Proverbs 15:1(KJV): "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

" Verse 1 As this verse says, A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Extremes in submission have caused confusion in the body of Christ. Those who refuse to submit to authority are just as out of balance as those who submit to every dictate from those they feel are their superiors. We must submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit to direct us in all areas. This requirement has been greatly abused by church authorities. Some pastors are dictators, while others are so permissive that church order is lost, resulting in chaos. There are always those who tend to be hard and dogmatic in handling the truth. While there must be respect for leadership in the body of Christ, a legalistic approach brings bondage, which is contrary to Gods will. Pauls letter to the Galatians reprimanded them for leaving the simplicity of the Gospel by adding strict rules and regulations to it. Submission is required of Gods people, but never to the point that leaders become dictators. True pastors and leadersthe ones God chooses to guide His peopledo not dictate, but lead His flock in love and by example. Neither as being Lords over Gods heritage, but being ensamples to the flock (1 Peter 5:3). If you have been unable to find leaders like this in your area, ask the Lord to lead you to someone who has a heart like His.

If we choose our words carefully, then we will get a good reaction. When we tell people about God, we should be polite. We should not use angry words. These will upset people. However, sometimes, we must warn people. Jesus did this in John 2:13-16.

Verse 2
We love to listen to wise people. Their words teach us and encourage us. We do not benefit from the words of a foolish person, who hates wisdom. A fool will say many things. However, everything that he says is foolish. Proverbs 15:2-4(KJV): 2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Verse 2 All throughout Proverbs we are admonished to guard what we say, because what comes out of our mouths will determine if we are wise or foolish.

Verse 3 No one can hide from God because He sees all and knows all. The Lord is omnipresent (present everywhere) and omniscient (knows all things). No one can hide a word or deed from Him. That the unsaved do evil without restraint is understandable, since they do not know God. But many Christians act as if God were on vacation and not watching all they do. If we really believe that He hears our conversations, would we speak to family and friends the way we do? Speaking critically to and of ones spouse is one of the things that erodes a marriage. Consistent use of negative words and critical comments will lead to destruction of the marriage, which can escalate to divorce. The threat of divorce should never be used to manipulate a spouse. Using divorce as a threat is like speaking murder to the marriage. Words can accumulate in the spirit and cause one to react lovingly or hateful by what is spoken. The Bible warns each spouse not to return railing for railing but blessing for a railing. As kind words are returned this stops the cycle of railing for railing. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it (1 Peter 3:7-11). We are admonished in the Bible to seek peace and do good. We should never take our anger out on anyone, especially our mates. We are to give our anger to Jesus and ask Him to remove it, replacing it with His forgiveness, love, and patience. Often, after people get married, they cease to be courteous to one another, becoming rude and unmannerly. The Lord calls us to be as courteous to our mates as to any sister or brother in Christ. We should be kind to one another, and think about saying and doing nice things that edify our spouses and build our marriages. Let us be as a tree of life, our tongues producing words that nourish and delight the souls of others.

Verse 2 We love to listen to wise people. Their words teach us and encourage us. We do not benefit from the words of a foolish person, who hates wisdom. A fool will say many things. However, everything that he says is foolish. Verse 3 God knows everything (1 John 3:21). He knows what the result of our actions will be. He watches good people so that he can protect them. He watches evil people so that he can punish their evil actions. Verse 4 Our words can comfort other people. Words can help people, and they can encourage people. Lies never achieve these good things. Lies hurt other people. Lies upset people and cause great problems.

Proverbs 15:5(KJV): "A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent." If we love our earthly fathers, we respect and obey them. As adults, we are grateful that they disciplined us out of love and protection. These things are true not only of our relationships with our natural fathers, but also of our heavenly Father. To enter theKingdomofGod, we must have a child-like heart of trust, knowing that He loves us far more than any earthly father could and that His instructions are for our good. We are blessed when we remain teachable, with child-like faith and yield to our Fathers correction. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is thekingdomofGod. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive thekingdomofGodas a little child shall in no wise enter therein (Luke18:16-17).

Jesus is our supreme example of obedience, desiring to please His Father at all times. He never did anything except what His Father desired Him to do. He was obedient to the point of death, yielding Himself to the cross. The sacrifice of the perfectly obedient Son of God, made it possible to save many disobedient sons. Obedience is the evidence that we are true disciples of Christ. Jesus said, If ye love me, keep my commandments (John14:15). For most Christians, learning submission to Our Fathers will is the hardest lesson to learn, but if we rebel at His leading, we will suffer for our disobedience. God never wants us to be hurt or suffer at Satans hand, but if we disobey God, we may reap the consequences of our own sin. The Bible gives numerous warnings that obedience brings blessing and disobedience leads to destruction: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it (Isaiah1:18-20). Cleansing and forgiveness are available to us when we come to Christ. Our sins, which have left a deep stain upon our souls, will be forgiven and our souls cleansed. As new creatures in Christ, we are made as white as snow. Many suffer under the burden of guilt for their sins. This is unnecessary, because If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9-10a).

Verse 5 If someone hates wisdom, then he hates instructions. He is angry if someone corrects him. A wise person learns from correction. He wants to know if he is wrong. Because he learns from correction, a wise person becomes even wiser.

Proverbs 15:6-7(KJV): 6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. 7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. Verse 6 The income of the wicked comes with trouble, while the righteous have much treasure. Some people have a hard time believing that this is true because they know righteous Christians who are struggling in the area of finances. To understand the meaning of this verse, we must first understand what the Bible means by treasures and true riches. Money cannot buy health or save someones life. The Bible says that we are to seek the true riches of God, not the riches of this world. His riches are things that money cannot buy. How can money deliver a wayward teenager from drugs and sin? How can money buy peace in our souls in the face of fear all around us? How can money save a soul from hell? Only Gods riches are available to do these things. We are truly rich when we have faith in God. Certainly God does want to bless us with material things, but it will be Him that we are seeking when these things come, not the things themselves. Many today are seeking God for what He can do for them, instead of asking God how they can

serve Him. We cannot seek mammon and God at the same time. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:11-13). Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21). Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first thekingdomofGod, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew6:31-33). Verse 7 The lips of the wise share godly knowledge, claiming the promises of God. However, claiming only material things is foolish. Many today are heard claiming cars and houses, but seldom heard claiming souls. Our priorities should be right when claiming and confessing. The Lords greatest desire is for us to grow in Him and to bring others to the knowledge of His love. He will take care of our needs if we seek Him first.

Verse 6 A good man has precious possessions. He cannot buy these possessions with money, and he cannot sell them. They are not physical objects, but they are real. They are things like wisdom and knowledge. These things are really valuable. An evil man also earns things. He might earn money, but he also earns something else. He earns trouble. He will suffer trouble because his actions are evil. Verse 7 The wise man teaches the things that he knows. Other people hear and they benefit from his advice. If we are wise, then we can help many people. The fools heart does not benefit anyone. A fool hates God, and hates wisdom. Solomon does not mean the fools physical heart. Solomon means the fools emotions, thoughts and spirit. There is no wisdom there, because the fools thoughts are all evil.

Verse 8 Without the proper heart attitude, even the good things we do will not count before God. It is the condition of the heart that impresses God. As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever (1 Chronicles 28:9 NASB). Many voice a love for God, but deny Him by their compromised lifestyles. A man cannot live in two worlds, nor can he serve two masters. Ultimately, he will choose one over the other, even as Jesus declared in Matthew 6:24. If we are not on fire with a love for God that causes us to live in close relationship and in obedience with Him, we are lukewarm and need to repent. Many people are spiritually blind, because they are rich in the worlds goods and do not line their perspectives up with Gods truth. They are naked because they do not have His eyesight nor cover themselves with His righteousness (Revelation 19:8). The Lord will not accept the sacrifices of the wicked, nor will He hear their music. Their worship songs are just noise to Him because their hearts are not right before Him: I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos5:21-24 NASB) Verse 9 While the way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, He loves those who follow after righteousness. We must be totally committed to Gods will if we are to be overcomers. A compromised life style brings judgment upon us and it will ultimately destroy our relationship with the Lord. However, if we remain steadfast, and follow the Lord daily, we will bring joy to His heart and be blessed.
The people of Israel sacrificed (killed) animals as a gift to God (Leviticus chapters 1 to 7). If an evil person did this, God would not accept the gift. God wants us to be holy. He wants us to ask him to forgive us. He wants us to trust in him. No gift can forgive us. Only God, who loves us, can forgive us. See Psalm 51:16-17 and Luke 18:10-14. Our behaviour shows what sort of people we are. God hates the actions of wicked people. God hates their evil thoughts and plans. We should do the right things. We should trust God. We should obey his instructions. God will help us to do the right things. He loves us.

10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? 12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. Verse 10 Correction and reproof keep a man on the path of life. Just as a child requires correction to learn the things that will help him grow and mature properly, we all need the correction of our heavenly Father to avoid the things that can destroy us. Notice that the death spoken of is physical, moral, and spiritual. All who are without Christ are spiritually dead, though they do not know it. It is only with Christ and by His guidance that we can safely journey through this life. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:1-6). Verse 11 If hell and the place of the dead are clearly visible to God, how much more are mens hearts visible to Him? We may be able to deceive people into thinking that we are good Christians, but God sees our hearts. If we are not walking in the truth, He knows it. We will reap what we sow. If we belong to Christ, our lives should show it. Verse 12 Fools despise correction and their pride keeps them from coming to the wise ones for guidance. Their lusts and desires lead them. If they do not repent and turn to Jesus, their end will be hell. The Lord does not desire that anyone should perish, but because He has given each of us the gift of free will, we choose whom we serve, either God or Satan. We may think we can choose to serve ourselves, but this is not an option. If we serve self, we are really serving Satan. God has given us, His children, the task of sharing the Gospel with those around us, so that they will have the opportunity to accept Christ as their Savior and escape hell (2 Peter 3:9). May we welcome the Lords correction so that we will not open the door for Satan to attack us through our own rebellion and sin. May we also pray for and witness to the lost so that they may be saved and escape the torments of hell. Verse 10 Solomon explains about people who start to do evil things. God will correct them. Sometimes, as a father smacks his child, this correction will be bitter. God corrects the person so that the person will return to God. See John 15:2. If a person does not accept Gods correction, then that person will suffer. See 1 Timothy 4:14. That persons punishment will be severe. See John 15:6, Hebrews 3:7-13 and 1 Corinthians 11:27-30. But we must encourage that person to return to God. God forgives even very evil people, if they confess their bad behaviour to him. Verse 11 Some people think that God does not know their thoughts and actions. They are wrong. God even sees beyond the grave into hell. God knows all our thoughts, and all our actions. We cannot escape from God. Even when we die, God will be our judge. Verse 12 This person insults other people, because he is proud. Nobody can correct him. He always thinks that he himself is right. He will not ask for advice. He does not respect a wise person.

13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Verse 13 One can tell the condition of a persons heart by looking at his countenance (his facial appearance). We all know when people are happy; we can tell by the sparkle in their eyes, their smile and their cheerful countenance. When they are old, happy people have smile wrinkles instead of those caused by frowning. Facial expressions reveal a lot about a person. Even children will speak up when they observe an unkind face, and they might say, That is a mean man! Sorrow in the heart can also be read on the face. When we are troubled, weve probably heard someone ask us what was wrong. We all experience things in life that break our hearts. If sorrow of heart continues indefinitely, it can break our spirits. How can we recover from heartbreak? We must give the situation to the Lord and ask Him to heal our grief. If we have lost a loved one, we can enjoy the good memories, but we must not allow the enemy to torment us with prolonged grief. God can fill the emptiness from the loss of a mate, a child, a friend, or anything else. Jesus died, not only to give us eternal life, but abundant life now. Since He Himself bore all of our iniquities, pains, sicknesses, griefs, and sorrows, we do not have to bear them. We can receive our healing and deliverance by faith. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6). Verse 14 Those who have godly understanding always want to learn more about God and His ways. We can ask Him for knowledge to overcome every trial we face. God is bigger than our grief, pain, and any problem that we will ever face. He is always there to help us to overcome anything the enemy is trying to do. He will rescue us in our time of need. However, we must not be like the fool who feeds on his own folly, continually airing his troubles and blaming others (including God) for his circumstances. People like this feed on self-pity. When sorrow overwhelms us, we need to remember the little phrase, this too, shall pass. God is eternal and He has good plans for our futures.

Verse 13 Your thoughts and emotions control your whole body. We smile when we are glad. We are sad if our experiences upset us. If we pray, God will comfort us (James 5:13). Verse 14 Both a fool and a wise man have important desires. The wise man wants more knowledge. The fool wants foolish things. By fool, Solomon means someone who hates wisdom. For a fool, this is like his need for food. He is hungry, not for food, but to do an evil action. See Proverbs 4:16-17.

Proverbs 15:15(KJV): "All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." Bad experiences do not have to produce a bad attitude. Some people allow circumstances, instead of the Holy Spirit, to rule them. We can choose how to react to our circumstances. A person who has the joy of the Lord can endure and overcome all adverse circumstances without losing their peace, because Gods joy (which is not dependant upon outward circumstances) comes from the spirit inside a person. Some people, all the days of their lives, will experience evil days because they never have learned to overcome the devils attacks of evil, fear, worry and depression. Gods joy is like a well within us. To get it flowing, we need only prime the pump. The best way to overcome despondency and worry is to start praising God for His many blessings. Instead of focusing on negatives, we can activate our faith and joy by turning our attention to Gods goodness. Many times, when I have been tempted to get depressed, I just start singing this little chorus: Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings, see what God has done! Recalling Gods blessings and thanking Him for them reminds me that He is the Almighty God with whom nothing is impossible!

Praise is a wonderful way to dispel depression or fear. 1 Thessalonians 5:18says, In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Now let us notice the Scripture says to praise God in everything, not for everything. Not everything that happens to us is Gods will, but it is Gods will that we always be thankful. We should not praise God for tragedies or sickness, yet we should praise Him in the midst of every situation. Evil things do not come from God; He is not the author of sickness, sin, or sorrow. The devil, who is not omnipresent, must have armies of demons to carry out his evil work against humanity. The devil is the one who sends such things and then tries to get us to blame God for them! When we praise God, Satan flees, because God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). Psalms is a wonderful book of songs and praises to the Lord. Psalms 29, 30, 34 and 103 are very uplifting. Meditating upon and reading psalms of praise aloud to the Lord will lift our hearts from despair. Praise can bring about our answers, for the Lord loves to fellowship with those having grateful hearts. His nature is one of joy, and He desires to fill us with His joy. We are surrounded by His blessings every day. We have so much for which we should be thankful. Christs sacrifice for our sins on the cross, is reason enough for us to gratefully praise Him forevermore!

Verses 15-16 A Christian may be poor. But he has every reason to be cheerful. See Philippians 4:4, 1 Peter 1:8 and Psalm 96:11-13. Gods love is like a party. See Psalm 23:5, Isaiah 55:1-2, and Luke 14:15-23. For other people, their lives can be difficult. They might be rich or poor, but they all need Gods help. And we, too, should try to help them.

16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. Verse 16 Without God, every human being is miserable. Misery can be temporarily quenched by things in this world, but eventually the emptiness comes back, since only God can satisfy the heart of man. Godliness with contentment is great gain, but those wanting to get rich fall into many temptations (1Timothy 6:6-11). There are many things that money cannot buy and many troubles that come with having a lot of it. No matter how much we gain, eventually we will leave every physical thing behind when we die. We bring nothing into the world and we carry nothing out. We must pursue those spiritual things that we can take with us: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, and godly relationships. We should here note again that the love of money (not money itself) is the root of evil. We all need money, but for Christians, it is simply a medium of exchange that we use to take care of our families and ourselves and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Verse 17 It is better to share a small, inexpensive meal with someone you love than to live with someone who is full of hate, even though they may have an ox in the stall being fattened up for a big dinner. We can make bad choices regarding marriage partners, if we allow money to influence our decision. Having love in a marriage is more important than having money. Godly character should be the deciding factor in choosing a mate. A Christian should seek the will of God first, and allow the Lord to bless them with His choice. If marriage with a particular person cannot glorify the Lord, then it would be better to remain alone. There are worse things than being single. One of them is to be out of Gods will by compromising and marrying someone who does not feel the same way we do about the Lord. Marriage is the second major choice we make in our lives; rushing into it can be disastrous. We should enter into it with much prayer. Of course, the most important decision of our lives, is our decision to follow the Lord. This is not just a

one-time declaration, but a daily determination to follow Jesus. Just as it is better to have little of this worlds possessions and to have the Lord, than to have great treasures without Him, so it is better to have a godly, loving mate with little of this worlds pleasures, than to live with someone who lacks godly character. If we honor God in every part of our lives and every decision we make, He will bless us. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).

Verse 17 Many people want the best meat, instead of a few vegetables. But love is better than hate. We want to eat in a place where people love us. Sometimes it is better to be poor than to be rich. Some things matter more than money or wealth. Love matters more than wealth. Especially, the love of God matters more than wealth. This is why the poor man in verse 16 has a good life.

Proverbs 15:18-21(KJV): 18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. 19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. 20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. 21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. Verse 18 The person who is slow to become angry does not offend others by speaking to them harshly. His calm words are soothing, and he will not argue about unimportant issues. A hot-tempered mans words invite arguments and encourage strife. The expression of anger ruins many lives. It hurts those who indulge in it and those at whom it is directed. Often, it permanently destroys relationships between families and friends. As Christians, we must learn how to allow the Holy Spirit to help us control our tongues. If we ask for His help, He will deliver us from a spirit of anger. Verse 19 The way of the slothful person is difficult. Ignoring ones responsibilities carries a penalty. The sluggard actually makes more work for himself by trying to avoid work. For example, failing to keep good records of bank transactions can result in writing a check for monies that one does not have. This leads to fines and can become a criminal offence, if the overdrawn amount is large enough. At the very least, it gives one a bad reputation. The righteous person avoids such confusion, trouble, and the waste of time and money. Thus, his path is plain, unblocked by thorny problems. Verse 20 There are many people today who dishonor their parents. A common way that they do this is by simply ignoring their parents or grandparents, being too selfish to make time to visit or remember them. It is painful for good parents to realize that their children are selfish. It is also displeasing to God, who issues this command: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee (Exodus20:12). If they do not repent, these children may find themselves in a similar situation, enduring the same heartbreak later in life. We reap what we sow. Verse 21 Fools take pleasure in going their own way. However, any path that is not Gods way ends in death (Proverbs 14:12). We all choose how we will walk through life. The wise look to God and find the straight and narrow way of blessing.

Verse 18

We should be patient. A patient man can even help enemies to become friends. This might take many years. But a patient person can often achieve success in the end. Sometimes, it takes many years to help someone to trust God. This may be especially difficult if, at first, the person hates God. We must be patient. We should show Gods love to the person, when we get an opportunity. Verse 19 A slow man can be very slow. He has lots of excuses. Solomon uses humour here. Nobody could be so slow that plants grew on his path. The truth is that the man was very lazy. The good man is like someone who travels along a good, clear road. A good person is patient (verse 18). But, at the right time, a good person acts very quickly. He is not lazy! He will achieve the things that he desires. Verse 20 This is like Proverbs 10:1, but the second line is different. A foolish son causes pain to his mother. (Proverbs 10:1). A foolish son hates his mother. (Proverbs 15:20) The foolish (or evil) son might not think that he hates his mother. However, his evil actions prove that he hates her. He causes trouble and pain for her, because he does evil things.

Proverbs 15:22-24(KJV): 22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. 23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! 24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. Verse 22 For a project to be accomplished, good counsel is a must. In fact, in larger projects, a multitude of counselors is better than one man. Team work is vital for a large vision to be accomplished. A good counselor weighs the pros and cons of a situation and either suggests the best way to accomplish a project or offers corrections to it. With the help of many counselors, goals and purposes will be completed. Each department will have sound suggestions to establish the vision. For personal problems, one godly counselor basing his advice on what the Bible teaches could help immensely. The key to solving personal problems is discovering what the Bible says about our situation and applying that truth to our lives. Since Gods Word never fails, we are assured of resolving and overcoming our difficulties. Since the Bible has a multitude of godly counsel about all of lifes problems, we can find our needed answers within its pages. We should be careful about seeking just any counsel, and we should pray to find the right person to talk to. Worldly counselors can hurt a believers walk with God since their advice is not necessarily scriptural. Worldly advice is generally based on selfishness, pride, and lust. Many worldly counselors actually encourage selfishness, because humanism teaches people to look out for themselves first. Certainly, we should take care of ourselves, but not at the expense of violating our moral values. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John2:15).

Verse 23 A man who has a good answer for someones problem will receive great joy out of sharing it with them. It is always a blessing to help someone by giving advice that keeps them from being destroyed or overwhelmed by his or her problems. Verse 24 Gods wisdom is a pathway that leads us upward to life in Him. Worldly wisdom is the lower path that leads to hell. God always wants to lift us up higher on His path. The devil wants to bring us down to where he is. The Lord desires us to avoid Satans traps and snares, so that we can walk in the ways of God and be blessed.

Verse 23 An adviser should always try to give correct advice. He thinks and he prays about his words. He considers the probable results of his advice. He wants to say the right words, at the right time. He wants to help, because his advice can bring success to his friends plan. An adviser is glad when he gives good advice. Verse 24 Solomon uses humour. Life is like a journey. When we live wisely, we are going towards heaven. This is like a journey where we are going upwards. So we are travelling away from the graves and from hell. Solomon imagines that the wise man is walking up a hill. Sometimes, it is hard to walk up a hill. However, the wise man needs always to travel upwards. He cannot travel downwards (opposite of upwards), because that way leads to death, the grave and hell.

Proverbs 15:25-27(KJV): 25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. 27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. Verse 25 God protects the humble widow who looks to Him, and secures her borders. The prideful man will reap what he has sown, as God will allow his house to be destroyed. God treats all men fairly. Though He is not partial toward individuals, He is partial to His Word. Faith and obedience to Gods Word brings us His favor, no matter who we are or where we come from. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him (Acts10:34-35). His promises are to whosoever will (Revelation22:17). This means that anyone who desires to come to God through Jesus will be accepted. It does not matter if we are rich or poor, male or female, black or white. God will accept us because He made us and loves us. The only condition is that we come to Him with a humble heart, acknowledging our need for Him to save us. Verse 26 God knows our thoughts and words. The thoughts of the wicked are extremely offensive to God. He is holy and pure, and He desires His children to walk in holiness and purity as well. When He hears us speaking good words, it is pleasing to Him. Just as we, as parents, are pleased to hear our children speak good things, so our heavenly Father is pleased when our words and actions are right. Verse 27 The greedy bring trouble to their households. Everyone in a family suffers when one member does not walk in Gods ways. If that person is the father, he brings problems down upon the whole household. A greedy man can be so preoccupied with making money that he neglects his wife and children, or selfishly keeps his money for himself and gives little to his family. A greedy man is susceptible to compromise. Those wanting favors from others learn to manipulate them with gifts or money. A greedy man falls into this trap easily. This is why one of the qualifications for the office of a deacon in the New Testament is that he not be greedy for money gained unjustly (1 Timothy 3:8-9). To please God, we must allow Him to deal with any greediness within us and resist

anything that even looks like a bribe. Otherwise, we can be manipulated by evil men and violate our conscience.

Verse 25 Everything that God does is right. Some people will praise a proud man. Some people think that proud people are very great. God does not think this. In the end, God will punish proud people. Some people do not care about widows. They might say, That old woman has no husband to protect her. We can steal her wealth. But God will protect the widow. He does not only protect her house. He protects her land, too. He even guards her fences. See Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 10:18; Isaiah 54:4-5; Mark 12:38-44; 1 Timothy 5:3. Verse 26 God knows our thoughts, and he hears our words. The evil person thinks about evil plans. He might plot against other people. He might try to steal from them. God knows these thoughts, and he hates these plans. An honest person speaks the truth. God loves the truth, so God loves the words of honest people. Verse 27 People give bribes (secret gifts) so that other people will do wrong things. For example, if a judge accepts a bribe, then he might punish an innocent man. If a government official accepts a bribe, then he might allow the giver to meet the king. The Bible teaches that we should not give bribes (secret gifts). The Bible also teaches that we should not accept bribes. We should not do evil things to get more money. This behaviour will only bring trouble to us and to our families. Instead, we should refuse bribes. If we refuse bribes, then God will help us to have good lives.

Proverbs 15:28-29(KJV): 28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. 29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. Verse 28 The righteous are not quick to answer, but ponder how they should reply. The wicked allow the evil stored in their hearts to pour out of their mouths, not caring if they sin. Having an evil thought is not a sin; it is not a sin to be tempted. It is sin, however, to act out the evil thought in our imaginations, even if we never act it out in reality (Matthew5:27-28). This is why pornography and masturbation are affairs of the mind. Our minds are a spiritual battleground. A thought is like a seed. If watered with our thoughts and attention, it grows and bears fruit. This is why it is so important to submit our minds to God and resist the devil, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). We can gain the victory over evil thoughts! First, we must submit to God, asking Him to cleanse our minds. Next, we must cleanse our hands; getting rid of anything that supplies our evil thought life, and replace all such things with Gods Word and whatever is noble and wholesome (Philippians 4:8). Finally, when the devil tempts us, we must resist, using Scripture. When we choose what is right, the Holy Spirit will empower us. As we draw close to God, He will draw close to us (James 4:8), enabling us to break free of sins bondage. We must not be discouraged if it takes some time before we are free. God never becomes impatient, no matter how many times we confess the same sin while struggling against it. Verse 29 The Lord hears the prayers of His children. Our Father loves us. When we fall into sin, He desires that we call upon Him, that He may deliver us. We must not allow the enemy to discourage us

from coming to God when we have fallen, but immediately repent, receive Gods forgiveness, and go on with the Lord. The devil seeks to keep us out of fellowship with our Father by making us feel unworthy of forgiveness. He is cruel, first tempting us to sin, and then tormenting us. He tells us that we are unworthy of Gods grace after God has been so patient with us. Satan then continues his assault by telling us that God is angry and we have no right to communicate with Him. It is vital that we recognize Satans lies. Our guilty consciences will agree with the devil, so we must also reject our feelings. If we have asked God to forgive us, then we must choose to believe the truth that we are forgiven and that even when we fail, God is on our side. When we sin, we must run to Him, not away from Him. Gods mercy endures forever. It is new every morning and is greater than our sin! If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin (Psalm 32:5).

Verse 28 Jesus answered questions in Mark 11:27-33 and Mark 12:13-40. Jesus studied the Bible. His answers were wise. Jesus thought about what the Bible says. And he knew the right answers. We too need to think about problems. Especially, we must discover what the Bible says. Then we shall learn Gods wisdom. An evil man hates God. The evil man does not think about what is right. Instead, he answers quickly. If an evil man does think about his answers, then he makes an evil plan. If he does not think about his answer, his plans are still evil. Verse 29 God is not deaf or weak. The result of your evil actions is that you have moved far away from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2)However, God is close to a good person. God even knows a good persons silent prayers. See Matthew 6:6-8.

Proverbs 15:30-33(KJV): 30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. 31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. Verse 30 This verse states that the facial countenance reflects the attitude of the soul. One who has the joy of the Lord in their heart will have light in their eyes and a glow on their face. Another way to say this would be that a person who has the joy of the Lord will have a twinkle in their eyes and will be aglow with the Spirit of the Lord. Joy brings health to the body as well as to the soul, so we receive a health benefit by maintaining a joyful attitude. "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones" (Proverbs 3:7-8). Making the bones fat or It shall be health to the marrow of thy bones refers to a healthy immune system that produces healthy blood. Life, the Bible says, is in the blood (Leviticus17:11). A strong immune system is produced by the healthy blood created by healthy bones. The medical profession has now recognized and proven that laughter releases certain hormones that bring a health benefit to the body. The joy of the Lord helps keep us healthy and makes us a blessing to others, because joyful people bring joy to others. Proverbs17:22says, A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Verses 31-32 One of the ways to obtain wisdom is to yield to reproof that comes from the Spirit of the Lord. We need to ask the Lord to reveal any hidden sin in our hearts. When we allow Him to show us those areas needing correction, and we yield to that correction, we will grow in the wisdom of the Lord. Stubborn attitudes cost us dearly. To remain in the company of the wise, we must yield to their adviceand who is wiser than the Lord? Everyone who heeds reproof gains understanding. God desires the best for us. He corrects us for our good, so that we will abandon what hurts us.

Verse 33 - The Lord instructs those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, honoring those who approach Him in an attitude of humility. He will give them grace and mercy in any situation they may find themselves. God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded (James 4:6-8). By keeping a proper attitude toward God, we will be a blessing to others as we maintain an attitude of joy.

Verse 30 Even our smiling faces can cheer other people! People are glad, if we [Link] words can achieve more than our happy faces. The Christian message is good news. God can change peoples lives. He will forgive them, if they trust him. This good news will make people strong. Verse 31 If someone learns from words of correction, then that person will become [Link] all make mistakes. A wise person learns not to repeat his mistakes. He knows that correction is valuable. Verse 32 When other people correct us, we become wiser. And we become more responsible. Correction is a good thing. But someone who refuses to obey instructions will suffer as a result. This is as if he hates himself. We should learn discipline. And we should learn to be wise. Verse 33 Especially, we shall learn to be wise, if we respect God. Wisdom is Gods gift to us. We must respect God. This is the first and most important lesson in wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). People want to receive honour. But many people do not want to be humble. We need to be humble, because we need to learn from God. We also need to learn from other people. If we are humble, then God will be pleased with us. God gives honour to humble people. If we are humble, then the result is honour. This is the first of a series of proverbs (wise words) about God. This series continues in the next chapter.