Good Morning 🙏

This is Proverb Pic, the daily devotional newsletter that helps Christians become wiser in 2 minutes a day.

Proverb of the day

Proverb Pic

Meditation

Proverbs 19:20 teaches us that listening to advice and applying that advice over a long period of time is what makes you wise. The fool does not listen to advice and lacks discipline. The fool makes short-term decisions only thinking about tomorrow. In contrast, the wise person implements advice and is disciplined over a long period of time. A person who listens to advice and applies it over a long period of time is counted as wise merely because they don't experience as many setbacks that ignorance and a lack of discipline bring. They are not necessarily smarter than a fool, but they definitely make fewer mistakes.

The wise person, according to Proverbs, is the individual who listens to advice with an open mind and heart, accepting it as an opportunity to learn and grow. They recognize the value of discipline and the benefit of thinking in the long term, understanding that their decisions today will have an impact on their lives tomorrow and beyond. They implement the advice they've received, not in a sporadic or inconsistent manner, but steadily over time.

This doesn't mean the wise person is infallible or never experiences setbacks. On the contrary, wisdom often grows out of the soil of mistakes and failures. However, the distinguishing factor lies in their ability to learn from these setbacks and avoid repetition of the same mistakes. They strive for improvement and growth, continuously feeding their wisdom with new learnings and experiences.

In contrast, the fool, as depicted in Proverbs, is one who is either dismissive of advice or lacks the discipline to implement it consistently. They make decisions based on immediate or short-term outcomes, disregarding the future consequences. This impulsive behavior often leads to unnecessary hardships, setbacks, and failures that could have been avoided with more prudent, long-term oriented decision-making.

In essence, Proverbs 19:20 invites us all to embark on a journey towards wisdom, a path that requires active listening, acceptance of advice, and disciplined, long-term application of lessons learned. It's a journey of becoming, not just being, wise. It's a journey that values the wisdom accumulated from years of experience and thoughtful actions over raw intelligence or quick thinking. It's a reminder that wisdom is accessible to all, not just the intellectually gifted, and that it's our actions, attitudes, and long-term visions that truly define whether we are wise or foolish.

Prayer

Lord, help us to listen to advice, especially to your wisdom. Help us apply the wisdom you have you given us over a long period of time so that we can be wise.

Application question

Where do you want to be in five years?

4 ways YOU can support Proverb Pic.

1. Follow us on social media

2. Support Our Newsletter

3. Advertise with us

4. Share with friends! 👇👇👇

Wisdom fills the humbleDon't believe everything you see