Proverbs 18-22

I'm a little behind... so this will be short and sweet to catch up

18

how many people do you know like this?:
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions (2)

Basic hospitality:
A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great (16)

Words are powerful:
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (21)

Close friends:
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (24)

19

2. it is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way

8. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.

11. A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense

20. Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise

21. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

so good...

20.

5. The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out

I want that to be my story.. deep waters are the purpose of my heart. I want to understand those deep waters and draw them out. I think I've only begun to reveal the shores of those deep waters of purpose in my life.

15. Gold there is, rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel

25. It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows

21

2. All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.
Of course we can justify everything we do. This is right for me because... but only really God can say what is right and wrong. I don't know if this means that it is relative for everything and that God searches our hearts and can say what is right for one person may not be for someone else or if it means that we think it's relative and justify our actions but God can really define a black and white right and wrong. Thoughts on this??

17. He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich
20. In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
This is really good. Sometimes I think we get really excited about celebrating life, sabbathing (AKA resting and pampering ourselves), hanging with friends (AKA gorging ourselves with unending food, and other fun things because we love pleasure and we love it now. But the wise will wait.

21. He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor

30. There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.

22

Some facts:
2. Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all.

7. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Folly is naturally in us:
15. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him
This is interesting to me. We have to search for wisdom and need to face consequences for our actions to learn anything. It is so natural for us to be dumb, that it has to be beaten out of us with a "rod of discipline"