Proverbs 15 - "Watch your mouth"

Proverbs 15:1-33

A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

• You get more bees with sugar than with vinegar.  Why escalate the situation when you can bring it back to DefCon 1?  
• Before responding or reacting, take a moment, breath, realize this truth, then speak softly (but feel free to carry a big stick ;) ).
• And watch your tone (did you hear that Greg?).  Harshness is anger and pride leaking out … it’s lack of self-control.  It’s a controlled temper-tantrum.

 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

• If someone says something or does something right, tell them.  Don’t let the opportunity pass to commend them.  This only lifts them up and motivates them to do it again and again.
• The foolish response to the hearing of knowledge or the right statement of knowledge by a young person is to ignore it and say nothing or to mock it.  “No kidding Einstein – der.”  This knocks down knowledge and motivation to seek it and leverage it.  
• Take knowledge – whether you like that knowledge or not – and place it in the pot with the rest of the knowledge you hold, so that your actions and words are wise, not foolish.

 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

• He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake.  Have you been naughty or nice?
• Here’s the thing about an all-knowing, all-wise, omnipotent and omnipresent God … well, that’s about it.
• There is no hiding – not even in your heart and mind.  Especially not there.  
• I don’t look at this as overbearing, though (however He did create me, so He certainly has the right).  I look at this as comforting.  Hiding sin is like hiding the wood rot and termites.  It will destroy you.  God makes that easy to avoid by saying He can see them and suggests you call on Him to help you remove them.

 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

• Either be gentle in your speech or don’t.  Tainting it with sarcasm or evil or foul comments ruins it and it breaks the spirit – it de-motivates and deflates – the recipient.
• As I say to Nic, “Just be nice – try that without trying to be witty or funny.”  Or as Gram used to say, “Be kind."

 A fool despises his father's instruction,

but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

• "I know better, with my limited years and limited wisdom.  The old man’s advice is not welcome."  Foolishness.  And that foolishness will end in disaster.
• The reason the Bible exists is to instruct us.  To give us history for examples of how to – and how NOT to – do it; to tell us directly what we should and should not do; and to give us parables so we can better understand why from the Messiah himself.  It’s quite a gift.
• Heed the advice.  Trust Him – he knows and wants what is best for you.

 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

• Think of a happy, healthy, well-adjusted family … smiles, love, support,, encouragement … this is real treasure.  This all start with a firm foundation of love and truth.  Follow God’s instructions in the home and this treasure will follow.  And as a Father and leader of the family, this doubly applies.
• Ever meet an out of control, disrespectful, or otherwise rotten child?  Look to the parents – they have failed their child in some way.

 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

 not so the hearts of fools.

• This means two things, I think:
1. We should spread good knowledge, not bad (e.g. Rumors, gossip, lies).
2. We should spread the good news.  Keeping it to ourselves is not only selfish, it is harmful to those who need to hear it.  God may have sent only you to share that news with a given person.  If you don’t, maybe they won’t hear it at all.

 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but he loves him who pursues righteousness.

• The first thing that comes to mind it the “works” Christian who comes to church on Sunday, but then walks away and lives life however he wishes – based on his definitions of right and wrong.
• God is not fooled.  He knows your heart.  If you’ve truly accepted Jesus, you are saved, no doubt, but don’t think that God is pleased with selfishness and sin.  You just happen to have a protective barrier named Jesus protecting you from God’s wrath.  
• If you really believe, then you believe His Word and His instruction, and you do your best to follow through on that.  You will stumble, of course, because “none is righteous - no, not one”.  But going to church or tithing or working at the soup kitchen while your heart is rotten?  It’s an abomination to God.

 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;

 whoever hates reproof will die.

 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;

how much more the hearts of the children of man!

• When will Sheol learn!  Silly Sheol.
• We talk about the wages of sin being "death”.  God is a just God in addition to being a loving God.  There are examples of God’s severe discipline all over the Old Testament.  I think that they still happen today to those who have not chosen belief in Jesus the Messiah.   
• But with “free will” comes choices to “hate reproof” - to deny God and His sovereignty over us.  Without free will there is no real love.  But with free will also comes the potential for rejection of God, which is a valid choice.  But that choice comes with consequences.  

 A scoffer does not like to be reproved;

he will not go to the wise.

• Scoffers, skeptics, militant atheists, and the like do not want to learn anything more than what they choose to know.  God forbid they are wrong.
• I have many friends who I’ve offered to speak with about what I’ve learned.  I’ve offered them books that explain it simply.  But they do not want anything to do with it.  I was one of those guys once, so I understand and empathize with them.  But I also grieve for them.

 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

• Sometimes being happy is a choice.  I know that is hard to imagine for a negative thinker, but the choice is to look for the gold chunks in the trash pile.  Once you do this often enough, you will only see the gold chunks and NOT the trash.  
• Likewise, we can only see the trash is that’s all we focus on.  And by doing so, we never even notice the gold.

 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

• Fools not only do foolish things, they LOVE doing them.
• But with my rebirth 5 years ago, I am hungry for more and more knowledge.  Do you recall Greg ever being a big reader?  However, in the past 5 years, I’ve read over 250 Bible-based books, including the Bible itself (except for some of the minor Prophets in the OT, to be honest).  I understand and I seek, not motivated by an “I must”, but rather by an “I desire”.

 All the days of the afflicted are evil,

but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

• Paul preached from prison about being content in all circumstances.  Keep in mind the scene:  This is no modern day prison.  This is little food and water, filth, excrement, rats and other bugs … hell on earth.  And he is content and preaching about contentment.
• Yes, your problems are tough.  Yes, no one understands.  Yes, yes, yes.  But – again – that’s the trash.   Look for the gold, like God loves you, that he’s shaping you, that you’ll spend eternity with Him in heaven.  With that perspective, you will have a “continual feast” to gorge yourself on.  
• Focus on the positive, acknowledge – but do not dwell upon – the negative.

 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord

than great treasure and trouble with it.

• The world teaches that great treasure, no matter the cost, is the goal.  But that is lack of experience talking.
• Better to live content with little and with reverence for God and His ways than to have a pile of money and the trouble that comes with it.

 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

• Mmmm, that’s real angst.  Juicy.
• Love = God.  Hate = the enemy.  Better to have nothing with God, than to have everything (from a worldly perspective) and be without Him.

 A hot- tempered man stirs up strife,

but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

• Which one are you, the one who stirs up the hornet’s nest, or the peacemaker?  Remember:  "Blessed is the peacemaker.”
• Self-control is one of God’s commands.  

 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,

but the path of the upright is a level highway.

• I find that when I work one additional hour a day, stress disappears.  This is because I have the time to plan, to consider, to catch up.  Not so on a day where I don’t.  If a little more effort makes the whole day go better, why would I choose to be lazy and stressed?  
• Unfortunately, I know this because I’ve done both in my career.

 A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

• This is a repeat.  Pay attention.  Do you want your parents to be proud or embarrassed?  Up to you.

 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,

but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

• Again, a repeat.  Fools love foolishness!  A wise man avoids it.

 Without counsel plans fail,

but with many advisers they succeed.

• Even the Lone Ranger needed Tonto.  Stop trying to go it alone – no one is impressed.  
• It’s a lie told to us by the enemy – that if you do it all by yourself, that you’re better somehow – a self-made man.  Baloney.  Seek counsel, add to your data set, and make informed decisions.

 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,

and a word in season, how good it is!

• Nothing like having the right words at the right time under the right circumstances.  This is why pastors and Priests suggest scripture memorization.  Having them in rote memory to drop at a moments notice to console or to lift up is a gift from God through you.

 The path of life leads upward for the prudent,

that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

• We are called to live up in the stratosphere, above and outside of this world … while in this world.  Like aliens in a strange land.
• This life only lifts us up and pleases God.  It also really annoys the enemy (given the name Sheol in this instance).  Also know that the enemy will not give up just because you’re doing the right thing.  He will try to knock you off your perch through doubt, lies, and troubles.  Do not let him do this.  Be still and know that HE is God.

 The Lord tears down the house of the proud

but maintains the widow's boundaries.

 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,

but gracious words are pure.

• Pride comes before a fall.
• Words of unconditional forgiveness are always returned with goodness.  Be gracious as God has given us grace while we were dead in our sins.

 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,

but he who hates bribes will live.

• Look out for the shortcut - it will not likely pay off in the long run.  
• "What’s in it for me?", is no way to live.  Do things because they are right, not because you will get something.  
• It is selfish thinking to worry about you when others are in need.

 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

 The Lord is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

• Be prudent in your words.  Think, then speak.
• Do sinful things and then expect God to clean it up?  Not how it works.  You must learn from your mistakes – God is a good Father that way.  If he cleaned up the mess you cause every time, you would be a spoiled, motivation-less, brat.  Not good for you or anyone.

 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

and good news refreshes the bones.

• Smile – it’s contagious.  It could also change the trajectory of your day, or someone else’s.
• Bring the good news with joy!  It is the best news in all of history, and means everything!

 The ear that listens to life- giving reproof

will dwell among the wise.

 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,

but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

• Ignoring good advice simply means you care little about yourself.  If you knew better, you would care.
• Birds of a feather flock together.  Generally, wise people flock with wise people.  Fools with fools.  Take a look at the people with whom you hang.  Are they wise?

 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

• How many honorable people do you know who brag about themselves?  I can’t think of one.
• Revering and respecting God’s word is the first step to wisdom.  Be wise and heed His instruction.  It’s good stuff.

Love you all.