Proverbs

What advice does a proverb offer the individual?

• Work hard
• Obey your parents
• Save your money, but don't be stingy
• Give first fruits to the Lord
• Tell the truth
• Speak carefully and softly
• Love and honor your spouse
• Respect authority
• Instruct and discipline you children
• Be generous to the poor

 There are three types of people who are found to be in desparate need of wisdom.  These people are losing the battle on all fronts.

• The scorner
  • They mock God's wisdom and don't accept it.
  • Prov 14:6 – It's too high for them, although they'd never admit it. 
  • Prov 21:24 – They think they know everything.
  • The word 'Scorner" means to 'make a mouth'.  We can imagine these folks making faces in mockery at God's principals.
  • Prov 9:7-8; 13:1 - Rebuke does no good.
  • In the end, he rejected wisdom & listened to folly leading to destruction (Prov 1:24-27; 6;32).
• The fool (ex. Nabal of 1 Sam 25)
  • This person is dense and sluggish in thought.
  • They are careless in decision, or lack of decision.
  • They are self satisfied in their life and decisions.
  • The fool hates instruction (Prov 1:7, 22).
  • The fool is self-confident (Prov 12:15)
  • The fool talks without thinking (Prov 29:11)
  • The fool mocks at sin (Prov 14:9)
  • The fool rejected wisdom & listened to folly leading to death (Prov 5:22,23; 8:36)
• The simple
  • The simple are gullible, believing everything and every body.
  • They lack discernment (Prov 14:15)
  • The simple are led astray and decieved easily by others (Prov 7:7).
  • They can't plan ahead or plot their steps to avoice pitfalls; they end up constantly in trouble (Prov 22:3).
  • In the end, they listened to folly & reject wisdom and go to hell (Prov 9:18; 7:27).

 The wise person is held in contrast to the three people above (This wisdom begins with fear of the Lord; Prov 2:6, 9:10)

•  They listen to instruction (Prov 1:5)
• The wise man obeys what they hear (Prov 10:8)
• The wise man stores up knowledge of lessons learned (Prov 10:14)
• Others are led to the Lord by way of the wise person (Prov 11:30)
• The wise man has learned to flee from sin (Prov 14:16)
• The wise understand the damage words can cause and guard their tongue (Prov 16:23)
• The wise are consistent and diligent in their daily responsibilities (Prov 10:5)