Your Decisions Reflect Your Attitude

Proverbs 14:1-10

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” (Proverbs 14:1)

Working as a plumber, it was shocking to see how many homes had holes kicked in the walls or broken fixtures.  People simply didn’t take care of what they owned, allowing it to deteriorate and lose its value.  In a fit of anger some deliberately broke windows or sheetrock walls.  Others sold their furniture and appliances to get drugs or alcohol, or the newest fashion clothing or game console.  Eventually they were forced to move because their house was no longer livable. 

Many times the people next door had no more income, and had older, and less expensive homes, but because they took care of it and worked to improve it, had very nice homes.  Foolish people don’t appreciate what they have, and fritter it away or lose it. 

“He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.” (Proverbs 14:2)

A man who maintains a high moral character demonstrates a deep respect for God.   A person who deliberately does things he knows are wrong demonstrates his disdain and lack of respect toward God.  A person’s lifestyle shows whether they respect God or not.

“In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.” (Proverbs 14:3)

Foolish people take pride in using their mouth like a club to get their way.  In doing so they offend a lot of people and frequently end up in fights.  Wise people are more careful in what they say, with the result they don’t make nearly as many enemies.  Giving people a piece of your mind may cost more than you can afford.

“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” (Proverbs 14:4)

It’s a lot easier to keep the barn clean if you don’t have any oxen or horses, but using them enables one to accomplish far more than he could do without one.  In the same way, keeping a spotless house is easier without a husband or children, and keeping a workshop clean is easier without any employees, but one is limited in what they can do as a result.  Their help is worth far more than what the extra cleaning requires. 

“A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.” (Proverbs 14:5)

An honest person does not intentionally lie.  A liar lies.  That’s what liars do.  It is silly to assume a person who has deliberately lied about one thing will not lie about something else.  A woman who marries a man who was unfaithful to his first wife and lied about it is silly to not expect him to do the same thing to her.  People are foolish to expect a politician who lies about his qualifications and beliefs to be honest when he is elected.    

“A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.” (Proverbs 14:6)

A person who thinks other people are dumb doesn’t learn even when he goes to school to get and education.  People who understand there are things they need to know find it easy to learn.  The person’s attitude has more effect on what they will learn than their actual intelligence.  As any good teacher can tell you, it is far easier to teach a mentally challenged child who has a good attitude than it is to teach a very bright child who is convinced he already knows everything about the subject. 

“Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.  The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.  Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” (Proverbs 14:7-9)

When you realize somebody is foolish, don’t keep hanging around them.  Smart people think about what they are doing, but fools tell themselves it doesn’t matter what they do, deceiving themselves.  They think it is funny to do wrong, but good people earn people’s respect.

“The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.” (Proverbs 14:10)

You know your own feelings, and nobody else can tell you how to feel or force you to change your feelings.  Changes in your feelings have to come from within, by changing attitudes and thoughts.