Proverbs 25 Devotional Study

You can’t do the right thing without the right heart

When you were younger, your mom probably advised against snacking too much before dinner. But inevitably the hunger pangs would get the best of you, and as you picked at your dinner later, your mom would say the last words you wanted to hear, “I told you so.”

In God’s loving and infinite wisdom, He speaks to us about how to navigate through life. Throughout Proverbs 25, we find solid wisdom that can help us avoid “I told you so” moments.

Doing what is right requires us to get rid of everything not right in our hearts.

The first step in applying God’s wisdom to our lives is to check our hearts. We see this in Proverbs 25:4-5, “Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith. Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure by justice.” Doing what is right requires us to get rid of everything not right in our hearts.

To get your heart in the right place, ask Jesus to soften your hearts and rid you from any unforgiveness, unbelief, or bitterness. With a healthy heart, we can apply the wisdom Proverbs describes.

In Proverbs 25:1-10, we’re encouraged to act with humility, assume the best, and never betray a confidence. We’re told to pay attention to the words we speak and avoiding quarreling whenever possible. Ephesians 4:29 echoes this teaching saying, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Our words will always be an outpouring of what’s in our hearts. So if we want to do what’s right, we’ll need the right heart. Then, as we obey God’s wisdom, we start to see change spiritually and practically as we grow closer to God and each other.

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Reflect:
	More Proverbs of Solomon
Proverbs 25:1	These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Proverbs 25:2	It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Proverbs 25:3	The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Proverbs 25:4	Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Proverbs 25:5	Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Proverbs 25:6	Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Proverbs 25:7	For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
Proverbs 25:8	Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
Proverbs 25:9	Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Proverbs 25:10	Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Proverbs 25:11	A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Proverbs 25:12	As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Proverbs 25:13	As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Proverbs 25:14	Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Proverbs 25:15	By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Proverbs 25:16	Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Proverbs 25:17	Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
Proverbs 25:18	A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Proverbs 25:19	Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Proverbs 25:20	As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
Proverbs 25:21	If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Proverbs 25:22	For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Proverbs 25:23	The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Proverbs 25:24	It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Proverbs 25:25	As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Proverbs 25:26	A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
Proverbs 25:27	It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Proverbs 25:28	He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

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