Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 391 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Wealth Is a Crown for the Wise – Proverbs [14:18]-35
Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 391 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 second half of Chapter 14.
We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. After some meetings with our clients in Marietta on Tuesday, we are heading back to Charlotte today for a week. It will be good to take a break from the renovation work we have been completing on The Big House. We will return to Marietta next Wednesday to work with our clients here and for our granddaughter Aurora’s 5th birthday celebration.
We are blessed that our work is somewhat location independent. Maintaining two homes was never something I would have imagined doing, but we do feel that is God’s plan for us in this season of our life. While we fully realize and understand there are no guarantees in life, real estate is usually a wise investment long term, so our hope is that it will remain to be so for many more years.
Making wise decisions to the best of our ability is important in life, and there is no better source for wisdom than God’s Word and in particular the book of Proverbs. As we head out on our trek for today, let’s dig for those nuggets of wisdom that fill the book of Proverbs. Today we will dig into the second half of Chapter 14. Today’s trek is…
Wealth Is a Crown for the Wise
18 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Many times you can tell something about a person by the way they dress. In this verse, we can tell if a person is simple because they clothe themselves in foolishness. You may remember from past studies in Proverbs that a simple person is one who has the capacity to be wise but has not obtained it either through ignorance or choice. The default attire for this person is being foolish. A person who is truly a fool is someone who knows what wisdom is and how to obtain it but has deliberately chosen to ignore wisdom. In contrast to a simpleton, a prudent person can also be known by his attire. He will have wisdom, knowledge, and discernment that will be as evident and obvious as if he was wearing a crown.
19 Evil people will bow before good people;
the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly.
A person who chooses to ignore God’s precepts will eventually be subservient to people who have chosen to follow God’s precepts. The evil or wicked person will continue on the wrong trails of life. When they are in trouble because of their unwise decisions, they will have to bow before those who are in the positions of authority for assistance.
20 The poor are despised even by their neighbors,
while the rich have many “friends.”
An unfortunate fact of life is that most people will be friends with someone who can provide benefit to them. The poor person usually has little to offer, so most people will not like them or get to know them, even if they are close neighbors. A person who does have wealth will have many fair weathered friends who are looking to benefit themselves. These types of people will never be true friends.
21 It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor;
blessed are those who help the poor.
As an extension of the previous verse, we see how God would want us to act. This is one of His basic precepts that we should follow. We should not look down on or make another person feel inferior for any reason, especially not for an economic reason. The way we will prosper in life, both spiritually and financially is to help those who are in need. Especially those who would have a difficult time correcting their financial situation on their own.
22 If you plan to do evil, you will be lost;
if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.
One of the many reasons that I love to study the book of Proverbs is that it is so practical. The precepts and principles of God are clear and easy to understand, just like it is easy to understand the law of gravity. If you do evil deeds, then you will lose your way in life and suffer the consequences of your decisions. In contrast to this, if you make it a habit and plan to do good, you will receive the same back to you in the form of love and faithfulness from others.
23 Work brings profit,
but mere talk leads to poverty!
The truth of this verse could not get much simpler. If you work and live within your means, then you will be profitable. You will slowly gain wealth in your life. If you only talk about working, but never get around to it, then don’t be surprised when you end up in poverty with nothing.
24 Wealth is a crown for the wise;
the effort of fools yields only foolishness.
A crown is the sign of honor, of status and of someone who has exerted the needed effort to succeed. In addition to royalty, a crown was often given to the winner of an athletic event. If you are wise in life and especially financially, your wealth will be your winner’s crown. On the other hand, if you are foolish, spend more than you earn, and do not make wise investments in life, you will end up harvesting the crop of foolishness
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is a traitor.
There is little that is sadder than a miscarriage of justice, especially in a court of law. We know it does happen, but that does not make it noble or right. A person who is truthful in his testimony and in all areas of life will help those who are wrongly accused. A person who is not truthful in his testimony will be a traitor to justice and cause harm to others
26 Those who fear the Lord are secure;
he will be a refuge for their children.
If we trust in God that He will provide for us, then He will fulfill His promises. We will be secure in all areas of life and that security will also cover our families. A refuge is a place of safety and security.
27 Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain;
it offers escape from the snares of death.
Respect for God and his precepts for life will provide the strength and vitality that we need to live good and Godly. It will keep us safe because we will be wise in the decisions that we are making.
28 A growing population is a king’s glory;
a prince without subjects has nothing.
The results of our efforts are proof of whether they are good and honorable. For a king, this would be the number of people who were his subjects. For someone else, this would be that which they are responsible for. In contrast to this, even if you have a position of power or status, if you are not responsible for anything, then it is an empty shell.
29 People with understanding control their anger;
a hot temper shows great foolishness.
One sure sign of a wise and confident person is how they act when confronted with conflict and stress. If you are wise and understanding, then there is no reason to lash out at others. A person who loses his temper shows immaturity, selfishness, impatience, lack of confidence, and foolishness.
30 A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;
jealousy is like cancer in the bones.
All the advancements in medical science in the past few decades only confirms what King Solomon told us several thousand years ago. If you learn to control stress and remain at peace, then you will also maintain your health. Contrary to this, if you are jealous and stressed, then the likelihood of coming down with cancer and other stress-related illnesses will greatly increase.
31 Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
but helping the poor honors him.
God cares for everyone, especially for those who are less fortunate. When we care for those who cannot care for themselves, then we are taking on the character of God in our lives. In doing this, we also bring honor to His name.
32 The wicked are crushed by disaster,
but the godly have a refuge when they die.
When we deliberately refuse to follow God’s ways, then we will become wicked in our lives. We will have no security or protection from that which can harm us. The wicked have no hope. On the other side of that are those who choose to live good and Godly lives. We know that God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Most of all we know that our eternity is secure.
33 Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart;
wisdom is not found among fools.
The person who has chosen to follow God and His Word will gain wisdom throughout their lifetime. Wisdom will become such an integral part of them that it is embedded in the very fabric of who they are. Contrary to that are those who have chosen to remain a fool. It will be evident because they will lack basic wisdom.
34 Godliness makes a nation great,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
This is another basic principle from God, and one that many nations of this world would be wise to take note of. If the people of a nation choose to live Godly lives, then the nation will be strengthened. In contrast to this, if the people of a nation choose that which is contrary to God’s ways, then other nations will despise them.
35 A king rejoices in wise servants
but is angry with those who disgrace him.
Whether you are a king, a business owner, a manager, or a parent you will rejoice when those that you are responsible for make wise choices. On the flip side, there is nothing more heartbreaking than to see someone you are responsible for making foolish choices. It will make you angry and disgraced that they cannot see the wise way.
Today’s trail was once again filled with so many nuggets of wisdom. These truths are not hard to implement within our lives. We can easily consume and digest them which will strengthen us each day. Make it a habit of incorporating these wise principles into your life.
Tomorrow we will have another short segment of Wisdom Unplugged where we will uncover 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 these daily doses 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:
- 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!