Common sensical proverbs

This is the blog entry... that went through many drafts and lots of research... Seriously, I often browse through some of the biblical proverbs with a condescending eye thinking that they are just common sense.. But as life grows on me and I begin to notice the sheer lack of common sense and morality in society.. I started to understand why God used up so much space in the bible teaching us common sense... Below are some proverbs that I find oozing with wisdom.. mingled amongst them are of course some others which I think are just basic common sense.. But since God put it there... There must be purpose for it being there. Enjoy...

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Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
Rebuke a wise man and he will love you. (Proverbs 9:8)

When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

A fool shows his annoyance at once,
but a prudent man overlooks an insult. (Proverbs 12:16)

A righteous man is cautious in friendship,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray. (Proverbs 12:26)

He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of gools suffers harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

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Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to his death. (Proverbs 19:18)

He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is CAREFUL to discipline him. (Proverbs 13: 24)

Spend quite some time meditating on this verse.. Found that it could be quite controversial.. Especially coming from me.. A person who does not really advocate punishment.. But then the thought came into my mind.. There are so many different kinds of people in this world.. Perhaps the punishment education method may not work on people like me.. but it will certainly be perfect for some other bunch of people out there.. Different people need different medicine.. So I feel that as a parent or teacher.. it is vital to CAREFULLY select your kind of discipline (medicine) to treat your child... The key word here is careful... Do not do it hastily and with wrath and hatred.. Instead.. discipline your child out of love... If you are the God selected parent or teacher.. you will be perfectly equip with the medicine you need to administer to your child.. just be careful to administer the right dose.. don't over do it or your child might develop a phobia.. Remember... in all things.. God is in control.. your only job is to love and provide for your child.. The LORD himself will look after your child and teach him through experience.
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All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the LORD. (16: 2)

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed. (16:3)

Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall. (16:18)

A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction. (16:23)

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue. (17:28)

An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends;
he defies all sound judgement. (18:1)

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A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions (18:2)

This is one quote I find particularly frightening. I feel that in many ways, I am still immature and foolish... In this particular context.. I am indeed a great big fool for I utterly delight in airing my own opinions.. I pray that the LORD bless me with a heart and ears that seek to listen and to understand more than to simply voice my own opinion and imagine that I am possibly sharing wisdom with other people..
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He who robs his father and drives out his mother
is a son who brings shame and disgrace. (19:26)

This is a clear example of what I thought of as a common sensical quote.. But then.. why is it there? Because there is a need for it to be there... Why? Seriously, the quote does not say... he who robs his good father and drives out his excellent mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.. It sames he who robs HIS FATHER and drives out HIS MOTHER..

The problem with modern society is that we so often jump into conclusions and judge everyone around us including our parents.. We expect our parents.. being our senior and the ones who brought us to this world.. to be wise and perfect.. and when they fail.. so many of the time... we just treat them terribly.. Some people ill treat their parents because when they were a kid.. there parents weren't there for them.. Some people hate their mother for beating them up as a child and thus drive them out of the house into some old-folks home when they become old and less mobile... All these people don't seem to understand that their parents are part of them.. not just some hair or finger nail.. but literally a limb or the head of the body... by being insensitive and mean to the extent of cutting off your limbs.. you are actually hurting yourself.. and bringing disgrace and shame to yourself and your family..

So think about it.. afterall.. your parents are still human.. you've got to be forgiving to them.. this way.. when you make mistakes in parenting your own children.. you will find it easier to forgive yourself...
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A man's wisdom gives him patience;
it is his glory to overlook an offense. (19:11)

This quote and certain variations of it is repeated over and over again within this short chapter... I think God is definitely trying to tell us how dangerous it is to be nit picky and merticulously seeking out the offenses of people and punishing them for it...

As it stands, no one is perfect.. we all tend to step on each other's toes now and then.. Especially when we meet each other on a very frequent basis.. The best way to stop strive is simply not to meet up.. but if you don't meet up.. you can't grow in your relationship with one other.. Therefore, you must train yourself to overlook an offense.. Many of the times, people are not mean and bad to us in a personal way.. they just happen to be insensitive.. I know it.. because I myself am the QUEEN OF INSENSITIVITY...

Therefore, it is wise, in order to remain sane and happy to simply overlook offenses.. Sometimes when kids run around the mess things up.. when your beloved dog pees on your bed.. they are simply just being themselves... kids and dogs are like that... if you punish them for being themselves... you are making a big big mistake.. not only will they not feel loved... they will mature too early and miss out on their childhood.. Like a fruit that ripens too early.. there will be many negative repurcussions in the future... So it is wise, to from time to time... practise the art of closing one eye.. and if necessary.. closing both your eyes..

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Ears that hear and eyes that see -
The LORD has made them both. (20:12)

Seriously, this really does sound like a kindergarden quote doesn't it? Another common sensical quote... The truth is... It is not.. The way I see it.. Ears that hear and eyes that see... are really a rare gem... More than often.. we humans are so tainted by our own humanly perceptives.. if we are determined to like a perosn.. We will ignore the person's flaws and focus only on his strenghts... however.. if a person we favour less displays the EXACT SAME flaws as the one we love.. we are too quick to flare up at them and make a big deal out of the flaws.. In our eyes.. the people we love are perfect..

When will we remove this judgement error and start giving people the due credit for their behavior? When wil be be able to hear and see the truth and deciepher it accurately with no prejudice.. I guess it is the LORD and his wisdom that helps us see and hear the truth..

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