Troubling Path II

Thursday, June 23, 2022

6 Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;

    the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!

7 Escape quickly from the company of fools;

    they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.

8 The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track;

    the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.

9 The stupid ridicule right and wrong,

    but a moral life is a favored life.

10 The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends

    will be an outsider at their celebrations.

-Proverbs 14:6-10 The Message

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,

    but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

7 Leave the presence of a fool,

    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,

    but the folly of fools is deceiving.

9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,

    but the upright enjoy acceptance.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

    and no stranger shares its joy.

Verse 6 study: Scoffers are known to mock every word of instruction or advice. They will never find wisdom; they don’t seek instruction or guidance seriously. Wisdom comes to those who pay attention to experienced people and God. If you are seeking wisdom, and it doesn’t come easy to you, try changing your attitude. that may be your barrier to knowledge.

Verse 9 study: How often do you find goodwill? We see angry drivers act crazy towards others in the streets or disgruntled employees and employees demanding rights. But the common ground of God’s people should be goodwill. People with goodwill think the best of each other and assume that others have good motives and intend to do right. When someone crosses you, ask yourself how you can show goodwill towards this person.

Verse 10 study: Your inner pain and feelings are a private matter that most people won’t understand. Don’t expect people to understand your feelings.