Proverbs 11
Proverbs 11 reminds us that living with integrity and righteousness brings rewards, while dishonesty and egotism lead to ruin. Verse 4 says, “Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death.”
Matthew 6:24 is, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” This echoes several verses in Proverbs 11, especially verse 28: “Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.” God want us to trust in Him, abide in Him, and devote ourselves to Him – with the promise that by trusting in Him we will succeed.
Proverbs 12
This chapter highlights righteous living—honesty, diligence, and kind words. While deceit, laziness, and reckless speech bring harm, a righteous life builds stability and joy.
I especially find Proverbs 12:1 memorable: “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.” This reminds me of how it says in Hebrews that discipline leads to a harvest: “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” (Hebrews 12:11). The discomfort that we experience of discipline is only temporary. Proverbs 12:1 also leads me to consider how God wants to discipline us and how we would be fools not to be. In Hebrews 12:6 it says that God wants to consider us as His children and to be loved by God is to be disciplined: “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” To grow strong in what you do, you must accept the temporary discomfort of learning; otherwise there isn’t any gain.
Proverbs 13
Proverbs 13 is full of wisdom about choices and their consequences. Verse 20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” Who we surround ourselves with shapes the direction of our lives.
This chapter also reminds us that discipline leads to life, but ignoring correction leads to ruin. Diligence brings prosperity, while laziness ends in lack. And at the heart of it all: hope. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life” (v. 12).
God calls us to live wisely, pursue righteousness, and hold onto hope. Every small choice plants a seed for your future. Let’s make choices today that bear good fruit tomorrow.
Proverbs 14
This chapter shows the difference between the righteous and the wicked, the diligent and the lazy, the patient and the quick-tempered.
I find verse 4 particularly interesting: “Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.” Fruitfulness requires investment, effort, and even discomfort. If you avoid responsibility, work, or tools that help you grow, life may look easier and tidier. But it also means no progress is being made. If you want growth, abundance, or fruitful results, it will require resources, hard work, and sometimes dealing with the “mess” that comes with it. The ox is powerful and useful but also brings inconvenience. This reminds us that God often calls us into areas of service or growth that may not be comfortable, but those are the places where harvest and blessings are found.
Proverbs 15
Verse 1 stands out to me; it says, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” This reminds me of a popular saying “love without truth is meaningless and truth without love is mean.” Paul, in one of his letters to Timothy echoes this same sentiment. In 1 Timothy 1:5-7, Paul writes how his purpose is for all believers to be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. However, some people have turned away from these things and spend time in meaningless discussions, missing the mark even though they speak confidently. Just like in Proverbs 15:1, Paul urges us to have an attitude with our words to prevent anger and to be sincere.
Proverbs 16
Proverbs 16:18 is one of the most well-known Proverbs, and it delivers a timeless warning about the danger of pride: “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” When someone becomes overly confident in themselves, ignoring God or refusing wise counsel, it sets them on a path toward ruin. Pride blinds us to our weaknesses and causes us to stumble. Arrogance, looking down on others, thinking we’re untouchable—this is often the final step before a major downfall. A famous example of this is in the Book of Esther where Haman expected everyone to bow to him. When Mordecai didn’t, Haman was so angered that he ordered all of Mordecai’s people to be killed. This haughtiness led to Haman’s demise because God intervened through Esther. In the end, because of his own pride and arrogance, Haman himself was killed on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai.
