Making Good choices

Proverbs 20:1-15

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)

Wine makes people look stupid and strong alcohol makes people unable to control their temper and thinking.  It’s not very smart the let them control your life.

“The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.” (Proverbs 20:2)

Antagonizing the government is very much like teasing a lion.  When he begins to growl or roar you better start being afraid.  You have deliberately given him reason for attacking you, effectively asking for it. 

“It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. ” (Proverbs 20:3)

To avoid a fight is a sign of maturity and wisdom.  A fool insists on stirring things up and keeping the fight going because he is too dumb to quit. 

“The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. ” (Proverbs 20:4)

The lazy person always finds and excuse not to do what needs done.  As a result, when other people have everything they need, he has nothing of his own and has to beg other people to give him something.

“Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. ” (Proverbs 20:5)

Most people know far more than shows publicly.  A wise person takes the trouble to bring out what others know.  Almost everybody has an idea or way of doing things that we can learn from.  Only a fool thinks he knows everything and doesn’t need to learn any more.

“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?  The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” (Proverbs 20:6-7)

Most people will tell you that they are one of the good guys, but there are very few you really trust to do what is right.   In fact, the bigger issue they make of it the less trustworthy they usually are.   The good, honest man lives his standards, he doesn’t just talk about them.  As a result his children are blessed because people expect them to be like their father.

“A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. ” (Proverbs 20:8)

A leader establishes the attitude of the country.  One who sets a standard of fair and honest judgment will drive out dishonesty and crime.  The cure for a growing crime rate is a change of attitude , starting with that of the leader. 

“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Proverbs 20:9)

While psychology can help us change our behavior and even some of our attitudes, it can never change the instincts we inherited from our ancestors.  One of those instincts is that of disobedience toward God.  It is beyond human ability to resolve that problem.  Only God can correct it.

“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. ” (Proverbs 20:10)

Dishonest and deceitful business practices are an abomination to God.  He finds them disgusting and nauseating.

“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. ” (Proverbs 20:11)

A person’s behavior determines his reputation from the time he is a very small child.  He is judged to be a good person or a bad one based on whether he does good things or bad ones.

“The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.” (Proverbs 20:12)

The ear senses vibrations of the air or other medium and interprets it as sound.  They eye senses the various colors and shades of light and enables the brain to understand what is around us.  The mechanisms are completely different but both were designed by God for inclusion in the human body.  God is not limited to one way of doing things.

“Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread” (Proverbs 20:13)

A love for taking life easy is likely to result in a life of poverty and frustration.  Bu opening one’s eyes and paying attention, one can see opportunities to obtain the things one desires. 

“It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. ” (Proverbs 20:14)

When he is thinking about buying something, the buyer runs it down pointing out flaws and limitations to get a better deal, but when he has obtained it he brags to his friends how good the item is to convince them how smart he was to buy it. 

“There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. ” (Proverbs 20:15)

There are things people value highly, such as Gold or jewels.  Unfortunately many people don’t realize the value of listening to somebody who knows about life.  It is as valuable and probably more than any jewels or gold one could acquire.