Proverbs 13:18-24

Solomon wraps up Proverbs 13:18-24 talking about those who ignore instruction and truth – it just doesn’t go well when you insist on doing things your own way. “Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored”. We all make mistakes, but the sure way to see those ongoing mistakes continue is to be unwilling to listen and change.  This kind of behavior can lead to poverty and disgrace, rather than the blessing that comes to the one who is willing to listen to and act upon correction.  This leads to honor in this life and the life to come.

When our desires are fulfilled – especially when they are accomplished through hard work, discipline, and sacrifice – this is sweet to the soul and brings great life satisfaction. “A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools”. The fool is so in love with their evil that they regard it as a terrible thing (an abomination) to depart from that evil. They simply can’t let go of it. This shows that evil and folly are not surface problems; they are deeply rooted within a person’s being. In the same way, wisdom is something we choose to walk in. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm”. Who we hang out with matters.  Our choice of companions will impact how we will walk into destiny.

Sin always carries a stiff price. “Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good”. The “reward” of sinners is for evil to chase after them. It never gives up trying to catch and destroy. God’s righteous followers have a much better destiny. Good shall be granted to them as they reap what they have sowed.  And that reward is not merely gained for self. “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous”. The sinner may have wealth, and this may be a discouragement to the righteous. But we can be confident in the judgments of God and know that all things are theirs and God can, if He wishes, transfer the wealth of the sinner to the righteous. God makes that decision.

Adam Clarke understood this as a rebuke of the lazy poor: “O, how much of the poverty of the poor arises from their own want of management! They have little or no economy, and no foresight. When they get anything, they speedily spend it; and a feast and a famine make the chief varieties of their life.” “The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice”. Whatever the land is used for will come up short because justice will prevail.

Solomon then turns his attention to discipline of a child. “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him”. The rod is a figure of correction including but not limited to the appropriate physical discipline of children. The one who refuses to discipline his child may feel they avoid it out of compassion for the child, but they are mistaken. The harm is potentially so great that it infers that a parent hates his child by failing to discipline them. Proper discipline comes from both wisdom and love.  It’s not beating them.  It is correcting bad or sinful behavior to teach. And when someone learns to live in righteousness, God’s blessing flows to them. “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want”. The wicked and foolish create scarcity in their lives and come up way short.