Scripture Reading:

Proverbs 13:18-20

Proverbs 13:18

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction: but he that regards reproof shall be honored. 

There is hardly anything more difficult in life than to submit to the correction or instruction of others. Yet, humility is always the entry way into the successful life, in every proper definition of the term. Humility is the way into salvation.

Life is so filled with snares and pitfalls, any who will refuse to listen to wise warnings and direction is headed for disaster. The proud man may enjoy a little success, but his pride only sets himself up for a fall. Then his shame will be out in the open for all to see.

What of the humble man who achieves a little success in life? Or it may be the humble sinner who receives the grace of Christ and he is set free of certain sinful patterns in his life. Here is where pride shows up with the party hats for a celebration. The temptation to pride is always present. The truly successful man remains humble, and he is always and ever open to correction. Nobody is ever impervious to sin or some fatal mistake.

In a fallen world, almost inevitably you will find your weak spot in your blind spot. If you are aware of your weaknesses, then you are in a position to confess them to God and mortify that sin in the flesh. But, as long as you are unaware of your shortcomings, they will continue to trip you up until your eyes are opened, the Holy Spirit convicts your heart, and a friend or a brother graciously points out your sin.

Proverbs 13:19

The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. 

This verse ties in directly with verse twelve. Believers really do achieve their true desires in life, because those desires are good and right. When we set out in life to serve others, to seek God’s glory first, and to rejoice before God in gratefulness, we really can accomplish these things—and the fruit is so sweet to the soul.

The unbeliever’s heart desires are self-oriented. One popular song expressed these heart sentiments succinctly this way,

“Love me tender, 

 Love me true, 

 All my dreams fulfill.” 

This songwriter placed his deepest desires upon someone else loving him and fulfilling all his dreams. He placed himself at the center of the universe and, of course, his desires were never to be accomplished. The pop industry and the mass audience who share these sentiments will have to live and die in frustration. None of their dreams are fulfilled, because their desires are rooted in self.

Only right heart desires can be perfectly met by God, and that gift is ever sweet to the soul. The desire for God, for His presence, for a release from evil, for His rest, and for His love is the best and highest desire of all—and ultimately fulfilled by Him. First then, He purifies our desires, and then He fully meets them by His gracious Spirit.

The wicked would have none of this, however. They are quite content to be held in bondage to sin. The very notion of repentance, departing from sin, fellowship with God, and keeping His commandments is repulsive to them. For this reason, the message of repentance, sober warnings of judgment, and the convicting preaching of sin and the atoning sacrifice of Christ are extremely unpopular to the unregenerate ear. Above all, the very idea of condemning sin and the world is seldom well received in the churches. One way or another, this preacher will receive the same treatment John the Baptist received, when his head was served on a platter to Herod’s wife and daughter. It is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Proverbs 13:20

He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 

Over four hundred years ago, English pastor Richard Baxter, warned parents about the great danger of Christian children associating with friends who do not fear the living and the true God. Baxter wrote, “Keep your children as much as may be from ill company, especially of ungodly playfellows. It is one of the greatest dangers for the undoing of children in the world; especially when they are sent to common schools: for there is scarce any of those schools so good, but hath many rude and ungodly ill-taught children in it.”*

In a day where 80% of children raised in Christian homes walk away from the faith (according to recent surveys), it would be prudent to ask the question, “What are the routes by which these children exit the righteous highway?” Of course, it is their social associations that take them away. They walk with fools. Once their hearts are bound in relationship to ungodly, unbelieving, rebellious children, it is practically impossible to separate them from that heart-commitment. Could our “common schools” or “public schools” contain these ungodly playfellows of whom Richard Baxter was so concerned about nearly 400 years ago?

The powerful influence of peers on a child’s character and culture cannot be understated. Ideas conveyed in public schools and universities are highly influential on young minds. What if a young person was subjected to the teachings of Charles Darwin, Friedrich Nietzsche, and ten atheist instructors for four hours a day? Surely, for most youths, the influence of ungodly peers (and popular culture)
during the other four hours a day would do more damage than the long sonorous lectures from the atheist teachers.

If foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, then the more children walk with other fools, the more they will increase in their foolishness. Put another way, two fools is not twice the foolishness. It is foolishness squared in the exponent. Two fools produce four times the foolishness, and three fools, nine times the foolishness.

The corollary to the warning contains this encouragement to find the wisest men of our acquaintance and walk with them. We associate with them, learn from them, and emulate them. If we would be righteous, let us walk with those who pursue righteousness. If we would be wise, let us walk with the wise.

Merely being in the presence of a wise man or hearing the words a father is not the same as walking with him. To walk with a godly mentor is to follow after him, as he follows Christ. We must first commit ourselves to going where He is headed, and then we will receive His words and emulate His life. The heart must be truly interested, engaged, and connected with the words and the life of Christ first, and then that of a spiritual mentor.

*Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory, Part II, Ch. X, Direct. XV.

Family Discussion Questions:

1. Do you desire to depart from evil? Are you reluctant to receive correction? What was your reaction the last time someone corrected you?

2. With whom do you walk? Describe your closest friends. Are these men and women characterized by wisdom?