PROVERBS LESSON 18


    We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 13:1 "A wise son [heareth]
his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke."

    A wise son will take advantage of the knowledge his own father has
already accumulated and will accept instruction from his father.  A
boy's father cares what happens to his son. He wants only the best for
him.  In fact, he wants his son to have a better life than he has had
himself. If a son could learn this and take instruction from the
father, he would be very wise indeed. In the Old Testament, a
rebellious son was to be taken to the edge of the city and stoned to
death. This was a drastic measure, but I believe we are to see in that
lesson that a person who will not be instructed is headed for
destruction.  Loving parents rebuke their children when they are in
error. If the child does not learn from the rebuke, they are headed
for serious trouble. The rod of correction can drive rebellion far
from a child.

    Proverbs 13:2 "A man shall eat good by the fruit of [his] mouth:
but the soul of the transgressors [shall eat] violence."

    We see here, once more, a contrast between the people who live
good wholesome lives and those who live worldly lives. In the "eating
good by the fruit of his mouth" we see the words of a person can tell
a whole lot about who and what they are.

    Proverbs 13:3 "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: [but]
he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction."

    Many times the best thing to do is to just not say anything. It is
much better to not say anything than it is to say something hurtful
and then regret it forever. The tongue can be a deadly weapon.

    Proverbs 13:4 "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath]
nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."

    The sluggard (lazy person) has plenty of time to sit around and
wish for things that he or she is too lazy to work for and get. The
diligent (worker who does not quit) will have the desires of his
heart, because he will do enough work to acquire his needs.

    Proverbs 13:5 "A righteous [man] hateth lying: but a wicked [man]
is loathsome, and cometh to shame." Proverbs 13:6 "Righteousness
keepeth [him that is] upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth
the sinner."

    This "righteous man" (in right standing with God) is against all
evil actions.  Lying, cheating, stealing, and dealing falsely are all
pretty well associated.  Usually if a person does one of these, he
does all of these. People who are living for God despise all of these.
This loathsome person brings shame on himself and all who associate
with him. These two verses are very similar in meaning. In V-6, we see
again that those who want to please God, walk uprightly before Him.
Wickedness brings no honor, just problems. If a person continues in
wickedness, he will wind up in jail; or worse, out of touch with God.

    Proverbs 13:7 "There is that maketh himself rich, yet [hath]
nothing: [there is] that maketh himself poor, yet [hath] great
riches."

    We see here someone who appears to be rich but is, in fact, poor
and someone appearing to be poor who is rich. There are two ways to
look at this. The first instance would be a man who really doesn't
have anything putting up a front and pretending to be rich. He might
be trying to impress someone for selfish gain. We all know people like
that.

    Another way to look at this is someone who really has great wealth
in this world but is greedy and never does any good for anyone. We
could call him very poor, because he has not stored up anything in
heaven.  The second man could be someone who is always pretending to
have nothing and all the time he is very rich. We commonly call him
someone who "poor mouths".

    From the spiritual point we see here a man who is constantly
giving what he has to those less fortunate and actually gives all that
he has away. This man has stored great wealth in heaven.

    Proverbs 13:8 "The ransom of a man's life [are] his riches: but
the poor heareth not rebuke."

    I see in this Scripture that sometimes those who have worked hard
and accumulated a little of this world's wealth are hated by jealous
people. The poor are never spoken evil of because there is nothing to
be jealous of. We could also see in this that riches can sometimes
purchase a lawyer to help or can redeem us from some problem. Riches,
if they are used in a godly way, can be a blessing to you and those
around you.  Sometimes a poor man would like to help, but doesn't have
the money.

    Proverbs 13:9 "The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp
of the wicked shall be put out."

    Here, I see that those living upright lives love the light. They
are not ashamed of the life they live. They rejoice in the Lord. The
wicked are ashamed and need the cover of darkness to hide in.

    Proverbs 13:10 "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well
advised [is] wisdom."

    "Contention" here means strife. Being too proud can cause us to
take offense at what someone says when they really didn't mean any
harm.  Pride is not pleasing to God when it hurts someone else. People
with pride are not teachable.  On the other hand, we see that the wise
are eager to learn and become wiser for it.

    Proverbs 13:11 "Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but
he that gathereth by labour shall increase."

    We see, here, someone who quickly gains wealth by being crooked
will not be able to keep his wealth, because God will not bless him in
this. A modern saying of this is "easy come, easy go". We see this so
much in our society today with the drug peddlers. They may make a lot
of money, but it is very seldom you see one of them who is able to
keep it. The best wealth is that which you work for and save a little
here and a little there. You appreciate it and will be able to keep
some of it, if you work for it and are generous to give to those in
need. God will bless you and prosper you even more.

    Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but [when]
the desire cometh, [it is] a tree of life."

    We see, here, a person looking forward to something happening and
it seems to be longer and longer in coming. This will cause you to be
heart sick, because you feel it will never happen. Many of us have had
this experience praying for people. We pray and pray and nothing
happens. It seems our prayers have been futile. When the person does
come to the Lord, we rejoice greatly.

    When the desire of heart (whatever it is) comes about, it seems as
though it gives us a brand new life.


    Proverbs 13:13 "Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but
he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded."

    The Word of God teaches us the way to have eternal life. Without
the Word there is only death facing us. Jesus is the Word of God. We
read in John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God," John 1:2 "The same was in the beginning with God." John 1:3 "All
things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that
was made." John 1:4 "In him was life; and the life was the light of
men." Really, to read about the Word bringing life, you could read all
of chapter 1 of St. John.  There is no question that God speaks to us
in His Word.  There is no question that there is Life in His Word.
There is no question that without the Word leading and guiding our
lives, there lies ahead only death.














                         Proverbs 18 Questions


1.  A scorner heareth not --------.
2.  What kind of life does a father want for his son?
3.  In the Old Testament, a rebellious son was --------------.
4.  What can drive rebellion from a child?
5.  What is meant by the fruit of his mouth?
6.  What is meant by "transgressors shall eat violence"?
7.  In V-3, we are told that a person who opens his lips wide shall
    see what?
8.  What part of the body can be a deadly weapon?
9.  What is a sluggard?
10. What can the diligent worker expect of life?
11. A righteous man hates what?
12. What overthroweth the sinner?
13. What other sins generally accompany lying?
14. This loathsome person brings shame to whom ?
15. What is worse than being in jail?
16. In V-7, who is the truly rich?
17. The ransom of a man's life is what?
18. Why are the poor not rebuked?
19. What will happen to the lamp of the wicked?
20. Why do the righteous love the light ?
21. What brings contention?
22. What does "contention" mean in V-10?
23. What will happen to wealth gotten through vanity?
24. What two things are necessary for God to be pleased with your
    wealth?
25. What does hope deferred do to you?
26. When you receive the desire of your heart, what is it like to you?
27. What is a "hope deferred" that most Christians have experienced?
28. What happens to those who despise the Word?
29. Who will be rewarded in V-13?
30. Who is the Word?
31. What does the Word bring us?