Proverbs 19

Four out of five girls are home from college for Christmas.  While it feels as if the balance in our house is somewhat restored, we all seem to be interrupting each other endlessly.  Each of us has an opinion, something to say, and we all want to say it at once.

I, for one, need to stop and listen.  Here's what Proverbs 19 has to say about that:

Proverbs 19

If You Quit Listening

 ¹ Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust.

An old friend used to say this:  "Better to serve in heaven than reign in hell."  

 ² Ignorant zeal is worthless;
   haste makes waste.

And this doesn't just mean hurrying to get things done and failing miserably, like I always do.  It also means running in place -- working hard, but not smart.

 ³ People ruin their lives by their own stupidity,
   so why does God always get blamed?

Good question.

 ⁴ Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies,
   but poor people are avoided like a plague.

Except at holiday time, when all the charities come out and beg.  We should be paying attention to those very charities all year long.

 ⁵ Perjury won't go unpunished.
   Would you let a liar go free?

What goes around comes around.  And even worse when the liar is found out!

 ⁶ Lots of people flock around a generous person;
   everyone's a friend to the philanthropist.

Well, yeah.  Duh!

 ⁷ When you're down on your luck, even your family avoids you—
   yes, even your best friends wish you'd get lost.
If they see you coming, they look the other way—
   out of sight, out of mind.

Especially when you want to borrow money -- 

 ⁸ Grow a wise heart—you'll do yourself a favor;
   keep a clear head—you'll find a good life.

Don't panic when things get bumpy.  It will work out.

 ⁹ The person who tells lies gets caught;
   the person who spreads rumors is ruined.

And if you don't think it will get back around to you?  Better think again.  

 ¹⁰ Blockheads shouldn't live on easy street
   any more than workers should give orders to their boss.

No they certainly should not.  Although, some folks would equate their bosses to blockheads.  It's all a matter of perspective, isn't it?

 ¹¹ Smart people know how to hold their tongue;
   their grandeur is to forgive and forget.

Grandeur -- I love that word here.  I admire those that do this so much, especially when it's me they're forgiving!  God has forgiven and forgotten.  Oh, to be like God, and to be like those who are most like Him . . . 

 ¹² Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs;
   the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.

Which refers, of course, back to the boss in verse 10, which then refers back to verse 2, which then refers back to verse one.  Gotta love the way the Bible always makes more sense by building on the things it says.

 ¹³ A parent is worn to a frazzle by a stupid child;
   a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet. 


And the ironic thing here is that usually we're nagging the spouse to just fix the danged leaky faucet already.

 ¹⁴ House and land are handed down from parents,
   but a congenial spouse comes straight from God. 



The "right life partner" is the way my husband puts it.  And he is straight from God, made for me, and given to me by His grace.  


The holiday approaches, and with that this:


"Joy to the world!  The Lord is come!  Let earth receive her King!"


xoxoxox