“My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me” (vs11)

If we are wise, then we’ll do good works, and God will glorify Himself before those who speak against Him. They’ll see our good works and know that He is holy and gracious, because He saves us freely by Christ’s death, and He gives us honorable character. He teaches sinners by His goodness to us, showing how longsuffering He is.

Simpletons inherit damnation, death, and destruction. They don’t FEAR God, even though they are warned. We read, “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished” (vs12). Believers need mercy daily. We know that we deserve hell, and He’ll send us there assuredly, so we run to Him with broken hearts, and He saves us. Blind sinners, the simple who know nothing, however, do not see the danger. They mock righteous Lot, they will not seek mercy, and they perish, refusing instruction. Fearless bravado ruins them. Puny man boasts against Almighty God, saying things like, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?”

I’d rather confess myself a stupid sinner and admit myself a fool than be SO FOOLISH as to reject saving mercy. Wise men fear, while simpletons push our their chest and are punished.

If we put confidence in ourselves that we can save others, then we’ll be sorely disappointed and hurt. We read, “Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress” (vs13). The sinner is dead and will destroy himself, unless Christ, the real Surety – the One whom God has made responsible for sinners – intervenes. You and I can do NOTHING without Him, and only pride makes us try. We cannot preach or even pray, so rather than look to yourself for your family, or look to yourself for your own sins and trials, look to the faithful Son of God. No other shoulders can bear the burden of salvation. He says, “Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one (Christ), and said: ‘I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people” (Ps 89:19). No one else is holy, harmless, and filled with eternal ability. Believe upon Him for every bit of goodness, and never look to the man in the mirror.

Secondly, do not fawn over men with lavish praises. Do not be a smiling “yes man” who shows his teeth to win favor. We read, “He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him” (vs14). Flattery is insincere praise, like Absalom who fawned over the people because he wanted David’s throne!

Be sincere, please God, and make sure that your love is as strong in SECRET as in the open. Do not let your mouth express what you don’t feel, but love men sincerely and do them good, instead of flattering them. Preach the gospel from the heart, lay down your life, and show your love by pleasing God so they can be saved (1 Thess 2:4-9).

Do not think that you can change a contentious person. We read, “A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike; whoever restrains her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand” (vs15-16). Marry someone who loves Christ, or you’ll find out that you cannot control their open rebellion. They are going to CONTEND with you, because you seek God’s will, and they want something else. Likewise, do not sit in a church because it is large and comfortable. You cannot change it. When the gospel is opposed and resisted, find God’s people, and then labor together with them. It is better to have peace and godliness, than it is to endure a false gospel that argues against your Savior. It will give no peace.

Friendship is important to us. We’ve been placed in Christ’s body, the Church, because Christian fellowship is designed to meet our needs. We read, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (vs17). Some people need more human contact than others, but everyone needs to be refreshed by the saints. We need encouragement by their insights, warmth by their love, and we are not to be a loners. One of the best remedies for sin and frustration is people because God puts a word on their lips, and He puts His arm around you through their arms. The gospel includes God ministering to us by others.

If we serve God, then He will reward us. He says, “Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; so he who waits on his master will be honored” (vs18). We must know the end result of obedience, so that we persevere. There are many temptations to quit, and sin promises us dainties, but seeing God’s reward, we press on to the heavenly bliss (Heb 11:6). Do not be ashamed to seek Him and labor for what He gives. We come to Christ because we NEED Him, and we endure temptations because He’ll reward us richly. There is peace in obedience down here, and in heaven, this peace and pleasure are uninterrupted by sin. Be encouraged. You’re not denying yourself and resisting sin in vain. He will make it worth it.

Finally, our heart reveals who we really are, for with the heart man believes unto righteousness. He says, “As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man” (vs19). Do you believe with all your heart? If so, then you trust the Son of God MORE than anyone else, and you put Him before all things (Luke 14:25-33). You have failures and sins, but if Christ is your hope, if you lean upon His blood for salvation, then you are saved indeed. You are good, forgiven, and you are clean. Your heart, in spite of your sinfulness, reveals a person whose love is real. You put Christ above everything else, and you are Christian.

Man is greedy and lustful, and he will never be happy in this world of sin. We read, “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied”. He must either be content in Christ, or he will never be contented, no matter what God gives him, because he wants to be god himself (Gen 3:4-7). You may think, “Just give me a wife, a better job, healthy children, and some ease, and then I will be satisfied”, but it isn’t true. David and Solomon had more than us all, but the heart is NEVER happy with stuff. Contentment is having all things in Christ, even though I don’t enjoy them now. It is not by God bowing to my every whim.