The proverbial tea boy who ends up as managing director of the company has a burning desire to acquire knowledge about any and every aspect of the business. He has a love of learning, a willingness to be corrected when wrong, and a deep desire to improve and make himself more effective and valuable.

Henry Ford said that if a man wants to make something of himself, then when the day’s work ends, learning, thinking and planning must begin. Do we have this deep desire for excellence or are we content with mediocrity? Worse still, are we brutishly stubborn, like a pig, perhaps, that just wants to be left alone and grunts its displeasure when disturbed from its normal aimless routine?

Solomon says that the good man, the person who sets out to achieve something of value in life, will obtain favor from God. Is this why so many creative people who set out to make the world a better place seem to get good breaks and go from strength to strength? God blesses their efforts, I believe, the more so if they ask for his help.

"Ask and it will be given to you," says Jesus, "seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). Do we do this? He continues: "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (verse 11).

After a lifetime studying the working methods of America’s rich and successful, Napoleon Hill concluded that prayer is our greatest power. Do we use it?

The words "righteousness" and "Lord" occur very frequently in these first chapters as Solomon stresses that wickedness, lying, cheating, stealing and all the rest will never bring us the happiness and satisfaction we seek. This fundamental fact of life may be very hard for us to accept, especially when we are young. Wickedness does not work, and although it may bring temporary benefits and win a few battles, it will not win the war of life. It leads, in the long term, to death.

The righteous person is compared here to a plant, with its green parts above the ground and its roots below. Although a plant, like a patch of grass, may be temporarily crushed and bruised by the wear and tear of life, its root will survive and grow back again later. Likewise, God preserves the root of the righteous and will resurrect them to eternal life. That way lie real riches and everlasting success.

A wife has the power to make or break her husband, to build him up and inspire him to success, or to dishearten and destroy him, like a cancer in his bones. The man whose finds a virtuous woman for his wife is greatly blessed and honored, as is if given a crown, and made a king. A king, however, is expected to work for the benefit and blessing of his subjects.

The Bible teaches that the husband is the head of the family, but with that position of rulership comes great responsibility. "Be considerate as you live with your wives," says Peter, "and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life" (1 Peter 3:7). How, in detail, do we do that? Where do we begin?

One of the most important keys to success discovered by Napoleon Hill is the Mastermind Alliance -- which he defines as two or more minds working together in the spirit of perfect harmony towards the achievement of a specific objective. Man and woman, made one in marriage, possess the power of a mastermind alliance, if only they choose to use it by taking time to discuss and identify goals, make plans together and solve the problems that confront them.

Our basic outlook on life manifests itself in the way we plan our projects and tackle problems. Are our plans based on positive principles, such as patience, honesty, and peacemaking -- or on deception, lying and even violence?

The wise person seeks advice and guidance in making his plans, but it is also important to evaluate the morality of that advice. Is it based on sound principles and the insights of experience, or is it a counsel of deceit, trickery and dishonesty that a righteous person is unable to accept?

The thread continues from the previous proverb. Wicked people may be prepared to resort to violence to achieve their ends, and encourage others to join them and do the same. Solomon’s advice must be to keep far away and never seek their help, no matter how profitable their exploits appear to be.

An ambush is a trap, a way of hiding a deadly danger in seemingly innocuous surroundings – like a highwayman hiding behind some trees or a rock. Many modern businesses try to ambush customers by hiding their real intent in the small print of a contract. However, our mouth will deliver us from their devices if we ask enough penetrating questions and demand answers.

Jesus uses a house as a metaphor for our lives, saying: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of min and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on a rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet id did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock" (Matthew 7:24-25). The righteous person bases his life and actions on the bedrock of Truth that Jesus taught.

Notice, in the parable, that both men succeeded in building their houses, and there appeared to be no advantage to the righteous until the storm came and his house suddenly collapsed (verse 27). It is not enough, says Jesus, to simply listen and accept his teachings in an academic fashion. We have to put them into practice.

Wisdom is greater than knowledge. It is the ability to decide on the best course of action in any situation and have the self-discipline to follow it. As Solomon promises, we can all become wise if we really want to. Wisdom can transform our lives and bring us into favor with other people. Make a habit of pausing to ask God for the wisdom you need to deal with any situation – then stop and listen to your heart for his answer.

The man with a warped mind, however, lacks wisdom and is dishonest, difficult, unreliable and slippery, and it shows. He is despised for what he is and what he represents. His thoughts and actions reflect a distorted view of reality. He cannot think straight.

Is our thinking warped by weird and wacky ideas, false assumptions and unquestioned beliefs? Are we odd? Do we harbor unhealthy attitudes that we robotically respond to?

The thread continues with an example of warped thinking. Some successful people may be despised simply because of the envy their financial success can arouse in others. Nobody wants to be despised, but let us not wander off the other side of the road by seeking popularity for its own sake, wasting our time keeping up appearances and trying to impress people. Focus instead on the economic realities of life and achievement of the important goals you have set yourself.

Scottish personal development guru Jack Black has found the greatest obstacle to the success of many people is fear of rejection – in particular, the pressure to conform to the mediocre aspirations of friends and family.

Here is another example of warped thinking. The cruel farmer is very hard on his beasts of burden. In his ruthless desire to maximize profit, he drives them to exhaustion, and may not feed or house them properly. How can someone harden their heart to the point where they lose all sense of mercy and kindness, so that even their tenderest inclination is one of cruelty? The R.S.P.C.A. will testify that many such people do exist. Do Solomon’s words also apply to the methods of "factory farming"?

Are we prepared to open our eyes, take stock of our basic attitudes, and make necessary changes? James says: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listen to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at this face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like" (James 1:22-23).

To give regard to something means to think about it, analyze and understand it, then take appropriate action. Are we aware of our impact on other people? How well do we exercise any authority that has been granted us? If you are in business, can you increase profits by paying greater regard the lives of your customers – to their interests, needs, and opinions?

Solomon continues with yet another example of warped thinking. Left uncultivated, farmland produces a worthless crop of weeds, nettles and brambles – and so it is in principle with the human mind for which soil serves as a powerful metaphor. How diligently do we till and sow our own particular patch of psychological soil? Are we keen to develop our creative gifts and achieve excellence in some area, or simply content to remain basically ignorant and unskilled?

A farmer may cultivate some or all of this land. If you run a business, do you have under-exploited assets? Are there more profitable crops, so to speak, that you could grow? Do you have unprofitable, even loss-making, products and services that should be eliminated? If you are a manager or executive, how much of your time each is being consumed by "worthless pursuits", at the expense of long-term planning, innovation and improvement? What precisely happens to your time, and what needs to be done to make each day more productive?

The idle mind is the Devil’s workshop, or field, perhaps. Knowing this, do we organize worthwhile activities and creative hobbies for our children -- such as model making, woodwork, dancing, gardening, knitting, sewing, sports, pottery, painting, cooking, music lessons and all the rest?

There seems to be a contrast in this obscure verse between those who want to get something for nothing, and those who wish to make a worthwhile contribution to society. The wicked person is looking for a quick buck and is prepared to lie, cheat and steal to get it. The righteous person, on the other hand, is more like a tree that quietly produces good fruit that are both pleasant and nutritious. A tree is a mechanism for synthesising carbon dioxide, water and minerals in order to create something of commercial value. The righteous person devises a workable plan, and strives to create wealth rather than stealing it from others.

Following perhaps from the previous section, is there an allusion here again to the development of gifts? Are you, metaphorically, an apple tree that is trying to produce peaches, a bird that is trying to be a fish, a cow trying unsuccessfully to produce wool? Have you found the work you were born to do? There are several good books on this subject.

Honesty is the best policy, goes the old saying, yet lying seems to be standard practice for many people in business -- when they forget to order a component for a customer, for example, they simply say that the company sent the wrong one. Lying is such an easy way of solving problems and trying escape the consequences of our actions, but it undermines our character and puts us in company of the devil, of whom Jesus says: "When he lies, he speaks his native language, for is liar and the father lies" (John 8:44). In the long-term it will also exclude us from the Kingdom of God, so it in fact a very short-sighted policy.

Sooner or later, liars get caught out, when a few well-chosen questions trip them up and they are trapped by the web of deception they have woven. When buying something or hiring someone to do a job, never be afraid to ask some probing questions in order to stop yourself being ripped off.

Although, as we have seen, productive work is very important, our words can be equally important. What kind of fruit does our mouth produce? Are our words wise, informative, accurate, concise, grammatical and well chosen?

One of the highest paying careers in our modern society is that of salesperson, someone skilled in interpersonal psychology and the mechanics of communicating ideas. Top jobs in the media go to those who can speak well, and a comedian, for example, can become wealthy simply by virtue of the entertaining fruit of his mouth.

Can we observe and learn from the gracious speech of successful individuals? Autobiographical comments suggest that many of them spent time developing their skills, expanding their vocabulary, and even rehearsing presentations before a mirror in their bedroom.

We all like to be right, but the wise person realizes that his understanding of the complexities of life is actually very limited, and that in order to minimize risk and avoid mistakes he needs all the advice he can get. Even Solomon, himself, tells us in Ecclesiastes that despite his God-given wisdom, many issues in life simply defied his understanding.

To some people, asking questions and consulting others is seen as a sign of weakness and an affront to their personal pride and self-confidence. "Don’t confuse me with the facts!" goes the saying "My mind is already made up". This attitude, which may well develops after years of success, is the root cause of the complacency that has ruined many a business, some of which were once household names.

Our individual view of any situation is necessarily limited and our knowledge and experience of it incomplete. Brainstorming is a simple technique for correcting this deficiency by consulting other people. Physics genius, and Nobel Prize winner, Richard Feynmann would ask so many questions in order to get to the bottom of a matter that people often seriously underestimated his brilliance --until he zapped them with a brilliant creative breakthrough as a result.

To harken means to listen, analyze, understand and pay heed. The foolish person is stubbornly ignorant and lacking in the humility that characterizes genius. The successful person constantly listens, observes and learns, and reads books and magazines in order to keep up to date and become ever more effective in the pursuit of excellence.

If we cannot control our anger, and immediately fly off the handle when provoked, then we are, in effect, letting other people take charge of our emotions. Developing the emotional maturity required to handle criticism and set-backs is an important prerequisite to success in any field.

James says: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not work the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20). The point of listening, perhaps, is to make sure we are full possession of the facts of the situation before making a rash judgment – once again, the habitual practice of genius Richard Feynmann.

Sometimes, even when someone has made a serious mistake and perhaps cost us a great deal of time and money, it might be kinder and far more constructive in the longer term to cover up the situation and quietly get to work correcting it rather than making a fuss.

The truthful person acquires a reputation for honesty and an air of trustworthiness. The false witness, on the other hand, becomes known as a deceitful liar.

Solomon’s main message may be that to a perceptive observer, facial expression and unconscious mannerisms clearly signal the truth or otherwise of the words someone speaks. Can we learn to read body language more carefully? There are a number of books on the subject.

The character of a righteous person shines out in their words and actions, like a light in the darkness. Is this why Jesus says to his disciples: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16)?

Sharp words can be as piecing and painful as the piercing of a sword, and may seriously undermine the health of their recipient, says Solomon.

The wise person consciously chooses and uses words with great care in order to encourage and build up other people. However, the tongue is hard to control and impossible to permanently train or tame, which is why James says: "If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check" (James 3:2). He adds: "All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue" (verses 7-8).

Words are in effect actions that reveal our basic attitudes and also have an impact on other people, which is why Jesus warns: "I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).

Sharp words can be as piecing and painful as the piercing of a sword, and may seriously undermine the health of their recipient, says Solomon.

The wise person consciously chooses and uses words with great care in order to encourage and build up other people. However, the tongue is hard to control and impossible to permanently train or tame, which is why James says: "If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check" (James 3:2). He adds: "All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue" (verses 7-8).

Words are in effect actions that reveal our basic attitudes and also have an impact on other people, which is why Jesus warns: "I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).

Life is short and the wise person look to the long term. Liars, however, are living only for the moment, and John describes their imminent demise: "Those who practise magic arts, idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. This is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

A business based on misleading marketing strategies will not be established, as, in due time, customers wake up to the fact that they have been lied to and given a shoddy deal. It endures just a moment. A good business, on the other hand, builds a sound reputation that brings back repeat business.

Deceit and joy cannot co-exist in the same heart, says Solomon. The schemer sees life as a battle and relies on deception, lying and cheating to achieve his goals. Although he may achieve some success, satisfaction somehow eludes him. Those who counsel peace, on the other hand, experience joy as they work in harmony and cooperation with others for a mutual benefit. They are also in line for an even greater long-term benefit, as Jesus points out, saying: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).

"Think win-win," says consultant Stephen Covey – help yourself by helping others, and set up deals that benefit both parties; have integrity in your business and you will find genuine satisfaction.

Suffering and harm are not the same thing. Those who commit their lives to God do sometimes suffer, but for a purpose, as Paul explains, saying: "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God" (Romans 8:28). Fire, the Biblical metaphor for suffering, for example, does not harm the soft clay pots in the furnace, but strengthens them and lends them value.

To those who may have to face death, even, for following him, Jesus says: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). He continues: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (verse 29-31). Let your security lie in the hands of God, who says to those who serve him: "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

Can mere man please God? The answer, of course, is yes. God, as we have just seen, is familiar with all our ways and has even numbered the hairs on our head. His power is infinite and greater than we can even imagine – yet he finds pleasure in seeing a person conduct his daily life with honesty, integrity and kindness. What an easy way to get on the good side of God!

Those who lie and cheat, however, are an abomination to him, unpleasant and offensive like a very bad smell, and can expect no help even when they ask for it.

Although a wise man is happy to help others, he does not make a show of his knowledge or offer unwanted advice to people. He plays his cards close to his chest, and is very cautious and slow to speak, which is a very sensible approach in any business situation.. The foolish person, on the other hand, is a blabber-mouth, more interested in immediately making his own views known, rather than in taking time to make sure he understands the situation before speaking.

Although Peter urges Christians to be well informed about their faith and able to answer questions, he cautions them to refrain from foolishly forcing their knowledge on other people. He says: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1Peter 3:15).

Some people are diligent in their work, conscientious and thoughtful and always aspiring to excellence -- but some are lazy, making the minimum effort they can get away with, and content to let their abilities stagnate.

Many biographies, such as "Ford" by Robert Lacey, demonstrate the basic fact that fortune favors those who have prepared themselves for it by dilgent effort, education and self-improvement.

What are your prospects for promotion to a management position? How can you make better use of your time, and become more effective in your present position? How can you become more capable and valuable? Do you ever give serious thought to these matters?

When discouraged or depressed, we tend to stoop and demonstrate it by our body language, as Solomon says. We all experience heaviness from time to time, and we all have the power to encourage, even inspire, others and lift them out of their heaviness by our words, perhaps just one good word of welcome or interest accompanied by a smile. How perceptive are you of the emotional state of other people?

When did you last take a few seconds to praise or encourage someone you work with? The "One Minute Manager" takes a minute to praise before he takes a minute to correct.

It is interesting that the good word of encouragement can actually come from inside ourselves. Deliberate self-talk, or positive affirmation, often accompanied by a physical action such as punching a fist into the palm of the other hand, is a very powerful tool for self-management of the emotions. Perhaps the apostle Paul was stating one of his own affirmations when he said: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me!" (Philippians 4:13).

The righteous person is a good example and a positive influence on others. Perhaps this is why Jesus says: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). The best leaders command respect and inspire their followers by personal example.

The other side of this coin is that we can all be dragged down like gravity by the easy-going seductive ways of the wicked. Paul warns Christians: "Do not be misled; Bad company corrupts good character" (1Corinthians 15:33).

Are you leading or being led? What kind of people do you associate with, and what do you learn from them? Why would someone single you out for promotion? Are you achieving excellence in what you do?

The lazy person, says Solomon, is a like a man who goes hunting and catches something, but then cannot be bothered to cook it. As a result his whole day is wasted. The message may be that we sometimes deny ourselves the success that is already within reach by failing to finish off or follow through. Many people have a brilliant idea, the 1% inspiration that Edison spoke of, but they lack the 99% perspiration to formulate a detailed plan and put it into action.

What was the man’s purpose in going hunting anyway? Was it to get some exercise, or to put food on the table? Another message might be, "What are you actually trying to accomplish in your life and work?" As Covey says, what would like to have written on your tombstone? Where do you want to be in ten years’ time and how are you planning to get there?

What is the true nature of your business? Taking the time to ask and answer that simple question has brought rich rewards to many corporations. In problem solving, also, it pays to focus on what you really want to achieve, rather than what is going wrong.

Do you have potentially precious possessions that you are neglecting – such as gifts you have never developed, a spare room that could be rented out, or un-exploited business assets, such as unique location or a customer base that could be sold additional products or supplementary services?

Solomon repeatedly points out that there is a road that leads to life and a different one that leads to death. Speaking of those same roads, Jesus says: "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13) – at least at this present moment in time.

Finding that small gateway and following the narrow road that leads to eternal life should be the primary goal of the wise person. Everything else is subsidiary. We will not find that small gate, however, by following the crowd, because the vast majority of them are walking away from it.

How can there be no death, when we see it all around us, and when Paul says very plainly that it is appointed to all men to die once (Hebrews 9:27)? Solomon, under the inspiration of God, is again looking to the long term, to the end of the road, beyond the resurrection when death will be destroyed and God will wipe away the tears of grief from every face. Paul says: "The trumpet shall sound and dead shall be raised imperishable", unable to die any more (1Corinthians 15:52). He adds: "Then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’"

Paul explains that death is a form of sleep (verse 51) or unconsciousness from which God will awaken us when the time is right. Death and resurrection are demonstrated to us daily when we sleep at night and wake up in the morning.