Day 214: Things that last – Proverbs 12 vs 1- 8

1 A person who loves discipline loves knowledge, but one who hates correction is stupid. 2 A good person will obtain favour from the Lord, but He will condemn a schemer. 3 A person cannot be made secure by wickedness, but the roots of the righteous will never be uprooted. 4 A wife with strong character is a crown to her husband, but one who brings shame is like rot in his bones.

5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. 6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouths of the upright will save them. 7 Wicked people are overthrown, and they are no more, but the house of the righteous continues to stand. 8 A person is praised for the good sense that he speaks, but a person with a twisted heart will be despised. Proverbs 12:1-8 Evangelical Heritage Version

What would you say verses 3 and 7 have in common?

They both speak of something that lasts. A tree with deep strong roots and a house on a solid foundation are pictures of security. They are likely to endure when fierce storms lash them. But the important thing to remember is that deep roots and solid foundations don't just happen by accident - they are the result of forethought and wisdom. Verse 5 speaks of the 'plans' that a righteous person makes – which includes rejecting the 'quick road' to success and riches that wicked people often devise (vs 2)

What does vs 1 say is one of the things that leads to wisdom for making right decisions in life?

A wise person is open to correction and discipline. They realize that being disciplined is one of the ways we can learn from mistakes (or rebellious things we did) and grow in knowledge. And it's that knowledge gained from being open to correction that will enable men and women to make wise choices in marriage. (vs 4) While that verse is written from a man's perspective (as it's usually men who do the proposing) it would be equally true of a woman's response to a man who wants to marry her. A wise person looks further than the outward attractions of a spouse. They look at character because they know that marriage can lead to either great blessing, or to sorrows and shame. They want a marriage that, like a tree with deep roots and a house on a solid foundation, will last a lifetime.

How do we know if people we meet and form friendships with are wise or wicked? (vs 6 & 8)

A big clue will be the conversations we have with them. While people may speak in ways that try to hide what their real motives are, their words often reveal what their hearts conceal. Foul language and dishonest schemes are big give-aways, but even if they are just prone to talking nonsense it's wise to avoid getting involved.

It may be someone who is already much older in life who reads this post, and perhaps has sad memories of things in life that didn't last. But, young or old, what is left of our life is still before us. We can still learn and still take correction. And what better path to go than what Jesus described in the illustration he gave of two houses that were built. He said: “Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and does them - I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house who dug down deep and laid a foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river beat against that house but could not shake it, because it was founded on bedrock. But the one who listened to my words and did not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river broke against it, it fell immediately, and that house was completely destroyed.” Luke 6:47-49

It's obedience to the words of Jesus Christ that lay a foundation for security and endurance in the storms of life - and it is Christ himself who will bring us to the eternal security of his Father's house.