Proverbs 13 – if you haven’t read my thoughts on the book of Proverbs yet, you’ll want to do so here. This isn’t a comprehensive look at each verse, but it is how God spoke to me through particular chapter of His Word at this particular chapter in my life. I encourage you to read the full chapter in your own Bible first so you can see how God wants to speak to you through this chapter, and so you don’t miss out on the verses I didn’t cover. I hope it can speak to you as well, and I hope you are encouraged to seek Him in His Word. And if you missed Proverbs 12, you should also check that out here. Otherwise, on to Proverbs 13!
13:1 – A wise son responds to his father’s discipline, but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke (CSB). To act and respond, we first have to listen and understand instructions and God’s Word internally. Internal understanding leads to external action, not the other way around. Christianity isn’t about behavior modification, it is a matter of what we really believe in our hearts, which then naturally affects our actions. But the mocker doesn’t even get to the first step of listening to and understanding the instruction. (See also verses 13:10 and 13:18.)
13:3 – Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything (NLT). Goodness, don’t I know that firsthand. Prayer – God, help me control my words, and if I cannot control my words, give me the grace and strength to keep silent.
13:4 – Lazy people want much, but get little, but those who work hard will prosper (NLT). God promises that He will reward your hard work. Proverbs 28:19 also says, A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty. I love the complete picture the Bible gives us here. God honors hard work, but there also has to be wisdom in it. We should love the Lord our God with our minds as well (Luke 10:27), and not work endlessly on a whim that is going nowhere. Prayer – God, give me the wisdom to know which dreams to pursue and work hard after, and which dreams are an empty fantasy that I shouldn’t pour any more energy into.
13:8 – The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened (NLT). Being rich isn’t without its troubles, it is just a different set of troubles and problems.
13:9 – The light of the righteous shines joyfully (CJB). Does my life always shine joyfully. I think not…. Prayer – God, help my life to shine and bring joy to those around me, so that I can show everyone a glimpse of You.
13:12 – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life (NLT). This isn’t a verse to give us permission to give up hope, which is how I read it for years. God doesn’t want us to give up hope. In fact, God wants us to keep working hard for our dreams. In verse 13:19, it says, It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them (NLT). So, if we aren’t even working to attain our dreams, then we are fools. Ouch. That hits me a bit hard. Prayer – God, give me the courage to dust off my hopes and dreams and start working hard towards them.
13:16 – Wise people think before they act (NLT). Prayer – God, I need all the help I can get with this. Help me become wise and slow me down to give me a fraction of time to think before I act.
13:26 – A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away (NLT). Prayer – God, help me to stand and fight against injustice towards those who cannot stand up for themselves.
Friend, I have prayed these same prayers over you today. I pray that you may be stirred to action because of a deep understanding of God’s Word. May your hopes be renewed, and may you have the strength and courage to start pursuing them again. I pray God will give you the wisdom and the extra fragment of time to think before you speak and act next.
Until next time,
– Just a girl pursuing her reflection in the mirror of God’s Word.
Scripture quotations marked (CJB) are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, Copyright © 1998 and 2016 by David H. Stern. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (CSB) are taken from the Christian Standard Bible® Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.