INSIGHT FOR LIVING 6
INSIGHT FOR LIVING 6
Next, Solomon observes that nothing but strife comes by pride, but wisdom is with the well-advised (CP Pr 13:10 also 11:2 and 14:3 with 10:12). Easily obtained or ill-gotten wealth does not last as long as that which is worked hard for (CP 13:11 with 10:2; 20:21). When desire is delayed in its fulfilment it is disheartening, but when it is fulfilled it revives and strengthens both body and soul - it is a tree of life (CP 13:12 also V 19 with 10:28). Whoever despises God's word will be eternally damned; whoever heeds it will have eternal life. God's word is a fountain of life to the wise man, for by heeding it, he escapes the penalty of disobeying it (CP Pr 13:13-14 also 1:29-33; 3:1-3; 5:21-23; 14:27 and Nu 15:31 with Psa 1:1-2; 119:9). Good understanding wins favour for the Godly - it is a wellspring of life, but the way of the wicked is hard - desolate and fruitless (CP Pr 13:15 also 3:1-4 and 16:22 with 8:32-35). A man's conduct reveals his character - the wise man does all things with understanding, but a fool displays his folly (CP Pr 13:16 with 12:23 and 14:33; 15:2). A wicked messenger fails to carry out his duty, but one who is faithful brings honour to the one who sent him (CP Pr 13:17 with 25:13). He who ignores correction comes to poverty and shame, but he who heeds it is honoured (CP Pr 13:18 also V 1, 5:7-13; 8:33-35; 10:17; 15:5, 31-32). Pr 5:7-13 here can be used in our study on 13:19 also (CP 13:19 also V 12). Good men pursue worthy objectives, but sinners are unwilling to depart from evil because of their hatred of correction (CP Pr 13:20).
A man is known by the company he keeps - friends must be chosen with care. He who follows after wise men will himself be wise, but whoever follows after fools will be brought to ruin (CP 16:29; 22:24-25; 23:20-21; 28:7, 19 also 1Cor 15:33-34 with Psa 1:1-6). Sinners will reap evil, the righteous will reap good (CP Pr 13:21 also V 13 with Pr 3:1-2, 16-18; Psa 32:10; Isa 47:10-11). A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but a sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous (CP Pr 13:22 with 28:8 and Job 27:16-17). Solomon is not referring to material wealth here as the grandchildren's inheritance but to moral stability and a Godly life as their example, which is the whole theme of Proverbs. For New Testament Christians this translates to leaving their descendants a rich spiritual heritage in the Christian way of life in Christ. As we learned earlier in our study of Pr 6:6-11, New Testament Christians are clearly forbidden in scripture to lay up earthly treasures for themselves, or as a future inheritance for their families. (For more detailed teachings on this subject see author's comments on Mt 6:24, 13:3-9, 19:16-22, 19:23-26; Lu 12:13-15, 12:16-21, 12:33-34, 16:19-21; Ac 2:44-45; 1Cor 10:14-22; 2Cor 12:14; 1Ti 6:6-10; He 13:5-6 in his book A Question and Answer Study of the New Testament, and his study Christians and Wealth, lesson 15, in his book Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith).
Although the land of a poor farmer produces much food, it is swept away by injustice (CP Pr 13:23). Tillage here (KJV), means ploughed land. Judgement means justice. Destroyed means literally, swept away (CP Psa 35:10; Jas 5:1-6). The tillage of the poor is often swept away by injustice (CP Pr 13:24). Here Solomon declares that if a man does not discipline his children when the need arises it proves he hates them. He who loves his children corrects and disciplines them (CP also 19:18; 22:6, 15; 23:13-14; 29:15, 17). These admonitions to parents by Solomon are all inspired by God - He sanctions corporal punishment for children regardless of what modern-day "experts" say or think. Inspired Scripture teaches that corporal punishment is rooted in the love parents have for their children (CP Pr 3:11-12 with He 12:5-11). Parents who have genuine love for their children but withhold corporal punishment, will produce the same kind of child as a parent who hates his children. Pr 23:13-14 teaches that a child's eternal destiny is forged by the corrective discipline he receives. But none of this is advocating undue punishment or punishment that provokes children to wrath so as to discourage them, or make them indisposed toward parental obedience (for further teaching on this subject see author's study Husbands, Wives, Children - their duties and obligations to each other, in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2), also, his comments on Pr 19:18 and 22:15 in this study).
It should be noted there that just as God sanctions corporal punishment for children, he also sanctions capital punishment - the death penalty - for adults (CP Ro 13:1-5). This teaches that, (in the ideal governmental system), civil authorities are not a terror to good people, but to those who do wrong. The sword, in V 4, is an instrument of death. It symbolises the right of (ideal) governments to inflict capital punishment - execute wrath - upon wrongdoers, with God's approval (CP V 4 with Ac 25:11 and Rev 13:10). In the last verse in Pr 13, Solomon declares that the righteous are assured that their needs will be met, while the unrighteous are equally assured that they will receive nothing (CP Pr 13:25). This states more directly the teachings of V 13 18 and 21 (CP V 13, 18 and 21, also 10:3 and Psa 34:10).
A wise wife and mother centres all her activities around her husband and children, creating a loving, caring, stable environment for her family - she builds her house. A foolish uncaring woman neglects her husband and children, causing the eventual breakdown of her family (CP Pr 14:1 with 9:1-6; 31:10-31 also Tit 4:4-5). The upright in heart fear the Lord - they hold Him in reverential awe. But the ungodly despise Him (CP Pr 14:2 also 1:7). As we learned in our study of Pr 1:7, the fear of God is the principal part of knowledge, the first essential. It is the sum of what God's word requires. It reflects the reality that God's word directs His children in the way they are to walk (CP Psa 119:9; Ecc 12:13). The words of a foolish man are a source of pride which causes him to fall, but those of a wise man keep him from falling (CP Pr 14:3 with 10:13; 12:6; 16:18; 29:23). Solomon's next Proverb translates to New Testament Christians not living only for themselves, but being actively involved in reaping a bountiful harvest for God's eternal kingdom (CP Pr 14:4 with Jn 4:35-36; 15:16). A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies (CP Pr 14:5 also V 25; 12:17, 22; 19:5, 9; and Psa 52:1-5 with Ex 23:1 and Rev 21:8; 22:15).
The wicked seek wisdom and cannot find it because they reject God, the source of wisdom (CP Pr 14:6 with 1:7 and 9:10). As we learned earlier, 9:10 is the key verse in Proverbs - knowing God results in every other kind of understanding. Knowledge is hard for those who rebel against the truth to receive it when they hear it, but is easy for those to understand who are open to the truth and believe what they hear (CP Pr 17:24 also Isa 6:9-10 with Mt 13:10-17; Jn 12:39-40; Ac 28:25-27). Solomon admonishes God's children not to associate with those who can neither convey nor receive truth (CP Pr 14:7 also 23:9 with Mt 7:6). This translates again to New Testament believers heeding Paul's injunction not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, the same as Pr 1:15-19 (CP 1:15-19 with 2Cor 6:14-18). Solomon next contrasts the purposes of the prudent, and fools. The wisdom of the prudent is to direct their way rightly, but the folly of fools is to live deceitful lives. Fools make sport of sin and do not find favour with God as do the righteous (CP Pr 14:8-9, also 10:23 and 11:27 with Ro 8:1-6). Solomon then observes that both sorrow and joy have a personal dimension that cannot be shared with anyone else (CP Pr 14:10). Only the person directly involved can know the real bitterness of his soul or the joy of his heart (CP Pr 14:11).