Alcohol, money, power, relationships… all of these will be different depending on whether someone is wise or foolish in how the use these things. Read Proverbs 21. Contrast of Wisdom and Foolishness – Proverbs 21 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life. Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel. The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing. A plan in the…

Sleep well. My mother would tell me that and I tell my kids that. However, how we go about life during the day will determine whether we are able to sleep well. Read Proverbs 20. Keys for Life – Proverbs 20:1-29 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool. Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs. The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the Lord . Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend. A…

Words. How we use words reveals a great deal about us and our wisdom, or lack thereof. Read Proverbs 18. A Fool and His Words – Proverbs 18:1-13 He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom. A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind. When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, And with dishonor comes scorn. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment. A fool’s lips bring strife, And his…

It’s not about what you have, it’s about how you act. Your actions are the telling signs of whether or not you have wisdom. Read Proverbs 17. Actions of the Wise – Proverbs 17:1-9 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife. A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts. An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker;…

God’s plans, not our plans. It’s so interesting seeing how God moves and knowing how God must laugh as we create our plans. Read Proverbs 16. God sees the big picture – Proverbs 16:1-33 The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord . All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the Lord weighs the motives. Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to…

Inner thoughts and motives. God sees them all and they indicate our wisdom or foolishness. Read Proverbs 15. The thoughts that lead to the words – Proverbs 15:1-15 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit. A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible. Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble…

The character of wisdom. What does wisdom look like, sound like, act like? Read Proverbs 14. What Wisdom looks like – Proverbs 14:1-12 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands. He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord , But he who is devious in his ways despises Him. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back, But the lips of the wise will protect them. Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox. A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness utters lies.…

Everything. Our wisdom, or lack thereof, impacts absolutely every area of our life. In everything that we do, if we are being wise, we will see the results of that. However, if we are acting foolishly, that will also be just as evident. Read Proverbs 13. Daily Life – Proverbs 13:1-10 A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence. The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. The soul of the sluggard craves and…

What does it take to be wise? We have to be open to hearing the advice and counsel of others. Read Proverbs 12. Listening to Advice – Proverbs 12:1-28 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid. A good man will obtain favor from the Lord , But He will condemn a man who devises evil. A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved. An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones. The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the counsels of the…

So many differences between those with wisdom and those without. As we continue to see that contrast, read through Proverbs 11. Integrity v. None – Proverbs 11:1-10 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord , But a just weight is His delight. When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright…