Brave ONE, Go to the Dentist
Read Proverbs 24:1-34
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7. Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.
8. A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.
9. The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.
10. If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.
11. Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.
12. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
13. My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
14. In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short. Proverbs 24:7-14
Many people are terrified of going to the dentist. The mere thought of the needle and the drill gives them the shivers. They long to overcome this fear, because they know what awaits them if they don’t go to the dentist regularly—dentures.
Proverbs 24 talks about adversity and what our responses to it reveal about us. The wisdom here is a prescription for the fear of pain. If you suffer from this fear, don’t forget to take your medicine regularly.
Other prescriptions in this chapter should be taken if you envy others; are struggling through tough times; associate with radicals; worry about the future; or struggle with laziness.
Adversity does us a favor—it gives us opportunity to see what we’re made of (Proverbs 24:10). If we whine and whimper at every threat of illness, inconvenience, or irritation, we may have a character problem. People who love and obey God don’t cave in easily because God sustains them (Proverbs 24:16; see also Nehemiah 9:21; Jeremiah 15:15-16).
How do you respond when you’re not feeling well, when it rains, or when you have a bad day? Do you whine and complain? Don’t grumble about your problems. Realize that the adversity you face today is training you to be strong for more difficult situations in the future.
