Bible.com.au: Reading Plan - God’s Wisdom – you just have to ask!

Reflection: Yep! We know this don’t we? But doesn’t our pride get in the way! How dare my sister/ mother/ neighbour/ stranger in the street tell me how I should… [fill in the blank]!!! It seems lots of people, including me if I am completely honest, are very happy to proffer our insights, but we are often far less gracious about receiving another’s.

I know a number of people whom I would describe as wise. I think of that wisdom as something they bring to conversations; to the way they live; to their very being. But maybe they are wise because they are also prepared to realise they don’t have all the answers, and there are others out there who might be able to assist them occasionally.

Mmmm, if I follow this thread, imagine what my community, your community, might look like, if we were more generous both in the giving and receiving of advice… because that is where we find wisdom! So as this verse tells us, the problem is in our pride. That is what causes the strife – at home and in politics, in the workplace, across nations. Such a small thing and yet so big!

What do I need to change about myself to become more willing to receive advice?

Prayer: Forgive my pride, God. It gets in the way too often. Help me to be open to others who seek to guide my path, for their wisdom could be of you. Amen.

Proverbs 13:1-25

Wise Friends Make You Wise

1Children with good sense

accept correction

from their parents,

but stubborn children

ignore it completely.

2You will be well rewarded

for saying something kind,

but all some people think about

is how to be cruel and mean.

3 Keep what you know to yourself,

and you will be safe;

talk too much,

and you are done for.

4No matter how much you want,

laziness won't help a bit,

but hard work will reward you

with more than enough.

5A good person hates deceit,

but those who are evil

cause shame and disgrace.

6Live right, and you are safe!

But sin will destroy you.

7Some who have nothing

may pretend to be rich,

and some who have everything

may pretend to be poor.

8The rich may have

to pay a ransom,

but the poor don't have

that problem.

9The lamp of a good person

keeps on shining;

the lamp of an evil person

soon goes out.

10Too much pride causes trouble.

Be sensible and take advice.

11Money wrongly gained

will disappear bit by bit;

money earned little by little

will grow and grow.

12Not getting what you want

can break your heart,

but a wish that comes true

is a life-giving tree.

13If you reject God's teaching,

you will pay the price;

if you obey his commands,

you will be rewarded.

14Sensible instruction

is a life-giving fountain

that helps you escape

all deadly traps.

15Sound judgment is praised,

but people without good sense

are on the way to disaster.

16If you have good sense,

you will act sensibly,

but fools act like fools.

17Whoever delivers your message

can make things better

or worse for you.

18All who refuse correction

will be poor and disgraced;

all who accept correction

will be praised.

19It's a good feeling

to get what you want,

but only a stupid fool

hates to turn from evil.

20 Wise friends make you wise,

but you hurt yourself

by going around with fools.

21You are in for trouble

if you sin,

but you will be rewarded

if you live right.

22If you obey God,

you will have something

to leave your grandchildren.

If you don't obey God,

those who live right

will get what you leave.

23Even when the land of the poor

produces good crops,

they get cheated

out of what they grow.

24If you love your children,

you will correct them;

if you don't love them,

you won't correct them.

25If you live right,

you will have plenty to eat;

if you don't live right,

you will go away empty.

God’s Wisdom – you just have to ask!

Day 8 of 14

CEV

Proverbs 13:10

Days

Proverbs 13:1-25