudent choices in their lives. Gray hair is a sign of honor. It indicates that a person understands how important it is to take care of themselves physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. As a person grows older, he or she is more likely to realize that God is in control of all things. Unless God allows a person to die younger, those individuals that follow God’s Word throughout their lives will be more likely to grow older and also live a godly life.
32 Better to be patient than powerful;
better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
When we think of a patient person, most of us will not equate that person as also powerful. There is a direct correlation between how patient a person is and how truly powerful he or she is. It takes great self-control and power to show restraint and patience in life. Patience and self-control go hand-in-hand. A patient person will display a great deal of self-control. They realize that is where the seeds of true power reside. If you plant seeds of patience on a daily basis, you will reap a harvest of self-control which is truly powerful.
33 We may throw the dice,
but the Lord determines how they fall.
You can take chances in your life or make detailed and structured plans, but God will ultimately decide the fate for each of us according to His will and purpose for our lives. This verse doesn’t imply that we should not make plans or occasionally take chances as both have their place in certain situations. In fact, in many verses within God’s Word, we are encouraged to make plans and prepare. There are also times where we need to take chances without all of the details. Either way, we need to follow God’s precepts and instructions and trust God to determine and then show us the path to take.
The nuggets of wisdom that we gathered in these 17 verses of Proverbs 16 provide the stepping stones that we need on our daily trek to grow emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Making plans based on God’s guidelines while keeping the proper perspective on what is really important will allow us to grow wiser each day.
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. As you enjoy your daily dose of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person when you meet with them and invite them to come along with us each day. If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek so each trek will be downloaded to you automatically.
Thank you 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 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!