Proverbial Wisdom

The first 3 verses of Proverbs 11 touches on balance, pride, humility, and integrity. Verse one reads: "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight." Proverbs 11:1. This verse speaks to dishonesty in business. Back in the day merchants would use scales to quantify product and prices. Some merchants would tip the scales deceptively to get the customers to pay full price for less product. Yet, God is a God of justice, and just weights.

Work-Life Balance

This practice also applies to every other aspect of our lives as well. The work we provide for our employers and the time we spend with our families. Reading this verse at this time in my life jumps out and punches me in my heart and convicts me of my work-life balance. We must be careful. Make sure to prioritize what is important in your lives. Your family and loved ones are more important than any dollar amount, but even more your spiritual life must take precedence over all. For when they asked Jesus what was the most important laws of the land He said: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." - Matthew 22:37 Lets make sure we keep whats important, the most important thing in our hectic lives. For Jesus also said "Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and all its Righteousness, and all these things shall be added onto you." - Matthew 6:33

Pride vs Humility

Proverbs 11 Verse 2 reads: "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom." Meaning, we must be careful to not be prideful in all that we do. The fact is, we didn't wake ourselves up and we really do not have the right to take any credit for what we are able to do professionally or in any other aspect of life, because at any moment, the Lord could take the breath out of our lungs. Proverbs also says: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18 So stay humble so the Lord doesn't have to humble you. For it reads in James "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." - James 4:6

Truth and Righteousness

Proverbs 11:3 reads: "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them." Lending to the idea of living righteously. When you live a life on righteousness and truth you can move forward in all that you do with confidence, not only in yourself, but in the Creator of all things. For it reads in Ephesians 6:14: "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness." As long as we live this way, when the voice of doubt creeps in your mind (which it does for all of us) we can rest assure that what we have done and said are backed and protected by our Father in Heaven.