Proverbs 12
1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2 A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
(Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.)
Have you ever heard someone say of another person, “They just never learn!”? It seems that some people truly do not seem to learn. They make the same mistakes over and over. And if you dig a little deeper, you will usually see that at the root of their problem, they are trying to get something for nothing, or they have given in to the poison of alcohol or drugs. Or, they have been brought up in an atmosphere where they are allowed too much freedom or given the impression that their behavior is above reproach – in other words, they are just plain spoiled rotten! Look at the antics of child celebrities who get into trouble, or the wealthy heirs/heiresses like Princes William and Harry and Paris Hilton. Do they really seem to have such wonderful, happy lives? I wonder how truly happy and satisfying life is for many of them.
In Proverbs we see that the secret to success and true happiness is living a life that God ordains… full of hard work, honest living, and treating others fairly – including plants and animals and our environment. Dishonest living, trying to get something for nothing, laziness and a sense of entitlement are all paths to ruin. So pay attention! Learn well and stay close to God’s word and be aware at all times of your behavior. Live wisely, kindly, with mercy and loving regard for every one of God’s creatures and creations, and enjoy the fruits and abundance of His blessings.
©2007 Debbie Robus
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