Proverbs Chapter 18

1-11
The selfish are truly fools, for the insight of others is what brings you up in wisdom. They only speak of their own opinions; never letting someone else chime in with an idea that may be better or atleast different.
"It is not right to acquit the guilty..."
I talked about this alot in chapter 17. I won't go into that detail again, but I think this is so important.
Rumors:
Rumors are so powerful. Action speaks louder than words, and when you spread a rumor you are combining those two together. It is painful to hear people talking about you, and hearing news, whether it be good or bad, about you is harsh. Say good things about people, be encouraging. Would you want someone going around spilling your secrets to everyone? Not unless you're a weirdo.
If you like your secrets spilled....I am sorry for calling you a weirdo.
Laziness:
"A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things."
A ministry without actions is void and useless. You can talk all you want but if you don't do something, no one will listen to your words. We want people to come to a relationship with the creator. How do we do make that happen? through a relationship with the person. get off your couch and out those delicious lays back in the cabinet, and be a part of someone's life. Do something for them! Don't be lazy, bring Christ's love to earth. Please.
12-24
It's very important to know what you're talking about before you say something. Spouting off before you have truths is risky even in the smallest situations. Today, I was in a store with my family. When we walked in I breathed in and started to say "It smells-" My Dad cut in and told me to keep my opinion to myself even though the store smelled terrible. I was actually going to say "It smells nice!" (Which, if I had waited 2 more seconds of smelling before I said that, I would've realized I was crazy! It smelled horrible!) But, no one could've known because I was corrected before I finished speaking. My Dad didn't get the truth before he spoke and he then apologized. (No knock on my Dad here. He was completely right in cutting me off, knowing how I tend to say things really loud that I shouldn't. hee hee) Dumb example, but you get the point.
"Giving a gift opens doors; it gives acess to important people."
Once again, I think Solomon may be referencing the act of kissin up. Giving an important leader an expensive gift would surely put you higher on his list. he WAS the wisest man!
Besides that, he's right. It feels so good to get something for absolutely no reason at all. It is a gateway to someone's heart. A good example of this is my friend Christian. He will just buy you something, out of the blue (Like a tube of teryiaki sauce), just because he wants to. It's a special feeling to receive a gift from a friend, it lifts your spirits and strengthens your friendship.
Friends:
"An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city, arguments seperate friends like a gate with locked bars."
If you hurt someone, you have to fix it immediately, or else it will stew and get hotter inside the person, and then you will be unable to mend it. Only a fool hurts his friend and does nothing to mend the situation. If you are a friend, you will make it up to the person and earn back their trust and friendship again.
"...A real friend sticks closer than a brother."
I have some friends like this. I have some friends who are like brothers. You have fun, fight, get along, eat food, and stay out of each other's business. Then there are friends who are closer than a brother. They are the ones you can tell anything and have no fear of someone else hearing about it. You can tell them anything and they will not judge you, or demean you, but encourage you and help you to grow as a person, while still having the courage to tell you when you are wrong or headed in a bad direction without angering you. These friends are vital. Without these friends we are lost in the world.
Your tongue is your greatest weapon and your greatest healer. When someone is down, your words can heal them, and make them feel new. But, other times your words can cut like a knife, break someone's heart, and create war.
This is hard for someone like me who has a hyper-active tongue. It is difficult to say so much and never say something wrong. This is where wisdom plays in. With a good knowledge of God and his ways we are in a better position not to spout out foolish words like "This store smells awful!"
Think before you speak!
"The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord."
This is mostly true, but I would add the word "good" or "Godly" before the word wife. Not every woman in the world is qualified to be a wife. Like the temptress spoken of earlier on proverbs, some women in the world will bring you strife and diatraught in a marriage, and Men, the same way. Not every man is qualified to be a father and lead a household.
I've always dreamed of getting married. Now, I know that wedding fantasies are for girls, but this is different. I guess I'm just excited to find the Godly Woman God has chosen for me, to make me strong, and to build me up. I can't wait to propose to this girl in front of cinderella castle in disney world! And quite frankly, I'm perfectly content to stay single untill I have found that girl. Does it make sense to have a 3 year relationship with someone you don't intend to marry? I'll answer for you. No! God has a perfect girl for me in mind, why would I ruin that? I wish I was 25 so I could get married now, and not have to worry about girls in high school. cause dating girls in high school does not prepare you for marriage. High School girls I know (Save for a few) are so immature that dating them now would give you no insight to what a mature, godly relationship would look like, so I'm not even going to bother. Boys are even worse. Boys are so immature at this age, that dating now will give you no insight on what you will be like when you are ready to be married. So, kids my age, go ahead date if you want. I don't think it's harmful necissarilly, but it's really just for fun. The chances of you marrying someone you're dating now, are very small, and that chance is decreasing.
This is a bit off topic yes, but still important. I'm done venting.
-Evan