Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

Wise son and scorner

A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke (Pro.13:1).

When a child of God hears his or her spiritual father's instructions, he or she becomes a wise son. In the book of Proverbs, the word "father" is generally applicable to a spiritual father who takes care of his spiritual children. Here, the son is not merely a male son but also a female daughter. A child, be it female or male, has to act like a son.

A scorner is described as a despiser; a contemner. A person who refuses to be rebuked for correction is a scorner.

Words of mouth

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence (Pro.13:2).

A man gets blessings by what he or speaks. If he speaks out bad things which do not edify others but offend them, he becomes a transgressor of law so as to inherit a mischief or a punishment for such violation of law. A person by his word of mouth can invite violence in his own office. If one speaks out a word of faith or a word of edification, he or she receives in turn a blessing.

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction (Pro.13:3).

One who keeps his mouth keeps his life. For long life, one has to speak a few words. "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin" (Prov.10:19). Let us not speak much as in the multitude of words, we commit sin by exaggeration or by slip of the tongue. As such, we should be careful with our word of mouth.

"Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few" (NIV). In your prayers before God, your words have to be few.

One who opens his lips wide gets destroyed. We are tempted to open our mouth wide to boast of ourselves or to twist truth. Out tongues cut short our life.

A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame (Pro.13:5).

A righteous person hates lying and never utters a lie even at his or her own risk. But a wicked person is loathsome and comes to shame. A wicked person stands thoroughly exposed and nobody likes him. In the short run, the wicked person may gain but in the long run he gets shame.

Sluggard and diligent

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat (Pro.13:4).

Though a sluggard desires to have something, he receives nothing. But a diligent person becomes great by virtue of his hard work. He becomes rich whereas the lazy person becomes poor.

Righteousness versus wickedness

Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner (Pro.13:6).

The state of being righteous in the sight of God helps walk uprightly in life. It makes us lead a life of uprightness.

But the state of being wicked or sinful destroys the person concerned. One who commits wickedness in the sight of God is a sinner. A believer who turns away from righteousness and commits wickedness becomes a sinner in the sight of God. "...do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals" (I Cor.6:9) (NASB)

True riches

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches (Pro.13:7).

A person who strives only to enrich himself or herself has truly nothing in this life. Money or riches are perishable. They are nothing to last for ever. But one who becomes poor by giving to others has truly great riches which last for ever. Truly, he does not become materially poor as God gives him or her enough material to live comfortably. In the sight of God, such a life of contentment is tantamount to great riches. A millionaire who becomes rich without sharing his riches with the poor does not have "great riches" in the sight of God. The millionaire concerned inherits divine curses, Abraham said to the rich man languishing in the hell, "Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented (Luke 16:25). Abraham fondly called him "son". In the sight of God, the rich man was not a sinner but one who refused to share his good things with the poor.

The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke (Pro.13:8).

By money or riches, a man can redeem his or her life from captors or robbers who demand ransom. Money can give him long life by medical treatment or by dietary costly food.

But the poor man hears not rebuke. One who is not inclined to accept rebuke from elders or from God is truly poor and not rich in spirit. He or she also becomes materially poor as wisdom eludes him or her in legally earning and saving money.

Light of the righteous

The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out (Pro.13:9).

The light of the righteous shines in the darkness caused by sin in this world. This light radiates the glory of God. It rejoices in itself as it shines forth joyfully. The light of the righteous gladdens the hearts of others. But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. It will not lighten the world. This lamp cannot give light in the darkness caused by the sin. It is a lamp but without heat emitting light. It looks like a lamp with a flame but this flame has no light to shine in the darkness. This lamp shall be put out. This means that it does not benefit anyone so that its flame is put out.

Pride and wealth gotten by vanity

Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom (Pro.13:10).

People with a prideful heart cause contention everywhere as they do not get wisdom by humility. They do not accept views of others. Their mind is closed as not to receive wisdom from others. The pride in their heart causes mischief or violence. But with the well advised is wisdom. Those who receive advises from others receive wisdom.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase (Pro.13:11).

Wealth gotten by vanities like deceit or fraud, corruption and by unrighteous or illegal means will be diminished in due course. It will never last for ever. Though your progeny inherits your wealth gotten by vanity, it will be diminished and they cannot truly enjoy it in the long run.

Hope and desire

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life (Pro.13:12).

When the desire of our heart or some promise given by others is not fulfilled immediately, our heart becomes sick. Delay makes our heart sick. When God delays His promise, our heart really becomes sick but when He fulfills our desire, our hope in Him becomes a tree of life. This tree of life gives blessings to others who seek our help. Delay is always good. If we receive some good thing in our life without waiting for it, we may not know the value of such a good thing. Delay fortifies our faith in God.

Despising the word

Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded (Pro.13:13).

We should not despise the word which comes to us as the commandment of God. God uses any person to communicate His commandment to us when we are perplexed. The commandment may come from any source. If we fear the commandment and obey it, we will be rewarded. The commandment need not be always of God. It can come from the Government or from your superior officials in your place of work or business. Do not despise it if it is legal and righteous.

Law of the wise

The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death (Pro.13:14).

Law can be made by any man in authority. The law of the wise is different from the law made by an authority in power. An authority who makes the law should be wise so as to make it a fountain of life. People who obey the law should experience life by avoiding the snares of death. The law of the wise prevents crime or unrighteousness. It saves you from the snares of death.

The wise can regulate his or her life by a rule that is righteous. By making such a rule, the wise becomes a fountain of life for the world.

Good understanding

Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard (Pro.13:15).

Good understanding is good sense or good judgment that wins favour. If you have good understanding, you will find favor with God and man. A person with good sense or good judgment is respected. But the way of the treacherous is ruin or destruction. Those who transgress the law are headed for destruction. The way or the lifestyle of the treacherous never changes.

Prudence and foolishness

Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly (Pro.13:16).

Prudence is compared with foolishness. Every prudent man gives knowledge but a foolish man gives folly. Whom we should follow?

Wicked messenger versus faithful ambassador

A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health (Pro.13:17).

A wicked messenger is one who gives a false message or a lying message. The messenger falls into mischief when people come to know about the falsehood. But a faithful ambassador who gives a true message gives health. A messenger or an ambassador is engaged by a higher authority. He or she has to remain faithful to his employer or the authority who engages him or her. If he does not remain faithful, then he causes mischief not only to his employer or to the people to whom he communicates the message of his employer or authority. At times, the messenger gives a false message or twists the message of his employer with the result that he falls into mischief when exposed. If the messenger is faithful, then he or she becomes a faithful ambassador. An ambassador is in a higher rank than a messenger.

The faithful ambassador gives health to his or her organization. Even if the employer or the organization becomes sick, the faithful ambassador can restore health to the employer or the organization concerned.

Poverty and shame

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured (Pro.13:18).

Poverty, both spiritual and material, would be with one who refuses instruction of the wise but one who accepts instruction and reproof from elders or from God shall be honored by God and man.

Desire and evil

The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil (Pro.13:19).

When your desire is accomplished or fulfilled, it becomes sweet to your soul but for fools who do not want to eschew evil it is abomination. Those who do not depart from evil but continue to do evil are fools who are abominable in the sight of God.

How the desire is fulfilled which brings happiness to the soul? The desire has to be in accordance with God's will.

Company of the wise and evil

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed (Pro.13:20).

In life, one should walk with wise men only so that he or she may become wise. If he walks with a fool, he or she will be destroyed.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful (Ps.1:1).

It is for you to choose wise companions or foolish companions. You will face disaster in your life if you join hands with a foolish companion. A foolish companion is an ungodly person.

Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed (Pro.13:21).

Evil pursues sinners even after death. But the righteous will be rewarded with good even in this very life.

Good man and sinner

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just (Pro.13:22).

A good man leaves his inheritance to his grand children for their enjoyment. The sinner leaves his wealth not for his generation but for the just. The progeny of a sinner cannot enjoy the inherited property but the just will possess and enjoy it. Though the progeny of the sinner gets possession of such wealth, the former cannot truly enjoy it but it can be enjoyed by the just.

Much food for the poor

Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment (Pro.13:23).

The poor should till the land for taking the fruit of the land. People who own land become poor because they do not want to work hard with hands but want to work as workers. Injustice is done to them because they are exploited by the rich farmers who do not allow poor farmers owning land to produce much. The rich farmers capture the entire market. Justice eludes the poor. The government also supports the rich farmers.

Sparing rod for son

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes (Pro.13:24).

A father, spiritual or real, should use his rod to correct his son. Rod does not mean physical rod for beating the child. Rod means using authority to correct.

Satisfaction of the righteous

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want (Pro.13:25).

A righteous person, though poor, eats to his satisfaction but the wicked lives in want even if he has abundance to eat. A child of God who lives in Christ Jesus may be materially poor but lives satisfactorily in his hut. God does takes care of him by way of food, dress and shelter. This is the blessing for the people of God.

Next....Chapter 14