This chapter begins a new section under the heading, "On Life and Conduct". We still see the set up of stand alone verses, but here they seem to connect a little more. But still we see words to live by.
"Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool. Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps errs. The foolishness of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against the LORD... He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will find good... He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of conduct will die. One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He repay him for his good deed... Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the LORD will stand. What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar. The fear of the LORD leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil... Cease listening, my son, to discipline, and you will stray from words of knowledge" (verses 1-3, 8, 16, 20-23, and 27).
How often do we blame God for everything that goes wrong? How often do we rush things and make mistakes? How often so we worry more about our finances than our integrity? Probably a lot more often than we think. We must be more focused on our character than anything else. We must learn and focus so that we don't rush and make simple, but costly, mistakes. And we must learn to take responsibility and not blame God for our failures.
We have another reminder of the value of wisdom, and the life that it brings. And then an instruction to keep the commandment and live, whe living in a way that neglects it leads to death. This is followed by the instruction to be generous to the poor. A man who lends to the poor is giving to God, and God is the one who will repay the loan.
My wife and I have seen this happen in our own lives. We have given to help people that God led us to help, and He has repaid us. Out of the blue we've received the exact amount we gave back from someone else. When ever we have had a need God has provided. We have helped others, and god has taken cre of us.
Counsel from God, and those who know Him intimately, as well as receiving discipline and exercising it, leads to life. All of us have plans and dreams, but God has a will and a perfect plan that will be fulfilled and carried out. We must submit to Him, and when our life is focused on pleasing Him our plans will be the plans that He has for us already. God will do in us what He wants to.
The greatest desire in a man is kindness. Kindness is NOT being a pushover. Kindness is goodness expressed in action. It is doing the right thing and standing up for justice. This character is more valuable than wealth, and it is desirable above all else. And when we live this way we can sleep in peace. When we live with integrity we have nothing to hide or be paranoid about.
But this life only lasts as long as we have discipline. The moment we let go of that, the moment we refuse it, is when everything begins to fall apart. As we stray from knowledge we listen to folly and become fools, and all that awaits them is death.
"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
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