LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 11 V1 God hates false measurements. God loves honest measurements. V2 A proud man suffers shame. A humble man becomes wise. V3 A good man is honest. He is like a traveller who chooses the right way. Evil actions will ruin evil men.... [ Continue Reading ]
Our actions, like our words, are important to God. At work, we should not cheat other people. We must be fair. In a shop, a kilo or pound weight should be accurate. If we use false measurements, we lie to our customers. We should be honest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Humble people know that God is great. God likes humble people. God likes humble people because they look after other people. A humble person considers that other people are important. A proud person thinks only about himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
An honest man is a good man. He loves the truth. His decisions will be right. Jesus met a man called Nathanael. Jesus said, ‘This man is a genuine member of the nation of Israel. This man is totally honest.’ (John 1:47) Nathanael had the right attitudes, and these attitudes helped him to find Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
A judge in court does not ask whether a man is wealthy. If a man is guilty, then the judge will punish him. The judge does not care whether the guilty man is rich or poor. God will be the judge of everybody. We have all done evil things, so we all deserve punishment. Our money cannot save us from G... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon compares life to a journey. We must be honest. Then we will be like travellers who walk along good paths. We shall take the correct route to heaven. This is a good, straight path. It does not bend into dangerous places. We shall not lose our way. Verse 6 We have a simple choice. We can choo... [ Continue Reading ]
Death is terrible for an evil man. He will lose all of his money. He will lose all of his possessions. He will lose everything that he achieved in life. He will discover that he was wrong. But then it will be too late. The true Christian will have a different experience. Paul wrote, ‘While I live,... [ Continue Reading ]
Both verses explain that a good person can avoid troubles. In verse 8, God cares about a good man. But an evil man will suffer. Verse 9 explains how a good man can avoid trouble. He is wise, because he has studied many things. His knowledge protects him. He is safer than someone who knows nothing.... [ Continue Reading ]
An evil man’s words destroy his neighbour (verse 9). In verse 10, everyone suffers because of the evil man. Perhaps the evil man ruled the city. Perhaps he was very cruel. The evil man’s death means that the people will be free. This is why they shout for joy. This is why they want good men to succe... [ Continue Reading ]
Words are powerful. It is better to say nothing, than to speak evil words.... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is also about silence. We must think before we speak. Christian leaders often hear other people’s secrets. People should be able to trust their church leaders. The church leader should not tell someone’s secret to another person.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ordinary people need advice. Church leaders need advice. The leaders of cities need advice (verses 10-11). Even entire nations need advice. Good and bad words affect the lives of ordinary people. But good and bad words can also affect whole nations. The wise person is not afraid to ask for advice.... [ Continue Reading ]
We should make a promise only if we can carry out our promise. See also Proverbs 6:1-5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Many people ask about the benefits that a Christian receives. These verses compare kind people with cruel people. Kindness brings a real reward (verse 18). People respect the kind person (verse 16). This is a real benefit for a kind person (verse 17). A cruel man causes himself pain (verse 17). He... [ Continue Reading ]
Nobody is ‘really good’, except God (Luke 18:19). Nobody deserves to live with God in heaven. Heaven is God’s gift to us, but we must trust in him. Verse 20-21 These verses explain simple principles. These principles explain many things. God wants us to live good lives, but we are all evil. God h... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon uses humour in this verse. Solomon and his nation hated pigs. Everybody in Israel believed that pigs were unholy animals. The people never ate pig meat (Leviticus 11:7). An ugly pig does not become beautiful, even if it has a gold ring! In the same way, a foolish woman is never really beaut... [ Continue Reading ]
A good man wants good things, and he will receive good things. An evil man wants evil things. God will punish this man, because the man’s actions are evil. V24 One man gives, and his wealth increases. Another man does not give to anybody, and he becomes poor. V25 A generous man will become rich.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘One man gives, and his wealth increases. Another man does not give to anybody, and he becomes poor.’ This is a puzzle. When a man gives, he loses money. When a man does not give, he saves his money. This verse says the opposite. Solomon has not made a mistake. When someone is generous, God is kin... [ Continue Reading ]
There are many generous people who have great wealth. God has provided for them, so they provide for other people by their money. Then God provides the giver with more wealth, so that they can give even more.... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is about greedy people. In business, we are generous, if we are fair. When poor people are hungry, some shopkeepers might refuse to sell food for a reasonable price. Then hungry people would have to pay a higher price or remain hungry. The fair shopkeeper sells at a fair price.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is a good reward for the person who does the right thing. There is a severe punishment for the person who does evil things.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wealth does not matter. If we are wealthy, we must not trust in wealth. Once a wealthy young man wanted to follow Jesus. Jesus told him to give everything to poor people. Jesus loved the young man, but the young man refused. The young man trusted his wealth more than he trusted God. (Mark 10:17-23)... [ Continue Reading ]
A person might expect to receive money from his parents. If he upsets them, then he will get nothing. He will become poor. Perhaps he will have to be someone’s poor servant. He must suffer, because he is foolish.... [ Continue Reading ]
We can bring God’s life to other people. Our wisdom can show other people the way to God. This is another reason to learn God’s wisdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
God is fair with everybody. The good man will receive good things. God will provide for him. God is also fair with evil people. They will receive a fair punishment.... [ Continue Reading ]