Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 631 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Vice or Virtue – Proverbs 14
Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 631 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 14 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. The investment of our time in Arizona working on our construction projects last week was very productive. It appears that our smaller projects will certainly occupy all of our time between now and when Phase II begins on September 1st.
On the home front, the hawks which were born this year have left the nest to set off on a life of their own. We probably won’t see the parents around until they begin the nest repair next winter. It is always enjoyable to watch them each year.
Our granddaughter Hazel has been feeling fairly well the past couple of weeks as she continues with her chemo treatments. Her blood counts were down this week, which is disappointing, but the oncology team told Nat and Elizabeth to expect that due to the regimen that she is currently on. Just like when we are on a physical trek we have to take one step at a time, and as with all of life, but particularly in this situation, we have to take it one day at a time.
Life is filled with good and bad situations, and regardless of the external circumstances, each of us must choose to live with integrity or dishonesty. This is the topic for today as we explore Chapter 14 of Proverbs and our focus today will be…
Vice or Virtue
Remember the two women from Chapter 9 – Lady Wisdom and Folly? Well, they’re back again in Chapter 14. In fact, 14:1 is nearly identical to 9:1 – Wisdom builds her house and lives upright, while Folly only destroys and wallows in the mess of her own making. How different can these women get? Who will you choose to follow?
Chapter 14 describes and shows us the great differences between these two ways of life using contrasting character traits:
- Carefulness or Carelessness (verse 3, 16)
- Discernment or Deception (verse 8)
- Integrity or Mockery (verse 9)
- Thoughtfulness or Haste (verse 15)
- Patience or Quick-tempered (verse 29)
Consider the list of virtues and vices. Notice how one builds up while the other tears down.
Which course will you take in life? Verses 26 and 27 emphasize the “Reverence for the Eternal,” which puts a person on the right trajectory. This is a deep reverence that motivates right behavior even when it’s difficult. To live in Reverence of the Eternal is to have confidence, protection, life, and salvation.
What would it look like today for you to Reverence the Eternal and choose Lady Wisdom?
Listen intently as I read Proverbs 14:
1 A wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one picks it to splinters with her own hands.
2 Whoever travels through life with integrity respects the Eternal,
but whoever turns from it hates Him.
3 A fool’s words betray his pride and invite punishment,
but the humble speech of the wise will spare them.
4 A farm without oxen has a manger without grain;
there’s a good return in the strength of an ox.
5 An honest witness can always be trusted,
but a false witness breathes out nothing but lies.
6 Wisdom eludes mockers, though they seek it,
but insight comes quickly to those with understanding.
7 Walk away from the company of fools,
for you cannot find insight in their words.
8 It takes wisdom for the clever to understand the path they are on,
but the fool is deceived by his own foolishness.
9 Fools make a mockery of guilt and repentance,
but those who do what is right receive special standing.[a]
10 Only the heart can know its own resentment;
likewise, no stranger can experience its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
while the tent of the upright will prosper.
12 Before every person lies a road that seems to be right,
but the end of that road is death and destruction.
13 Laughter can mask heartache,
and joy often gives way to grief.
14 A disloyal heart has its fill of disloyal ways,
but a good person will be satisfied from above.
15 The gullible believe anything they are told,
but clever people know to question every step.
16 The wise are cautious and stay far from evil,
but fools are hotheaded and careless.
17 Quick-tempered people make fools of themselves,
and evil schemers make many enemies.
18 The naive are heirs to foolishness,
but the clever are honored with insight.
19 Evil people will be humbled before the good;
the wicked will stoop at the doorstep of the righteous.
20 The poor are hated even by their own neighbors,
but the rich are loved by many friends.
21 Those who have contempt for their neighbors are sinners,
but those who are kind to the poor are happy.
22 Don’t those who work evil stray from the truth?
Those who plan goodness experience unfailing love and faithfulness.
23 Prosperity comes from hard work,
but talking too much leads to great scarcity.
24 The wise are honored for their wealth;
the reward of fools is more foolishness.
25 A truthful witness protects lives by not allowing evil to triumph,
but a deceitful witness speaks lies and puts the innocent in jeopardy.
26 Reverence for the Eternal brings bold confidence,
and one’s offspring will have hope of protection.
27 Respect and honor for Him is the basis of a satisfied life,
which guards a person from being trapped in the snares of death.
28 A king’s splendor is in his many people,
but a declining population will lead to his ruin.
29 Whoever is patient and slow to anger shows great understanding,
but whoever has a quick temper magnifies his foolishness.
30 A serene heart can add years to one’s life;
but jealous passion rots the bones.
31 Whoever oppresses the poor insults his Maker,
but anyone who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked are waylaid by their evil actions,
but the right-living find hope’s sanctuary even in their death.[b]
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one with insight
and can even be experienced by fools.
34 Living according to God’s instructions makes a nation great,
but sin colors those who commit it with disgrace.
35 The king shows kindness to a servant who acts wisely,
but his anger burns toward one who brings shame.
That will conclude our exploration of Proverbs 14. The questions for today are: “Will you choose to live a life of Vice or Virtue? Will you choose Lady Wisdom or Lady Folly?” If you are wise, you will make the correct choice. Each week we will explore a full chapter in Proverbs. I hope that you will join us next week for Chapter 15 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:
- 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!