Hear and Heed

I am a practical person. Practical Christmas gifts of a new blender, coffee pot, or a new set of sheets don't bother me a bit... I thoroughly enjoy them and prefer them! I would much rather have something I can use than something I have to figure out what to do with or eventually just give away. Proverbs are practical words that can immediately affect our daily life. How much more practical can they be?

- Respect parents' advice
- Respect authority
- Be careful of what I say
- Discipline myself and my children
- Choose good friends
- Check my motives
- Spend money wisely
- Be prudent and think through things
- Treat neighbors kindly

Any one of these Proverbs is immediately applicable and can also be a wonderful nugget to chew on for a day or two.

"He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm."
~Proverbs 13:20

Whose company do I keep? Do my friendships encourage my spirit, lead me to become a better person, challenge me in my walk with God? Or do they tire me, frustrate me, or get me into trouble?

"The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands
the foolish one tears hers down."
~ Proverbs 14:1

Am I encouraging to my family in pointing them to the Lord, or do I give them reasons to run away? Am I setting a good example for my husband and child(ren)? Is my home a peaceful haven or is it chaotic and stressful?

"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."
~ Proverbs 15:4

Are my words encouraging to others? Do I think about how my words can help someone? Or are my words superficial and useless or even worse...harmful to others?

In contrast to the Psalms that are emotional balm to our souls, these words are practical balm to my mind. They are comforting to me because they confirm that obedience to God will be rewarded. The proverbs encourage me to do the right thing with a clear explanation of consequences of not doing the right thing. My NIV study notes say, "Most proverbs are short, compact statements that express truths about human behavior." There are rewards for righteousness, wise actions, and good decisions. There are consequences of folly, for being hot-headed and selfish. The righteous are fulfilled and have true joy and a life of peace. The foolish receive misfortune, ruin, and distance from God. Quite a contrast!

These are practical words for daily living. These words are living and active to affect our daily lives. Starting right now, they draw us closer to the Lord. Let's hear these precious words and heed the wisdom and advice.

"For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edge sword,
it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
~ Hebrews 4:12