Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18:1-24

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;

he breaks out against all sound judgment.

• When you isolate yourself, you are saying, “I don’t need anyone, and no one needs me.”  Selfish.  
• We all need support, accountability, sharpening, rebuking, mentorship, etc.
• And you were put here to be there for others.  YOU are God’s hands and feet for someone.  If you choose isolation, you are holding back God’s hand.

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,

but only in expressing his opinion.

• I know a LOT of fools.  Man, do people like to express their opinions – and it usually comes without any foundation.  Although, I’m guilty of this, too.  I sure think I know it all at times.  
• "Understanding what you have to say?  Why would I?  I already know.  I’m me.  Prideful, egotistical, superior me."  

When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,

and with dishonor comes disgrace.

• People don't like an evil person. People make fun of that foolish person.
• The typical unbeliever has nothing but contempt for God because he often believes he is too “smart” to believe in God.  

The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;

the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

• This is not merely shallow talk, coming from a wise man.  The words are deep and meaningful, and should be heard and understood, not dismissed or ignored.
• Words of a wise man are a fountain of wisdom that never ends, never empties.
• Wisdom, coming from the heart, is where good advice/counsel comes from.

It is not good to be partial to the wicked

or to deprive the righteous of justice.

• Nothing good can come from giving any support or even credence to those who are up to no good.  
• And holding back what is right from those doing nothing BUT what is right?  That’s double wicked. 

A fool's lips walk into a fight,

and his mouth invites a beating.

A fool's mouth is his ruin,

and his lips are a snare to his soul.

• I know a lot of these fools, too.  
• Some can’t help themselves.  Some just don’t care and feel entitled to say whatever they want.  Back to selfishness, egotism, pride.  
• It’s like they are asking for it.
• "Better to keep quiet and appear a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

• Whisperer = Gossip.
• Yes, they taste SOOOO good, don’t they?  Gossip is extremely appealing, just like cake to an overeater.  Just like porn to a sex addict.  Gossip is no different.
• This verse is simply acknowledging that, but pointing out that it’s poison to the body, the soul, the spirit.  
• End game:  Don’t gossip.  Don’t take part in gossip.  

Whoever is slack in his work

is a brother to him who destroys.

• While laziness is a lifestyle for some, it is a temptation for all of us.  
• Lazy people spend more time making up excuses that the time it would take to just do the task.  Time-wasters, excuse-makers, production-killers, work-averters.
• Being lazy isn’t just a lifestyle.  It’s a “deathstyle" as well.  It destroys us in life and robs us in death.
• [Content taken from “Lazy”, by Woodrow Kroll]

 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

• "You are my strong tower.  A refuge for the weak."  Worship lyrics taken from this verse.  Great song.
• How are we righteous?  Through Jesus.  There is no other way.  We are righteous because He is.  God sees His blood when he looks at us.  
• And what’s interesting is, the verse says, “The NAME of the Lord.  Not even the Lord, but just His name is a strong tower.  In His name we are safe if we accept the gift of salvation offered by Jesus.

A rich man's wealth is his strong city,

and like a high wall in his imagination.

• Wealth, power, strength … in this world seems like everything.  But it’s not.  What happens when the market turns and the rich man is no longer rich?  He’s lost all.  But while he’s rich, he is lulled into a believe that he is invincible.  That nothing can touch him.  It is all about him and his ability to do things for himself.  The self-made man that he is.
• But that is all a false.  It’s just in his imagination.  The high wall that seems so impenetrable?  Nothing without God.  
• A poor man (a man who does not have money as his god), who has the real God as his wealth and his “high wall” is the one who is truly secure.    

Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,

but humility comes before honor.

• Pride comes before a fall.  “I’m awesome!  No one can defeat me!”  Wait for it … destruction is coming.
• Humility takes more will, more character, more integrity, more self-awareness and awareness of the God who created us.  With that humility follows honor in His eyes, and in the eyes of those who are wise enough to discern.

If one gives an answer before he hears,

it is his folly and shame.

• Don’t jump to conclusions.  Seek to understand before speaking.  And don’t let your emotions get ahead of you.  Part of being an adult is perfecting self-control.  
• Don’t be so eager to give your “2 cents”.  Everyone’s got an opinion – save yours until you fully understand and really “hear” what is being said.  
• Speak too soon and you risk looking like an idiot, damaging a relationship, or bringing on shame to you or to others.

A man's spirit will endure sickness,

but a crushed spirit who can bear?

• There is a significant difference between having “the funk” and being in “a funk”.
• A person can make it through physical sickness if they keep a strong spirit and outlook.
• But crush that person’s spirit?  That brings you to the pit that is far more difficult to recover from.

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

• Once your heart knows what is most important, a hunger follows.  
• Notice it does not say, “An intelligent mind”.  The verse is talking about something deeper than intellect.  It’s talking about “knowing” from the heart.
• And that open heart, hungry for knowledge, will acquire it naturally.  And if you seek to understand, and listen with that open heart, you will hear and gain in knowledge.

A man's gift makes room for him

and brings him before the great.

• We all have talents.  God-given gifts that we do not know HOW we do, but we can just do.  My ability to annoy, for instance. ;)  It just comes.
• Seriously, we are not given those gifts for no reason … and we’re certainly not given those gifts for ourselves, or to gain worldly things.
• When we acknowledge the gifts God has given us, then decide to use them for HIS glory alone, we approach the “great” … our true purpose.

The one who states his case first seems right,

until the other comes and examines him.

• Moral of the story:  Don’t jump to a conclusion until you’ve heard all perspectives and all the information.  Only then can you discern what is right and true.
• A position stated with no cross examination is flawed.  Until it stands up against scrutiny, do not absorb it quite yet.  
• Too many non-believers have “heard the case” from the world, but have never taken the time to hear the case for faith, for Christ, for God.  The opposition is capable of pulling words together to make their case sound true, but upon further review, it has no basis and is nothing more than an “argument”.  

The lot puts an end to quarrels

and decides between powerful contenders.

• Think of “casting lots”, like the guards cast lots for Jesus’ loincloth following His crucifixion.  In modern terms, you would say, “Rock, Paper, Scissors” or “flip a coin”.
• Everyone seems fine with random chance to settle a dispute, but very few of us says, “Let’s check with the Good Book” or “Let’s pray on it”.  Sad.
• The reason, I believe, people are okay with random chance is this:  With God, the truth is the truth.  There is no refuting it.  With random chance, even if you’re wrong you still have a chance.  Pitiful that our self-centeredness would lead us to such a lack of justice.  More proof that we can not do this alone – we need God.

A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,

and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

• Think:  A brother “sinned against”.   
• It is difficult to get into a well fortified city.  It’s even harder to reach a brother you’ve sinned against.  
• When you offend someone, the “bars go up” as it were.  And they are not easily torn down by you OR by the offended.  

From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;

he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

• Productive speech is not just satisfying – it meets the basic needs of life.  There is a practical return for beneficial words.
• "Speak life, speak life, to the deadest darkest night.”  Toby Mac
• Speak uplifting, productive words … or don’t speak at all. 
• Most times, it’s not food or water we need.  It’s the right words at the right time to fill us.  

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruits.

• The tongue is like the small rudder on a huge ship.  Such a small thing guides such a large thing.
• The tongue is also like a spark.  It can set someone on fire and motivate them to do what is right and good.  It can also set the whole forest on fire.  So control it – it is a powerful weapon.  Use it wisely and only for good, productive things.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the Lord.

• A man who finds a wife has acknowledged two things:
• That love is what matters most.  God is love.  
• That we are only half of the equation of becoming more like Christ.  We need our other half … to complete us, to help us to improve, to tell us what we need to hear (even though we may not want to hear it), and to show us a small example of God’s love for us.  An unconditional agape love.
• So, acknowledging this by finding a wife is a good thing for both, and is pleasing to God.  

The poor use entreaties,

but the rich answer roughly.

• Entreaty = An earnest or humble request.
• Poor and rich are nouns used here not necessarily intended to mean money, or lack thereof.  
• Poor just means that you are poor in this world (but rich in eternity, because your focus is not here, it’s on heaven)
• Rich just means that you are rich in this world (but poor in eternity, because your focus is here, not on heaven)
• Those with their eyes on heaven know to be humble because that humility gains “riches" for them in heaven.
• Those with their eyes on this world are filled with pride, they are selfish, they are demanding and feel entitled.  Hence, they answer roughly to humble requests.

A man of many companions may come to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

• Jesus is that friend.  And all those close enough to keep you accountable, to help you continually become more Christlike, to sharpen you as iron sharpens iron … those are the few friends you should focus upon.