A STUDY OF WISDOM FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
Traits of a Wise Person
Proverbs 27 SCC 1/10/16
The wisdom of a wise person preserves his or
her life.
Preserving one’s life is necessary because without wisdom it is jeopardized by
any number of incidences. There are numerous scenarios that can wreak havoc in
and over ones life. These possibilities can be
predicted and prepared for if one understands how life usually works in these
particular situations. Understanding can lead to preparedness, which leads to wise
execution preserving character, relationships, friendships, finances, health,
reputation, and protection. The qualities of wisdom become the traits of a wise
person.
WISDOM PRESERVES ONE WHEN LIFE BECOMES
PROVOCATIVE
In this
section we see life can tend to incite and provoke. Irritations can be vexing
and wisdom is essential to avoid reacting foolishly.
1. A wise person does not presume upon the
future knowing the future is uncertain v 1.
While
the verse is not ruling out wise planning for the future, it does warn of
overconfidence that one can base decisions on predicting future events. No one
can presume upon the future but God. It’s prudent to not postpone what you know
is in your power to do at once.
2. A wise person knows it is best to let others
praise you v 2.
Not only
should one refrain from boasting of the future but also boasting of what one
has done. We can be provoked into doing both especially when motivated by
pride, arrogance and the desire to be self congratulated, noticed, recognized, and
received by others.
3. A wise person understands fools irritating
words and actions should not be reacted to v 3.
What a
fool provokes can be unbearable. The mental effect on the one bearing a fools
provocation is more wearying than physical work. It is a mental, emotional,
spiritual and physical malaise one experiences by a fools actions and words. It’s
exhausting and discomforting.
4. A wise person knows that jealousy is more
unbearable than anger v 4.
Wrath
and anger creates furious wrath that is cruel. Jealousy is even worse as a raging
emotion that often defies reason taking the form of
destructive violence. It leads to merciless revenge that makes it impossible to
oppose.
5. A wise person knows that love that manifests
no rebuke is useless v 5-6.
Multiple
counsel is helpful in decision making, and individual counsel will sharpen our
knowledge, but there is one area of counsel which must come from a
friend—personal rebuke. Rebuke is defined as disapproval of a person’s
behavior. Rebuke is personal and deals with more than just your actions.
A
true friend is someone who will rebuke you, but he is also someone who has won
the right to be heard before he rebukes you. Counsel, even critical counsel,
can come from a committee, or a board of directors, or even an informal group
of acquaintances. But rebuke that is loving, and sweet and faithful,
comes only from a friend who has won the right to be heard. Love is interested in the greatest good of
another not their greatest happiness.
6. A wise person knows those with great needs
are more appreciative than those who are satisfied v 7.
Here is
another contrast between one who is full, appetites are satiated—that is has
what is needed of possessions, education, experience, friendships—with one who
is hungry—that is can appreciate the value of a gift or new opportunity since
they have seldom received such.
7. A wise person knows one leaving security too
soon may be unprepared to care for oneself v 8
There
are a number of reasons why one would leave security to venture out on one’s
own. But the danger is being unprepared for such and
undertaking. It may not be irresponsible to wander but it could lead to
unnecessary hardship that could have been avoided with better timing and wise
preparation.
NB: So
life has any number of potentially exasperating circumstances that can incite
one to jeopardize the future or character, or personal and spiritual growth or
relationships. Solomon says be aware of this and do not get provoked into
foolish, silly, and destructive actions and attitudes that compound the
consequences. Life is fragile, and one must rule his or her spirit to preserve
one’s life along the way and be productive. A wise life is a well-managed life
according to wisdom.
WISDOM VALUES RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE CONSTRUCTIVE
AND CARING
Life is
filled with many kinds of relationships. The value of these relationships is
expressed by mutual benefit and shared values that contribute to people’s
lives.
1. A wise person appreciates genuine advice
from a person who cares v 9.
Advice
from a friend can be pleasant news. The emblem of oil and perfume convey the
value of the advice and counsel received from one who genuinely cares. The
salve is able to address the situation exactly and the counsel delivers the
appropriate insight required for it.
2. A wise person believes a friend who is
available is better than a relative who is not v 10.
It is
important to not burn bridges if at all possible with anyone. Life can become
so complicated that we never know whose help we may require. Maintaining
relationships with family and friends is required but realize that a neighbor
who is near will be of more help than a relative far away. Don’t burn bridges.
3. A wise parent’s wise children are the best
defense against incompetent parenting v 11.
The
first responsibility of a child
is to pursue wisdom. This is the
most basic theme in Proverbs, and it is ultimately up to the child to pursue
it. When a child becomes wise, he learns the way things usually are most of the
time, and lives in accordance with that. This has two effects mentioned here.
One, it makes his father’s heart glad, and two; it helps his father in his
social interactions.
4. A wise person wants the naive to
learn to avoid the pitfalls of life v 12-13.
The
naïve need motivation to be trained since life will be much less painful knowing
how to avoid its pitfalls v 12. A prudent person has developed this wariness
avoiding stumbling into things. A wise person knows people must be held to
their obligations even if made foolishly v 13. This is part of the training of
the naïve. Making obligations with strangers requires precautions and
guarantees.
5. A wise person does not
appreciate loud and untimely greetings v 14.
The
wrong time for a right action can become a nuisance. It might be referring to
one who goes to great lengths to praise another creating the impression of
closeness but it is considered a curse rather than praise from the recipient
who hears it.
6. A wise person knows a
quarrelsome wife is unbearable and uncontrollable v 15-16.
A contentious wife is the worst thing a man can live
with. Quite the opposite of a gracious or
prudent wife is one who is contentious. Solomon says two things about the
contentious woman: she is agony to live with, and there is no way to restrain
her.
7. A wise person knows constructive criticism
between friends develops character v 17.
The idea
is that people can help each other improve by their discussions, criticisms,
suggestions, counsel, and conversations rather than by stimulating by anger
like the woman of v 15-16. That interaction makes them sharp or insightful like
a razor. They can see reality.
NB: A
variety of relationships in life, some valuable, some painful, some
jeopardizing, all require the application of wisdom. Constructive and caring
relationships are valuable and should be pursued.
WISDOM UNDERSTANDS THAT ONE’S HEART MOTIVATES
LIFE CHOICES
People
are driven by inner impulses, which affect everything we do and become.
1. A wise person knows working well at one’s
job brings favorable results v 18.
The
inner urge to be rewarded motivates one to be diligent about whatever he is in
charge of. Anticipating some kind of personal profit keeps him watching over
what is his responsibility.
2. A wise person knows that the heart reflects
the true nature of a person v 19.
The
inner thoughts of one reflect his true character. Looking at the attitudes of
one’s heart allows one to come to true self-awareness.
3. A wise person knows that the desires of
humans are insatiable as death v 20.
We
can only pursue pleasure, not obtain it. Pleasure is a carrot on the end of a
stick. We either find it does not provide the happiness we expected, or it is
quickly replaced with another pursuit.
4. A wise person knows the way
one reacts to praise reveals what one is really like v 21.
A
person is tested by the praise he receives. Gloating over it or receiving it
modestly says much about one’s character. Praise tests this by bringing it to
the surface. People can make judgments accordingly.
5. A wise person knows that the
folly of a fool cannot be removed by force v 22.
Solomon
sees no possibility of his rehabilitation because no one can change someone
else’s spiritual character. His foolishness comes from his spiritual nature,
which Solomon sees as incurable.
6. A wise person knows that
preserving ones income is essential to further success 23-27.
Prosperity
should not result in luxury. Solomon says if you have somehow
(through your work, chance events, or an inheritance) become prosperous, live
modestly. Live in such a way that your family and those for whom you are
responsible have their daily needs met. Pay attention to your wealth, but don’t
live in luxury.
NB: Life
is filled with choices and those choices are impacted by one’s inner life. If
that inner life is engineered by wisdom, then life choices have the potential
to be fruitful and beneficial. If not, they can just as easily produce havoc,
damage, and destruction.