How do you know who to listen to or which advice to take when you have a decision to make? Between family, friends, the news, and the Internet, we have access to an overwhelming amount of information. But a hunger for knowledge is only helpful if we’re hungry for truth.
The book of Proverbs is full of godly wisdom broken into short, practical sayings. In Proverbs 14:1-12, Solomon tells us the best place to seek truth is in God’s Word.
Well-meaning people tell us all sorts of things, some true and some false. It’s up to us to discern the difference between the two. “A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning” (Proverbs 14:5-6).
Making any decision requires thoughtfulness. Proverbs 14:15 cautions us not to believe everything we hear, but to take our time and think through the outcomes of our decisions. We don’t have to make decisions quickly based on other’s opinions. After all, what God has to say on the subject matters the most. Take a look at what the Bible says and ask God in prayer to show you your next step.
God cares about our plans, and He cares about hearts. He will never tell us to do anything that contradicts His Word. Advice may change over time, but the truth of the Bible remains (Isaiah 40:8).
Reflect: | |
| Proverbs 14:1 | Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. |
| Proverbs 14:2 | He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. |
| Proverbs 14:3 | In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. |
| Proverbs 14:4 | Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. |
| Proverbs 14:5 | A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. |
| Proverbs 14:6 | A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. |
| Proverbs 14:7 | Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. |
| Proverbs 14:8 | The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. |
| Proverbs 14:9 | Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. |
| Proverbs 14:10 | The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. |
| Proverbs 14:11 | The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. |
| Proverbs 14:12 | There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. |
| Proverbs 14:13 | Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. |
| Proverbs 14:14 | The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. |
| Proverbs 14:15 | The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. |
| Proverbs 14:16 | A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. |
| Proverbs 14:17 | He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. |
| Proverbs 14:18 | The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. |
| Proverbs 14:19 | The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. |
| Proverbs 14:20 | The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. |
| Proverbs 14:21 | He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. |
| Proverbs 14:22 | Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. |
| Proverbs 14:23 | In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. |
| Proverbs 14:24 | The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. |
| Proverbs 14:25 | A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. |
| Proverbs 14:26 | In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. |
| Proverbs 14:27 | The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. |
| Proverbs 14:28 | In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. |
| Proverbs 14:29 | He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. |
| Proverbs 14:30 | A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. |
| Proverbs 14:31 | He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. |
| Proverbs 14:32 | The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. |
| Proverbs 14:33 | Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. |
| Proverbs 14:34 | Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. |
| Proverbs 14:35 | The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
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