What are you Known For?
(Prov 10:13 ASV) In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
In this text Solomon provides a seemingly strange contrast. He compares the lips of the wise with the back of the foolish. To get a better picture of what he is saying we must understand the setting (or the era) from which he is saying it. In ancient times flogging (or scourging) was a common form of punishment.
When someone committed an act that warranted punishment, but not necessarily prison, they were often publically disciplined with either a whip or a rod. Inevitably, the punishment would leave scars on the person’s back. Whenever they took their top off, people would know that they had – at some point in their lives – commitment an error that warranted the rod.
The English Standard Version of this text says, “On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.” Solomon makes it clear that the rod (or the whip) is reserved for the person who lacks sense or understanding. I often say, “Your life is a grand-sum-total of your decisions. You are where you are today, because the decisions you have made in the past and where you wind up tomorrow has a great deal to do with the decisions you make today.”
If you lack wisdom you will make foolish decisions. If you make foolish decisions, you will inevitably experience undesirable results. If you continue down this path you will eventually become known for the constant trouble you get yourself into. This all leads us to what I believe Solomon’s point is. As he compares and contrasts the lips of the wise with the back of the foolish I believe what he is getting is that we will all be known for something.
Solomon was the wisest man in the land. I am sure that he was aware that he was known for what flowed from his lips. I am also sure that he knew many people that were known for the trouble they consistently got themselves into – and they had the back to prove it! The question then is: what will you be known for? Will you be known for the wisdom that flows from your lips or for the trouble you get yourself in to?
Your decisions are like seeds that are sown into the soil of your life. If you make good decisions – decisions rooted and grounded in the counsel of God – they will bring forth a good harvest. This will be a harvest of peace, progress, and prosperity. But if you make poor decisions – decisions that go against the counsel of God – then you are going to reap a disappointing and distressing harvest.
This harvest will cause you nothing but pain, turmoil, and strife; and the worst part is that you will have no one to blame but yourself. If you consistently get yourself into trouble, you will eventually be known for it.
So what does this mean? It means that your decisions matter. You will reap the harvest of the seeds you sow. God wants you to make good decisions for two main reasons:
1. He wants you to enjoy life. Jesus did not die so that you could live a miserable life. He came that you would have and enjoy His abundant life (John 10:10).
2. He wants you to be light. You are supposed to shine as light in the midst of darkness (Mat 5:14). You can’t draw anyone to God if all others see in you is problems. They have problems. They need to see something in you that they don’t have. Be that light (God’s light) today!
Father, I thank You for blessing me with Your wisdom. Your wisdom enables me to make good decisions. My decisions are like seeds and they bring forth a harvest of goodness in my life. By consistently making good decisions I will eventually become known as a wise person. This wisdom will become light – Your light – and it will draw others to me. As they are drawn to me, I will direct them to You Father, so that You can move and minister in their lives. I declare, by faith, that Your light – the light of the world – flows through me daily! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
(Prov 10:13 ASV) In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
In this text Solomon provides a seemingly strange contrast. He compares the lips of the wise with the back of the foolish. To get a better picture of what he is saying we must understand the setting (or the era) from which he is saying it. In ancient times flogging (or scourging) was a common form of punishment.
When someone committed an act that warranted punishment, but not necessarily prison, they were often publically disciplined with either a whip or a rod. Inevitably, the punishment would leave scars on the person’s back. Whenever they took their top off, people would know that they had – at some point in their lives – commitment an error that warranted the rod.
The English Standard Version of this text says, “On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.” Solomon makes it clear that the rod (or the whip) is reserved for the person who lacks sense or understanding. I often say, “Your life is a grand-sum-total of your decisions. You are where you are today, because the decisions you have made in the past and where you wind up tomorrow has a great deal to do with the decisions you make today.”
If you lack wisdom you will make foolish decisions. If you make foolish decisions, you will inevitably experience undesirable results. If you continue down this path you will eventually become known for the constant trouble you get yourself into. This all leads us to what I believe Solomon’s point is. As he compares and contrasts the lips of the wise with the back of the foolish I believe what he is getting is that we will all be known for something.
Solomon was the wisest man in the land. I am sure that he was aware that he was known for what flowed from his lips. I am also sure that he knew many people that were known for the trouble they consistently got themselves into – and they had the back to prove it! The question then is: what will you be known for? Will you be known for the wisdom that flows from your lips or for the trouble you get yourself in to?
Your decisions are like seeds that are sown into the soil of your life. If you make good decisions – decisions rooted and grounded in the counsel of God – they will bring forth a good harvest. This will be a harvest of peace, progress, and prosperity. But if you make poor decisions – decisions that go against the counsel of God – then you are going to reap a disappointing and distressing harvest.
This harvest will cause you nothing but pain, turmoil, and strife; and the worst part is that you will have no one to blame but yourself. If you consistently get yourself into trouble, you will eventually be known for it.
So what does this mean? It means that your decisions matter. You will reap the harvest of the seeds you sow. God wants you to make good decisions for two main reasons:
1. He wants you to enjoy life. Jesus did not die so that you could live a miserable life. He came that you would have and enjoy His abundant life (John 10:10).
2. He wants you to be light. You are supposed to shine as light in the midst of darkness (Mat 5:14). You can’t draw anyone to God if all others see in you is problems. They have problems. They need to see something in you that they don’t have. Be that light (God’s light) today!
Father, I thank You for blessing me with Your wisdom. Your wisdom enables me to make good decisions. My decisions are like seeds and they bring forth a harvest of goodness in my life. By consistently making good decisions I will eventually become known as a wise person. This wisdom will become light – Your light – and it will draw others to me. As they are drawn to me, I will direct them to You Father, so that You can move and minister in their lives. I declare, by faith, that Your light – the light of the world – flows through me daily! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
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