Proverbs 14:11-21
“The house of the
wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. There
is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death.” (Proverbs 14:11-12)
As we’ve been told repeatedly, God will destroy those who
persist in doing evil, and will protect and bless those who do right, both in
this earthly life, and in eternity. There are various lifestyles that appeal to
people and don’t seem particularly bad, but the result of those choices is the
same as for deliberately doing what is considered evil. Man’s conscience is perverted and cannot be
trusted.
“Even in laughter the
heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.” (Proverbs 14:13)
Comedy and partying may temporarily distract on from their
problems, but they do not resolve them. They
continue to grow unobserved until one day they can no longer be pushed out of
sight. Frequently, by the time fun no
longer covers them, they have become so severe as to seem impossible to
resolve, especially to people who have always avoided dealing with their
problems. Like comedian Robin Williams,
suicide may be chosen as a way out.
“The backslider in
heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from
himself.” (Proberbs 14:14)
A person with a selfish or rebellious attitude will always
experience the consequences of their attitude, even when they do not practice
it. They will never be satisfied with
the result. The good person, on the
other hand, can look back with no regrets and be satisfied with what he has
accomplished.
“The simple believeth
every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil:
but the fool rageth, and is confident. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a
man of wicked devices is hated. The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are
crowned with knowledge.” (Proverbs 14:15-18)
Those who don’t think things through are like little child,
believing everything they are told.
Thoughtful people are more cautious, alert for possible dangers. When he senses danger, the wise man avoids
the situation, but the fool is confident he can bluff his way through and get
by with it, counting on gall and people’s aversion to confrontation to let him
get by with it. A person who depends on
anger to get by, constantly flying off the handle is stupid, and a person who
is rude or cruel and deceitful earns the hatred of those around him. People who don’t think things through make
foolish decisions but the careful learn as they go. Even among animals, the most intelligent are
cautious and aware of things around them.
“The evil bow before
the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.” (Proverbs 14:19)
Many criminals think of themselves as smarter than those who
obey the law, but they still find themselves forced to yield to the demands of
those who enforce it, seeking the law’s help for protection from their own
enemies. Even the most powerful dictator is forced to
consider the good in his land. Failure
to appease them eventually results in being overthrown.
“The poor is hated
even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but
he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.” (Proverbs 14:21)
Poor people are often ignored or spurned, even by their own
neighbors, because they have little to offer that most people want. People flock to the rich in hopes of getting
something from him, no matter what he is like.
It is sin to look down on or be
rude to our neighbor, no matter how poor he may be. God will bless those who consider the plight
of poor people.
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