Don’t be like these people.

Welcome to Proverbs 19, a single chapter filled with endless warnings against foolish living. I’m all about a timely word. I don’t know about you, but there are times in my life when I need a swift kick in the pants to get me back on track. I’m human. So, it’s necessary. This is Proverbs 19 to me: a timely word of wisdom and warning, a caution to not be like these foolish people. We can either squirm at the instruction and ultimately reject it, or we can allow it to unsettle us enough to move us to receive it.

The choice is yours, my friend. Just make no mistake: Both choices come with consequences, however choosing to receive Proverbs 19 will yield the greater end result.

In this one chapter of Scripture, we’ll see on display a false witness, a foolish son, an idle person, a man of great wrath, the sluggard, the violent, and a worthless witness, and here is the word of wisdom for us today:

“Don’t be like these people!”

Proverbs 19 equates all of these behaviors to the fool, someone who rejects knowledge, discipline, and instruction. And not only does Proverbs 19 warn us to not be like these people, but it also details the fate of those who choose to live this way, and it’s not pretty. Choosing wisdom is costly, yes. It requires much of you to walk in wisdom and live in wisdom, but the benefits will forever outweigh the costs. On the contrary, while living like the fool may bring instant gratification, the inevitable cost of foolish living will never be worth the fleeting pleasures it might bring.

So, let’s just take a look at a few of these warnings, shall we? Remember, the bottom line:

“Don’t be like these people!”

“Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than a fool whose lips are perverse.” Proverbs 19:1

“A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will not go free.” Proverbs 19:5

“A foolish child is a father’s ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like
the constant dripping of a leaky roof.” Proverbs 19:13

“Stop listening to instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” Proverbs 19:27

“Don’t be like these people!”

But then, sprinkled in between all of these warnings, we find descriptions of the prudent, wise person to remind us all of what the standard for living actually is. The power of comparison can be incredibly moving, even enough to move us to action. So, let’s “Be like these people instead!”

“The one who gets wisdom loves life;
the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.” Proverbs 19:8

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

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17

“Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” Proverbs 19:20

“The fear of the Lord leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” Proverbs 19:23