Day Fourteen

Proverbs 15:13-20

13.)  A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

14.)  The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15.)  All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

16.)  Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.

17.)  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

18.)  A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

19.)  The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.

20.)  A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

         Proverbs is much more than just a book of gathered sayings. The sayings (proverbs) are grouped together to maximize their meaning. At first reading, they seem unconnected, but they are joined.

         Another thing to consider is that the proverbs throughout the book, as well as the areas in the book that have whole stories, are written to someone. In chapter one, the first seven verses explain about proverbs, but then starting in verse 8 we have this; Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, Solomon, the editor, if you will, of the book has brought these proverbs together to teach truths to his children. He reminds us of this throughout the book, referring to ‘my son’ or ‘my children.’ When reading this book it is important to keep these things in mind. It helps with the understanding if you know some of the background and if you can get into Solomon’s mind a bit.

         This passage offers comparisons. It compares the good with the not so good. We can see Solomon, the Dad, passing this information along. There is always a comparison to make. The problem is, we either don’t make the comparison and just go with our ‘gut feeling’ or we make the comparison and choose the wrong way.

         The father teaching; 13.) A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. My mother used to tell me that if I kept that sad face on, my face would freeze like that. I think Solomon teaches it better, but this is a verse that teaches happiness of soul and how that lifts us up. ‘Look on the bright side!’ 14.) The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. It can be very hard to listen to foolish people run on and on, but there are those who follow foolish teaching.  15.) All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. The grumpy, ill tempered person is never happy or satisfied. But that person with a cheerful attitude always seems to brighten a room. 16.) Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. It doesn’t matter your financial status, but whether you or not you remember who provided it. I knew a millionaire who loved the Lord. He attended his church faithfully, served on committees, volunteered at a soup kitchen, went on mission trips and gave his money away pretty freely to good causes. He told me once that if he couldn’t use his money for the Lord’s work, he didn’t want it. I never knew anyone like old Tom. 17.) Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. Thanksgiving or Christmas or some other feast is awful if there is tension in the air. A cup of coffee and an egg McMuffin with a friend is pure satisfaction. 18.) A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. I think of Orville Chamberlain who could speak a few words into a conflict and calm the sea of discontent. None of you knew Arby Taft, but he was the same way. Slow to anger, but shrewd. Arby had a truck he was going to sell and I was going to buy it. But when I went to pay him and pick it up, he said he couldn’t sell it to me. He had me crawl under the truck and told me where to look. The frame was nearly rusted through. “I wouldn’t feel right selling to you and then you having a wreck.” “Well, Arb, I appreciate that. What are you going to do with it?” Didn’t even hesitate. “Oh, I’m selling it to my son-in-law.” 19.) The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. That person who follows a life of cheating and purposeful poverty (doesn’t want to improve themselves) will struggle. The person who lives a righteous life may have some issues, but they will sail through life on calm seas. 20.) A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Solomon closes this bit of instruction by telling his son that if you make the wrong choices it means you despise Mom. Solomon was a smart cookie. Most sons do not want to see Mom cry.

         This past week I had a conversation with a person I have known for over sixty years. We talked of decisions we both made as youngsters and then teenagers that have affected our whole lives. Today, let’s pray for the Spiritual discernment to make good decisions that honor God.

         And get that frown off your face or it will freeze there!