Proverbs 10: Do You Enjoy Making Wicked Plans?

There can be a certain thrill to scheming, as you make up your plans to trick your parents and others as you engage in behavior that you should not. Some people find this enjoyable.

Verse 23 of this chapter says: “Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.”

So fools enjoy wicked plans and wise people enjoy discernment, but what is the end result of each option?

Verses 24-25 say: “What the wicked fears will come on him; what the righteous desire will be granted.
When the storm passes through, the wicked are swept away, but the righteous are an everlasting foundation.”

Whenever you are scheming, you may be worried that you will be found out. Sometimes you are, but God always knows about your scheming, and your fears will come true. The wicked will not be able to weather the storms whereas a righteous wise person’s foundation is secure.

Proverbs 9: How Do You Respond to Correction?

This is a very important question that we need to all answer.  How do you respond to correction?

I know in the past there have been times when I found it difficult to be corrected.  I was prideful, and I was wrong, and ultimately I needed to be corrected.

If you find that it is difficult for you to listen to correction then you are not wise.  This is not to say that every single time you are corrected the other person is right, but you should consider what the person is saying, and make the necessary changes if he is right.

Listen to what Solomon says in this chapter in verse 8: “Do not reprove a mocker or he will hate you;
reprove a wise person and he will love you.”

If you try to correct a mocker, an unwise person who preys on others, they will not be happy with you and will actually hate you. If you reprove a wise person, he will appreciate it.

Are you a mocker or are you a wise person? How do you respond to correction?

Provers 29: Justice

Though the government is ordained by God, and we are supposed to obey it, we should not look to it for perfect or complete justice. Even the greatest kings or politicians are far from being perfect in their judgements. We should not be dreamers who think the next big political thing is going to solve our problems; only God can do that.

Verse 26 states, “Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice.”

Ultimately, justice will come from God. When Jesus returns to this earth he will judge justly as only God can.

Proverbs 24: Authority

Do you have trouble respecting authority?

American teenagers are sometimes (sadly) known for disrespecting authority. Are you disrespectful of your parents, police officers, or teachers?

There may be peer pressure to be disrespectful because some people think it's cool to be disrespectful. Well, one thing we see in the book of Proverbs is an encouragement to respect God’s authority and the authority of the King. We must remember that God is sovereign ,and for this reason we must respect the laws of the land and do as they say.

Verses 21-22 say, "My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?"

Judgement awaits us if we do not listen to the authorities God has placed over our lives.  Let us remember that.