Introduction

Good day to all! The Book of Proverbs is essentially about wisdom and folly. Let us examine Chapter 10. This chapter is packed with information, and you will find that summarizing it in a single sentence is quite a challenge. Despite the difficulty, let us not assume that Solomon was rambling. In fact, Solomon provided a very fine summary of wisdom and folly in the world. When I read the Bible, I particularly like to look for words that are repeatedly used, as these are what the author most wants to convey. Do not think repetition is bad, it is very important! Important things must be said three times! But can we really understand something after hearing it three times? It would be good if we could say it ten or twenty times so people could really absorb it.

In truth, this method has its merits and demerits. If we apply my method of reading Scripture to this chapter, highlighting the repeated words and phrases, we find that: righteous and wicked are repeated ten times; heart, mouth, and lips are repeated eight times; wisdom and folly are repeated seven times; diligent and lazy are repeated twice; and poor and rich are repeated twice. By summarizing the two most important points the author is trying to make, and linking them to the other content, we should be able to help everyone.

I think the title of this chapter should be: Wisdom and Folly are All in a Person's Mouth and Heart. Although it does not explicitly mention the righteous and the wicked, the righteous are the embodiment of wisdom, and the wicked are the concrete reflection of folly. A life without wisdom and knowledge is a tragedy because, lacking these, one will choose according to folly, speaking, thinking, and acting in ways they believe are right.

Speaking Perversely is a Form of Folly

In our interactions with others, we often say: You can know a person's face but not their heart. You may see a pretty face, but you do not know if their heart is wicked. However, one thing you can be sure of is that whether or not you know their heart, as soon as they open their mouth, you know what kind of person they are. For whatever is in the heart comes out of the mouth; this is what Jesus taught us.

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45)

By analyzing what they say, we can tell whether they are righteous or wicked, wise or foolish, diligent or lazy, poor or rich. Therefore, I pay close attention to what people say, because a person's words represent who they are. Even from thousands of miles away, you can tell what kind of person someone is by listening to them speak over the internet! So, starting now, slowly ponder what you have been saying. Are your words human? Some people, even after brushing their teeth multiple times, still pollute the environment when they open their mouths, because their words are filthy. So, brothers and sisters, be careful if someone's words corrupt you! Many people have listened themselves into cancer, folly, or many troubles.

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. (Proverbs 10:1)

A person without wisdom and knowledge is a fool, causing constant distress to those who love them. I encourage you, if you have a foolish son, do not be distressed. Although it is difficult not to be distressed, it does not solve the problem. The relationship a person has with their parents can also reveal whether they are foolish. So, do not criticize your parents; those things are not important.

You will find that if a father can accept having a foolish son, he will be very happy to have a smart son, showing him off everywhere: This is my son! He is overjoyed. But if a mother has a foolish son, she will be particularly distressed; while she is happy to have a wise son, she is not as outwardly joyful as the father. How can you tell if a child is wise or foolish? Through their words, thoughts, and reactions to things. The first thing you can see is their reaction to wealth:

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. (Proverbs 10:2)

Folly and wisdom are all in a person's mouth and heart. As a person thinks in their heart, so they speak. A mother is bound to be distressed if her child loves ill-gotten wealth and dislikes righteousness. To a certain extent, a love for ill-gotten wealth will lead to freeloading, with no desire to do anything for their parents.

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:3)

A wise person will not go hungry. There is little difference between the righteous and the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and a characteristic of the righteous. Those who fear God and trust in Him are called righteous. Do not think that the righteous are just good people; a good person is not necessarily righteous. The righteous are those who are righteous in God's eyes. God determines whether one is righteous or wicked. Solomon is constantly reinforcing this concept as he writes these things, and he will continue to do so.

Laziness is a Form of Folly

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Proverbs 10:4)

A person is poor because they are lazy. The folly within leads to outward laziness, which then results in poverty. If you see a poor person who is often hungry and cannot afford to eat, the first thing you should think is: How did they get into this state? If a mother sees her child loving ill-gotten wealth, deliberately doing foolish things, being lazy, poor, and loving money, is this not a tragedy? I often fall into melancholy, feeling that I do not have enough wisdom. When I see those I shepherd lacking wisdom, I really feel how far I am from wisdom and do not know what to do. Sometimes I worry about them because, without wisdom, they will either be poor, lazy, or love ill-gotten wealth.

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. This is the difference between laziness and diligence. Some people are lazy, not studying hard in school, not becoming top students but school bullies, seeming powerful and prestigious, but what can they do? Then, when it is time to work, they do not work hard either. That is truly a tragedy! So, how can they not be poor? They will certainly be poor! And what happens when they are poor? They love money, and because they love money, they become wicked, and the wicked are detested by the Lord God.

Therefore, a person's wisdom and folly are all in their mouth and heart. This is the fruit of the folly sown many years ago. When we see someone in their twenties or thirties who has achieved nothing, we should know what has happened. Because they did not study hard for twenty or thirty years, how can they study hard now? It is difficult to find a job, and everything is difficult. Is it not a tragedy to spend all day doing superficial work? So, when people are poor, they want to get rich through violence. Everyone must reflect on themselves!

Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:6)

Why resort to violence? Because they are foolish, unable to earn money, unable to live a blessed life, and all the words that come out of their mouths are violent. That is folly!

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:11)

The mouth is incredible. I grew up in Northeast China, where some people could not stand each other, and they would tear each other apart. Sometimes they would pull out a knife and stab someone to death. As a child, I often saw someone stabbed to death here and someone stabbed to death there. After dark, families would tell each other not to go out because it was chaotic everywhere. In those days, people were very poor, so they would rob if they had nothing. These were the things on their minds. If people were wealthy and blessed, they would not do such things.

Wisdom Requires Accumulation

The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. (Proverbs 10:14)

You can tell how much someone knows as soon as they open their mouth. Because they do not read, do not study, and have no knowledge. If you ask them to study and take notes, they will think: What is the use? How will this solve my problems? Of course, it can solve your big problems! If you immediately apply the content of Proverbs Chapter 10 to your sales business, will it be useful? No! Nor can it be used to solve problems like a leaking pipe or a clogged toilet. But the word of God is the foundation of human life! What is the use of reading this stuff? As soon as you hear these words, you know it is over; this is another fool.

If people learn a little bit today and a little bit tomorrow, they will still only have a little bit of wisdom. But what if they do not learn today and do not learn tomorrow? In the end, they will become complete fools! Even if you study every day, you may not become a wise person, so not studying is a complete disaster. If people say, What is the use of this? What is the use of accumulating so much knowledge? Can it be used as money? Then you know what kind of person they are. In the end, everyone should know that if someone is capable of earning money and living a wealthy life, that is their ability. If you are capable of living a poor life, that is also your ability.

The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death. (Proverbs 10:16)

If the wicked gain something, it will also lead to destruction. The righteous do not take crooked paths but walk in the way of fearing God. The diligence of the righteous is not only manifested in their hard work but also in their diligent study of knowledge. People need to study knowledge, and a little bit of knowledge is useless; it becomes useful only when accumulated over time.

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. (Proverbs 10:17)

Ultimately, people are either knowledgeable or ignorant. No matter how much you tell a foolish and ignorant person, they will not listen. But a wise, intelligent, and knowledgeable person will understand as soon as they think about it. Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, and learning is something people should do throughout their lives! Why do we get confused when we read Proverbs? Because what Solomon says in the Bible is not quite the same as our internal logic, and it is completely different from what we think.

We are often impatient, wanting quick money and immediate usefulness, but that is not the way. If one does not do well in Primary One, Two, or Three, or in Secondary One or Two, what becomes of one's life? Even with a lifetime of adhering to instruction, there are no guarantees. But if one disregards correction, objecting to anything that differs from one's own thinking, immediately insisting on one's own way, one will go astray. Following one's own thoughts is without knowledge.

He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment. (Proverbs 10:18-21)

Some people have copious words but lack knowledge, rendering their words useless. Their hearts are filled with resentment, leading them to discern good and evil, yet they believe themselves justified and wonder why they cannot overcome this discernment. The truth is, their minds are fixated on the logic of discerning good and evil, making it impossible to break free. Many are adept at talking and saying anything, attempting to conceal their foolishness. However, foolishness cannot be hidden. In the end, they are left with nothing but empty talk, which, however eloquent, lacks knowledge and substance, eventually revealing their deficiencies.

The righteous, the wise, and the diligent are of one kind; the wicked, the violent, and the lazy are of another. Laziness, poverty, and a lying tongue are a troublesome combination, impossible to conceal, hence the saying that fools die for lack of judgment. To know if one is a fool, observe one's words. If one thinks one speaks well and considers oneself wise, I wish you luck. In the end, it all comes down to a few tricks, requiring gradual adjustment, isn't it? Solomon keeps saying that wisdom and foolishness reside in a person's mouth and heart!

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment. Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. (Proverbs 10:11-14)

Fearing God is the Beginning of Wisdom

If you desire to be a righteous, intelligent, and wise person, pleasing to God, you must continually seek to know God. As we read in the previous chapter:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

Do not be wise in your own eyes; do not think you are intelligent; do not be self-righteous. When interacting with others, I am often troubled by the foolish things people say. The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it. (Proverbs 10:22) Therefore, brothers and sisters, strive to be wise. For those without wisdom, even wealth becomes a tragedy. A person without wisdom lacks knowledge, lacks understanding, and does not fear God, truly a tragedy!

A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom. When I was young, there were many such people in my neighborhood. For example, when a blind person walked by, instead of helping, they would mock them, deliberately placing obstacles in their path. Is that not evil? They found joy in making fun of those with physical disabilities or defects.

What is wisdom? Wisdom is God, and God is wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. But that is merely the beginning! When the storm passes, the wicked are swept away, but the righteous stand firm forever. Know that no matter who you are, you may suddenly become wealthy, the source of the money unknown, or you may live an ordinary life.

But after a storm, you will see who is swept away and who can stand firm. As the saying goes, When the tide goes out, you see who's been swimming naked. Some people swim naked, and when the water is up to their necks, no one notices. But when the tide recedes, it is revealed that they have no clothes on, a very embarrassing situation. Do not wait until the tide goes out to realize your ignorance, foolishness, and shame. Prepare well in advance!

The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. (Proverbs 10:27)

Because you have wisdom and knowledge, your mouth speaks edifying words, and your heart constantly fears God, your days will be prolonged, while the years of the wicked will be shortened. Indeed, there is a time to be born and a time to die, but many wicked people die before their time because their wickedness is full. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah filled up their wickedness in one lifetime. Before their time was up, God poured out His wrath, and the entire Sodom and Gomorrah was burned to ashes. Lot's wife could have survived, she did not have to become a pillar of salt. But she was among those who were caught with their pants down when the tide went out. God rescued her from the city of Sodom, but because she looked back, she died and became a pillar of salt.

The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing. The way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. From the mouth of the righteous comes wisdom, but the tongue of the perverse will be silenced. The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perversity. (Proverbs 10:28-32)

I can tell you all: when your perverse words are full, your life is over. Do not think it is nothing! You never know when your wickedness will be full and you will die before your time. Know that there is a record with God, and this record keeps track of these things. When it is full, the demons will take your life. Some people are foolish, buying a Porsche-style BMW, then installing a large exhaust pipe, speeding on a narrow road, and crashing into a pillar. The fire engulfed everyone in the car. Is this not dying before one's time? Why always speak perverse words? Why make the people who love you sad and worried? Why be wicked? Perhaps the evil within us is only a little, but even exposure of that is deadly.

Why do we not look forward to rewards in eternity? If we look forward to rewards in eternity, we will rejoice. If we look forward to eternal things, eternal rewards, our mouths will surely speak words that please God. Because our hope is in heaven, our hope is in God. The hope of the wicked is only in earthly wealth, preferably obtained without much effort or effort. It is quickest to steal, rob, and swindle money; no effort is required. In the end, the way of the Lord becomes the ruin of these people. Do not think that everyone can receive God's grace. God's grace and love are for those who love Him and fear Him. God will pour out disasters on the wicked and those who do not fear Him.

Knowing these things, you and I must learn to choose. If you get sick and then die, do not think that this is normal and that God is taking you home to heaven. I do not know which brand of theology teaches that. The Bible does not teach this. If our hearts are too dirty and we do not clean them, we will fall before our time and get some very bad diseases. Everyone must know that our mouth, our heart, and our hands reflect many problems. Originally, our God wanted to be gracious to us, but whether we are the ones to be favored depends entirely on your and my choices. Humbling ourselves is very important!

Many Christians read the Bible and think they have understood it correctly. I am probably one of the few who think they have understood it incorrectly or not entirely correctly. Therefore, even with constant seeking, exploration, and understanding, one cannot yet become a wise person. If one adds self-righteousness, interpreting according to one's own ideas, speaking foolish words, and still thinking oneself justified, that is a tragedy! Sometimes you can pull them back. Everyone should think about it carefully!

Conclusion

I tell you: people are born wicked. If you are a righteous person, it is bent in the right direction, bent through many years of study and dealing. Even with constant study and dealing, one cannot yet become a wise person. Without learning, one remains a natural fool. Everything that is inborn, not dealt with, not repaired, not molded by the word of God, is naturally called foolishness. Brothers and sisters must know that the devil will not make a mistake, and God will not make a mistake. If the devil often comes to bother you, you need to know what has happened. Everything that we have not transformed is the natural logic system of man. Everyone go back and think carefully about what our mouths have said and what our hearts have thought. This is what Jesus said:

What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them. (Matthew 15:11)

If you interact with someone and there is a slight conflict, you will see that person's true colors. No matter how much grace you have bestowed on that person, it is useless because they have forgotten everything. In fact, I am used to this way of life. If it is someone I am pastoring, I still have a hidden sadness in my heart, always feeling that I do not have the wisdom to solve these problems. May God have mercy on us and be gracious to us!

May God bless everyone!