The wise woman is an efficient manager, with a stitch-in-time mentality. She not only identifies and deals with problems before they get out of hand, but also has a positive program for preserving and beautifying her home, rather than letting it decline through neglect, like a slum. Her household is organized to satisfy the needs of the family economically, efficiently and pleasantly.

The wise manager, likewise, is very sensitive to the needs of his business family and appreciates the impact of environment on attitudes and output. He also pushes for improvement and puts in place preventative maintenance procedures to make sure equipment is regularly serviced, operating efficiently and safe to use.

Could this proverb be applied to the human body, which might well be regarded as a kind of house? Are we actively destroying our body by bad habits, lack of exercise and abuse, or taking positive steps to build it up and preserve it?

* * *

Human beings have a great talent for self-deception and duplicity. Many people claim to worship God, for example, but they do not walk the talk. This has been a serious problem throughout the ages, which is why Paul says of false Christian leaders and their perverted and permissive teachings: "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for anything good" (Titus 1:16).

Our actions speak louder than our words. What are they saying about us?

* * *

Once again Solomon directs our attention towards the importance of words and the underlying attitudes of mind that motivate them – in this case pride. As we have seen, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, so perhaps it is not surprising that we do the same thing, finding ourselves oddly unwilling to cooperate with certain people because of their manner and the way they speak to us. Their mouth creates a rod for their own back, and make life a bit more difficult than it needs to be. How perceptive are we of the impact of our own words and manner on others?

The opposite of pride is humility, which wins friends and influences people in our favour by treating them with politeness, tolerance, sincerity and patience. Personality, which reflects our inner attitudes, can be our greatest asset or our most serious handicap, says Napoleon Hill.

The right circumstance can bring out wrong attitudes -- including pride, and feelings of self-importance and superiority that are latent in every one of us, which is why Paul warns Timothy to be very careful about appointing novices to the ministry of the Church of God, saying: "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become proud and fall under the same judgment as the devil" (1 Timothy 3:7).

* * *

Working the land with oxen in ancient times was a form of mechanization that massively boosted the size of harvests. Purchasing the oxen in the first place must have required a good deal of ambition in a poor farmer for something better, also careful planning and patient saving to accumulate the necessary investment. Caring for the oxen also required new knowledge and skills, and involved a certain amount of hassle in the way of feeding, watering, cleaning up and providing housing -- so, all in all, perhaps it was simpler for the short-sighted farmer to carry on in the same old way. Even today there are more backward nations where poverty is perpetuated by relying on cheap but poorly productive manual labour to cultivate the fields and bring in the crops.

Solomon’s message may be that there is always a better and more productive way of working. Getting it organized and making it happen, however, may not be easy, but it will be well worth it in the end. If you are a manager, are you too busy administering the status quo to identify and exploit new opportunities and put in place more productive systems? Mass production, we are told, is attended by massive hassle to keep things flowing smoothly, but the results more than justify the effort.

* * *

A faithful witness simply refuses to lie and give false testimony, no matter what the inducement to do so. It is a conscious and deliberate act of will, because lying compromises his basic values. On the other hand, there are people of a baser sort for whom lying has become the easy option, an habitual way of life.

Decades ago, Vance Packard reported that consumer surveys of the people’s buying habits and preferences were proved to be quite unreliable, because the statistics they produced were often very much at odds with the actual sales figures of the products concerned. Surveys also showed that identical washing powders, when simply packed in differently coloured boxes, such as dark blue or bright yellow, were reported by users to have different cleaning powers. People can and do deceive themselves, and without consciously lying they become false witnesses.

Are we faithful witnesses of the events going on around us? Do we offer truthful opinions or do we say what we think people want to hear? Are our observations accurate, or is our view of reality distorted in some way? Why do husbands and wives sometimes disagree over the facts of a situation when they argue? How complete is our view of any given situation?

* * *

Although he would dearly love to be more successful, the scornful person is overconfident and opinionated and foolishly rejects the very advice he needs because he makes snap judgments of it value and may decide to reject it on the basis of the erroneous information already inside his head.

The person of understanding, on the other hand, appreciates the limitations of his knowledge and experience, and is therefore more receptive to new ideas, and amenable to suggestions of how me might improve.

* * *

The theme continues. Time is precious, so why waste it listening to opinionated people who do not know what they are talking about? Chances are you will not be able to help them to change their minds and correct their misconceptions, so move on as quickly as possible.

Perhaps Solomon is also suggesting that we should always give people a fair hearing, but move on if we find we are wasting our time.

* * *

The foolish person is convinced that the only way to get ahead in the world is by lying, cheating and stealing. The wise person, on the other hand, takes control of his future and shapes it by setting realistic goals and planning detailed projects to achieve them.

The successful entrepreneur, for example, carefully analyses and identifies the fundamental cause-and-effect mechanisms of the business he is in, like a research scientist or engineer -- then uses his newly discovered understanding to design marketing systems that cause cash to flow in his direction. Be wise, says Solomon, and strive for understanding in all you do. Develop a technology of success for the field you are in.

* * *

Fools fearlessly mock at sin, take God’s name in vain, and fiercely promote perversion in the media. For such people, concepts such as virginity, modesty, truthfulness and sobriety, for example, are simply a joke. Commentator Adam Clarke suggests that they will not find it so funny when they face the flames of eternal fire. But, who knows, perhaps that is just a joke too.

Fools have no qualms about breaking God’s laws, and will do whatever it takes to get what they want, trampling down anybody who cares to stand in their way. The righteous, by contrast, are people of goodwill who take care to treat others with polite respect and friendly kindness.

* * *

We are in charge of our own lives, and our personal choices can lead us along the paths of joy or bitterness. Whichever we choose, we must live with the consequences. Some people strive from dawn to dusk to build a business empire, yet others want a routine 9-5 job that gives them time for the garden, cooking or community involvement. Others again have not yet sorted out their lives and may feel like failures because they are marching to the wrong tune, frustrating themselves by trying to achieve goals that are inappropriate to their gifts.

Be yourself, says Solomon, and make your own decisions. You are an amazing human being, with a heart. So live your life. Do what bring you joy, and you will do it well, and be a blessing to other people.

* * *

Woven into the Proverbs is a thread of warning that reminds us each time it reappears that there is an end to this life, that there is a future beyond death, and that God is planning a new world order in which the righteous will rejoice and the wicked will be no more – it is called the Kingdom of God.

The Lord’s Prayer says: "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". God’s kingdom has not yet come, and his will is not yet being done on this earth. But it will be. "Seek you first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness" , says Jesus – and everything else will fall into place.

* * *

This is the first of seven proverbs that Solomon repeats verbatim, probably to stress their importance, or possibly because they form part of an intricate but elusive pattern of repetition and reinforcement.

As we grow up, we acquire beliefs, attitudes, habits and informal mental models of how the world works that we confidently assume will lead us joyfully along the bright and sunny road to health, wealth and happiness. Sooner or later, however, in some parts of our lives at least, it may become painfully obvious that something has gone wrong, because the desired results do not arrive. Solomon wants us to take time for introspection, to pause, and to think very deeply about our journey through life, and wrong turnings we may have made.

It is a joke among politicians that quite often when a government introduces legislation to achieve a certain end, it achieves just the opposite. For example, the more certain groups of people who have gotten themselves in adverse situations are helped, the more their numbers increase – so that the way that seems right may turn out to be very wrong.

* * *

Death, grief and sorrow entered the world when Adam and Eve rejected God’s guidance in the Garden of Eden and chose instead to live life on the basis of their own limited knowledge and understanding. As a result, man is born to trouble, says Job, as surely as flames go up a chimney, and sooner or later joy and laughter must make way for grief and sorrow, as adversity, illness, death and the spectacle of human misery touch our lives.

Although enduring happiness may not possible in this present evil world that we live in, no matter how wise we become, we can, with God’s guidance, minimize sorrow and maximize joy.

"Rejoice in the Lord always", says Paul, "and again I say Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present you requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7).

* * *

This section also seems to follows on logically from the previous one, and perhaps Solomon has woven a subtle psychological thread of continuity throughout all these verses. We can foolishly bring unnecessary suffering on ourselves, says Solomon, or we can take steps to avoid it -- we are not helpless pawns in some cosmic game of fate.

The unstable person, the inconsistent person who keeps slip sliding back into his old bad habits, brings trouble and failure on himself by his foolishness. The wise person, on the other hand, applies himself diligently and persistently, and so achieves the success he seeks.

How often do we plan a perfectly good project, in order to achieve an important goal, then deny ourselves success by failing to take some of the specific steps required to make implement it? "Plan your work, and work your plan," says the sales manager. "Follow through!"

* * *

Do we really think for ourselves? Do we question convention? Do we seek Truth in all things? – it usually is available somewhere, if we take the trouble to look for it.

Can we be creative and find new and better ways, or do we meekly accept other people’s opinions that something we want to do is simply impossible? Do we identify assumptions and analyze them to see if they really are valid, or to what extent and in what circumstances? Many breakthrough inventions and discoveries have been made by those who persist in probing the boundaries of the apparently impossible.

Do you harbor false beliefs that limit your progress, like a dog that lies docilely by his kennel as a matter of habit although his chain may be broken but he doesn’t know it? Are you a prisoner of your own limiting beliefs? Is the door of your life really locked, or just closed and waiting to be pushed open?

* * *

Once again, Solomon’s thought here seems to flow on from the previous proverb. Although we need to think for ourselves and break away from limiting beliefs and false assumptions, we must always proceed with great caution. Life is full of hazards and pitfalls, like a jungle.

The fool blusters, and blunders recklessly into the unknown, fearlessly exposing himself to danger. The wise man, on the other hand, is very cautious, anticipates trouble and does all he can to identify, assess and minimize risk before acting.

* * *

One reason that the foolish person in the previous proverb rages and acts recklessly may be that he has a quick temper that gets out of control with very little provocation. He then makes poor decisions and stupid mistakes, and becomes his own worst enemy.

Are there situations where it is prudent to accept loss, or suffer some discomfort or humiliation in order to gain a long-term benefit?

Can you work out what triggers your anger and find better strategies for coping with it? Can you monitor your behavior and make a diagnosis?

* * *

Every human being has the potential for excellence and high achievement, but somehow success eludes all so many of them. Without doubt, there are people in the ghettos and mud huts in the jungle who, given different circumstances, could well be stars on the world stage, or sitting in the boardrooms of major corporations. Is Solomon saying, then, that we are often handicapped because of our upbringing, that many of us, in effect, have inherited folly from our parents? Notice the past tense of the verb.

Is this why poverty and ignorance perpetuate themselves from generation to generation? Some fortunate few are properly prepared for life, and given a crown of knowledge that makes them wise to the workings of the world.

If we are simple, we do not need to remain simple. If we are wise, we can become wiser. Solomon wants us to wake up to reality, open our eyes to our potential, and take charge of our lives. However, are our parents still pulling our strings? Do need to erase and re-record the negative tapes that play in the computer banks of our memory – the ones that undermine our confidence, and constantly remind us of our limitations and past failures?

* * *

The Hebrew word rendered righteous comes from a root meaning clean, pure, right, good and just, and need not carry a "religious" connotation. Successful people, even the bent businessman down the road, usually have many "righteous" qualities such as diligence, drive, persistence, patience, attention to detail, resourcefulness, cheerfulness, imagination, frugality and self-discipline. They do the right things in order to get the right results.

At the opposite end of the spectrum to righteousness lie wickedness, impurity, immorality, debauchery, unbridled lust, sexual perversion, and other degenerate compulsions that can grip minds, ruin lives and reduce people to failure, poverty and dependence, even begging.

* * *

It seems natural to try to avoid the abjectly poor and even despise them. However, Solomon’s message must be that those who aspire to be wise, should not do the natural thing, but sometimes the direct opposite.

Perhaps it is with this proverb in mind, that James rebuked members of the Christian Church for showing favoritism towards the rich and well heeled in their services, saying: "If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, Here is a good seat for you, but say to the poor man, You must stand there, or Sit on the floor by my feet, have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:3-5)

Contrarian thinking teaches that the wise thing to do is often just the opposite of what the crowd is doing -- and to question what may seem like the natural and obvious thing to do in a situation. Brainstorming, for example, relies heavily on reversal to find creative ideas – what can we make bigger instead of smaller, slower/faster, thicker/thinner, heavier/lighter, and so on. Could you have a restaurant with no plates and knives and forks, and no dishwasher, and a very limited menu? The McDonald brothers found success by doing those very things.

Might we find happiness, then, by helping the poor rather than avoiding them? . . . which turns out to be Solomon’s very next point.

* * *

The theme of relieving poverty continues, and Solomon points out that there is happiness and satisfaction to be found in helping the poor. Have mercy on the poor, he says. Put yourself in their place. If you had no home, would you want to be given shelter? If you were hungry, would you want to be fed?

By loving the poor, we are literally loving God, and in some of the most sobering verses in the whole Bible, we find Jesus, on the Day of Judgment, addressing the following words to the person who had been too busy and self-centred with his own success to have time to help those in desperate need: "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me" (Matthew 25:41-43).

* * *

The same gospel theme continues. We have all been given the power to do good or to do evil in this life, to love or to hate, to give or to get. We have a choice. We have the opportunity to become instruments in the hands of God, or we can devote ourselves solely to selfish ambition and the accumulation of personal wealth.

Those who devise evil are making the ultimate foolish mistake, as we saw in the previous section. Those who are kind and merciful will find mercy -- because God will treats us as we have treated others. "Blessed are the merciful", says Jesus, "for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7).

* * *

It’s good to talk, says the ad for the telephone company, and time spent planning projects can only be valuable. However, if talk does not lead to action it is a waste of time. Dreaming and talking are not enough. We have to act. We have to break our projects down into a series of specific do-able steps, like a journey, then begin.

Even if we try and fail, there is still profit because we gain useful experience.

* * *

Successful entrepreneurs do not start out to make money for its own sake, but rather in pursuit of a goal, a burning ambition. The riches arrive later as a crowning honour, as a natural consequence of their practical wisdom and diligent efforts

A crown is made of gold and precious stones, but a garland is made of leaves and flowers, and although it may be pretty it is perishable and basically worthless. Set yourself worthwhile goals, says Solomon. Find a cause. Aim at achieving something of enduring value with your life. Make a worthwhile contribution.

* * *

A true witness is a reliable reporter of reality and may save people from injustice. He is objective and accurate and motivated by a desire for Truth. The false witness, on the other hand, is unreliable and distorts his perceptions by filtering them through layers of carelessness and prejudice. He may well deceive himself, as well as those who accept his testimony.

Are we reliable witnesses of even our own actions? Do we see reality as it is, or do we distort and misinterpret it, because of pessimism or optimism, pride or fear, enthusiasm or anxiety? Do we accept the information people give us at its face value, or do we dig deeper to separate fact from opinion?

* * *

God is a strong fortress for those who fear him and for their children. Time and chance fall on all men, says Solomon in another place, and fame and fortune offer no protection against the hazards of life.

When tragedy strikes, people usually ask why God would let such a thing happen. Speaking of such an event in his day, Jesus says: "Those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will perish" (Luke 13:4-5).

Are we sinners, or have we repented? The world is a dangerous place, and we needs God’s protection – and should make a habit of asking for it each day, which is why the Lord’s Prayer says "Deliver us from evil".

* * *

The theme continues. In ancient times, people would retreat into a fortress to protect themselves against the obvious enemy, but perhaps Solomon is now warning us to beware of more subtle dangers in this life, hidden snares that trap the unwary like the wire noose used to catch rabbits as they unwittingly emerge from their burrows.

Lions often lie in wait in the bushes around watering holes because they know that sooner or later their prey will make a visit, and I suppose that a well-beaten path to such a place would be the ideal location for a hunter to set a snare. The path to God’s watering hole, however, leads us away from danger and has been cleared of snares.

The pathways to other destinations may be perilous, and Paul says: "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction" (1 Timothy 6:9-10). The experiences of such individuals are well documented in newspapers, magazines and books.

* * *

A king without subjects to rule over is no king at all. Perhaps he used to be a good king, with lots and lots of subjects, but now, for some reason, they have all gone to live somewhere else. Perhaps they were driven away by his ineffectual and unjust rule. Perhaps he became more interested in the privileges of power rather than its responsibilities.

Have you lost sight of what is important? If you are an executive, have you become more interested in the furnishings of your office and in having a decorous secretary and a big limo rather than in managing the nitty gritty day to day operation that pays for all those things?

Have you got the right priorities, or are they upside down or back to front? Have you got the proverbial cart before the horse? What good is a business with no customers? What good are possessions if you never share their enjoyment? What good is knowledge if it is never put to use? What good is love if we never show it?

* * *

Does this proverb also flow on from the one before? One sure way for a king to lose subjects and power is for him to do stupid things, such as introducing all kinds of burdensome rules and regulations that have not been thought through properly.

When we are hasty we exalt folly, we act on emotion and make silly and sometimes very serious mistakes. Hastiness goes hand in hand with a quick temper. The person who is slow to anger is very wise, because he stays calm and sees things more objectively. He is more patient and takes time to analyze situations more thoroughly, consult other people, get the real facts and make sound decisions that are welcomed by all concerned.

* * *

Once again, the theme continues. The angry mind of a hasty person is like a storm-tossed sea, but the tranquil mind is calm, like a pool of water. One way to change habits and achieve inner calm is by quiet meditation, taking time to sit or lie and relax, to close the eyes and let the mind become still. Use your imagination to relive painful and unsuccessful situations, then mentally rehearse better ways to deal them next time they arise.

Jealousy is a root cause of anger, and Solomon says that it can actually undermine our health and make us ill. It can also cause us to act and react in an irrational and foolish fashion. If you are jealous about something, why are you jealous? If you can accept that you are jealous, can you also analyze the situation and root out bad feelings before they grow any stronger?

* * *

God is aware of the poor man’s situation, and if we think we can exploit that person’s weakness with impunity instead of helping him, we are in effect insulting God by scorning his power to observe and intervene. We are making a serious mistake.

By treating the poor well, we can honor God. John says: "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions" (1 John 3:17).

* * *

Once again, Solomon reminds us of the big picture – this life is short, and death is more certain even than taxes. If life ended for everybody at a certain age, such as their thirtieth birthday, I suppose we would all look at things very differently, in particular our definition of success. As Solomon says in another place, man thinks in his heart that he will live forever, and so becomes more preoccupied with the present than the long-term future.

Righteousness brings hope even in death – the same hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ, promised by God and spoken of by Paul (Titus 1:2).

* * *

Wisdom is like a friend who is happy to repose in our heart, and remain there with us, ready to be consulted at any time in any situation. The person of understanding takes time to commune with his heart, posing questions and listening patiently to hear wisdom’s counsel. It becomes his habitual, instinctive way of thinking.

The foolish person is impetuous and overconfident, and has not time for analysis, advice and understanding. He is a stranger to Wisdom and never consults her or seeks her guidance.

* * *

A nation is composed of millions of individuals, just as the body is composed of cells. When enough cells get sick, the body feels pain, malfunctions and may die. When enough people disregard the Ten Commandments, a nation becomes sick -- ridden with adultery, divorce, crime, violence, corruption and evil of every kind.

History and the rise and fall of nations illustrate the truth of Solomon’s statement. Righteousness is the foundation of a healthy, wealthy and happy society. Without it, everything else crumbles and falls into ruin. What national leader has the courage to make righteousness and sound character development the top educational priority in schools?

* * *

What practical steps are you taking to make yourself wiser, more capable and effective in your present employment? Do you simply do what is expected of you, or do you create favor for yourself by constantly thinking and finding better ways or working, saving time and becoming more productive?

What problems could you solve? What constructive suggestions could you make?