LOVE COVERS OVER ALL WRONGS

Proverbs 10:1-18 / Keywords 10:12

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over Thanks all wrongs.

 

Proverbs of Solomon

10:1 The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son brings joy to his father,

    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,

    but righteousness delivers from death.

3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,

    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4 Lazy hands make for poverty,

    but diligent hands bring wealth.

5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,

    but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous,

    but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.[a]

7 The name of the righteous is used in blessings,[b]

    but the name of the wicked will rot.

8 The wise in heart accept commands,

    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,

    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

10 Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,

    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12 Hatred stirs up conflict,

    but love covers over all wrongs.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,

    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.

14 The wise store up knowledge,

    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,

    but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

16 The wages of the righteous is life,

    but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.

17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,

    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips

    and spreads slander is a fool.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 10:6 Or righteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence

b. Proverbs 10:7 See Gen. 48:20.

1. Jesus is wisdom in the flesh. One of the most, if not the most, notable attributes of Jesus and God is love. Jesus did not come to judge but to love and forgive a sinful and lost humanity. Jesus sought out the outcasts and sinners including tax collectors and prostitutes. In love, he turned their failures into fertile soil where God's love took root and blossomed into new and beautiful life.

 

2. Having wisdom is not about being superior to others, but it is growing to love and embrace all people, including those who are deemed wicked. In love, we reconcile with others and help others be reconciled to God. We should not create legalistic divisions but have mercy and compassion on others. Doing this is not easy, but nothing meaningful comes easy. We should not be lazy to work towards loving others enough that covers over all their wrongs. We can do this by knowing God's love for us.

 

Prayer Lord, your greatest wisdom is love that covers, forgives, and heals all our wrongs. May we also do so to others.

One Word Love one another