This episode looks at Proverbs 12:25, “Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy.” Anxiety can weigh us down and cause slothfulness, so we need encouraging words (and hope to give them to others) to bring us into joyful diligence.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:24, “The diligent person will rule, but the slothful will become a slave.” Diligence (acting consistently in pursuit of God’s calling) leads to rulership in our spheres of influence. Slothfulness leads to slavery (whether wage, debt, or ideological). May God help us pursue the one and forsake the other.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:23, “The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people publicize folly.” The wise person does not have a heart that overflows in foolishness. Rather, the wise person chooses words and information carefully, not out of self-protection but out of love for God and others.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:22, “The Lord abhors a person who lies, but those who deal truthfully are his delight.” The reason the last two proverbs prove true is because God favors the ones who deal truthfully and abhors those who walk in falsehoods. By the Spirit’s help, may we find God’s favor as we walk in truth.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:21, “The righteous do not encounter any harm, but the wicked are filled with calamity.” Is this proverb true? Before Christ’s return, this proverb should encourage us that as we walk in righteousness we no that the harm we encounter is not from our own actions but rather from living in a fallen world. We can also look ahead to Christ’s coming, the time when this proverb will be actualized in every sense.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:20, “Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.“ We want joy, so we should counsel and promote peace — peace with God and peace in our communities.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:19, “The one who tells the truth will endure forever, but the one who lies will last only for a moment.” Only true, faithful speech can bring lasting value. Lying may succeed for a moment, but the foundations are faulty, and liars will be exposed for what they are in the end. May we speak truly, and may we discern righteous and wicked speech with an eye toward leaving value for coming generations.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:18, “Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.” We need the power of the Spirit at work in us to know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it so as to bring healing and not harm to others.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:16, “A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent overlooks an insult.” We need patience and self-control to not react to everything that annoys or vexes us. Instead, we can at times overlook even insults to accomplish something greater.