Not long ago my uncle and I were visiting when I mentioned that one’s perception is not reality, but to the one who perceives it is reality. He concurred. What does that mean? It means that though one perceives, judges, and concludes concerning a situation, that which is perceived to be the case is not always so (though they believe it is). This plays well into the words of James 4:11-12, concerning brethren who render judgments against another brother concerning what they perceived to be the case. It was not only EVIL, but it placed on in position that did not belong to the “judger.” He shared with me how for years one would not talk to him and his wife because they (the perceiver, judger), in truth, misjudged badly a situation. If one can’t learn a lesson from this, I wonder if the heart is too hard!

 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding (Proverbs 14:6, ESV). The scoffer is the intellectually arrogant. This is the person who is sure there is no God, sure that the killing of the righteous innocent is a mere matter of “health,” and seeks to have the community in which he resides to follow his wisdom toward a path of liberal justice and peace. He seeks wisdom, but the “wisdom” that he gains is always changing. Does not seem much like wisdom to me! On the other hand, knowledge that comes from above (James 1:17-18) is not fleeting, but firmly rooted in Him who know all and sees all.

By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom (Proverbs 13:10, NKJV). The middle letter of “pride” is the letter “i”, and with this small letter many assert themselves into areas of thinking and doing that destroys. The prideful person thinks a great deal of self and, as one man said, “They are ready to quarrel with everyone who does not value their opinions as highly as they do” (McGrath). With the letter “i” right in the middle of this word, this becomes similar to those who want to be in the middle of all engagements – it is self-validating. A wise man, on the other hand, is not interested in the “I”, but in good judgment. Whereas a wise man will gains counsel before acting, a prideful person will do nothing of the sort because his own wisdom is plenty fine! Pride and sin are kin.

The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out (Proverbs 13:9, NKJV). It is understood that Christians radiate something from their personality; it is ideal when that which is radiated is the “light of Jesus’ life.” It is not only ideal, it is something the Lord wants and expects. For many in this world all that will be known of the gospel is the person who lives the life of Christ. How great it is, don’t you think, when one who does not know Christ sees the radiant joy of life in one of His saints? On the other hand, the wicked also has a light, but that which comes forth is not as bright (not even close), and whatever “brightness” might exist it quickly fades into darkness.

The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke (Proverbs 13:8, NKJV). This is a peculiar proverb, especially in light of the previous verse (“There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches”). The point, however, is not as far from the sentiment of the previous verse as one might initially think. Some have interpreted this proverb to pertain to a discerning spiritual man who uses his money well; he is able to redeem himself in (and from) particular difficulties. While this may be true, I think the greater point is this: the wealth of a person puts him (or her) into precarious circumstance where money needs to be used to redeem, such as in kidnapping. On the other hand, the one who does not put any emphasis on money, thus not having that kind of wealth, is not susceptible to same thing.