Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 411 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Better to be Patient Than Powerful - Proverbs 16:17:33

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 411 of our trek, and today is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore the 2nd half of Chapter 16.

We are broadcasting from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. We returned from Arizona on the red eye flight very early Monday and then drove from Atlanta to Charlotte arriving back early afternoon. We had a productive and encouraging few days finalizing some needed company forms, reviewing the progress on the major construction project, and setting processes in place to move forward more efficiently. There is a lot of potential for good projects in the Phoenix area over the next few years. It will require a significant amount of patience, planning, and perseverance on our part as we plant the seeds and wait to see the harvest that God brings to fruition.

 

It also requires a lot of wisdom, insight, and understanding to handle the details of the various companies that we work with and incorporate our podcasting projects into the mix. I take comfort in going to the source of wisdom for business and life in God’s Word and specifically the book of Proverbs.

 

On our trek today, we will dig into verses 17-33 of Chapter 16. The title for today’s trek is taken from verse 32, and it is…

Better to be Patient Than Powerful

Let’s start in with verse 17...

17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;

whoever follows that path is safe.

Your life is a trek, and you choose which paths that you will take. If you take the path of virtue and integrity, it will lead you away from that which is harmful or evil and provide a safe trail for your life. If you choose the opposite, you will find yourself on a path that is not good or safe.

 

18 Pride goes before destruction,

and haughtiness before a fall.

Pride is at the heart of nearly all wrong choices that we make in life. It may be disguised as something else, but inherently pride is at the core. When you allow pride to take over your life, it will lead to your destruction and ultimate downfall. Each day all of us must work at becoming humbler and putting aside our pride.

 

19 Better to live humbly with the poor

than to share plunder with the proud.

Somewhat connected to the previous verse, we see that Solomon proclaims that it is better to be humble, even if it does not provide you with financial prosperity. If you become wealthy but have a spirit of pride in obtaining that wealth, then it does not bring lasting value.

 

20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper;

those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

One of the best ways to gain financial freedom and prosper is by being open to the instruction of those who have already obtained wealth. Listening to the wise advice of others is not limited to financial gain, but also to being prosperous in all areas of life. Even if you are successful in obtaining wealth, realize that wealth will never provide joy in your life. The only way to obtain and have a growing joy in your life is to trust that God is in control, and He will provide for all of your needs.

 

21 The wise are known for their understanding,

and pleasant words are persuasive.

If a person is wise, it will be evident to everyone they come in contact with because they will exude a spirit of understanding.