Proverbs 6:12-15 outlines the anatomy of a bad person.   It begins with a general description of him:   A scoundrel and villain…   The Hebrew words underlying scoundrel and villain are beliya‘al and ’aven, respectively. (If you have a Strong’s concordance of the Bible, look up Hebrew entries 1100 and 205.) The first word connotes something that has no value, something that is worthless. The second word connotes something that is done in vain. And that’s a pretty good description of bad people. Their actions don’t add value to themselves or others. In the long run, they amount … Continue reading The Anatomy of a Bad Person (Proverbs 6:12-15)

  My dad is the hardest working man I know. He’s 66 years old, but he can work men half his age under the table. Like the Energizer Bunny, he keeps going and going and going from dawn till dusk. Some people work hard, others work smart; my dad does both. I get tired just watching him.   I’ve never asked dad why he’s so hard working, but I think it has to do with his childhood. My grandparents were godly people. They labored hard in the fields of the Lord as missionaries and pastors of small churches. But they … Continue reading Of Ants and Sluggards (Proverbs 6:6-11)

  The Book of Proverbs is a diagnostician’s manual for wisdom and folly. It covers every topic from alcohol to women. So, if you want to live wisely, read Proverbs! And if you want to avoid foolishness, read Proverbs!   One of the topics Proverbs considers in depth is wealth, specifically, how to gain and use it. Proverbs 6:1-5 offers this nugget of advice for people who want to be money-wise: Don’t cosign your neighbor’s loan! And if you already have, get out of your responsibility as soon as possible!   Consider verses 1-2:   My son, if you have … Continue reading Don’t Cosign Your Neighbor’s Loan! (Proverbs 6:1-5)

  Just as the best defense is a good offense, so the best way to avoid adultery is to cultivate a healthy relationship with your spouse.   A healthy marriage is multidimensional. It is a “union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind,” in the words of the marriage service of The Book of Common Prayer. While other passages in Scripture address the union of heart and mind, Proverbs 5:15-23 addresses the union of bodies. It encourages husbands and wives to have an active sex life.   Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own … Continue reading Embrace Your Wife! (Proverbs 5:15-23)

  Proverbs 5:7-14 warns us to avoid adultery’s seductive ways.   Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say. Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house…   If you think about, adultery is an issue of geography. An adulterous liaison always takes place somewhere—a house or a hotel room, for example. That’s what you might call the physical geography of adultery. But there’s an emotional and spiritual geography too. Emotionally speaking, the closer a man comes to his adulterous partner, the farther away he … Continue reading Avoid Adultery’s Seductive Ways! (Proverbs 5:7-14)

   Parents want the best for their children, especially when it comes choosing a spouse. I know this from personal experience. My mom and dad liked the women I dated over the years, but they never loved any of them, until they met Tiffany. After meeting her for the first time, my mom took one look at me and said, “Don’t mess this one up!” I didn’t, and I’ve been happily married ever since.   In Proverbs 5:1-23, a father offers his newly married son some sage words of advice about fostering a happy marriage. If I had to outline … Continue reading Avoid Adultery’s Seductive Words! (Proverbs 5:1-6)