From now on, when we go through Proverbs, I’ll comment on a few of the verses, rather than all of them. Hopefully it won’t be so overwhelming!
14:4 is at least a clever way of saying that laziness leads to poverty. You need to have and take care of the oxen in order to plow a field! It could also refer to the idea that you need to make sacrifices in order to have benefits. It could even be a warning that actions may have unintended consequences. By getting rid of the ox, you get rid of the harvest. With that last thought in mind, some have likened this to other areas of life as well. You may end up with a tidier life by cutting out some things, but you may also end up missing out on some blessings as well.
14:7-8 show us that if we’re wise, we won’t get taken in by foolish people. They can certainly rationalize their conduct and behavior, but that doesn’t mean that it’s smart or righteous! It’s better to stay away from those that have consistently proven that they make bad decisions. Once again, that’s not to say that outreach is a bad thing, but we have to make sure that we don’t get taken in and become fools ourselves. It’s better to avoid than to succumb!
There is a lot going on in verse 9! Reparation can refer to making restitution to God or man. Some translations reference the guilt offering, which was made when restitution was possible. The idea may be that the upright recognize the need for forgiveness and restitution, and thereby gain favor, but fools make fun of it. It takes on an even more sinister meaning from a spiritual standpoint. A fool doesn’t recognize the need to be made right with God, so will die separated from Him
14:15-16 challenges the idea that thinking is bad. That thinking leads to a lack of faith. That intelligence and understanding will take us away from God. The true issue revolves around what we think about and focus on. We need the wisdom that comes from above. We need to hold everything we think about and do up to the standard of Scripture. When we use our minds properly, we’ll turn away from evil instead of rushing into it without thinking. Faith and reason actually complement one another. Understanding leads to godliness.
Many see verse 20 simply stating facts, especially from a health/wealth mindset. Being poor meant that God wasn’t blessing you, so you must be doing something wrong in your life. Being rich meant that you must be doing something right! So, the poor are despised and the rich are loved. But it’s also possible that this is hinting at something else. The poor don’t have wealth or influence, so there is nothing to gain by being their friend. However, being friends with the rich may be beneficial. That’s why people suck up to the rich but ignore the poor.
14:23-24 shows us that if we’re wise, we’ll work hard and profit from it. If we’re fools, we’ll talk about all the things we can do to make money, but we won’t do any of them, and we’ll be both poor and foolish! Can we work hard and not get ahead? Yes. Can we not work hard and be rich? Yes. But Proverbs is dealing in probabilities. Working hard should enable us to live, and it will certainly please God.
Thought for the day: Fearing, respecting, or being in awe of God means that you’re willing to follow Him. Following Him means that you’ll stay out of trouble. He is a life-giving fountain, providing us with both eternal and abundant life!
Proverbs 14:27 (WEB) “The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.”
