Proverbs 27

1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

A key thing to understand is that you cannot control your surroundings.

We may think that we have some control, but that is only an illusion. In reality, we have no control at all, and at any time, and to any extent, God can completely overrule our apparent control.

So then, we should always live keeping in mind that tomorrow is never a done deal until it becomes yesterday.

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

How do you think and speak when you have done something good or great?

Many people talk about what they have done.

Most people go over, in their minds, what they have done, reveling in their accomplishments.

Instead, it is good to focus on where we can improve.

However, there is a balance. If we are self-critical to the point where it damages our confidence then we need to focus on our accomplishments – on what God has done through us – so that we don’t give up or lose hope.

3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

When you interact with a fool, it is very easy to get drawn in to the extent that you start behaving as badly as the fool. Therefore, you need to be careful; before you get out of control, remember this verse, realize what is happening, and quickly withdraw.

4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy?

When someone comes down upon you with all their wrath, you know it, and you can defend yourself or flee. The same also holds true for anger. But when it comes to jealousy, you may never see it coming, for a jealous person will attack from where you cannot see, and when you are not expecting.

People get jealous when they see your success standing against their failure. Therefore, to mitigate jealousy, try to hide your successes, and exhibit your failures. When your successes become known, downplay their extent.

5 Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

We tend to like those who flatter us or stroke us. We tend to accept those who accept us and don’t try to change us for the better. But the truth is that those who are most useful to us are those who point out our lack and our blind spots. Learn to value the coach or parent or spouse who helps you in this way. Learn to seek out those who are critical, and carefully examine what they say.

7 A sated man loathes honey, but to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.

It is important to remember to know when to give something to someone. If you give them something that they already have in abundance they will not value it as much. Give them what they want but don’t have. Whatever you give away, give to the neediest person. That way, you will get the greatest bang for your buck.

8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.

There is danger all around, but the further away you go from your home, the greater the danger can be. Stay close to what is familiar, and when you do venture beyond what is familiar, be extra careful and cautious.

9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man's counsel is sweet to his friend.

It is valuable to have a friend who genuinely seeks your good. If you have such a friend, treasure that friend. If he is wise too, value him even more, and listen to him carefully.

10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

If your neighbor is also your friend, and that too a wise one, you are blessed. Make sure that you treat him well, and that you don’t forsake him in his time of need. If you lose such a friend, it will be a great loss.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may reply to him who reproaches me.

When someone is in a position of authority over you, they have to justify why they have you on their team. This is because they generally have enemies, and their enemies are always looking for ways to pull them down. You don’t want to give the enemies of your parents or supervisors at work ammunition to pull them down, especially if you want to stay on the team or gain more responsibility or prominence in the team or organization. That is one reason why you need to think before you act.

12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the naive proceed and pay the penalty.

What do you do when you see a conversation take a turn for the worse?

What do you do if you are playing a game outside with friends, and another troublesome looking group comes and begins playing next to your group?

What do you do when people around you start speaking badly about the boss?

There are many situations where things start out harmless, but suddenly, they begin going into a dangerous path. You must be quick to recognize what is happening, and then be quick to hide yourself so that when evil begins to rise you are far away from it.

It takes time and practice to learn to hide yourself when you see evil, but it is a valuable skill to have.

When you don’t hide yourself upon seeing evil, you end up in trouble.

13 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; and for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.

Don’t offer to stand by the promise of someone you don’t know and don’t respect. If they take a loan, and put your name, you will have to pay up if they don’t. Just because someone calls you ‘friend’ that doesn’t mean that you have to co-sign a loan with him. You may be a person of character, but how can you be sure that he is one too?

14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him.

When you are different from your friend, learn to respect his differences. You may be an early riser, but he may not be one. If you wake him up when he is not yet ready to wake up, he will not be happy, and your ignorance will simply create a rift between the two of you.

15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain and a contentious woman are alike; 16 He who would restrain her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.

Stay away from a woman who is argumentative or always tries to make you see her point or do what she wants.

17 Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

People in isolation often lack the proper perspective on very many things. However, when they meet another person and discuss things, they get the opportunity to see things from a different angle, and are enriched.

Surround yourself with people who can sharpen you, and be a person who is able to sharpen those around you.

Not everyone is willing to be sharpened though. Some people take offense when you try to sharpen them. Such people should be left alone.

18 He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who cares for his master will be honored.

If you are the person in charge, you should care for those under you; then you will share their accomplishments.

If you take care of those who are in charge, and protect them from their enemies, and contribute to their bounty, then the people in charge will speak well of you and will reward you.

19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man.

The heart of a man is a reflector – it does not define the man but it tells you what the man is really like.

We can’t directly access the man but we can look at the heart of the man to find out what the man is like.

20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.

We have a tendency to try and satisfy our loved ones and our superiors. Should we? And to what extent?

Since the eyes of man are never satisfied is there really any point in trying to satisfy man?

Therefore, doesn't it make more sense to try and satisfy God? After all, man is never satisfied, and whether man is satisfied or not is irrelevant on Judgment Day.

21 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, and each is tested by the praise accorded him.

What is the difference between a crucible and a furnace?

Silver is tested in the crucible, and gold is tested in a furnace. This means that only silver survives after being sent to the crucible, only gold survives after being sent to the furnace – all the impurities are destroyed. In the same way, when people praise you, you are tested, and only those who attribute their accomplishments to God when praised by people survive the test of praise. Your motive is laid bare by how you deal with praise.

So then, to test a person we can praise them and see whether they accept the glory or give the glory to God.

22 Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

Folly is very ingrained into us, and it is difficult to remove it. Punishment is not very effective.

Perhaps alternate forms of motivation may fare better?

23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; 24 For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. 25 When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, 26 The lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats will bring the price of a field, 27 and there will be goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and sustenance for your maidens.

Money is a very important asset, and we need to manage it well. Therefore, we need to take the time to understand how to manage it well. Completely delegating the management of our money to others is usually not a wise thing to do; we need to do it ourselves.

We need to keep abreast of how wealthy we are, and the quality of our investments.

Just because we may have some money now and some earning power (like a job) now it doesn’t mean that we will always have that.

Like disappearing grass, and new growth, wealth is passed on from family to family and from nation to nation. You need to understand how this works so that you can plan well for the needs of your family.

Most people don’t spend enough time understanding how finances work, and every so often a tidal wave of financial mismanagement comes and wipes them out because of their lack of understanding.