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WISDOM AS DEEDS - PROVERBS 12

Today I want to talk to you about wisdom as deeds, part two out of Proverbs chapter 12, some really interesting things we can learn from here today. I hope you're getting lots of waves and having a great time in your life.

Proverbs 12:6 says that the words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright will deliver them. This has to do with motives and intentions. You'll see this over and over again. God is less concerned with results and outcomes, more concerned with your intentions, with your motives, and your character development. God wants our words and our motives to align with His word and His purity of heart. That's why you'll see this discrepancy in Proverbs between the wicked and the upright. You'll see this over and over again as you read through the book.

First - Here it's talking about people saying one thing, but really they're trying to take down other people. As you get older, as you grow in discernment, you'll see that there's the difference between what people say and then actually they can actively be working against you. God will show you how to handle that and how to navigate that. Proverbs 12.8 says, a man will be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised. The wise person seeks wisdom, but people whose hearts are off, they don't seek wisdom.

In fact, they're being strategic and they're calculating oftentimes how to work against the work of the Lord and maybe even how to work against you. Your challenge is to keep your heart right in the middle of all that.

Proverbs 12.1, he who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows for folly is devoid of understanding. The Bible doesn't really push us towards get rich quick schemes. It really pushes us towards daily disciplined hard work. Really consistent disciplined hard work.

This is really at the heart of a biblical work ethic is that you pick up a plow, you work your field, you yield a harvest, a crop. The principle there is that you're really showing up for work every single day. You're putting in the work. That's really at the heart of a biblical work ethic. So if you work your land, you'll be satisfied with bread. Now Proverbs 12.13, the wicked is ensnared by the transgressions of his lips, but the righteous will come through trouble. This should be a verse plastered all over the internet. The wicked are ensnared by the transgressions of their lips. How many times have we seen people say something outlandish online? And really it's just for clicks and views. Most of the time people are saying outlandish, wild things to get more clicks and get more views. That's a bad motive. We want our words to be few, but the impact of those words to be powerful.

Second - So if you view your words as an asset class, you'll speak less, you'll listen more. Then when you do speak, the weight of your words will be taken more seriously. Also the less you speak, the less you have an opportunity for your words to be weaponized against you, which most of what passes as authenticity now on the internet really isn't that at all. Most of what you say online is being collected and then in the opportune time it'll be weaponized back against you. So it's incentive to not say much.

Third - Now Proverbs 12, 15 last verse, the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. A lot of times we think that our decisions, the things that we try and do with our life justifies the decision making. And really you want to get as much wise input as you can. I've taught about this before, especially with big decisions, significant relationships, moving where you're going to work, things that impact your family, things that impact your friends, high level decisions you want to think very methodically and very slowly about.

Thank you so much for joining us today. There are always some great truths in God's word. That's why I do this. I hope you got something out of it. Until next time, I hope you have a beautiful day.

50 DAYS OF WISDOM - DAY 26 "Wisdom as Deeds" Proverbs 12