A Wisdom Check
By Dale V.
Nobbman
Consider this
'wisdom' check a
barometer to see
how we are doing
as a human race
in heeding the
words of wisdom
recorded by King
Solomon in the
biblical book of
Proverbs.
Solomon,
the son of King
David, asked God
for wisdom and
God granted his
request.
Solomon
is said to be
the 'wisest' man
who ever lived,
and also the
'richest' man
who ever lived.
Though he
was wise and
rich, Solomon
was not a
perfect person,
he commited sins
just like the
rest of us, but
his wise words
and proverbs of
Godly and
practical wisdom
written down for
us in the Bible,
is wisdom we
would be wise to
follow in our
daily lives
today,
especially since
it was God who
supplied Solomon
with his wisdom.
Perhaps certain
people will come
to mind as you
read through the
following
'selected'
proverbs of
Solomon, such as
specific
political
leaders, or high
profile people
in the
entertainment
industry,
athletes in
professional
sports,
broadcast
journalists and
commentators,
print media news
people, or
people you know
in your own
corner of the
world, including
your local
pastor and other
religious
leaders, but
especially have
'yourself' in
mind as you
consider how we
are all doing in
following
Solomon's advice
for making this
a better world
to live in for
the nearly 7.1
billion people
today!
So...let's see
how we are doing
around the world
in applying
Solomon's wise
words of advice
to our daily
activities in
society, in
government, and
in our personal
lives.
Do not let
kindness and
truth leave you;
bind them around
your neck, write
them on the
tablet of your
heart, so you
will find favor
and good repute
in the sight of
God and man.
Trust in
the Lord with
all your heart,
and do not lean
on your own
understanding.
Proverbs
3:3-5
In all your ways
acknowledge Him,
and He will make
your paths
straight.
3:6
Do not be wise
in your own
eyes; fear the
Lord and turn
away from evil.
3:7
Do not withhold
good from those
to whom it is
due, when it is
in your power to
do it.
3:27
Do not contend
with a man
without cause,
if he has done
you no harm.
3:30
Put away from
you a deceitful
mouth, and put
devious lips far
from you.
4:24
There are six
things which the
Lord hates, yes,
seven which are
an abomination
to Him: haughty
eyes, a lying
tongue, and
hands that shed
innocent blood,
a heart that
devises wicked
plans, feet that
run rapidly to
evil, a false
witness who
utters lies, and
one who spreads
strife among
brothers.
6:16-19
The fear of the
Lord is the
beginning of
wisdom, and the
knowledge of the
Holy One is
understanding.
9:10
A wise son makes
a father glad,
but a foolish
son is a grief
to his mother.
10:1
Hatred stirs up
strife, but love
covers all
transgressions.
10:12
When there are
many words,
transgression is
unavoidable, but
he who restrains
his lips is
wise.
10:19
When pride
comes, then
comes dishonor,
but with the
humble is
wisdom.
11:2
By the blessing
of the upright a
city is exalted,
but by the mouth
of the wicked it
is torn down.
11:11
The generous man
will be
prosperous, and
he who waters
will himself be
watered.
11:25
Whoever loves
discipline loves
knowledge, but
he who hates
reproof is
stupid.
12:1
An excellent
wife is the
crown of her
husband, but she
who shames him
is as rottenness
in his bones.
12:4
The way of a
fool is right in
his own eyes,
but a wise man
is he who
listens to
counsel.
12:15
Lying lips are
an abomination
to the Lord, but
those who deal
faithfully are
His delight.
12:22
Anxiety in the
heart of a man
weighs it down,
but a good word
makes it glad.
12:25
A wise son
accepts his
father's
discipline, but
a scoffer does
not listen to
rebuke.
13:1
The one who
guards his mouth
preserves his
life; the one
who opens wide
his lips comes
to ruin.
13:3
Every prudent
man acts with
knowledge, but a
fool displays
folly.
13:16
He who spares
his rod hates
his son, but he
who loves him
disciplines him
diligently.
13:24
A scoffer seeks
wisdom, and
finds none, but
knowledge is
easy to him who
has
understanding.
14:6
There is a way
which seems
right to a man,
but its end is
the way of
death.
14:12
A wise man is
cautious and
turns away from
evil, but a fool
is arrogant and
careless.
14:16
In all labor
there is profit,
but mere talk
leads only to
poverty.
14:23
He who is slow
to anger has
great
understanding,
but he who is
quick-tempered
exalts folly.
14:29
He who oppresses
the poor
reproaches his
Maker, but he
who is gracious
to the needy
honors Him.
14:31
Righteousness
exalts a nation,
but sin is a
disgrace to any
people.
14:34
A gentle answer
turns away
wrath, but a
harsh word stirs
up anger.
15:1
The mind of the
intelligent
seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of
fools feeds on
folly.
15:14
Better is a
little with the
fear of the
Lord, than great
treasure and
turmoil with it.
15:16
A hot-tempered
man stirs up
strife, but the
slow to anger
pacifies
contention.
15:18
Evil plans are
an abomination
to the Lord, but
pleasant words
are pure.
15:26
The heart of the
righteous
ponders how to
answer, but the
mouth of the
wicked pours out
evil things.
15:28
The fear of the
Lord is the
instruction for
wisdom, and
before honor
comes humility.
15:33
Better is a
little with
righteousness
than great
income with
injustice.
16:8
The mind of man
plans his way,
but the Lord
directs his
steps.
16:9
A just balance
and scales
belong to the
Lord; all the
weights of the
bag are His
concern.
16:11
How much better
it is to get
wisdom than
gold!
And to
get
understanding is
to be chosen
above silver.
16:16
Pride goes
before
destruction, and
a haughty spirit
before
stumbling.
16:18
He who gives
attention to the
word shall find
good, and
blessed is he
who trusts in
the Lord.
16:20
Pleasant words
are a honeycomb,
sweet to the
soul and healing
to the bones.
16:24
A perverse man
spreads strife,
and a slanderer
separates
intimate
friends.
16:28
He who is slow
to anger is
better than the
mighty, and he
who rules his
spirit, than he
who captures a
city.
16:32
The refining pot
is for silver
and the furnace
for gold, but
the Lord tests
hearts.
17:3
A rebuke goes
deeper into one
who has
understanding
than a hundred
blows into a
fool.
17:10
He who justifies
the wicked, and
he who condemns
the righteous,
both of them
alike are an
abomination to
the Lord.
17:15
He who restrains
his words has
knowledge, and
he who has a
cool spirit is a
man of
understanding.
17:27
Even a fool,
when he keeps
silent, is
considered wise;
when he closes
his lips, he is
counted prudent.
17:28
The name of the
Lord is a strong
tower; the
righteous runs
into it and is
safe.
18:10
He who gives an
answer before he
hears, it is
folly and shame
to him.
18:13
What is
desirable in a
man is his
kindness, and it
is better to be
a poor man than
a liar.
19:22
He who assaults
his father and
drives his
mother away is a
shameful and
disgraceful son.
19:26
Wine is a
mocker, strong
drink a brawler,
and whoever is
intoxicated by
it is not wise.
20:1
Prepare plans by
consultation,
and make war by
wise guidance.
20:18
The king's heart
is like channels
of water in the
hand of the
Lord; He turns
it wherever He
wishes.
21:1
The violence of
the wicked will
drag them away,
because they
refuse to act
with justice.
21:7
The execution of
justice is joy
for the
righteous, but
is terror to the
workers of
iniquity.
21:15
He who guards
his mouth and
his tongue,
guards his soul
from troubles.
21:23
Train up a child
in the way he
should go, even
when he is old
he will not
depart from it.
22:6
Drive out the
scoffer, and
contention will
go out, even
strife and
dishonor will
cease.
22:10
Like apples of
gold in settings
of silver is a
word spoken in
right
circumstances.
25:11
Let your foot
rarely be in
your neighbor's
house, lest he
become weary of
you and hate
you.
25:17
Like a bad tooth
and an unsteady
foot is
confidence in a
faithless man in
time of trouble.
25:19
Do not answer a
fool according
to his folly,
lest you also be
like him.
26:4
Do you see a man
wise in his own
eyes?
There is
more hope for a
fool than for
him.
26:12
Do not boast
about tomorrow,
for you do not
know what a day
may bring forth.
27:1
Evil men do not
understand
justice, but
those who seek
the Lord
understand all
things.
28:5
Better is the
poor who walks
in his
integrity, than
he who is
crooked though
he be rich.
28:6
The rich man is
wise in his own
eyes, but the
poor who has
understanding
sees through
him.
28:11
When the
righteous
increase, the
people rejoice,
but when a
wicked man
rules, people
groan.
29:2
When a wise man
has a
controversy with
a foolish man,
the foolish man
either rages or
laughs, and
there is no
rest.
29:9
A fool always
loses his
temper, but a
wise man holds
it back.
29:11
If a ruler pays
attention to
falsehood, all
his ministers
become wicked.
29:12
When the wicked
increase,
transgression
increases; but
the righteous
will see their
fall.
29:16
Where there is
no vision, the
people are
unrestrained.
29:18
The fear of man
brings a snare,
but he who
trusts in the
Lord will be
exalted.
29:25
Well, after
reading these
proverbs, how do
you think we are
all doing in
practicing and
applying these
words of wisdom
to our daily
lives?
These
examples of
Godly wisdom are
just a small
percentage of
the practical
bits of wisdom
imparted to
mankind through
the ages by
Solomon in the
biblical book of
Proverbs.
There is
much more wisdom
to be harvested
from the book of
Proverbs, which
would make our
world and our
daily lives go
so much smoother
if we would
abide by God's
words of wisdom
for living in
this world.
How sweet
it would be if
world leaders,
including our
own president
here in America,
would follow
these words of
wisdom.
The
positive trickle
down affect it
would have on
the rest of
societies
everywhere would
be astonishing!
Of course
we know that
Satan wants to
'twist' words of
wisdom whenever
he can to make
good things
appear evil, and
evil things
appear good!
THAT is
the wide
'mainstream'
road Satan wants
to pave leading
as many people
as he can
straight to
Hell.
But if
those of us who
love God, and
believe in His
son Jesus
Christ, will
continue to
follow the
'narrow' road
that leads to
Eternal
Life...then we
will truly be
wise!