Proverbs 13:1-25 (NLT)
1 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.
2 Wise words will win you a good meal, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.
3 Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.
4 Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
5 The godly hate lies; the wicked cause shame and disgrace.
6 Godliness guards the path of the blameless, but the evil are misled by sin.
7 Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor.
8 The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened.
9 The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.
10 Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.
11 Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.
14 The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death.
15 A person with good sense is respected; a treacherous person is headed for destruction.
16 Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.
17 An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing.
18 If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.
19 It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.
20 Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
21 Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.
22 Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.
23 A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away.
24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
25 The godly eat to their hearts’ content, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
The destination of life is continually determined by a choice of footing. Both the godly and wicked routes are ever an option. Though wickedness may seem to be the easier, more gratifying path for that next step, it is part of a steady progression to a destination of identity in lack and despair. However, the next step of godliness may be more challenging and denying of temporal pleasures, but it is part of an ultimate identity in peace, abundance, and security.
The nature of these steps and their eventual progression may not be apparent in the moment and their importance may be minimized in the rush of life. However, there is only folly in taking lightly the significance of every step taken. This is where the simple choice to draw near to the heart of God in reverence and fear enables a labeling of every step with its ultimate destination. Rather than randomly choosing in the whim of the moment, there is deference to the significance of Wisdom and its determination of each step’s destiny.
People are not just entitled to and handed the fruit of righteousness. It is the progressive end of choices influenced by the words of wisdom drawn from the presence of the One who holds our eternal destiny in His hands. In the fear of Him, each step will be known for what it is and where it leads. Then, each one will be taken in loving fear and honor of Him.