Intro: In this Chapter we get a chance...

Intro: In this Chapter we get a chance to take a look at our actions in dealing with other people and how they effect others. This is simple cause and effect which I believe is overlooked many times today. We would do well to read this chapter and then take a look at ourselves in the light of our relationships with others.

1. Proverbs 12:6

- The people in Soloman's time could tell who they were working with or friends with by how they would talk. Solomon himself could have known who to do business with by the way they talked.

-You can tell by the words of someone what there heart looks like. Proverbs 1:11-19.

• ‎11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us ilie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like 3Sheol, And whole, jlike those who go down to the Pit; 13 We shall find all kinds of precious 4possessions, We shall fill our houses with 5spoil; 14 Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”— 15 My son, kdo not walk in the way with them, lKeep your foot from their path; 16 mFor their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely, in 6vain the net is spread In the sight of any 7bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 nSo are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.

• Wenn sie sagen: Gehe mit uns, wir wollen auf Blut lauern und den Unschuldigen ohne Ursache nachstellen; 12. wir wollen sie lebendig verschlingen wie die Hölle, und die Frommen, als die hinunter in die Grube fahren; 13. wir wollen groß Gut finden; wir wollen unsere Häuser mit Raube füllen; 14. wage es mit uns; es soll unser aller ein Beutel sein: 15. mein Kind, wandle den Weg nicht mit ihnen; wehre deinem Fuß von ihrem Pfad! 16. Denn ihre Füße laufen zum Bösen und eilen, Blut zu vergießen. 17. Denn es ist vergeblich, das Netz auswerfen vor den Augen der Vögel. 18. Auch lauern sie selbst untereinander auf ihr Blut, und stellet einer dem andern nach dem Leben. 19. Also tun alle Geizigen, daß einer dem andern das Leben nimmt.

‎-They make evil plans behind the backs of innocent people. Genesis 37:18-20.

• ‎18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, othey conspired against him to kill him. 19 Then they said to one another, “Look, this 2dreamer is coming! 20 pCome therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

The New King James Version. 1982 (Ge 37:18–20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

• Als sie ihn nun sahen von ferne, ehe denn er nahe bei sie kam, schlugen sie an, daß sie ihn töteten, 19. und sprachen untereinander: Sehet, der Träumer kommt daher! 20. So kommt nun und lasset uns ihn erwürgen und in eine Grube werfen und sagen, ein böses Tier habe ihn gefressen, so wird man sehen, was seine Träume sind.

‎-This verse stresses the power of words for good or evil.

Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). Reformation study Bible, the : Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture : New King James Version (Pr 12:6). Nashville: T. Nelson.

-God uses words from righteous people to bring deliverence, and bondage to the wicked.

- Words can be used for good and for evil.

-Our words can powerfully impact others.‎

• When a friend describes a beautiful sunset, a picture is created in your mind. The words enable you to make meaning. When a parent reacts to a child’s artwork, meaning is created between child and parent, which can affect the child’s self-concept for a lifetime. Likewise, when a lie is spoken, a false reality is constructed that, once discovered, can rupture relationships. For example, when Bill Clinton’s inner circle believed his lie that he hadn’t had sex with Monica Lewinsky, their minds accepted an “unreal reality.” Their eventual discovery of the truth and resulting feelings of betrayal were probably more dramatic than those who hadn’t believed Clinton in the first place. This power to affect one another is serious business. Our spoken words shape the reality of those with whom we interact.

‎—Lori Carrell, The Great American Sermon Survey (Mainstay Church Resources, 1999)

2. Proverbs 12:8

- King Solomon personally knew of the truth of this verse. The Queen of Sheeba personally commended him because of this truth.

- People show favor to those who have wisdom.

1. If we allow God to speak through us, His wisdom will be seen and many times favor is given. Genesis 41:39.

• ‎39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.

Und sprach zu Joseph: Weil dir GOtt solches alles hat kundgetan, ist keiner so verständig und weise als du.

2. Others can also become witness to the work and power of God in our lives and give testimony. 1 Samuel 16:18.

• ‎18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and wthe Lord is with him.”

Da antwortete der Knaben einer und sprach: Siehe, ich habe gesehen einen Sohn Isais, des Bethlehemiten, der kann wohl auf Saitenspiel; ein rüstiger Mann und streitbar und verständig in Sachen und schön, und der HErr ist mit ihm.

-‎ Practical good sense. The display of mastery in life wins praise.

Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). Reformation study Bible, the : Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture : New King James Version (Pr 12:8). Nashville: T. Nelson.

-‎ God will render to every one according to his deeds.

Calvin, J. (1997). Institutes of the Christian religion. Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc

- Having wisdom is important to people.

- We need to go to the Lord and ask for wisdom.

-Some people claim that there is no clear wrong or right, that what everyone believes is true.

• ‎The notion that there are many truths might seem well suited to a diverse society. But when everyone is free to define truth as he or she prefers, as at present, the result is an intellectual and moral shouting match in which the people with the loudest voices are most likely to be heard.

‎—Mary Lefkowitz, The New York Times Book Review (January 23, 2000)

Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (482–483). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

3. Proverbs 12:11

- King Solomon was always working to improve the kingdom, and the building of the temple was the crowning of his glory.

- To work is one of the basic abilities that God gave us.

• Hard work brings the reward of plenty to eat.

- My original question was is it wrong to have dreams in life and chase those big dreams?

1. The answer I got shows that the focus is actually on honest work and the benefits of it instead of just sitting around and fantasizing and doing nothing.

• If nothing is being done in our lives, things may look like things are going well and in order, but in reality that is only because there is nothing happening. We can't just sit and wait for things to be perfect before we move forward. Proverbs 14:4.

Where no oxen are, the 1trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

Wo nicht Ochsen sind, da ist die Krippe rein; aber wo der Ochse geschäftig ist, da ist viel Einkommens.

• -If we work and make less then expected, it is still more than nothing. Proverbs 14:23

In all labor there is profit, But 5idle chatter leads only to poverty.

Wo man arbeitet, da ist genug; wo man aber mit Worten umgeht, da ist Mangel.

• To work was one of the basic abilities that we were created with. Genesis 2:15.

15 Then the Lord God took 4the man and put him in the garden of Eden to 5tend and keep it.

Und GOtt der HErr nahm den Menschen und setzte ihn in den Garten Eden, daß er ihn bauete und bewahrete.

-Hard work pays off

• This includes the idea of not giving up easily. We call it Perserverance.

John Grisham’s first novel, A Time to Kill, was rejected by twenty-eight agents and publishers. When an agent finally took him as a client, the book’s first press run was only 5,000 copies. Grisham himself purchased 1,000 copies and hawked his work to bookstores from the trunk of his car. Only after his second novel, The Firm, hit the bestseller list did Grisham get his big break. Six of his books have now been made into movies, and the press run of his most recent volume, A Painted House, was 2.8 million copies. Grisham now has more than 100 million books in print in thirty-one languages.

‎—Rubel Shelly, “John Grisham: Rewards of Perseverance,” PreachingToday.com

Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (530). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

• -Having good work ethic is part of this.

I have seen people that just come to work on time and have a lot of intiative. They show interest in other employees. They are also team players. Move up quickly in the job field. These are things that can count as being hard work.

3. Proverbs 12:18

- King David experienced this truth with his son Absolom, it could be very well that Solomon learned this from that situation with his dad and brother.

- Words have brought healing to many people and they have literally destroyed many people.

How does this verse apply to family life?

• The words that we use towards others can have a positive or negative effect on others. Proverbs 25:18.

mA man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Wer wider seinen Nächsten falsch Zeugnis redet, der ist ein Spieß, Schwert und scharfer Pfeil.

Psalm 42:10 As with a 8breaking of my bones, My enemies 9reproach me, mWhile they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Psalm 42:11 In German. Es ist als ein Mord in meinen Beinen, daß mich meine Feinde schmähen, wenn sie täglich zu mir sagen: Wo ist nun dein GOtt?

• In Contrast we can see what good words can do. Proverbs 10:20-21.

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of 5wisdom

Des Gerechten Zunge ist köstlich Silber; aber der Gottlosen Herz ist nichts. 21. Des Gerechten Lippen weiden viele; aber die Narren werden in ihrer Torheit sterben.

Proverbs 16:24- - Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

Die Reden des Freundlichen sind Honigseim, trösten die Seele und erfrischen die Gebeine.

-The words we use towards others can build up or tear people down.

-We need to think about what we say before we say it

-I think this is a problem most common when we are angry. We do more damage than we think when we speak when we are angry.

• ‎A guard dog ransacked a teddy bear museum in western England in the summer of 2006. Barney, a Doberman pinscher, went berserk, shredding about a hundred of the bears on display. Worst of all, Barney destroyed Mabel, Elvis Presley’s teddy bear. Mabel belonged to an English aristocrat, Benjamin Slade, who lived close to the museum. He had reportedly paid $75,000 for the bear at a Memphis auction, then loaned it to Wookey Hall Caves, the teddy bear museum. The museum’s general manager, Daniel Medley, said, “I had a very embarrassing phone call with the owner. He’s not very happy at all.” Barney’s handler, Greg West, speculated that the dog went crazy because of a “rogue scent.” Or it could have been pure jealousy. “I was stroking Mabel and saying what a nice little bear she was,” West said. West spent several minutes chasing Barney before he could wrestle him to the ground and end the carnage. Photos of the dog after he had been quieted show him sitting on his haunches and looking contrite. No dogs are allowed now at Wookey Hall Caves. What are the triggers that send us into a rampage? What releases our anger and desire for revenge? Is it jealousy over the strokes that someone else got? More important, whom do we damage when we lose control? More than likely, it’s something more valuable than a teddy bear.

‎—Lee Eclov, “Jealous Guard Dog Destroys Valuable Teddy Bears,” PreachingToday.com; source: Alan Cowell, “Doberman on Guard Duty Whacks 100 Teddy Bears,” The New York Times (August 3, 2006)

- One of the ways to watch what we say when we are angry is through memory verse.

• ‎As a new Christian, I was working through Colossians. The Holy Spirit caught my attention with Colossians 3:8 (NLT): “But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.” I tried to slide past the verse, but the Spirit kept bringing me back to the words “get rid of anger.” I had a violent temper. Whenever it flared, I’d haul up and bash my fist into the nearest door. Even though I often bloodied my knuckles and had once smashed a beautiful ring my wife had given me, I couldn’t seem to stop. Yet here was God’s Word saying, “Get rid of anger.” This wasn’t just advice given to the people of Colossae centuries ago. It was God speaking to me. So I made a covenant with God. I promised him I would work on my anger. My first step was to memorize Colossians 3:8 and review it daily. I then asked the Lord to bring this verse to mind whenever I might be tempted to lose my temper. And I asked my wife to pray for me and remind me of this verse if she saw me failing in my promise to the Lord. In time, that text became a part of my life. Gradually the sin of anger lost its grip on me.

‎—Leroy Eims, The Lost Art of Disciple Making (Zondervan, 1978)