Proverbs 18:9-12 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 18:9-12, which read,

v.9 - He also who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys.

This proverb adds to the proverbs we looked at Wednesday about the fool and his tongue and mouth.  The talking of the fool leads to a slack in his work that puts him in the category of being kin to outright destruction.  We have seen some of that lately in the news when people act with destructive actions to some disagreement.  Solomon is putting these actions of the lips and slack in work in the same category.

The slack in work might be looked at as something that is half-done and left that way.  There is not a completion to the project or the work is done to "just do" rather than up to the standard of quality to last.  We probably have all witnessed something done right maybe costing more on the front end but actually costing less on the back end over something done to just get by and then you have to replace it again and again.  Slack of work destroys what good work could have been done with a little more attention to detail, time, and resources and maybe a mouth that was running on about him or herself.

v.10 - The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.

We have a song that we sing that came from this proverb. "You are my strong tower, a shelter over me, beautiful and mighty, everlasting King.  You are my strong tower, fortress when I'm weak.  Your name is true and holy, and Your face is all I see."  I get the picture of being on the golf course with Jason and a quick thunderstorm came upon us.  On the course was a shelter in the center that we ran to.  It kept us dry and away from danger until the storm passed and we could get back on the course to finish the round.

The point here is for the righteous to run to the strong tower, the LORD.  Many times when trouble comes our way we run from God rather than to Him.  Our safety is in Him.  Our protection comes from Him.  Don't miss that it is the name of the LORD that is a strong tower.  His name, Jesus, is to be run to in prayer and to His words, to see His provision displayed.

v.11 - A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination.

Who does the fool run to?  The world runs to wealth or money to solve the problem.  They elevate wealth to be this high wall of protection but this proverb exposes it as something just imagined to protect.  God is pitted against the god of money or wealth just as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:24 which reads, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."  

v.12 - Before destruction the heart of the man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.

This proverb is very similar to Proverbs 16:18 which reads, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling."  Pride brings destruction.  Pride comes first and then destruction follows.  The positive side is that when someone is humble then comes honor.  Lets take a look at these two "h" words.

Haughty literally means "to be high, to be exalted."  Humility literally means "meekness" but with the action of being occupied with being in that state.  It is an action on your part to be either prideful or to be humble.  You may have been raised in an environment that promoted pride or humility but you have to set your course of how you will respond.  The Scriptures are quite clear that the fools side with pride and the wise side with humility.  The fools will experience destruction while the wise will experience honor.  Will you in this world of instant gratification and pat yourself on the back affirmation wait for God's eternal glorification and His words of "well done good and faithful servant?"   Let us pray.

"Lord may our work today show that we run on another set of rules that dictates our output no matter the external factors.  May we continue to run to You and experience Your safety instead of imagining safety that we can create by our own doings.  May we truly learn how humility is so much greater than pride.  Humility sees Your kingdom at work and pride shields are eyes from it.  Amen."

Pastor Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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