The story is told of one man who was called to bail his son out of jail. As he left for the jail, a nosey neighbor said, “If he were my kid, I’d leave him in jail.” The father answered, “If he were your kid, I’d leave him in jail too.”

One of the curses of being the oldest child is having kids before your siblings and listening to them tell you how to raise your child. You hear words like, “When I have kids, they will not…”

One of the joys of being the oldest child is watching your younger siblings have children and seeing those children do exactly what their parents said they would never do.

To understand why this happens, read First Peter 4: verse 8, “Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” I call this passage a New Testament proverb. It would fit well in the book of Proverbs.

The reason my kid’s sins are not as bad as your kid’s sins is because I love my kids deeply and “love covers a multitude of sins.” It is the way of love to look past faults and imperfections.

Now read it again and this time stop after the word “covers.” It reads “Love each other deeply, because love covers…”

When you love someone, love covers…whatever. It doesn’t make wrong right, but it helps you love one another.
It is the secret of living together in happiness.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text for today is Proverbs 10:19
“When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

We recently did a proverb and talked about the “Yak-Yak” people. They will talk about what they are going to do but never follow up. Today’s proverb talks about the Yakety-Yakety people. These are folks who talk and talk but never say anything. They say what they think, whether they think or not.

I confess to having a tendency toward this fault. I know because when I get home, I sometimes think, “I wish I hadn’t said that.” Plato said, “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.” (Remember this quote and you will be able to quote Plato.)

I was married to a woman who was thought of as quiet. I noticed two things about her:

1. When she said something, people cared and listened.
2. In 55 years, I never heard her say, “I wish I hadn’t said that.”

Once, a man was talking to his young daughter as a truck approached their house. He asked her what she knew about the truck. She was stumped, so he told her, ‘The truck is empty, and we know this because an empty truck rattles the most.’

That is the meaning of our text today:
“When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Today’s Scripture is Proverbs 10: verse 4.

“Idle hands make one poor, 

 but diligent hands bring wealth.” 

When I was a kid, I was told, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” It sounded like it was from the Bible. The thought is in today’s study. To allow yourself to do nothing, will bring poverty, but if you will diligent in your work, you will find wealth. 

This verse is one of the wonderful places where the Bible gives us a commentary in the next verse. Let’s read it again, with both verses together.

Verse 4, “Idle hands make one poor, 

 but diligent hands bring wealth.”

Verse 5, “He who gathers in summer is a wise son, 

 but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”

This verse is telling us that it is not enough to simply do the right thing, but to do it at the right time. We must gather during the time of harvest, because, if we don’t, then we will miss the harvest and fail..

We see this same principle in our own lives. In school our assignments must be on time or we suffer. A cake taken from the oven too late is ruined. Fuel must be put in the car in a timely way. I’m sure you can think of a hundred ways this applies to your own life. Don’t let your hands be idle, but do what needs to be done and do it in a timely way. 

Someone put it his way, “Fools do eventually, what wise people do immediately.”

I’m Lonnie Davis

And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our Scripture for today is Proverbs 7:2-3.

“Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

This proverb is a call for the very unpopular thought that we need to pay attention to the authority over us. Of course the greatest authority is God and His Word. Today when you urge people to “keep” God’s commandments, you will be jeered by many as a “commandment keeper.” To some, God is love and has nothing to do with our need to keep commandments. Of course God IS love, but he is also the wise one who gave us commandments. 

Notice in this proverb how God tells us to behave toward his commandments. 

First, “guard his teachings as the apple of your eye.” If anything gets into our eye, we react suddenly with an effort to guard the eye. 

Second, “Tie them to your fingers.” There is an old saying about the need to tie a string around your finger so that you will remember. Each time you see the string on your finger, you will remember why it is there. This is part of the rationale for the wedding ring. 

Third, “Write them on the tablet of your heart.” Take the commandments and memorize them. Because they are in your heart, you can reflect on them at the odd moments of the day.

It is an honor to be called a “commandment keeper.” This proverb calls on us to be so.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our Scripture for today is Proverbs 3:13-14.

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who acquires understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver,
and her gain is better than fine gold.

Often people confuse two terms: knowledge and wisdom. Knowing means you know something. Wisdom means you know the right thing to do. There can be wise factory workers and foolish doctors. I love wise people.

In 50 years of working in churches, I have heard countless prayers. I’m sure I have heard prayers for wisdom, but they are rare. Publicly, Christians are more apt to pray for patience than for wisdom. At least that has been my observation.

That is strange because the Bible tells us that patience comes from enduring hardship. (James 1: verse 3). However, it teaches that we should pray for wisdom (James 1: verse 5). Wisdom also comes from Bible study. (Proverbs 2: verse 2).

1 Kings 3 gives us a famous example of Solomon’s wisdom. Two women brought a case to Solomon about who was the rightful mother of a baby. In those days, there were no medical tests to establish this. Solomon decreed that the baby be cut in half, and each mother would get half. One agreed, and the other offered to give up the child. From this, Solomon knew who the real mother was.

In our personal and public prayers, we should pray for wisdom.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text for today is Proverbs 16:26

“A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.”

It sounds unspiritual to set a goal of working for a material possession. I sometimes refer to life’s little treasures as “things and stuff and junk.” That comment makes it sound wrong to like nice things.

After church services one sweet lady who had been contemplating retirement, told me that she was going to keep working because she likes things and stuff. We both laughed. It is not wrong to like things. In fact our proverbs tells us that working for something is what gives us motivation.

Do you want a new car? Work for it.
Do you want a new house? Work for it.
Do you want a nice vacation? Work for it.

The only time it is wrong is when such a goal becomes your idol and chief purpose in life. Work is so important that Paul told the Thessalonians, “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

We sometimes think that working is a curse. The curse was the hard toil involved in tending the ground. (Genesis 3:17)

Before the curse, man worked in the Garden of Eden. We were made for work. Our appetite motivates us to do more work.

If you hate your work, change jobs.
If you are a young person, learn to work at something you will enjoy.
If you are not getting rewarded for your labor, work differently.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text for today is Proverbs 1: verse 8

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
 and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.” 

Mark Twain once said, “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years,”

I think of the book of Proverbs as though a wise man is coming to the end of his life, and he writes down wise words to guide his kids. 

Out of the 3,000 proverbs Solomon knew, the first one he listed was the one we read today: “Listen to your mother and father.”

I have asked many people, “What saying do you use that starts with ‘My mother always said,’ or ‘My daddy used to say.’” 

My own grandad used to say, “Don’t take no wooden nickels.”

One lady told me, “My daddy always said, ‘Don’t ever take advice from anyone who has nothing to lose in giving it.’” 

As wise words go, these are good, but what if we had a list of wise words from the wisest man who ever lived? We do! It is called the book of Proverbs.

Here is a great plan: There are 31 chapters in Proverbs. Why not read the whole book through in a month—a chapter a day? Then next month, do it again. 

If you use this plan for one year, you will become a wiser person. 
You will find yourself quoting Solomon.
You will be blessed.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Proverbs 23:1-2

Our text for today is Proverbs 23: verses 1 and 2

“When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you, and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.”

It may seem odd to select this proverb as relevant. The verse says to “put a knife to your throat.”

First we should note that this is symbolic language. Solomon is not saying you should cut your own throat. No, he is teaching that you ought to realize where you are and behave in an appropriate manner. 

At a funeral, in a worship, before a special person, or any other event, observe where you are and behave in a proper manner. 

We do this all the time.

A person bites their tongue and holds back from saying something rude or offensive to their boss. Those who don’t behave in this way, usually hop from job to job.

To maintain harmony, certain subjects are not discussed at family gatherings, or at least should not be discussed. You know what the subjects are.

A parent refrains from disciplining their child in public. Instead, we say things like, “When we get home we will discuss this.”

Today’s proverb is actually an urgent lesson. Pay attention to where you are and behave accordingly. Those who ignore this rule never quite fit in.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text for today is Proverbs 15:12.

“Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.

Our Scripture has two parts to it. One we understand, but the other we sometimes overlook.

Part ONE: Mockers get upset when you correct them.

I get this. I really do. I even admit that sometimes I have not wanted to be corrected. That is to my shame. It is also a very human condition. No one likes to be criticized, but we all need it.

Part TWO: Mockers avoid the wise.

Mockers will not consult with those who disagree with them. That is not only wrong, it is foolish. Don’t you want to see both sides of an issue? Listening to others can make you better.

Do you want to be a better singer? Listen to others who will be honest.
Do you want to be a better writer? Seek advice from good writers.
Do you want to be a better driver? Take driving lessons from a professional.
Do you want to be wise? Consult the wise.
If you want to be better at anything, seek the counsel of others.

Mockers don’t do that. They avoid the wise. If you disagree with them, you will be avoided. Don’t be a mocker. Seek out the opinions of others, even if they disagree with you – especially if they disagree with you. It will make you better.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our Scripture for today is First Kings 3: verse 5

“One night the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask, and I will give it to you!’”

When you were a kid, did you ever play the game of three wishes? It goes, suppose you rubbed a lamp, and a genie came out and gave you three wishes; what would they be.” The first two wishes are easy, but the third wish requires thought because it is the last one. Finally, you might cleverly say, “I wish I could have unlimited wishes.”

Today’s verse does not involve some child playing a game. It was real. It was God. 

God said to Solomon, “Ask, and I will give it to you.”

What would your answer be to that real promise?

Would you say wealth, or health, or unlimited wishes?

Knowing myself, I don’t know what I would ask.

Knowing the story, I am amazed at Solomon’s answer.

Solomon said, “Give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” Solomon used his one great request to help others. He essentially said, “Lord, let my will be Thine.”

If this were you, what would your request be? 

God is waiting for your answer. I love the famous adage, “When people show you who they are, believe them.” 

He is also watching for our answer.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Proverbs 14:23
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

There is an old church song that starts, “We shall do much in the years to come, but what have we done today.” This song is the perfect song for today’s verse.

I call this verse “The Yak-Yak Rule.” It does not talk about the out-and-out lazy person who refuses to ever work, but rather, it warns against being a person who talks and talks about what you are going to do someday but never does the work. You can recognize such a person by all the great plans they leave in their path but never do. They only have, as the verse says, “mere talk.”

Here are three issues with Yak-Yak people:

First, Yak-Yak people build a habit of talking and talking but not doing the work. This carries over into every aspect of life.

Second, Yak-Yak people come to poverty. This is what the proverb teaches.

Third, Yak-Yak people have damaged relationships. Their friends and family come to distrust them. That is a hard life.

In truth, Yak-Yak folks don’t see what they really are because they really do believe they will eventually accomplish their intentions. It just seldom happens. That is the way it is with Yak-Yak people.

By the way, I plan never to be a Yak-Yak person again.
That is my plan.
We’ll see!

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our Proverb for today is Proverbs 14:17

“A quick-tempered person does foolish things.”

What do we mean by “quick-tempered?” 

Instead of quick-tempered we use terms like: Hot-headed, grouchy, cranky, and mean. A more modern word we use is “triggered.” If you say something that someone doesn’t like, you have triggered them. Of course that word means it is not the fault of the quick-tempered, hotheaded, screaming person. They have been triggered.

It sounds like God put a little switch on them and if you say the wrong thing, then that button gets triggered. A triggered person then flys off in a rage. 

Heaven help those who get into the path of the triggered person. A quick-tempered or triggered person does foolish things.

Over the years, I have heard people try to justify hot-headedness with “I just let it out and then I am over it.” 

So let me understand, you mean you open the door and throw fire into the room and then you are okay. Everybody else can look out for themselves.

Let me give you two better responses.

First: Respond to hurts, but respond with kindness. If it works out then you have saved a relationship and maybe a soul.

Second: Choose not to remember wounds. One older lady was known for her kind life. When she was reminded of some offense against her. She responded with, “I don’t remember that. In fact, I specifically remember forgetting.” 

Forget offenses and do it on purpose.

I’m Lonnie Davis

And these are thoughts worth thinking,

Our Proverb for today is Proverbs 14:17

“A quick-tempered person does foolish things.”

What do we mean by “quick-tempered?” 

Instead of quick-tempered, we use terms like: Hot-headed, grouchy, cranky, and mean. A more modern word we use is “triggered.” If you say something that someone doesn’t like, you have triggered them. Of course, that word means it is not the fault of the quick-tempered, hotheaded, screaming person. They have been triggered.

It sounds like God put a little switch on them and if you say the wrong thing, then that button gets triggered. A triggered person then flys off in a rage. 

Heaven help those who get into the path of the triggered person. A quick-tempered or triggered person does foolish things.

Over the years, I have heard people try to justify hot-headedness with “I just let it out and then I am over it.” 

So let me understand: You mean you open the door and throw fire into the room, and then you are okay? Everybody else can look out for themselves.

Let me give you two better responses.

First: Respond to hurts, but respond with kindness. If it works out then you have saved a relationship and maybe a soul.

Second: Choose not to remember wounds. One older lady was known for her kind life. When she was reminded of some offense against her. She responded with, “I don’t remember that. In fact, I specifically remember forgetting.” 

Forget offenses and do it on purpose.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking,

Many Bible teachings do not come naturally to us.

Love your enemies.
Pray for those who persecute you.
Rejoice always.
Forgive as the Lord forgives you.
Do not judge.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him; 
If he is thirsty, give him a drink. 

Today’s text is in the same category as those commands.

It is Proverbs 24:17.

“Do not gloat when your enemy falls.
When they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice.”

For emphasis, let me read it again.

“Do not gloat when your enemy falls.
When they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice.”

That’s hard because sometimes that buzzard had it coming and I’m glad he got his payback.

When Bill Clinton was president, many Christians were troubled with his behavior in the White House. Jokes were flying all over the place. I stood in the pulpit and challenged the people not to rejoice in his failure, but rather pray for him. I admit to you that was hard. We do not rejoice at the evil that anyone does, but neither do we rejoice when hard things fall upon them.

We read all of those hard commands and wonder if we could ever do it. The answer is yes. If you think not, then ponder this question, “Do you believe that God ever commands us to do anything that we are not able to do?” The answer is no.

What God calls you to do, he enables you to do. If you fall, rise and try again. He will meet you in your effort.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking. 

Our text for today is Proverbs 23:17.

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.”

This proverb is so serious that it must not be ignored. Unfortunately, it is all too often violated. Let me give you an example.

There is a good man who loves his children and loves God.
He is also a man (or a woman) who loves a sports hero or actor and praises them openly.
Sounds harmless, but hero worship of men or women can affect our standards for ethical behavior.”
One man put it this way, “Tell me who your heroes are, and I’ll tell you who you’ll turn out to be.” There is a danger of becoming like the people we admire. Certainly, that is a great motivation for us to love and admire Jesus.

For parents, there is another caution. If you praise and admire an athlete, actor, or whoever, and they are bad examples of how to live, what are you telling your impressionable children? These children love you and want you to admire them. Of course, they want to be like the person you admire.

I also like certain sports athletes, but there ought to be a difference between admiring one’s talents and admiring the person. We ought to be careful with that distinction.

Thinking about that, read the verse again: “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.”

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

The proverbs for today is: Proverbs 15: verse 4

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”

Let me explain this verse by telling a story.
Last week, my granddaughter sent me a note thanking me for allowing her to stay “in my place.” She started off with, “Thank you so much for letting us stay at your beautiful place…”

There were a lot of other things she said, but I will sum them up for you. She told me what she did in leaving, but what it all meant was, “I left things better than I found them.” It was great when she got there, but it was better when she left.

That is the meaning of this verse: not about places but about what we say to others and how they are after we leave them. When we meet people and interact with them, we make things better for them. We give them words of comfort, encouragement, kindness, hope, gratitude, love, healing, and faith.

We do all of this because when we meet them, we choose to build up and leave them better.

Make the world and those whom you meet better because you were there.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Today’s Proverb is Chapter 26:verses 4 and 5.

“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.”

This may be the most confusing Proverb that Solomon ever spoke. Is he saying
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly,” or is he saying, “Answer a fool according to his folly?”

These thoughts do not actually contradict each other, but rather provide complementary wisdom.

We will have discussions and disagreements, but when you do:
Verse four says, do not argue with someone who will not even consider what he is being taught. To do so is to make yourself just like him. You will both look like a fool. It is fruitless.
Verse five is telling us that when someone makes an argument that is wrong, answer them, else they may go their way and think they made some wise statement and never know there is another side. Answer but don’t nag and fuss.

When a hard-headed person just wants to argue, don’t argue with them. It will just turn into fussing.
When someone makes an ignorant statement, discuss it kindly lest they fail to consider the truth.

To close, I’ll use the words of Galatians 6: verse 1, “If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

Whatever you discuss, do it in a spirit of gentleness.

I’m Lonnie Davis,
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

The Scripture for today is Proverbs 23:7

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

In 1972, a psychologist named Daryl Ben, identified a theory he called the “Self-Perception Theory.” The individuals in his test group would do well or mess up and keep telling themselves that they are just that way; that is just who they are. They might say, “I’m a good student, or I’m just a poor test taker, I’m just an idiot, I’m a failure or I am a terrible cook.” Soon, this self-identity became a reality in their lives.

If I had been involved in that study, I would not have called it the “Self-Perception Theory.” I would have called it “The Law of Proverbs 23:7.” Psychologists have theories. God has statements of fact, rules and laws.

When Israel left Egypt, they came to the Promised Land, but wanted to make sure they could win any battle. They sent spies to check out the land. After 40 days, they returned with their report. “But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!” They explained why, “We even saw the people of the land. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!” (Numbers 13: verses 31 and 33.)

The amazing part of this story is that God had already given them the land. Because they felt in their hearts that they couldn’t take it, it cost them 40 more years of wandering.

Indeed, as you think within your heart, so are you.

I’m Lonnie Davis
And these are thoughts worth thinking.

Proverbs 3:5

Our Scripture for today is Proverbs 3:5.

 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

This passage reminds me of the old farmer who, with his wife, attended a county fair. At the fair was a helicopter. The pilot asked the man to take a ride. After he hem-hawed, he finally agreed. Fifteen minutes later, the flight was over and the pilot asked the farmer what he thought about the flight. The farmer answered, “Well, to tell you the truth, I never did put my full weight on it.”

Many people trust God in exactly the same way. They go along for the ride, but never do put their whole weight on Him.

This proverb tells us what it means to trust God. To trust God means (1) to trust with all your heart and (2) to lean not on your own understanding. 

We all know the story of Noah and the ark, but have you thought about how he showed he trusted God? He built an ark to escape a flood that no one had ever seen. His neighbors must have thought him crazy, as he worked on the giant boat for up to 120 years and no sign of rain or water appeared. Though he hadn’t seen the rain, God said it and that was good enough for him. Of course, the rain eventually came.

Those who trust God and lean not on their own understanding, seek first to know what God wants and then obey. 

They put their whole weight on the plane. They know there is no other way to trust God.

I’m Lonnie Davis

And these are thoughts worth thinking.

In today’s reflection, we read Proverbs 13:12, 

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life,” 

This story reminds us of the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth, as recounted in Luke 1. They longed for a child and prayed earnestly, yet years passed with their hopes unmet.

One day, while serving in the temple, Zachariah encountered an angel who brought the unexpected news that Elizabeth would bear a son.

Obviously, Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for a son years earlier, but there had been no baby to come into their lives. Zechariah said, “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” They had waited year after year until they were heartbroken, disillusioned, and finally had given up.

Today, we know that son as John the Baptist. Their prolonged wait was a journey through the heartache of deferred hope, but it concluded with the immense joy of a fulfilled desire.

Years ago, my 12-year-old daughter, Janet, and I took a Christmas shopping trip. She spotted a toy she desired and asked for it. Knowing I had already purchased it, I said, “We’ll see.” Her dejected response was, “I know what that means. It means no.” I answered that with, “Honey, you have to be more positive than that.” She said, “I am positive that means no.’

A delayed answer feels like a denial or as the Bible says, “hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

Zachariah and Elizabeth’s story reminds us that our timing doesn’t always coincide with God’s. Our prayers may seem unanswered in our moments of impatience, but they are not unheard. God’s responses to our prayers—whether a “no,” a “yes,” or a “wait”—are all part of a greater plan, teaching us patience and trust.

I’m Lonnie Davis.
And these are thoughts worth thinking.