Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 501 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Patience Can Persuade a Prince – Proverbs 25:15-28
Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 501 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 the 2nd half of chapter 25.
We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We are still waiting for an opportunity to finish up the leaf harvest. We received a replacement engine for the leaf vacuum, but we were shipped the wrong one. The company was very good about shipping out the correct one promptly, and we shipped the incorrect one back.
The weather has been a bit uncooperative also with a lot of rain and cold temperatures. We will try and wrap up the process this weekend if possible. Life does not always go smoothly or as we would like it to, but we need to continue on each day with the reality of life as it is and not how we wish it to be. Wisdom, insight, and understanding helps us to see this and handle the unexpected events of life properly. Patience is one of those attributes that is a sign of Godly wisdom. One verse we will explore today tells us…
Patience Can Persuade a Prince
Let’s start our trek as we explore verses 15-28.
More Proverbs of Solomon
15 Patience can persuade a prince,
and soft speech can break bones.
A patient person is truly wise and a person of strength. With that strength, leaders can be persuaded to take action. Through patience and controlled speech a person can break through the toughest of opponents without violence.
16 Do you like honey?
Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!
17 Don’t visit your neighbors too often,
or you will wear out your welcome.
Anything in excess is not good for you, even if it is enjoyable. The first example is honey, which both tastes good and has health benefits. When you eat too much of it all at once, it will make you sick. The second warning is not to visit someone too often, or they will become sick of seeing you.
18 Telling lies about others
is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
When you tell lies about others, it is as bad as a physical injury. It can cause emotional damage or emotional death to those on the receiving end of your lies.
19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble
is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.
We all know that person who we cannot rely on for keeping their word or being on time. It is painful to deal with, especially when you need them most, and is like having a physical injury that will impede the progress that would otherwise be expected.
20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather
or pouring vinegar in a wound.
When someone is grieving that is not the time to try and cheer them up. It is better to console them, to empathize with them, if possible. Otherwise, you will cause more pain than the grief that is already experienced.
21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.
If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.
22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads,
and the Lord will reward you.
We should treat all people with kindness, including those we may consider to be enemies. It will soften their hearts toward you and help them to realize the love that you have. God will reward those who show kindness to others.
23 As surely as a north wind brings rain,
so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
We are usually pretty good at interpreting the signs of weather. We know that winds coming from the north indicate bad weather. We should also realize that our actions such as gossiping will bring out anger in those we are gossiping about.
24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic
than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.
As we have read before in Proverbs, there is nothing quite as miserable as living with a complaining, arguing spouse. It is better to be all alone in a small space than to continually put up with this situation. We should take care that we are not the offending spouse, or the cause of the problem.
25 Good news from far away
is like cold water to the thirsty.
As refreshing as cold, clear water when you are experiencing thirst on a hot summer day is good news that you have been waiting for. It refreshes the soul and spirit as water refreshes the body.
26 If the godly give in to the wicked,
it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.
It is a travesty to see good, godly people fall prey to the influence of those that are wicked. It is the same as contaminating pure water with filth or mud. Once the water is contaminated, it is ruined and unsuitable for its intended purpose.
27 It’s not good to eat too much honey,
and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.
Just like eating too much honey will make you physically sick, if you are bragging about yourself to others it will make them sick of you.
28 A person without self-control
is like a city with broken-down walls.
Self-control is so vital to maintaining a godly and proper lifestyle. When you lose self-control, then you will easily be destroyed both from external influences and internal weaknesses.
Today on our Wisdom Trail, we are exploring a series of Solomon’s Proverbs that were assembled by King Hezekiah. These proverbs continue to provide us with more wisdom, insight, and understanding. Regardless of where you are in your faith walk, if you follow the precepts in Proverbs, your life will be rich and satisfying. Take them and plant them in your heart so that you will reap a harvest of wisdom.
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. 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 also like to challenge you to take just one precept that we learned in Proverbs today and commit to applying it to your life from this day forward.
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 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!