IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

The Wise and the Fool

Date: Feb. 15, 2017

Passage

Proverbs 10:1-18  (ESV)

The proverbs of Solomon.

  A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
  Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
  The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
  A slack hand causes poverty,
    but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
  He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
  Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
  The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.
  The wise of heart will receive commandments,
    but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
  Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
10   Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
    and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11   The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12   Hatred stirs up strife,
    but love covers all offenses.
13   On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
14   The wise lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
15   A rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
    the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
16   The wage of the righteous leads to life,
    the gain of the wicked to sin.
17   Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
    but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
18   The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
    and whoever utters slander is a fool.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 10:6

  Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

1. Blessings crown the head of the righteous (1-9)

Solomon contrasts the wise (the righteous) with the fools (the wicked). A wise son brings joy to his father but a foolish son grief to his mother. The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Blessings crown the righteous and his name will be blessed. The wise are diligent and gather crops in summer but the fool sleeps during the harvest. The wise accept commands but the fool rejects and comes to ruin. The wise walk in integrity securely but the crooked do not. Am I wise or foolish?

2. The wise keeps his mouth (10-18)

God gave us tongues not to ruin others but to be used as instruments of righteousness. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life but the mouth of the wicked harms others. We should not hate others who cause dissention. We should rather cover others' wrongs with love. The wise heeds discipline but the fool ignores correction. What we conceal in our heart, the mouth will speak it out soon. How can I be a blessed wise son? To fear our Father God and believe in Jesus will make us wise.

Prayer: Lord, you are the living God who recognizes the wise but judges the fool. Let me live before you as a wise son.

One Word: God blesses the righteous

Daily Bread

David’s Victories

1 Chronicles 18:1-17

Key Verse: 18:6b,13b

Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

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