“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

  but the Lord weighs the spirit.”

Proverbs 16:2 ESV

One of the things this verse identifies is the amazing ability of man to justify himself. This may happen in a few ways: first, by shifting the blame for a wrong committed to someone else; or second, by (intentionally or unintentionally) not recognizing our own sinfulness.

The first is the easiest to see. I don’t want to take the blame for something I have done, so I point at someone else. Or, while acknowledging that I actually did the wrong, I present a laundry list of reasons why it wasn’t really my fault. Sometimes that comes out as, “If you hadn’t done [X, Y, or Z], I wouldn’t have done what I did.” In essence, I’m saying it’s your fault that I did wrong.

The second category seems to be the more difficult to notice due to the challenge of recognizing the sinfulness of our own hearts. In other words, we think too highly of ourselves. Jeremiah 17:9 addresses this: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Sometimes we simply don’t see it and at other times we attempt to deceive ourselves (and others). A sign of growing in Christ is an increasing recognition of our own sin and a willingness to take ownership of it.

The astute reader should have noted already that even though I may (intentionally or unintentionally) deceive myself about my sin, “the Lord weighs the spirit.” He knows. He knows. He knows the truth. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch over the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3 ESV). Since that is the case, why do we not readily acknowledge our sinfulness, then repent? That’s a rhetorical question.

May God give each of us the grace to recognize our own hearts, readily acknowledge our sin, then repent without delay.

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

    but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

Proverbs 12:1 ESV

Here’s a take-home test. In some ways it’s a pretty simple test, though it’s the kind we might prefer to be conducted privately. After all, the results could be embarrassing?

QUESTION: Do you love discipline? There are two possible answers: yes or no.

If your answer is yes, you love knowledge. In this context, knowledge means more than knowing a set of facts. It carries the meaning of wisdom. In other words, the wise man loves correction.

If your answer is no, then you are stupid. The King James translates this word as brutish. Both stupid and brutish are colorful ways to say foolish. The juxtaposition of wisdom and folly is a major theme of Proverbs, and here, we see another way of presenting that theme.

So, how did you do on the take-home test?

“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,

    but a just weight is his delight.”

Proverbs 11:1 ESV

A common thread throughout the book of Proverbs is integrity. Although the word integrity doesn’t appear in this verse the concept is certainly present. Notice the contrast between false and just.

Here, the writer uses imagery from the market. Imagine yourself as a day laborer, working some days, but not every day. The wages are meager at best, and with those few coins you enter the market to get some food for your family. You search diligently to get the most for the least because that is the only way you can feed your family.

This is the context of this verse. Of course, this is not to say that the rich are not within the scope of this verse, but a false balance that unfairly increases the price of necessities by pennies will not destroy the rich. A few extra pennies, though, may decimate the poor.

Readers should extend this verse to themselves. Do not say, I don’t work in the market, so this doesn’t apply to me. Integrity matters to God. Thus, it should matter to us, regardless of where we work.

How are you guarding your integrity?

“A wise son makes a glad father,

    but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.”

Proverbs 10:1 ESV

So often we dismiss or are unaware of the way we affect others, particularly our parents. This verse may feel strange because we more naturally consider the parents’ influence on the children? Was he an abusive dad? Was she a nurturing mother?

Here, the writer flips that and reveals the influence that children can have on their parents. This is an important word for children because children typically think only about the parents’ responsibility to protect and provide for them.

So, here’s the message to children: Wisdom brings joy to your parents and folly brings sorrow to them.

She [Wisdom] has sent out her young women to call
    from the highest places in the town,
⁴ “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
    To him who lacks sense she says,
⁵ “Come, eat of my bread
    and drink of the wine I have mixed.
⁶ Leave your simple ways, and live,
    and walk in the way of insight.”

Proverbs 9:3-6 ESV

Here, Wisdom is personified as a woman. Note that she sends her young women to proclaim the availability of wisdom. In other words, Wisdom isn’t hiding in a secret location. From the highest places in town, they call the simple to come partake of the blessings that wisdom has prepared. The promise for those who leave the “simple ways” is life and the way of insight.

Can you hear Wisdom’s call? If you are reading this, you are within the sound of Wisdom’s voice.