Proverbs 17:1-10

¹Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting and strife.

²A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share in the inheritance as one of the brothers.

³The crucible for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts.

⁴An evildoer listens to wicked speech, and a liar pays attention to a lying tongue.

⁵He who mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who laughs at calamity will not go unpunished.

⁶Grandchildren are a crown to the old, and children are the glory of their fathers.

⁷Excellent speech is unbecoming to a fool; much less lying speech to a prince.

⁸A bribe is a magic stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

⁹He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.

¹⁰A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

Based on the first proverb in this chapter, we may conclude that peace and quiet are more valuable than money (1). Given enough time and a large enough statistical sample, money tends to go to the wise over the shameful (2). Given time and number, those who have money tend to make more money, as well (8). I find it very fascinating that the Teacher, even 900 years before Christ and 3000 years before “postmodernism,” know that we choose our conversation partners based on our own biases (4). He observes that people who are having a hard time in life are still image-bearers of the living God (5). He also knew that grandchildren and children are pretty awesome, despite what the Boomers have told us for 40 years (6). Our speech reveals our character (7) and a true friend knows how to keep a secret (9). Being a person of understanding means that you are able to take correction (10). Ultimately, God sanctifies us through the fire of adversity like a furnace burns the slag off of ore to reveal gold (3).

Just like fire burns the slag off of ore to reveal gold, so God grows us through the intensity of adversity. How is he growing you today?