Proverbs Chapter 19

#Wisdom #Folly #TheTongue #Speaklife #Knowledge #understanding #integrity

• Contents
• RELATIONSHIPS. 1
• Relationships With People. 1
• Parenting. 2
• Our Communications with them.. 2
• THE REWARD OF ACTING FOOLISHLY. 2
• Relationship Skills. 2
• Our Relationship With the Godhead. 2
• THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM… 3
• INTEGRITY. 3
• Lies. 3

RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships With People

Verses 4 and 6 are the speaking about the same context.

• 4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.  Many times people who are wealthy think that they can buy friends. The reality is those true friendships are not based on what one has in the bank Proverbs 18:24. The other side of the coin is also possible. One life incident can change that person’s wealth to poverty. Then it will separate the wealthy man from his neighbors.  6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
• 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? He pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. Poverty should not alienate friends, but where one lives generally defines how people treat you. This is not a Godly attitude. Scripture clearly talks about bias. James 2 declares 

Don’t Favor Rich People over Poor People

2 My brothers and sisters, practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ by not favoring one person over another. ² For example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes. ³ Suppose you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say to him, “Please have a seat.” But you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor at my feet.” ⁴ Aren’t you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments? ⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? ⁶ Yet, you show no respect to poor people. Don’t rich people oppress you and drag you into court? ⁷ Don’t they curse the good name of Jesus, the name that was used to bless you? ⁸ You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” ⁹ If you favor one person over another, you’re sinning, and this law convicts you of being disobedient. ¹⁰ If someone obeys all of God’s laws except one, that person is guilty of breaking all of them. ¹¹ After all, the one who said, “Never commit adultery,” is the same one who said, “Never murder.” If you do not commit adultery but you murder, you become a person who disobeys God’s laws. ¹² Talk and act as people who are going to be judged by laws that bring freedom. ¹³ No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

This is a timely Scripture. We are moving away from benevolence with the belief that God will provide to segregation, separation, and isolation. We cannot separate our beliefs from how we function as a society. God is not pleased when we turn the poor and destitute away. Now if those same poor and destitute are criminals who want to harm you and your family, then you are expected to take the necessary steps to protect yourself.

• 12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass. When a leader/ruler/king scares the people over whom he has the authority it displeases God. But when the king rules with “a good heart-1 Kings 3:9″ and has the needs of ALL of his people in mind the people are blesses.
• 14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. One’s inheritance may provide financial privileges, but a solid marriage based on a relationship that will last a lifetime comes only from the Lord. Forbes reported that the marriages of  50% of rich Americans end in divorce. That is astounding.
• 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. God expects us to take care of the poor.

All of the Bible references are from the New International Version.

ProverbsSpeak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.   — Proverbs 31:8-9

Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case and will extract life for life. — Proverbs 22:22-23

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—when you already have it with you. — Proverbs 3:27-28

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.  — Proverbs 11:25

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. — Psalm 9:9

The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God. But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.  — Psalm 9: 17-18

Looking at his disciples, [Jesus] said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. — Luke 6:20-21

• 19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. Many of us are unraveled by our tempers. We will lash out when we think that people are not listening to us. We believe that we have the one and only solution to the problem. There are many people who are in jail simply because they could not control their tempers. How many incidences of road rage have you seen on the new? Paul posited  in Ephesians 4:26 (KJV), that we should “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
• 25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.   

Parenting

Verses 18-26 address parenting children God’s way.  When children chose to ignore correction, instruction, and advice they reap the consequences of their choices and will end up causing their parents to experience shame and reproach. I tell my grandchildren all the time that I told their parents that when they act up in school and or in public it reflects on their parents and or on me if I happen to be with them. As a Christian parent when I do not follow through with the biblical discipline mentioned in Scripture it brings shame and reproach on the name of the Lord.

• 18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.  This Scripture is not telling us to abuse our children. It is telling us to correct their inappropriate behavior. See the characteristics of biblical discipline here.
• 27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
• 26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

Our Communications with them

THE REWARD OF ACTING FOOLISHLY

As we look at these scriptures we can identify that blaming God for our problems does not resolve them. 1) When one suddenly acquires riches without the knowledge of how to grow those riches and or how to use it wisely they will lose it. 2) Choosing an incompatible mate who is making our lives miserable, and demonstrating poor judgment is a choice we make because we did not take counsel before making the decision. 21There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

• 3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord
• 10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes. Never place an unskilled servant in a position of leadership for which they are not trained, The community will suffer.
• 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
• 29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools. 

Relationship Skills 

Our Relationship With the Godhead

• 16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.  Deuteronomy 28 talks about the blessings of growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. A sinful life will result in eternal death and or separation from God. Romans 6:23 23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.  

THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM

8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. 20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are no downsides or negative effects of receiving instruction, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from the Lord. However, there are negative consequences when one chooses to live without His direction. Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

INTEGRITY

• 1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
• 2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

A person without integrity is a person who operates outside of God’s law. Their concentric circle of friends will be very small. Within that small circle of friends will be the continual nagging doubt as to whether or not they can trust their friend who has no integrity. To the faithful, you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.  Scripture is replete with the Lord’s expectation from His children. He expects us to live lives that are governed by actions that demonstrate integrity. (2 Samuel 22:26, NLT) I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously. (1 Chronicles 29:17, NLT) Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. (Titus 2:7-8, NIV)

Lies: The same strand of the negatives and consequences of tellings is a thread that runs throughout the book of Proverbs.

• 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
• 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
• 22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
• 28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

Anger that is out of control and laziness are not in keeping with God’s will for us. We discussed these behaviors in previous chapters.

• 11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
• 15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger
• 24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

Finally friends, when we are living lives that demonstrate the love of God we do not speak foolishly. We seek wisdom. We can be trusted that when we say we are going to do a thing we will do it-integrity. We raise children that respect authority, and whose words can be trusted. We fear God and understand that lies destroy our relationships with Him and others.