Proverbs 20:1-4

verse 4: “The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.”

I remember as a child reading Aesop’s Fables; among those I recall was a story about The Grasshopper and the Ant. Most everyone recalls the story of the procrastinating grasshopper who puts off storing away food for the winter while the hard-working ant dutifully gathers food, knowing the harsh winter is coming. True enough, when winter hits, the grasshopper is on the verge of starvation; the ant, who has planned ahead, invites him in to care for him. The grasshopper turns over a new leaf.

Solomon makes reference to the ant earlier in Proverbs 6:6-9. God instilled in this tiny insect the work ethic that we need to have as human beings. God made us as creatures who need to do, to work. Procrastination and laziness sound good, but in the end, you wind up a starving grasshopper!

Something to think about.

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Proverbs 19:20-29

verse 23: “The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.”

“How do you sleep at night?” That’s the classic line uttered in the movies by the hero/victim to the villain, usually when the villain’s offenses have become known. A troubled conscience can interfere with a good night’s sleep.

Another line I’ve heard uttered goes something like “it may have been a hard decision to make, but I can sleep at night.” Usually that line is said by people who have agonized over tough choices, but are satisfied that they did the right thing.

When I read the above verse, I know that sleep can be interrupted by a variety of reasons. Christians and non-Christians can have difficulty sleeping. However, a guilty conscience should be one of the reasons that shouldn’t trouble the Christian who fears God and follows His will. They can sleep “satisfied, untouched by evil.”

Something to think about.

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Proverbs 19:15-19

verse 19: “A man of great anger shall bear the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.”

A sheep and a billy goat tried to escape through the fence
Through a hole in the boards, so I’m told.
The sheep got stuck because it wasn’t very smart
The billy goat, because it didn’t have any control.

Sheep are dumb animals, and they will wander into trouble. A billy goat is stubborn; I’ve seen one continue to butt its head against a wall, even though it couldn’t break through. Its bad temperament always causes it to get into scrapes and bad situations.

Some people are like that goat, such as the one in the verse. Even when their anger gets them in trouble, they don’t see to learn their lesson. When left to their anger, they’ll get in the same trouble again, and need rescuing.

The change Jesus brings to our hearts is the only remedy for sinful habits and attitudes that continually get us in trouble. We can’t change ourselves, only Jesus can. So, are you tired of butting your head against the wall?

Something to think about.

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Proverbs 19:13-14

verses 13-14: “A foolish son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping. House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD.”

Ever had a leaky faucet? The other night, I could hear several sounds inside the house and outside the house, as my wife and I settled into sleep. Certainly they were small noise, but it wasn’t bothering me…my wife, however, couldn’t fall asleep: “Do you hear the sink dripping?” “Uh, no,” I replied. “I do….I can’t fall asleep.” Finally she got out of bed, located the noise in our bathroom, tightly shut off the faucet, and silenced the noise. I couldn’t hear it, but she could….and it was going to drive her crazy!

The verses speak today of family, specifically wives. I quote the Holman Concordance on Proverbs, pg 315: “Having a foolish son is a disaster….And equally distressing is life with a quarrelsome wife. The word quarrelsome appears more often in Proverbs than any other book of the Bible,…The perpetual discord that she stirs up is as relentlessly irritating as a leaky roof. Just as a constant dripping can cause exasperation and permanent damage to a house, she can cause irreparable harm to the family relationships. But nothing brightens a man’s life more than the gift of a prudent wife, one who is capable and successful, who knows how to deal with people lovingly. She is his greatest asset. And even though a man would inherit property from his parents, including houses and wealth, God is the one who provides such a wife.”

Men, if God has blessed you with such a wife, thank Him for her today!

Have a blessed day!

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Proverbs 19:12

verse 12: “The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.”

Question: with what does a firefighter water his lawn with? Answer: a garden hose. (Okay, how many of you wanted to say a fire hose? 🙂 )

From the same hose pipe (for the uninformed, that’s another way of saying “garden hose”) you can propel water out in a violent, roaring stream, or in a gentle, refreshing cascade. Same source, two different deliveries. That’s like the king mentioned in the verse above. His wrath, being the ruling monarch, is a fearsome thing to behold, especially if you’re the target. However, if you are in trouble, his aid can be refreshment, like the dew nourishing the grass.

To the Christian, our King is Jesus. Remember His righteous wrath on the moneychangers at the temple? His favor, though, is rescue to the weary soul.

So, how would you like your water? Niagara Falls? Or a gentle shower of blessing?

Something to think about.

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