Part 2 of a 2-part series
In the first part of this series, we looked in-depth at how Proverbs 10:1-3 can assist as young adults transition to college. Here, we see that there are applications in each of the remaining verses of Proverbs 10 along with the conclusion to the author’s thoughts.
18 other principles:
4. Proverbs 10:4-5. There is a time for work and a time for play. Do both and prioritize both.
4 Lazy hands make for poverty,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
5. Proverbs 10:6-7. Doing good will always last. Make time for what lasts.
6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. y
7 The name of the righteous is used in blessings,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
6. Proverbs 10:8. Be teachable. The best opinions are marinated in wisdom.
8 The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
7. Proverbs 10:10. Do not let looks steal your heart. Let a person’s speech guide your perception of them.
10 Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
8. Proverbs 10:11. Speak affirmations of truth to others. Do not let your speech be filled full of jokes and sarcasm.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
9. Proverbs 10:12. Having a critical mind is a great thing. Having a critical soul can be detrimental.
12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers all wrongs.
10. Proverbs 10:13. Be discerning with what you say and how you say it. When we make mistakes with our words it can create unnecessary obstacles.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
11. Proverbs 10:14. College is a great time to gain knowledge. Enjoy your study. Learn a lot about others. Have life altering encounters with God.
14 The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin
12. Proverbs 10:15. Wealth can be seen in many different ways. Learn how to build the kind of wealth that would honor God.
15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
13. Proverbs 10:16. Everyone’s life is associated with earnings. Choose to invest in God and build a life on Jesus.
16 The wages of the righteous is life,
but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
14. Proverbs 10:17. Plan your calendar with the disciplines of God going first and fill in the rest of the ‘To-Do’s’ around Godly commitments.
17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
15. Proverbs 10:18. Hate impacts every part of our demeanor…emotionally, psychologically, physically, and mentally. Do not let hatred stay long enough that your life is dictated by it.
18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool.
16. Proverbs 10:19-21. Be wise with social media.
19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
but the prudent hold their tongues.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
17. Proverbs 10:22-23. Let God guide you to your major. Don’t pick a major based on your own personal assumptions of job, money, and personal skill.
22 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,
without painful toil for it.
23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,
but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
18. Proverbs 10:24-25. Insecurity can lead to an inimical life. Be secure in Christ.
24 What the wicked dread will overtake them;
what the righteous desire will be granted.
25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.
19. Proverbs 10:26. Be as diligent as you can in all the ways that you should be.
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so are sluggards to those who send them.
20. Proverbs 10:27-30. There are no short-cuts. Cultivate your growth in God and plant deeply where he shows you. Beware of shorts-cut or instant gratification.
27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
21. Proverbs 10:31-32. Think of sharing Christ as planting a seed with what you say. You will not have fruit overnight, but fruit comes when we plant seeds.
31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
Walt Henrichsen, author of the classic Disciples Are Made Not Born, made this shocking statement: “If you are at college for any other reason than to be on mission for Jesus Christ, you are there for selfish, sinful reasons.” Whoa! Did this former pastor and Navigator representative go too far in his challenge to students, or had he found an open nerve that desperately needed to be uncovered and dealt with?
So, why are you going into college?
(The following excerpt is taken from Fuel and The Flame by Paul Worcester and Steve Shadrach)
If you’re a college student, let’s have a little chat:
“So, why did you come to college?” I ask in a laid-back, casual manner.
“Well,” you may say, “I’m here because I want to get a good education.”
Sitting up in my chair, I respond, “Okay . . . but why do you want to get a good education?” “Mmm,” you ponder. “Well . . . because I want to get a good job.”
Now I lean toward you and say, “A good job, huh? Why is it that you want to get a good job?”
“Wait a minute,” you shoot back. “I see where you’re going with this! Okay, I admit it. I want a good job so I can get a better salary.”
“Well, why would you want a better salary?” I inquire.
If you and I are really honest, a big part of going to college is to get a good job, in order to make a better salary, so that we can . . . so that we can — what? SAY IT! — support the kind of comfortable lifestyle we have dreamed about!
Maybe this is the exact motive your well-intentioned parents have drummed into your mind, but can you see why Henrichsen makes the statement he does? Ninety-nine percent of students, even “committed” Christians, are at college with an agenda that could very well be described as selfish, and yes, even sinful!
God’s plan is bigger and better than ours, and for many the college years are the best time in life to build the essential knowledge, skills, character, and vision to prepare effectively for a life of walking with God, leaving a legacy of changed lives, and reaching the world.
College: (Webster’s definition) an independent institution of higher learning offering a course of general studies to a bachelor’s degree.
College: (God’s definition) a four-year (or more!) window in a person’s life when God has maximum opportunity to build a foundation into a life lived for him.
In conclusion, live as wisely and as wildly as you can for Christ. College is not an obstacle to be overcome but an opportunity to be clenched.