Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 456 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Good Planning and Hard Work Lead to Prosperity – Proverbs 21:1-16
Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 456 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 1st half of Chapter 21.
We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. On Monday we made a long day trip to Charlotte and back with our final possessions that we were unable to fit onto the truck previously. My brother Jack went with Paula and I, and we rented a smaller truck which barely fit the remaining items that we had stored in the garage. Since the house is under contract now, all we have to do is wait for the inspections and appraisal to be completed. If there are no delays, we should close on or before November 21st, which will complete another chapter of our lives with many good memories from that past 7 years. Although we do have some mixed emotions about consolidating back to Marietta, I am reminded of the quote from Dr. Seuss who said, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
As we do adapt to the ever changing seasons of life, it certainly is beneficial to rely on the wisdom, insight, and understanding obtained through many years to help navigate the trails that we are hiking each day.
In every season of life, we need to seek wisdom, insight, and understanding both from God’s Word and from other wise individuals. We then need to put good plans in place, so as we break camp for our trek today let us explore the nuggets of wisdom found in the first half of Proverbs 21 where we will learn that…
Good Planning and Hard Work Lead to Prosperity
Let’s start our trek with verse 1.
1 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases.
This verse certainly brings some comfort in the midst of each election cycle within the USA, and I am sure it is probably the same if you live in other countries. I count it privilege to be able to live in a free country, and recognize it is important to exercise that privilege by voting. Regardless of the outcome of any particular election, God is sovereign and controls who is elected. He directs the hearts of world leaders in the same way that he directs the rivers and guides them to fulfill His will. While the world leaders attempt to build empires, God is interested in building His kingdom.
2 People may be right in their own eyes,
but the Lord examines their heart.
As humans, we have the ability to justify and rationalize any type of behavior as acceptable or right behavior. We truly have a difficult time examining our own hearts, but God does not. He knows not only our actions, but more importantly our motives for the actions that we take.
3 The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.
This verse can be somewhat related to the previous verse. Our actions are not as important as our heart, attitude, and intentions. God desires for us to do that which is right and just. He does not desire that we just go through the motions of doing what is right if we have an incorrect attitude for doing so.
4 Haughty eyes, a proud heart,
and evil actions are all sin.
Pride is the seed of nearly all sins because out of pride grows an abundance of wrong actions. When we are more concerned about ourselves that we are about others, then we think we are more important than we really are. Pride here can be seen in our eyes, our heart (or mind), and our actions. On the other hand, if we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up.
5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
Not all planning is created equal. We must learn good planning, and then work that plan hard. When we do these two items, then the natural outcome will be prosperity. Contrary to this is attempting to short-circuit the law of planting and harvesting. If you rush through your work and don’t dedicate the needed time to plan properly, then you will find yourself in perpetual poverty.
6 Wealth created by a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.
There is never a justification for lying to gain wealth. Some may be successful in doing so, but that wealth is never lasting. It also becomes a snare that will trap the person who practices lying. To continue to gain wealth, they will need to continue their deceitful practices. Wealth has no lasting value unless it is used to positively impact the lives of others.
7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
Individuals that are bent on being mean and violent will be consumed by their habits. Their lives become so obsessed with themselves that they are lost in their way of life and refuse to change and do what is right just and fair.
8 The guilty walk a crooked path;
the innocent travel a straight road.
There is a distinct difference in the trails that the guilty and innocent travel. The guilty trail will be crooked, full of seemingly insurmountable obstructions and detours. The innocent will travel a trail that will take the straight to their destination. Even if they do run into obstacles, they will overcome them and continue on to their destination.
9 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
Being in a martial relationship with a spouse who argues and likes to quarrel is a miserable existence. It would be easier to live in a tiny home in a marriage with peace and harmony than to live in a large and beautiful home where there are constant arguments.
10 Evil people desire evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
A person who makes it a habit of practicing evil their desire is to consume evil and then spread more evil to all they come into contact with. Those who are closest to them physically and emotionally will be impacted most.
11 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise;
if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
A mocker is someone who mocks God, His love, and His justice. They will not change their ways, even through the most difficult times. The simpleminded will change their ways from foolishness and begin to become wise because of their fear of punishment. The wise on the other hand seek to become wiser, so they welcome instruction with open arms and minds.
12 The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked;
he will bring disaster on them.
God cannot be fooled or mocked. He knows all, and He understands our hearts. Those who practice wickedness may think they are they control their own destiny, but it is God who judges the thoughts and intents of our hearts.
13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
will be ignored in their own time of need.
God cares for those who are poor and less fortunate. We are to help those who are truly in need. They cry out, and we should not ignore them. If we do, others will ignore our cries if we are ever in the same situation.
14 A secret gift calms anger;
a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
While God is not condoning bribes or “pay to play” scenarios, in many cultures it is a common practice. Solomon is pointing out that gifts and bribes do have an impact, especially if you have done something to offend another person. The key here is to live a life of integrity at all times, so you are never in a situation where it requires payoffs or bribes.
15 Justice is a joy to the godly,
but it terrifies evildoers.
When you do what is right, then you can rejoice when justice is administered. When you do not, you will live a life of fear and anxiety at all times. Always do what is good and right.
16 The person who strays from common sense
will end up in the company of the dead.
One reason that I emphasize wisdom is that there is such a lack of common sense with so many people today. It impacts all areas of our lives. A person without wisdom, or common sense, makes wrong decisions in relationships, finances, health, spiritually, and intellectually. When this happens, a person will live a life filled with constant drama. They will head down the path that leads to destruction.
The nuggets of wisdom that we gathered verses 1-16 of Proverbs 21 provide more tasty morsels of wisdom, insight, and understanding. Regardless of your faith walk, if the precepts in Proverbs are followed, your life will be rich and satisfying. Take them and plant them in your heart so that you will reap a harvest of goodness.
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 Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.
That will finish our trek for today. Just 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 and inviting them to come along with us each day. I would challenge you today to take just one precept that we learn today in Proverbs and commit yourself to applying it to your life.
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:
- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend to others Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- 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!