Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 516 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Don’t Brag About Tomorrow – Proverbs 27:1-14
Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 516 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 1st half of Chapter 27.
We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. The open house that we had this past Saturday turned out very nice. We had about 50 people in attendance over the three-hour window. We enjoyed talking with everyone and showing the house. Most of them had not been inside, and with the renovations that we completed over the past few years, it was fun giving tours, which Paula is very good at.
We are truly blessed to be stewards of the house, which my great-grandparents built. Few families have the rich history that we are part of. God has been gracious to us as a family. We do realize all that we have is just on loan to us for the few years that God grants us life, and it is up to us to be good stewards with what He has provided to us. We look forward to many years of continued renovations and enjoyment of the home, but realize that it is God who grants us the ability and life to carry on. Because of this, we are careful to follow the exhortation found in verse 1…
Don’t Brag About Tomorrow
Let’s start our trek as we explore verses 1-14.
More Proverbs of Solomon
1 Don’t brag about tomorrow,
since you don’t know what the day will bring.
God is the one who controls every breath that we take. If we go through life with pride believing that our success and advancement is because of us, then we miss this point. While we should plan and prepare for the future, we must realize that God is ultimately the giver of life and all that we have.
2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
a stranger, not your own lips.
We should not be hasty in promoting and praising of ourselves. While it is crucial to have a healthy self-image, we do not need to publically proclaim it. We should remain quietly confident. It is far better for others to proclaim it, if we are worthy of any praise.
3 A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier.
Stone and sand are among the heaviest of all materials known to humans. While we can physically be crushed by these elements, there is an even heavier emotional weight on us. We all desire to be loved and respected, and when we are resented by others, it will crush us emotionally because the resentment is heavy in our soul.
4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood,
but jealousy is even more dangerous.
Anger is cruel to both the person who is dishing it out and to those that are on the receiving end. Anger and wrath will drown the recipient like a flood. There is one additional emotion that is even worse, and that is being the victim of jealousy. It can destroy you emotionally, and it will also destroy the person who is the initiator of that jealousy.
5 An open rebuke
is better than hidden love!
A person who is truly concerned for your well-being is willing to correct and rebuke you when you go astray or are heading into danger. It is their love for you that compels them. This is much better than them not saying anything because they feel it may offend you. True love is honest love.
6 Wounds from a sincere friend
are better than many kisses from an enemy.
In the same thought, a friend is willing to cause temporary pain to avert long-term destruction. This is much better than outward affection from someone that does not care if you are heading down the wrong trail.
7 A person who is full refuses honey,
but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry.
When we have overeaten, even when there is additional delicious food before us, we will refuse it. Solomon refers to honey which is one of the sweetest foods on earth. If you are starving though, you are willing to eat undesirable food to help satisfy your cravings.
8 A person who strays from home
is like a bird that strays from its nest.
When we are part of a family, we have certain moral responsibilities within that family. The most important one is to love our family. When we stray or abandon our responsibilities, then it is no different than a bird abandoning their God-given duties.
9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend
is as sweet as perfume and incense.
It is good to have friends close enough who are willing to guide and mentor you. Although it may be challenging to hear, in the end, it is a sweet aroma.
10 Never abandon a friend—
either yours or your father’s.
When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance.
It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.
It is good and proper to establish friends who are close both physically and spiritually. This safety net will provide protection and assistance when needed. This is crucial when serious issues and disasters come into your life. A close neighbor can be there immediately when it may take family much longer.
11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad.
Then I will be able to answer my critics.
Wisdom implanted into our children early in life will be a reward later on. It will be an example to others who are against you or critical of you.
12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
A wise and prudent person will understand the dangers and obstacles that are part of everyone’s life and make sure they are prepared. A person who is simple will ignore this potential, and their life will be filled with problems and drama.
13 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.
Once again Solomon warns about the dangers of debt. This is especially true when you co-sign or guarantee the debt for someone else. If you are loaning the money, then to make sure you are protected, you should seek out additional security on that loan. This is especially true if the person who is borrowing the money is a stranger or unknown to you.
14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning
will be taken as a curse!
We should be considerate of others at all times. Some people are able to get up early and be filled with energy, many others are not. If you are one of those early risers, be especially considerate of others who are not. This is especially true of your spouse, children, and close family members.
Today on our Wisdom Trail, we continue to explore a series of Solomon’s Proverbs that were assembled by King Hezekiah. These proverbs provide us with more wisdom, insight, and understanding on a myriad of relationship issues. Regardless of where you are in your faith walk, your life will be rich and satisfying if you follow the precepts in Proverbs. Take them and plant them in your heart so that you will reap a harvest of wisdom. I would challenge you to take just one precept that we learn today in Proverbs and commit yourself to applying it to 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.
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!