Marketplace Proverbs and Coffee with Ernie-A Proverb Per Day Keeps Stinking Thinking At Bay

Proverbs 12-Faithful in the Small Things

“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.”--Proverbs 12-11

I doubt God defines success in the same terms we use to measure it in the world. I believe God values faithfulness over celebrity status and prefers humility to power. Faithfulness and humility are essential components in our inner GPS or guidance system. Perhaps these qualities are ingredients in our ‘magnetism’ that help keep our inner GPS in sync with true north.

On the night of His greatest miracle, God chose not to reveal Jesus' birth to kings, scholars, or influential figures. Instead, He sent an angel to a group of shepherds, ordinary men engaged in everyday work. Luke 2:8 describes them as “living in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”

These shepherds weren’t seeking fame; they were diligently caring for what God had entrusted to them. Because of their presence and faithfulness, they were the first to hear Heaven’s message and to see the Savior face-to-face. Faithfulness continues to operate in this manner today. In today's marketplace, salespeople and service professionals often feel like shepherds, overlooked, undervalued, and misunderstood. Yet, God still calls us to guard what has been given to us and to lead rather than manipulate. To add significance to all customers by recognizing them as brothers and sisters, God’s other creations from different mothers. Faithfulness is the core of stewardship. It may not be glamorous, but it’s powerful. If you feel unnoticed or discouraged today, remember: God sees everything. Excelling in small tasks prepares your heart for what’s ahead. God rewards the faithful, not the flashy.

So work your portion of the mission field. Make the calls. Serve with excellence. Be diligent in the details. The reward isn’t just promotion, it’s a partnership with the One who sees you.

Customer Success Code™-“Faithfulness in the small things today prepares you for significance in the big things tomorrow.”

“Everyone ignorant or foolish is invited… give up your foolishness and let understanding guide your steps.”—📖 Proverbs 9:1–6

Wisdom isn’t reserved for the elite—it’s a feast prepared for anyone hungry enough to ask.

In today’s episode, we explore the difference between textbook decisions and Spirit-led wisdom. I share how God has recalibrated my leadership over the years—from cold, calculated moves to kind, Spirit-guided ones that ripple far beyond the moment.

Customer Success Code: “Godly wisdom transforms decisions from transactions to testimonies.”

“Choose my instruction over silver, knowledge over the finest gold.” Proverbs 8:10-11 CEB

Proverbs 8 is written from the perspective of experience looking back, rather than from a young man’s anticipation. This view reflects my own approach to writing, coaching, and podcast hosting. Now in my 78th year of life and my 60th year in the marketplace, I reflect on a journey filled with missteps that I could have avoided if I had paused to seek God's wisdom.

Solomon isn’t simply chasing knowledge and wisdom; he’s encouraging us to value them early, pursue them intentionally, and hold them consistently. Knowledge and wisdom don’t come automatically with position or responsibility; they must be actively cultivated, not as a reward, but as a response. They’re developed through obedience and guarded through discernment, which matters greatly in today’s chaotic culture, especially for Customer Success Masters™ entrusted with influence.

When Responsibility Arrives Before Confidence

There’s a pivotal moment early in Solomon’s leadership that gives Proverbs 8 both weight and relevance. In 1 Kings 3, Solomon has just become king. He’s inherited authority he didn’t campaign for, and there were responsibilities he wasn’t fully prepared to carry. His prayer reveals a rare and refreshing humility:

“And now here I am: God, my God, you have made me, your servant, ruler of the kingdom in place of David my father. I’m too young for this, a mere child! I don’t know the ropes, hardly know the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of this job. And here I am, set down in the middle of the people you’ve chosen, a great people—far too many to ever count. “Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?” 1 Kings 3:7–9 (MSG)

Solomon doesn’t ask for success, security, or longevity. He doesn’t ask for protection from enemies or for the admiration of others. Instead, he asks for wisdom and discernment, recognizing a truth many of us overlook: a perceived calling without discernment is dangerous.

“Keep my commands and live, and guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.” Proverbs 7:2, CSB

If you’ve ever missed an exit on the highway, you probably remember that brief wave of panic and that sudden jolt you feel when your GPS screen freezes for a moment before flickering with the word “Recalculating.” You glance around, a bit uncertain about which way to head, wishing you had paid closer attention to your surroundings. It happens to me sometimes, and the angst or panic is even more intense if I am running late for an appointment.

Throughout my life and business journey, I’ve had moments when I lost sight of what truly matters. I began with a sense of purpose and faith, constantly seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. However, more often than not, I found myself drifting away or getting distracted by the tempting ‘big deal,’ which seemed like the natural choice or path at the time. As these distractions grew louder, I sometimes muted the wise voice inside me and listened more to my own thoughts, which I saw as opportunities, ambitions, or the promise of easy wins. Every time, I eventually realized I was losing sight of my true path: focusing on what genuinely matters and adding significance to others.

Proverbs 7 offers a heartfelt illustration of this idea. Solomon lovingly advises his son to “keep my commands and live,” emphasizing the importance of staying alert, focused, and resisting fleeting temptations that could divert us from our long-term goals. The enemy’s approach isn’t usually to push us off a cliff suddenly but rather to gently nudge us just enough to veer off course. What might seem like a slight misstep at first can, over time, lead us far away from our true destination.

Distractions aren’t always obvious and can often disguise themselves as success, new opportunities, or tempting offers. They may give us a quick feeling of achievement, but they can quietly disrupt our peace. The real challenge isn’t in chasing growth itself but in having the proper guidance. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve asked God for blessings, for guidance, and favor, only to rush ahead without waiting for His clear instructions from the Holy Spirit. This often leads us to trade wisdom for speed, leaving us feeling spiritually drained and wondering, “Lord, how did I end up here?” When we ignore God’s Word and depend only on our own understanding, our internal GPS, the signals from me, myself, and I, are weak. Consequently, we become reactive rather than responsive. When our signal weakens, every voice feels like the truth.

Solomon’s advice to “guard my teachings as the apple of your eye” isn’t just poetic; it’s friendly advice that resonates with us all. Our eyes are like gentle guides; when we lose sight of them, we might find ourselves lost. Today, it’s about shielding our spiritual GPS from all those distractions. Just like drivers who get distracted by roadside sights and unintentionally drift off course, we too can stray from our path if we neglect our spiritual focus.

“A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth… who plots evil with deceit in his heart—he always stirs up conflict.” Proverbs 6:12,14 (NIV)

Distortion can significantly compromise the message. Even the most reliable system struggles to communicate effectively when distortion or interference enters the signal path. Proverbs 6 reminds us that deceitful speech or distorted integrity can introduce noise, conflict, confusion, and mistrust into our relationships and organizations.

In the marketplace, clarity and honesty in communication are vital because they build trust and credibility. While mistakes can be forgiven, manipulation leaves a lasting scar on relationships. When static or distortion creeps into the signal, it undermines listeners’ confidence in everything that follows, underscoring the importance of transparent and honest dialogue at all times of transmission.

God’s Intelligent Word truly deserves clear and understandable, intelligible audio, no confusing talk or distortion. When our words reflect the truth, they feel more powerful and carry absolute authority. However, if they stray into deceit, they lose their impact, no matter how loudly they speak.

Listen in to hear my definition of marketplace leadership using Proverbs 5:12-14

In today’s episode, I reference, with permission, Marty Stubblefield’s devotional on WORK from his Lazy Dog Newsletter. Marty writes: Scripture tells us the first person recorded as “filled with the Spirit” wasn’t a pastor, but a craftsman, a worker. An artist trusted to build something well. Marty quotes Jesus:

“We must do the work of Him who sent me, as long as it is day.”—John 9:4

In the New Testament…Of the 132 public appearances that Jesus made, 122 were in the marketplace. Of the 52 parables that Jesus told, 45 had a workplace context. Of the 40 miracles in the Book of Acts, 39 were in the marketplace.

Our WORK isn’t just a J.O.B. (Just over Broke). Our WORK is sacred when we know who we work for.

Thanks for listening to Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie! This podcast is public, so feel free to share it.

“When they say, “Come on! Let’s gang up and kill somebody, just for the fun of it! Don’t follow anyone like that or do what they do. They are in a big hurry to commit some crime, perhaps even murder. But if you listen to me, you will be safe and secure without fear of disaster.—Proverbs 1:11, 15-16, 33 CEV

Proverbs 1 warns us about people who run toward trouble, manipulation, and quick-hit gains. Their feet “run to evil”—meaning they rush into conflict, deception, and shortcuts. But wisdom calls us to something very different: To hold back our foot. To decline the invitation to strife. To refuse the path of haste and pressure. To choose the way of peace. Wisdom promises that if we listen, really listen, we will “dwell securely and be at ease.” That’s the posture of a Peacemaker.

In this New Year’s episode, I share how Customer Success Masters avoid the shortcuts, drama, and emotional reactions that destroy trust and peace. Instead, we step into 2026 with clarity, discipline, and integrity.

You’ll learn:

* What “running to evil” looks like in modern marketplace culture

* How to slow down, think clearly, and protect your integrity

* Why Peacemakers consistently outperform strife-chasers

* How Proverbs 1:33 becomes a promise for your year: “You will dwell securely and be at ease.”

Customer Success Code: Peacemakers don’t run to strife—they hold back their foot and let wisdom lead.

Thanks for listening to Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie: A Proverb Each Day Keeps Stinking Thinking At Bay! This podcast is public; please share it.

Our highways and main thoroughfares are populated with digital billboards. The beauty of digital billboards is that advertisers can change their message via an online app—no more buying a static billboard for an extended length of time.

Let’s take that same concept to ourselves. All of us wear a sign. Some signs show stress, fatigue, fear, and anger. Some show happiness and peace. We can choose the message on our personal billboard. Does our sign say “I hear you, I am here to add significance to you or does it display “I’m all about the deal, let’s do a transaction so I can go to the next one”? Only we can decide the message our personal billboard displays.

Thanks for listening to Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee With Ernie. A Proverb Each Day Keeps Stinking Thinking At bay! This podcast is public; please share it.

(From Marketplace Proverbs Vol. 2: Micro to Macro — The Ripple Effect of Influence)

💬 Marketplace Proverbs & Coffee with Ernie™ — Episode 30 is live!

In a world full of filters, slogans, and AI-generated taglines, it’s tempting to tweak the truth — especially in business. But Proverbs 30 reminds us: God’s Word doesn’t need editing. It needs alignment. It’s already perfect, powerful, and purposeful. In this episode, I explain why Gospel-Centered Customer Success Masters™ must build their message on God’s truth—not trends.

✅ When you trust the Word, you don’t have to twist it.

✅ When you speak with integrity, your influence multiplies.

✅ When you align with God’s Word, you create ripple effects that last.

🎧 Listen now — and recalibrate your voice to reflect what’s already pure.

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