Daily Reading

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise (Proverbs 12:15).

The greater fools are those that have the highest opinion of their own wisdom. Their self-esteem disposes them to neglect the advice of others, and to prosecute their own schemes, however foolish and dangerous, till they meet with fatal disappointments, which, after all, can hardly open their eyes, clean shut with pride and vanity.

The wisest men are they who are most sensible of their need to avail themselves of the wisdom of others; and most qualified to make a proper use of counsel.

This rule is to be observed, especially in the affairs of religion, for in none do men discover more folly, and a greater degree of self-confidence. Multitudes walk under the influence of delusion and error, who, instead of suffering themselves to be set right, despise those that are able to give them good advice. Multitudes that make a sound profession of religion, are strangers to the narrow way that leads to life, and would yet exclaim against such as would give them, from scripture, the clearest proofs of the danger of the mistakes under which they labour, and the insufficiency of the evidences which they think they can produce, of their being in the right way.

We are not, however, to hearken to counsel without examination, because other men are liable to error as well as ourselves. Absalom was ruined by giving ear to treacherous counsel; and Rehoboam lost the greater part of his kingdom, by preferring the counsel of fools to that of wise men. In our spiritual concerns, the only infallible counsellor is he who is made of God unto us wisdom, to whose word we are carefully to attend, and on whose Spirit and grace we must exercise a daily and humble dependence.

It is our wisdom to value the instructions and counsels of ministers, of parents and Christian friends, particularly of experienced and aged saints. But they must be able to prove the goodness of their advices by the Scriptures, which are the great and only rule to direct us to our chief end.

Excerpt from “Exposition of the Book of Proverbs” by George Lawson.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30).

The righteous shall flourish as a branch, and they bear the fruits of the tree of life, for they are ingrafted in Christ, and derive supplies of spiritual influence from him. No fruit-bearing tree that is seen in our cursed earth, is a sufficient emblem to represent the excellency of the righteous man. He is like that noblest tree of paradise, which was planted by the hand of God himself, and was distinguished above all the trees in the paradise of God. His fruits are such as tend to produce and nourish a nobler life than any of the trees of the garden of Eden. Christ is indeed the life of souls, and those who are not united to him continue in death; but he is pleased to honour faithful ministers and edifying professors, by making them instruments of imparting his best blessings unto men. It is for this reason that diligent ministers are said to save themselves and their hearers. How excellent is the righteous man above his neighbours! His gracious words, his holy conversation, his prayers, his admonitions and instructions, are means of rendering service to others, more valuable than silver, or gold, or life itself. Let Christians therefore endeavour to be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and labour to win souls to their Redeemer. Even women, who are not allowed to speak in the church, may by this means share the reward of those who turn many to righteousness. What know they but that they may save their husbands or neighbours, and allure to the faith of Christ those that did not obey his word?* They are wise who are wise unto salvation; how truly wise, then, are they who are instruments in converting and saving the souls of others from death! They are by the world counted wise, who, by means of their skill in business, leave their friends rich. But they shall at the great day be declared by the Judge of all wise, who can say, “Behold I, and the children which thou hast given me.” These are my joy and crown of rejoicing. Happy are all they who shall be able thus to speak on that eventful day, which seals the characters of men.

Let us also learn from this passage, to value the friendship and conversation of the righteous. If we knew of any tree that bore fruit which could prolong the life of man to an hundred, it would be esteemed more valuable than the treasures of kings, and we would spare no trouble or expense to have it transplanted into our gardens. What value, then, should we put on those whose fruit is the fruit of the tree of life, and whose conversation is instrumental in saving souls from death!

• I Peter iii. 2. 1 Cor. vii. 16

Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shall not go (Proverbs 22:24).

Friendship is the balm of life, when it is entered into with discretion, but it is a plague and a snare, when it is injudiciously contracted. Our divine teacher wishes us to be happy both in this world and the next, and extends his instructions to every thing that is connected with our happiness. He forbids us to enter into friendship with any bad man, and here he cautions us particularly against the friendship of the passionate. We must not so much as keep company with angry men, nor take a walk with them, if we can possibly avoid it.

Excerpt from “Exposition of the Book of Proverbs” by George Lawson.

The thought of foolishness is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men (Proverbs 24:9).

It is too general a notion that thoughts are of little consequence, and that words and actions only expose men to danger of punishment from God; but we are to remember, that there is an infinite distance between the judges of this world and the Judge of all. Earthly judges cannot penetrate into the hearts of men, and have no business with their secret thoughts; but it is the glory of the universal Judge, that He is the sovereign and searcher of spirits. He requires from us truth in our inward parts; and when he comes to judge the world, all the churches shall know that he searches the hearts, and tries the reins of the children of men. If we study to shew ourselves approved unto him, we must not only cleanse our hands, but likewise purify our hearts; for foolish and sinful thoughts are contrary to his law, and abominable in his sight. He beholds with detestation all the impure workings of the mind, in wicked contrivances, in impious reasonings, in vain and foolish musings; and when he bestows the grace of his Spirit upon any man, he makes him to hate vain thoughts, as well as wicked actions.

If the thoughts of foolishness are sinful, how sinful are scornful words. There is much more sin in the thoughts of bad men, than in their lips or lives, but when the lips are employed to express a sovereign contempt of all good admonitions, it is an evidence that the heart is desperately corrupt, and that thoughts of foolishness abound and overflow. The thoughts of foolishness are abominable only to Him that sees the heart, but the scorner is an abomination to men also. And if he is abominable even to those that have so much impurity of their own, how detestable must he be to Him that sees more evil in the least sin than we ean discern in the greatest?

How long, ye scorners, will ye delight in your scorning? You are so miserably polluted with the defilements of sin, that your fellow sinners cannot bear with you; and how then will the Most Holy God suffer you to escape unpunished? Sit no longer in the seat of the scorner, but humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, lest your bands be made strong.

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