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“When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,

    his heart rages against the Lord.”

Proverbs 19:3 ESV

The fool is revealed in two ways in this verse. First, note that his own folly brings ruin. The natural end of folly is ruin.

Second, the fool does not accept his own responsibility in creating his circumstance; he blames someone else. In this case, “his heart rages against the Lord.” Raging against the Lord demonstrates his folly in extra measure. Not only does he blame someone else, he blames the one who would guide him to wisdom.

When you find yourself in a fix do you catch yourself blaming someone else? Do you blame God?

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,

    but only in expressing his opinion.”

Proverbs 18:2 ESV

Proverbs is filled with self-tests. Here’s another.

Are you willing to listen? Do you have an interest in understanding people or situations? Or, do you simply want to make a snap judgement and tell others what you think? If the latter, you are a fool.

How often do I make snap judgements about people or situations without even realizing it? Lord, please give me a heart for understanding.

“Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;

    he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.”

Proverbs 17:5 ESV

This verse provides an insight into how God involves himself into the affairs of humans. Here, the mocker likely has no thought of God, he’s simply having a laugh at the expense of another. However, God is insulted when this happens. This is similar to Paul’s Damascus Road Experience in which Jesus asked Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?” Paul’s intent was to arrest believers in Damascus. Yet, Jesus understood Paul’s actions as persecuting Jesus.

These references should remind us to be sober in how we think about and act toward others for whom God is concerned, especially those who are suffering. That likely requires a paradigm shift in our thinking; we must remember that people are created in the image of God (Gen. 1: 27).

“A soft answer turns away wrath,

    but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1 ESV

Ever catch yourself in the midst of a disagreement making your point with increasingly more “clarity” and “emphasis”? By clarity and emphasis I mean turning up the attitude and the volume. Why do we do that? So much of what we have learned (by word and observations) about navigating through life is based on the idea that “might makes right.” If I’m stronger than you then I’m right and you should submit to my desires or ideas. The other component is a selfish heart that desires what it wants and will fight tooth and nail to get it.

My observation is that in such situations, my interlocutor usually turns up the attitude and volume, too. That sounds a whole lot like “a harsh word stirs up anger.” If we could step outside that event on the moment, we would see something quite pitiful as the volume and sharp words increase, like two heavyweight boxers matching each other blow for blow. Think of each blow being another can of gasoline being poured on the fire.

Have you ever gone into a disagreement ready to do verbal battle only to have the other person not play along? In other words, they didn’t respond forcefully or unkindly? What a let down! Who wants to argue with someone who refuses to argue? Our culture and flesh demand that we respond in kind: “If you poke me, I’ll poke you harder.” Wisdom demands that we not fall prey to the folly of our culture or flesh. Wisdom teaches that a man can refuse to pour gasoline on the fire by answering softly or kindly. That’s not always easy, but it is right.

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

    but righteousness delivers from death.”

Some may too quickly read past the implications of this verse because riches are something we think of in the here and now. However, this verse is speaking of the life to come. In contrast to the Egyptian idea of burying the dead with all the items they will need to pass over to and survive in the next life, the writer says, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath.” In other words, even if you could take it with you, it wouldn’t do you any good.

Rather than riches, the one thing that delivers us in the the next life is righteousness. This verse isn’t an argument against wealth, it’s an argument against the notion that anything but righteousness will be helpful when we depart this world. Second Corinthians 5:21 speaks to this topic: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The him in this verse is Jesus Christ. Thus, Jesus Christ made it possible for me to have righteousness; not just to have righteousness, though. He made it possible for me to “become the righteousness of God.”

What are you trusting in when it comes to the certain day of judgement?