“If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.
Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation. When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.”
“If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.” Early mornings are traditionally the time when petitioners come to ask for help. Anybody who hears his neighbor at his front gate blessing him with a loud voice first thing in the morning might be excused if he is skeptical of his neighbor’s motives. We can’t count the number of times that people have appeared claiming that they want to greet us, only to come up with all kinds of requests/demands.
“A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.” We once had a worker who was easily offended; he and his wife could pick a fight with anybody at anytime and anyplace. No matter how hard we tried to counsel this woman, she was always convinced that she was in the right. Restraining her truly was impossible and very much like holding back the wind or grasping oil. Eventually, the family moved out, claiming they were under spiritual attack.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” True friends correct each other and keep each other accountable. These days there are “Iron Sharpens Iron” Christian conferences for men emphasizing development of character and accountability.
“Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.” In previous generations, workers might start with a company when they were in their twenties and work for the same company for the rest of their careers. These days, many companies have no sense of loyalty to their workers and the workers respond in kind; however, loyalty is still worthwhile. One thing to remember is that God is watching us and God rewards those who are diligent.
“As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.” It has been said that “you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” Jesus told his disciples, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) Watch someone long enough and you will know what he/she is really like.
“Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” One of the characteristics of hell is lust, lust for everything, lust to control everything and everybody. Those controlled by hell will exhibit the same characteristics.
“A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.” Praise comes in all types-good, bad, and ridiculous. There’s such a thing as “damning someone with faint praise,” that is, praising someone for something superficial while failing to mention something major.
“Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.” Here we have yet another condemnation of fools. Someone who is convinced of their own opinion will cling to it no matter what, even if you grind them in a mortar with a pestle. While we might think of a small mortar and pestle, the kind of thing used for drugs, it’s more likely that the mortar and pestle referred to here are the size of the Ghanaian ones shown in the photo.
“Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation. When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.” There are some proverbs that should have incredible back stories and these verses are among them. Who is the ruler being described here? Did David write these verses or Solomon? Going into 1926, my mother’s family owned a bank, the local movie theater, and a car dealership in a small town. But the bank failed and the family had to liquidate everything to pay back their depositors. What saved the family was the farm my great grandmother had inherited from her family. The family moved out to the farm and survived, thanks to that farm. The point is simple: riches, fame and glory are fleeting; meanwhile, families still must be fed. No matter what happens, if you keep your family business going, you can make it.
APPLICATION: The one-word summary for these verses is integrity. When you have integrity, you can serve others, you can hold others accountable, and you can survive economic downturns. May God help us so that we maintain our integrity!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to maintain integrity so that we can glorify You throughout our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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