Book of Proverbs Summary & Quotes: Chapter 26
Proverbs 26:4
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.”
Time is precious so do not waste it on fools. Truth and wisdom will be lost on fools. If you argue wisdom and truth with a foolish person, they will look down on you with contempt and mock the cherished words you will try to enlighten them with.
Jesus tells us, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”–Matthew 7:6. This may sound harsh, but it is true.
When do you know you have encountered a fool? “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.”–Proverbs 14:7. It is easy like the word says just allow them to speak and you will know. Fools believe in themselves only. What they say matters, they trust only their ideas, they believe only they can instruct and teach others, they enjoy disparaging people but most important they don’t believe the Bible and the wisdom it offers.
The natural man always wants to get in the last word but when you are dealing with a fool, you will never get them to see things your way so stop trying. Stay grounded in the word and rise above the urge to debate with a fool so you don’t wind up sinking to their level and become a fool just like them. Book of Proverbs Summary & Quotes: Chapter 26
Proverbs 26:11
“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”
They say a dog is a man’s best friend. Having a dog has lots of positive benefits. Stroking and petting your dog helps to keep your blood pressure low. Owning a dog makes you a social butterfly. Having a dog keeps you active and helps you lose weight because of walking the dog. Owning a dog enhances your health.
With the list of all the benefits of having a dog offers there is always a negative. We have all sometime or another witnessed a dog going back to eat his own vomit. It is gross. Take the mental picture you have in your mind now and replace that dog with a foolish person.
What sinful follies have you rejected? What types of vomit are you tempted to return to? Overeating, drunkenness, drugs, adultery, pornography unforgiveness? You must place a protective shield around yourself and stay away from things that will tempt you to return to your vomit. If it is overeating don’t go to buffets. If it is drunkenness, don’t allow alcohol in your home and even if you go out of your way driving, go a different direction from where a liquor store is. Don’t keep company with people who do drugs. If it is adultery, don’t take a second look at a good-looking person who raises sparks within you. If its pornography then place a block on your tablet, a phone, a computer for all those types of sites which can tempt you. If it is unforgiveness keep a book by your bedside that teaches you why unforgiveness is unhealthy. They say one thing highly successful people do before they go to bed is to focus on the positive. If you are reading a book about becoming a forgiving person that is positive.
Pray and ask God to help you stay away from foolish ways and to steer clear of returning to your vomit. Book of Proverbs Summary & Quotes: Chapter 26
Proverbs 26:20
“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”
How many times has someone said this to you, “can I trust you not to say anything to a certain person? Can you keep a secret?” A godly person should immediately say no thank you. I don’t want to know. However, the natural man always peeks with these types of invitations and next thing you know you wind up telling another person what you shouldn’t have said or worst you say to the exact person what you should not have said.
Gossip is telling negative information about someone. To the people who engage in this, it doesn’t matter whether the information is true.
Talebearing has become so rampant nowadays there are countless magazines that embellish this thing. God does not approve of talebearing. “A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth”. –Proverbs 6:12. Gossip causes enormous pain for people.
Do you care enough about others to stave off talking about them in a disparaging way? If you talk a lot, you probably perpetrate this sin. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you every time you engage in this behavior. Since many of us think so much about finances get yourself a piggy bank or large jar and every time you engage in this folly, you put a dollar in the jar. It will amaze you in 30 days how the jar has filled up. Don’t be hard on yourself because we are all guilty of this folly. When God sees you are working towards improvement, he will bless you. Book of Proverbs Summary & Quotes: Chapter 26
Proverbs 26:27
“Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.”
When you dig a ditch, you better dig two because the trap you set may just be for you. What goes around comes around.
I am sure you have heard of the animated cartoon, Tom and Jerry. It revolved on a rivalry between its two title characters, Tom, a cat, and Jerry, a mouse. The shows usually centered on Tom’s many attempts to capture Jerry. Tom rarely catches Jerry, mainly because of Jerry’s cleverness, cunning abilities, and luck. A lot of times Tom got trapped in the same devices he set to catch Jerry.
Wicked men devise traps and trouble for the innocent and righteous as you can see with what Tom tried countless times to do to Jerry. Do you have enemies? Do you have evil people that are trying to destroy you? Fear not because God will avenge every wrong that has been done to you. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”–Romans 12:19. “He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.”–Psalms 7:15-16.
Let go and let God. The God of glory does not slumber or sleep. Every time the wicked conspire against you, God will turn their devices on their own heads. Book of Proverbs Summary & Quotes: Chapter 26