7 Days 7 Lessons #12 - Proverbs Edition
This month, I wanted to do some lessons based on one of my favourite books. It is arguably the book that packs the biggest punch when it comes to wisdom. It's the Book of Proverbs.
The Book of Proverbs is one of the many books in the Bible. It was written by King Solomon and is full of wise advice. Below are some of my favourites!
Unchecked Enthusiasm is Dangerous
Jumping at an opportunity without considering the outcome is the same as putting everything on red in a casino.
Enthusiasm is good. In fact, it's great. It's commonly missing from people working in their 9-to-5. I definitely can understand why, sometimes, you just don't feel like dealing with annoying customers or managers.
Enthusiasm is one of the best feelings you could have. It's a great catalyst for learning, it forces you to keep your mind sharp, and shows that you're enjoying the work you do.
Yet King Solomon warns about unchecked enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good;
haste makes mistakes.
– Proverbs 19:2 NLT
It is important that, before you throw all your money into the stock market, which could generate 1000% returns, you seek knowledge about the stock market and learn what you should invest in.
It is important that before you sign a contract giving you a car for free, you understand the tax laws in your country, and whether you are subject to paying any tax.
It is important that, before you leave your current job to pursue a startup idea you've got, you validate it with potential customers.
Enthusiasm without knowledge is just confident ignorance. Be cautious of this, as it could lead you to make very dangerous mistakes.
In the three examples above, jumping in at the headline without doing research could have led to harmful life changes. For example, the stock market is incredibly dangerous. Most people lose their money actively trading. Receiving a car could make you liable to pay tax on that car, and your startup idea might be good for you, but is it good for others?
Knowledge is king when it comes to making the right decisions. People don't fail because they chose the wrong option. They fail because the lack of information forced them to choose the wrong option.
TLDR: Enthusiasm is great. But knowledge is required to use it well; otherwise, you could harm yourself.
Money and Friends
Wealth attracts "friends" like a lamp to a fly.
When I was younger, I thought that money was the solution to life's many problems. Forgive me for being so naive. I was still in secondary school and saw that the problems my parents faced could be solved with more money, and I naturally took that to mean money solves everything.
I eventually found out that was not the case. Don't get me wrong, becoming wealthy is one of the most important things people should do. Not having to worry about your future or what you can do in that moment is a great sense of freedom I wish more people had; however, one problem it definitely does not solve is that of friendships.
You see it all too often. A celebrity becomes famous, gets rich in the process, and has extravagant parties, followed by expensive gifts. But when that money well dries up, those "friends" the celebrity collected along the way suddenly disappear.
King Solomon sums it up well:
Wealth makes many “friends”;
poverty drives them all away.
– Proverbs 19:4 NLT
There's an important lesson here. One about finding the right friends.
“Friends” are often drawn to money. But when you can no longer provide for them, they desert you. True friends are the ones left over once your wealth is gone. Wealth brings opportunistic “friends”, ones that only care about you for what you have, not for who you are.
Many seek favors from a ruler;
everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!
– Proverbs 19:6 NLT
Look at the friends you have. Ask yourself, would they stick by you if you could no longer provide for them? It doesn't have to be money. It could be expertise, connections, or even carrying them in a video game. If you stopped helping them, would they leave your life?
If yes, find those who won't. Finding good friends is tough; finding friendships that last a lifetime is tougher. Yet this is a battle worth fighting.
TLDR: Most friends will leave you once you can't provide for them. Find the ones that will stick by you regardless of your success.
Correcting People
Life will teach everyone lessons, but only the wise will learn from them.
How many times have you been on a bus full of kids being inappropriate, screaming, shouting, maybe even verbally or sometimes physically abusing someone?
As someone who's lived in London for a long time, this sight is not uncommon. I mean, don't you just wish that someone would tell them off?
To be honest, I've seen some try to do this, but it often falls on deaf ears or escalates the issue.
I mean, King Solomon must have time-travelled to modern-day London and seen what was happening.
He warns us that rebuking a mocker or correcting the wicked is a waste of time and will result in verbal or even physical abuse. Therefore, he tells us not to bother. In situations like these, we should let life teach them the lesson. Let the authorities get involved. Let the employer fire them. Let society rebuke them.
7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
– Proverbs 9:7-8 NLT
Unfortunately, some people are simply so set in their ways that unless something wakes them up to the reality of life, they just refuse any advice. I've seen this at work, in public, and pretty much anywhere else you could think of.
However, in Proverbs 19, he does later share that a wise man wants to be corrected. Corrective measures are important to someone’s growth. A wise person learns from the mistakes they make and, as a result, grows wiser in the process.
25 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson;
if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
– Proverbs 19:25 NLT
So, don't waste your energy trying to correct the wicked or the mockers. It's a waste of time. But do correct those who are wise. Correct them because it will only make them better. But also be willing to be corrected. Willing to be wrong is a strong sign of wisdom.
Being wrong is not a good look for someone who claims to be wise. As a result, it's best to be corrected as quickly as possible. Seeking the truth is the ultimate measure of wisdom, even if it inflicts your pride.
You are only wise if you are willing to accept being wrong; otherwise, you are just a prideful propagandist.
TLDR: The wicked and mockers will abuse you if you try to correct them, but the wise will cherish it and use it to become better.
Two Types of People: Wisdom and Folly
Some teachers are just wolves dressed in sheep's clothes.
In Proverbs 9, two characters are presented: Wisdom and Folly.
Wisdom invites the simple-minded and those who lack good judgment to come eat and drink the food and wine she has prepared. She does this with a good heart.
1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
2 She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.
3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
4 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
5 “Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”
– Proverbs 9:1-6 NLT
Folly does the same thing. However, Folly is brash and ignorant. She seeks the same people as Wisdom, but she doesn't provide any good.
13 The woman named Folly is brash.
She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.
14 She sits in her doorway
on the heights overlooking the city.
15 She calls out to men going by
who are minding their own business.
16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
17 “Stolen water is refreshing;
food eaten in secret tastes the best!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there.
Her guests are in the depths of the grave.
– Proverbs 9:13-18 NLT
Inside Wisdom's house is food and wine. Anyone who enters her home is rewarded handsomely.
6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”
– Proverbs 9:6 NLT
However, unlike Wisdom, Folly doesn't have anything nourishing inside her home; instead, inside her home is the dead.
18 But little do they know that the dead are there.
Her guests are in the depths of the grave.
– Proverbs 9:18 NLT
The thing that immediately jumps out to me is that there are two types of people in life.
Both will offer help; however, only one of them offers true results, whilst the other one leads you down the hole of ignorance.
Death in this sense can be taken in many ways. One could be literal, but I see it more in the way of you stop pursuing the purpose you were born to do, or you could imagine it as being led astray from the path that was meant for you. You could even see it as those who have followed Folly's steps and have "died" in the process.
Many people will try to sell you a dream. You see many of them online, offering free courses they claim can make you millions of dollars. The likelihood of that being true is slim; instead, they are just Pirayas looking to take advantage of your emotions to funnel money out of you.
It's important to choose the teachers who genuinely care about making a difference. Someone doing it solely for money cannot be trusted.
TLDR: Two types of people will try to give you advice. Only one of them will do it well. The other will lead you into a deeper and deeper hole of misinformation, often just to benefit from you.
Stop Being Lazy
Laziness is the leading cause of unfulfilled dreams.
One of the most common themes throughout the Book of Proverbs is King Solomon's hatred for laziness.
6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and become wise!
7 Though they have no prince
or governor or ruler to make them work,
8 they labor hard all summer,
gathering food for the winter.
9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
When will you wake up?
10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
– Proverbs 6:6-11 NLT
In fact, he calls out those who refuse to do anything with their life, even whilst in the position of suffering. They see their life deteriorating and reject the idea that they need to fix it.
He emphasises that when we begin to become lazy, poverty will pounce on us like a bandit, and scarcity will attack us like an armed robber.
He tells us that we should work like ants. Although they have no boss telling them what to do, they work hard all summer gathering food for the winter.
The work ethic he highlights here isn't one of "anxiety rush", the adrenaline that forces you to do work, but one of self-motivation and discipline.
I see where he comes from. I know a few people who would rather live in their own metaphorical vomit because getting a job is uncomfortable and tedious. I've been in a similar position too. But when I realised that there was more to my future than what I had, the willpower I received was a force multiplier.
How on earth are you going to live a better life if you choose not to do anything? I mean, you can make the claim that trying your best in life might just result in a 10% chance of success, but isn't that a better chance of success than doing nothing?
As Wayne Gretzky once said: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take". Keep trying, even if the chance of failure is greater than the chance of success.
TLDR: Being lazy will not help your life. It harms you mentally, and it leads to stagnation.
Being Truthful
Lying is just kicking the can down the road.
One thing is clear. King Solomon hates liars. Below are some of the most popular verses relating to lying in the Book of Proverbs.
22 The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
– Proverbs 12:22
16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
– Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is deceitful.
– Proverbs 14:25 NIV
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will perish.
– Proverbs 19:9 NIV
I could go on longer, but you get the idea.
Lying has done no good in the world. If everyone in the world told the truth, we would all be much better. But we lie to deal with conflict, to get out of sticky situations or to fit in.
In life, we sometimes think that lying is the easier option. I would probably agree with you. Especially with something you know will never come back to bite you. But although the person you lied to may never find out, you now need to live with it.
Lying isn't freeing, in fact, it's a self inflicted prision, one we put ourselves in for short-term comfort. In a situation where your lie will never be revealed, you still need to act a certain way to fit in with the lie you told. You now need to stress about keeping your story straight, and if it begins to slip, a sudden wave of anxiety floods you.
Lying will cause you destruction, unnecessary stress and anxiety. Tell the truth, but also tell it with care. Telling someone the truth, one we are scared to tell, is a sensitive issue, and should be treated as such. Harsh words lead to harsh reactions. A gentle answer will lead to a gentle response. King Solomon emphasises this too.
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
– Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Being truthful is a virtue. One that shows you what your beliefs are. One that shows you that you are honest. One that shows you can be trusted. It will lead to more opportunities, stronger friendships and a stress-free life.
I don't know about you, but telling the truth is freeing. You don't need to worry about tripping up in your lies. You don't need to worry about being seen as a dishonest person. You are, by virtue, honest.
Of course, speaking the truth doesn't mean you can speak harshly to people because that's what the wise King Solomon said. No, to the contrary, he encourages speaking with care. So speak the truth, but do it with care.
TLDR: Being honest with people might lead to short-term pain, but you will then be seen as trustworthy, honest, and, if you speak with care, a great friend.
Do Not Believe All You Are Told
Santa Claus is real, at least that's what my mum told me.
I would put most of my money on betting that most kids spend their time scrolling through TikTok. Knowing that, I'm increasingly worried by all the lies that get told on their feed. I mean, as kids, we simply get told one thing, find it shocking, and accept it as fact. But as adults, this way of thinking should be outgrown.
The search for knowledge isn't carried out by listening to one person and accepting it as fact. No, the search for knowledge comes from having a civil discussion with those with whom you agree, but most importantly, with those with whom you disagree.
Believing everything you are told just shows that you are a mindless creature, a dog being taught how to do something just to get a treat out of it. However, testing the knowledge and seeing how it fares in battle is the best way to pursue knowledge.
King Solomon speaks on this topic and says:
15 The simple believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps.
– Proverbs 14:15 NIV
If you listen to something and you don't validate the research, you are simple-minded, naive and are fooled by everyone. It would do you good to check the facts people spit out. Even from those whom you trust.
I was reading a book recently from a quite reputable person in the business world. In it, he quoted a study on attention span. Upon looking into the study when doing some research for my blog, I found out that our attention span was indeed decreasing, but the study he cited was one that was disproven a long time ago.
Universities were originally created to have a civil discourse between students and professors. To share and critically analyse ideas. This isn't as much of the case anymore, but nonetheless is something that everyone should be encouraged to do.
A popular paper that led to the anti-vax movement by Andrew Wakefield has fooled so many people with the headline title. Yet thousands of articles and studies have since been released disproving this, but because of peoples reluctance to check the information they are told, vaccine misinformation is still a sore topic today.
TLDR: Your mother probably told you Santa was real. Andrew Wakefield started the anti-vax movement. Jews were said to be the spawn of all evil. All of this is false, but would require you to do some research to find that out.
Quotes Of The Week
- “If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” ― Zig Ziglar
- "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" – Wayne Gretzky
- "If you try to please audiences, uncritically accepting their tastes, it can only mean that you have no respect for them" — Andrei Tarkovsky
- "In the end… We only regret the chances we didn’t take" — Lewis Carroll
- "Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been." – John Greenleaf Whittier
