Proverbs 14 – 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 13, you should also check that out here.  Otherwise, on to Proverbs 14!

14:1 – Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands (CSB). Building is active. We have to work to bring peace and safety and encouragement and laughter to our homes. It doesn’t just ‘happen’ one day. In fact, if we aren’t actively building our house, we are tearing it down, and it is of our own making. Prayer – God, show me how to build my house into a home, where friends and family want to gather and find peace within our walls. Show me when I am tearing down my home and teach me how to repair any damage I have done.

14:4 – Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean; but much is produced by the strength of an ox (CJB). Productiveness often comes with a mess. One of my favorite former bosses always used to joke that our department would be perfect if it weren’t for customers. It makes me chuckle to remember him saying that because it is the same sentiment. The department might be spotless, but then we also wouldn’t be selling anything, so there would be no good in having a department, and no jobs for either of us. Our troubles don’t go away, they simply change.

14:6 – A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding (NLT). Understanding and knowledge build on one another, and we are promised knowledge because wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). So, we don’t have to fear when we feel like we don’t have knowledge because God will continue to build it in our hearts because we fear Him.

14:8 – The prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves. 14:12 – There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. 14:15-16 – Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps. The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence (NLT). Prayer – God, help me to know what the right way to go is. Let me not be overconfident and deceived in the way that I think is right. Teach me how to carefully consider my steps, but not be paralyzed by over-analysis at the same time. Let me listen to wise advice, but compare it to Your Word and not follow every single piece of advice on a whim.

14:9 – Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation (NLT). The godly are not without guilt, and not free from ever doing wrong. The difference is that when we feel guilty, we press in and seek to reconcile our relationships with others and that is what makes us godly – not a lack of doing wrong. Prayer – God, help me to see where I am guilty and show me how to reconcile myself to those I have wronged.

14:11 – The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the godly will flourish (NLT). I love the difference in the types of housing here – the house will be destroyed, but the tent will flourish. Even when what we have seems meager in our hands, God will still bless it. God can start with the smallest of gifts, abilities, and provisions, and bless them.

14:13 – Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains (NLT). Prayer – God, help me pay attention to those around me. Help me see any grief in their eyes that remain after they have stopped laughing. You promise in Your word that the words of the wise bring healing (Proverbs 12:18). Help me to say the right words to those grieving, even if the right thing to say is nothing. Don’t let me miss them because I am not paying attention.

14:22 – Don’t those who plan evil go astray? But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness (CSB). It is the same mind and skillset to plan and strategize, but we get to choose whether we plan good or evil. God’s promise is that when we plan good, we will find loyalty and faithfulness from those around us. Planning good is how we become good leaders and good friends, and people naturally will begin to become loyal to you. Prayer – God, help me to plan good, and turn away from planning evil. Thank You for surrounding me with faithful and loyal friends when I plan good.

14:23 – There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk only leads to poverty (CSB). This one definitely convicted me – to stop simply talking about all the things I want to do, along with all my excuses for why I ‘can’t’ do them, and just start doing them, even if it’s one small step at a time. Prayer – God, help me see when I am just making empty talk about my dreams, and show me the next step I can take to bring them into reality.

 14:29 – A patient person show great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness (CSB). I’m certainly personally familiar with the latter part of this verse, and the first part is very intriguing to me. In Proverbs, when the word understanding is used, it means an action that is taken from existing knowledge. Knowing what the proverbs say is all well and good, but when we act on that knowledge, then we are exhibiting understanding. In the first part of this verse, the patience is the understanding, the action of the knowledge. Patience is the response and action to the knowledge. Patience exhibits a deeper understanding of circumstances. Patience trusts that God will fulfill His promises to us and bring us refuge from the storm. Patience understands that what we see and feel is not the full picture of the story. Patience is the resulting action from truly understanding that God’s kingdom functions in a completely different manner than what we understand naturally. Prayer – God, teach me to first rest and trust and take refuge in You, so that my immediate reaction is to exhibit patience when things don’t seem to go the way I expected them to.

14:35 – A king shows favor to a servant with good sense (CJB). Prayer – God, when I am in leadership positions, help me to show favor to those under my leadership who work hard and have good sense, and not overwork them because of their capabilities. When I am reporting to those in authority over me, help me to show good sense and act with wisdom.

Friend, I have prayed these same prayers over you today. May God’s Word stir action and understanding in your life as you gain knowledge in His Word and His wisdom.

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.