Listen, Step up, Avoid – 3 Commands to Better Your Life (Proverbs 10 – 16)
Have you witnessed a child making a mistake, encounter a loving parent to correct, and watch them succeed with that very same task that had gone so wrong before? A child develops through guidance. We are no different as Christians. The analogy of a child to a parent coincides with a Christian to God. The life we live on earth leads us on a path toward Heaven, should we choose that path. We learn and are taught to listen, step up, and avoid in these 7 chapters.
This walk is about progress, not perfection… progress in terms of a continual striving for perfection with the understanding that only God is perfect. Every step you take will be toward one of the three people groups ‘mentioned’ in Revelation: the wicked, the lukewarm, the Christian.
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Active faith…
Listen up! This world is not our home, but while we're here we are to actively pursue our righteous calling or we are not living out our calling. Click To TweetListen up! This world is not our home, but while we’re here we are to actively pursue our righteous calling or we are not living out our calling.
Proverbs is packed full of call to action statements, constant reminders that this is not a passive faith. If your version of faith requires a skimming over of the Word, a prayer here and there, or sitting through a church service… you are missing out!
Listen up…
To listen up can sometimes be painful, hearing a friend insult you can be painful. But Proverbs guides us to seek those whose criticisms are constructive. Something that can destroy communication in a marriage is criticism with the intent to criticize. When one seeks to help, criticism is offered in a way that seeks that person’s best interest, to grow them and help them learn.
Proverbs encourages us to listen to those people, seek them out, befriend them, welcome them into your life. They will speak truth in love in hopes of bettering you!
Take a moment to consider these verses.
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
Proverbs 10:17
A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
Proverbs 13:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
Proverbs 12:1
Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
Proverbs 13:18
For a deeper study and reminder, visit here for a plethora of verses in these chapters that provide even further evidence that God wants us to seek out and listen to wisdom.
Baby steps…
This walk is all about baby steps. It is through constructive criticism that we can listen to wisdom and grow. It is through trials that lead us to step further into full reliance on God in this life. So too, it is through baby steps of growth that God desires our wealth to be achieved.
Hear me out, does that mean that God does not desire you to have money if you fell into an inheritance, had a windfall of fortunate events happen, or earn a 6+ figure salary? No, the verses in Proverbs highlight honest gain, usually accomplished in this world, one step at a time. There are, however major pitfalls to be aware of and avoid should you be flush with your finances.
For those who are not in that position, know that God sees how you treat money and those who have money. Do you harbor jealousy for those that have more and desire to mimic their life? Are you spending all your money to look like the Jones’ and have nothing left? Do you fruitlessly spend it an never grow it to more? Does your view of wealthy people take into consideration the manner in which they obtained their riches?
Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 10:2
Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
Proverbs 12:12
The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
Proverbs 11:8
One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
Proverbs 13:7-8
Money is the root of all evil because it reveals your heart. How you see money mirrors any desires, idols, and lusts you may carry. Get back to the Word, ground yourself in Biblical wisdom, and learn from these tidbits of advice in Proverbs!
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Proverbs 13:11
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.
Proverbs 16:8
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
Proverbs 15:16-17
Many of the verses in these chapters deal with money displaying your heart’s desires. The question is, will you listen to the advice from Proverbs?
Avoid laziness…
Ready, set, action! Action goes hand-in-hand with learning to listen. Proverbs makes it clear that action and steps forward are imperative in our walks. If no movement or heart change happens, we are stagnant and lazy.
Take one guess whether you think God praises a lazy man….
Analyze your life as though a wise person was offering you their advice. Are you working toward a right relationship? Is your life displaying steps toward Biblical goals? Are you digging in and seeking wisdom from the Bible or wise counsel? Again, don’t make the mistake of brushing off a truth even if it is hard. Listen, learn, and grow from that!
A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
Proverbs 10:4-5
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
Proverbs 13:4
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
Proverbs 12:11
The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.
Proverbs 15:19
A sluggard in work often reveals a sluggard in their relationship with God.
Avoid wickedness and sin…
Proverbs leads a believer down a path of protection. Not only do we refrain from committing sin, we are to AVOID it.
The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
Proverbs 14:15-16
By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
Proverbs 16:6
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Proverbs 14:27
The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.
Proverbs 16:17
Are you giving appropriate thoughts to the path your steps are leading you down? Do you turn your ear to listen to wise counsel and follow it?
A motto that should hold fast to every area in our lives… why not grab a daily reminder to boast of Our King!
Avoid people…
Well, not alllll people, but be cautious who you surround yourself with. This one may sting a little but a Christian is wise when they’re surrounded with wise people. A fool will lead to your own downfall, and there is no excuse at that point. It will be self-inflicted for failure to heed Biblical advice.
One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Proverbs 12:26
Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
Proverbs 14:7
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 13:20
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 16:5
Listen, Step Up, Avoid…
Three steps to greatly improve your walk… all stemming from Proverbs.
Listen to those around you, baby step your way through this life, and avoid the pitfalls.
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Progress, not perfection. Yes, this.