Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 15:3

by David Chadwick

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

Proverbs 15:3

We are continuing our study through some of the proverbs found in God’s Word. God is highly majestic, the creator of the universe, all-powerful, and all-consuming, yet he provides instructions for his followers that are very practical.

Did you know that God’s eyes are everywhere? He sees everything, keeping watch over both good and evil. Why is this so important for our lives? Two answers come to mind.

First, it should encourage right and godly behavior. If God sees everything, that means nothing gets by him. He sees our private sins and our private joys. No slanderous words go unseen. Matthew 12 says that we are all held accountable for every idle word we speak. This includes words of gossip, slander, deceit, or anger.

Additionally, no private devotion goes unnoticed. If we really believe this is true, we would aim to behave righteously. We would live with a high standard, fully aware that we are ambassadors of the kingdom of heaven.

Secondly, knowing that God’s eyes are everywhere should create deep security in our souls. God not only sees everything, but he is also in control of everything. He is over everything. All of the surrounding chaos is in God’s purview.

Is there an area of your life where you feel like something is out of your control? Don’t ever worry! Turn your fear into faith. God’s got this! Today’s proverb should give all of us the assurance that our faith in God is not in vain. He is always working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

And always remember, God sees everything, and his eyes are everywhere!

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 15:18 Temper, Temper!

by Marilynn Chadwick

“A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but one who is slow to anger quiets contention.”

Proverbs 15:18

Be slow to anger. The book of Proverbs has lots to say about the problem of anger. Over fifteen different verses warn of the dangers of an unbridled temper. Anger is described as foolish and destructive. Being slow to anger is a sign of moral strength.

So dangerous is anger that we’re warned to steer clear of close friendships with hot-tempered people to avoid letting them influence our behavior. “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared” (Proverbs 22:24, 25 NIV).

Several verses in Proverbs give us a tutorial on how to avoid the anger trap. We’re encouraged to replace anger with a virtue, such as patience:

• Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly (Proverbs 14:29).

• A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

• Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12).

• Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice (Proverbs 13:10).

• A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11).

• Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin (Proverbs 17:19).

That last tip in Proverbs 17:19 gives me pause. I confess I’ve been known to enjoy “verbal jousting” at times. And friendly debates are not all bad. But it’s good to remember that debates can become quarrels. I don’t want to “love a quarrel,” which this verse calls “loving sin.”

Ancient Jewish rabbis were so aware of the potentially destructive nature of anger that they elevated the virtue of love even above the highly prized virtue of truth.

Anger can be bad for our health, cause us to make rash and unwise decisions, and even lose at war. Someone once advised soldiers to “never enter a sword fight angry.” Proverbs 16:32 teaches that true strength is found in controlling one's spirit rather than winning an argument and a patient person is “stronger than a warrior.”

Let’s remember that God hates strife, especially in families and the family of God (Malachi 2:10). I don’t know about you, but I’m thankful that love covers a “multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 26:17, Don’t Be a Busybody

by Marilynn Chadwick

"Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.”

Proverbs 26:17

My husband, David, recently addressed Proverbs 26:17, but I find it so important that I want to expound upon it again today. Proverbs 26:11 says that if someone repeats their folly, they are fools. So, in an effort to walk in wisdom, let’s look at this concept again.

It is the danger of meddling in another’s affairs, sometimes referring to the sin of being a “busybody.” This kind of intrusion includes entering into someone else’s argument. It doesn’t take much imagination to see how grabbing a “stray dog by the ears,” as described in Proverbs 26:17, will cause us certain pain in the end. Just as a dog will snap at you if you grab its ears, people in a fight will sometimes turn their anger on the person who meddles in their quarrel.

The word “busybody” seems a bit old-fashioned. I’ve always thought of a busybody as a term for the frivolous but rather harmless gossip caricatured in a comedy. But the Bible paints a more serious picture. Scripture warns that being a meddler or busybody comes with its own form of danger, even suffering.

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters” (1 Peter 4:15 NKJV). Did you catch that? Being a busybody, or meddler, causes suffering.

Let’s look at a different version of this verse in its context: “If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name (1 Peter 4:15-16 NIV). Life is messy, and sin causes pain. But if we suffer, it shouldn’t be as a murderer or thief. Or even as a busybody.

The New Testament term for “busybody” is defined as “one who oversees that which belongs to another.” Also described as “factious,” the busybody, or meddler, causes trouble for himself or herself and spreads trouble and division to others. That’s why it’s not a minor offense.

Proverbs repeatedly emphasizes the wisdom of avoiding the temptation to stir up strife. It warns that “fools constantly meddle and bring trouble on themselves” (Proverbs 20:3).

Bottom line? Mind your own business! And when you’re tempted to take charge of something that’s not your own, remember the Bible’s warning to avoid the suffering that’s sure to follow. Next time I’m tempted to meddle, I’ll think back to that image of a dog snapping at me and try to resist the temptation to “fix everybody and everything.”