Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 446 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Wise Words are More Valuable Than Riches - Proverbs 20:1-15

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 446 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 1st half of Chapter 20.

We are broadcasting from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This past couple of weeks has certainly been a whirlwind for us. Just as fall is quickly approaching and the seasons are changing, so are the seasons of our life. I won’t cover the details yet, but when God decides to stir the nest, sometimes it comes rapidly. And we have to adjust plans sooner than we had anticipated. I will share more as the details become available.

As we do adapt to the ever-changing seasons of life, it certainly is beneficial to rely on the wisdom, insight, and understanding obtained through many years to help navigate the trails that we are hiking each day. Sharp turns, unexpected obstacles, and precarious ledges can come on us quickly. Being prepared for these unexpected situations will allow you to traverse the trails with the strength needed while maintaining your peace and joy.

In every season of life, we need to seek wisdom, insight, and understanding, so as we break camp for our trek today, let us explore the nuggets of wisdom found in the first half of Proverbs 20 where we will learn that…

Wise Words Are More Valuable Than Riches

Let’s start our trek with verse 1.

1 Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.

Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

While Biblically there is nothing wrong with having an occasional drink that contains alcohol, I personally have chosen not to consume alcoholic beverages of any kind because I do not desire for any substance to alter my mental state or subdue my inhibitions. As this verse references, it is not wise to allow alcohol to lead you down the trails that may lead to actions and words that are not pleasing to God.

2 The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;

to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

Most of us don’t live under a monarchy today, but the same situation exists for anyone who works for or is under the supervision of another person. We should avoid causing those who lead us to become angry.  It is not only humiliating, but it can also cause serious consequences within our work or other organizations where we serve.

 

3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;

only fools insist on quarreling.

It is never wise to fight with another person. If the communication is proper, then there is no need to quarrel or fight with others. Whether it is in a marriage, family, friendship, or work relationship, a wise person will avoid fighting.

4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season

will have no food at the harvest.

The law of planting and harvesting is addressed again. If we are too lazy to plow, plant, and tend the crops in the proper season of life, then there will be no harvest. This concept is so simplistic, yet so profound. It applies to every area of life.

 

5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart,

a person with understanding will draw it out.

A wise and thoughtful person keeps his advice to himself and will only share it when it is prudent and appropriate. A person with understanding is also wise because he will tap into the good advice of a person who is wiser.