Advice that Will Change Your Life Text: Proverbs 18:1-24
A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. 2 A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart. 3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach. 4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. 5 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. 7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. 9 He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer. 10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. 11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem. 12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. 13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. 14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit? 15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16 A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men. 17 The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. 18 Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart. 19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. 22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD. 23 The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly. 24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:1NLTUnfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense.
One who seeks his own desire. They are quarrelsome and hot-tempered.
Gal. 5: 20 NLT Part of the works of the flesh, 20). idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
Proverbs 18:2NLT Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.
A fools only interest is to reveal their own mind.
Eccl. 10:3NKJ Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Proverbs 18:3NLT Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt.
Contempt, dishonor and scorn.
Psalm 31:17NLT Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out to you for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave.
Proverbs 18:4NLT Wise words are like deep waters;wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.
A wise man’s words are refreshing and a source of life. People gather around a truly wise person.
Proverbs 18:5NLT It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent.
We should never show partiality or favoritism of any kind to the wicked.
Malachi 3:5-6 NLT “At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.
Proverbs 18:6-7NLT Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. 7 The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips.
A fool is quick to quarrel; their mouths trap them every time.
Proverbs 18:8NLT Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.
Rumors promote dissension. Rumors can destroy good characters. Rumors maybe delicious to hear and to repeat but they are deadly.
Mike Murdock, tells the story of a rumor of a minister with marriage problems. (It wasn’t true, but every time Rev. Murdock, sees this minister, he thinks about this man’s marriage.
The opposite, Proverbs 16:21NLT The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.
Proverbs 18:9NLT A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.
To leave a work half done or poorly done is to destroy. Our testimony is seen by our work, and our work ethic.
Proverbs 18:10NLT The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.
This is the verse that bought that great song.
The godly run unto Him for safety, because they trust Him during good and bad times.
Psalm 20:7-8NKJ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright.
Psalm 20: 7-8TM See those people polishing their chariots, and those others grooming their horses? But we’re making garlands for God our God. The chariots will rust, those horses pull up lame— and we’ll be on our feet, standing tall.
Proverbs 18:11-12NLT The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.12 Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.
Those who trust in anything other than God, will fall. Remember verse 12b humility precedes honor.
For the truly humble, honor will come!
Proverbs 18:13NLT Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.
John 7:51 NKJ “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
Proverbs 18:14NLT The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?
When the spirit is broken people lose hope, but when the body is sick a person can recover. (Examples)
Proverbs 18:15NLT Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.
Ephesians 1:15-18NKJ Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Proverbs 18:16NLT Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people!
This isn’t the word for a bribe, but a present given to someone; Men of old, through out the OT gave gifts. Abraham gave gifts unto Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20), Joseph gave gifts to his brothers (Genesis 43:11), David gave gifts (I Sam.17:17-18).
Proverbs 18:17NLT The first to speak in court sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.
Before making judgement it’s important to hear all evidence. (There’s always two sides of a story, their side, your side, and the right side.)
Proverbs 18:18NLT Flipping a coin can end arguments;it settles disputes between powerful opponents. (Hebrew, casting lots)
A two sided coin can’t lie, and it shows no partiality. ( Still used even with advanced technology.
Proverbs 18:19NLT An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.
There isn’t anything harder to do than to resolve a feud with a relative, no barriers are so hard to break down.
Proverbs 18:20-21NLT Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Ones words should always produce fruit; however, the tongue can bring death or life. Who’s choice is it? The one speaking, Chose life!
James 3:5-6TM It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.
Proverbs 18:22NLT The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.
A wife here is speaking of a godly wife, a righteous wife, such as Ruth, or Hannah. A godly wife edifies everything she touches.
Proverbs 18:23NLT The poor plead for mercy;the rich answer with insults.
Many times, a rich person doesn’t need favors from people, so he or she doesn’t care how they treat others. (This isn’t always the case.)
Proverbs 18:24NLT There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
A person who makes friends to easily, and without thought will be brought to ruin. On the other hand, a friend chosen wisely is more loyal than a brother. Friend here is a strong word meaning, “One who loves.” It was used of Abraham, God’s friend.
2 Chronicles 20:7NKJ Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?
James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
Prayer
