1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common,
The LORD is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD
Are riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards his soul will be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow,
And the rod of his anger will fail.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
13 The lazy man says, “ There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”
14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
He who is abhorred by the LORD will fall there.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
10 "Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
ReplyDeleteYes, strife and reproach will cease."
I couldn't help but think of the woman that my wife continually has troubles with at work - the woman who can't help but roll her eyes and scoff at anything new that needs to be implemented. What a terrible thing to be known as by everyone who works with you! But this is a good warning to all of us. Whether we think it or not, people are watching us. Are our attitudes a reflection of the Savior that we claim has saved us, is changing us, and building a relationship with?
6 "Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of correction will drive it far from him."
I want to focus on these verses though. I believe they are very important and speak of the responsibility of parents to learn their children's god-given talents and direct them accordingly (rather than living through your children as many parents seem to do). Likewise, it is up to parents to teach their children the proper way in which to apply those talents and gifts, and become responsible, attributable citizens - rather than giving them the foolish advice that is so prevalent today to simply follow your heart and do that which makes you happy.
Any thoughts on this?