PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud . . . The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning” (Proverbs 16:19, 21).

This is another way of saying what the Bible says in the New Testament, “Condescend to men of low estate.” In other words, don’t hang around proud folks. Don’t hang around folks that have their mind and eyes set on high things of this world. That is, “Come down from your high horse.”

We are better to be around poor, humble folks that are trying to live for God, then we are to be around high-minded, snobby people that are more interested in earthly success than heavenly joy.

“Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Obviously, you might make money now hanging around with the crowd, but sooner or later you are going to lose it. You might think you are going to divide the spoil with the proud now. Haman thought he was going to get it all, Ahab finally got possession of Naboth’s vineyard, but he didn’t get to keep it very long. Belshazzar had the whole wealth of the Babylonians in his hand, he lost it in one night. He got so proud that he was having a party and drinking liquor out of the golden cups of the temple, but God wrote on the wall that his time was up—and it was.

“The wise in heart shall be called prudent,” the wise heart comes from the Scriptures, that is where you get it. Wisdom comes from the Scriptures; wisdom comes from the Holy Ghost.

“The wise in heart shall be called prudent,” the prudent are careful. The prudent are worried about consequences. They just don’t go rushing in where angels fear to tread.

“. . . and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning,” not necessarily your lips, verse 24 shows that it could be someone else, “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Like one man said, “Get under the spout where the glory comes out, and you’ll have to shout and never need to pout!”

This is why folks ought to come to church. They need to be encouraged. They need to be under the sweet words of the Scriptures and hear the sweet testimonies of believers that God has blessed and how they got through problems with God’s help. We ought to hear those things. As long as you can find a faithful Bible-believing church that has not compromised with the world’s methods.

“. . . and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning,” the Bible is likened to honey, and food, sometimes it is sweet. And sometimes it is bitter. Often the bitter comes first, because we enjoy desert after the dinner.

Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.

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