Proverbs 13:14

Proverbs 13:14 "The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death."
Proverbs 13:14 Baptist Church Buffalo New York Bible-Believing
Human nature instinctively hates law.  It wants justice but it loathes law.  This is best proven by watching a child’s reaction the first time it’s told, “No.”  The first time a cognitively-aware child is firmly told, “No,” he or she will be stunned and often cries.  Toddlers especially hate law.  Tell a toddler that he can’t touch, have or do something and he will instinctively throw a fit.  This instinctive resistance to rules and regulations is in our nature.  We naturally see law as a restriction of our freedom and as chains to our liberty.  We almost always initially respond negatively to the implementation of any law in our lives.  When a parent declares a law for the home, children groan.  When a teacher announces a law for the class, students roll their eyes.  When an employer implements a law for the company, workers complain.  When a government passes a law for the country, citizens protest.  When a church adds a law for the membership, those members grumble.  We all instinctively resist law.

Solomon, a law-making monarch, wanted his readers to see the value of law.  Being wise, observant and experienced in law and order, this king was keenly aware of man’s natural resistance to law.  This proverb is the declaration that law is not just necessary, it’s valuable.  Law is necessary for order in any organization from the home to the nation.  It is also necessary for justice in any institution or land.  But when law is given by the wise, it’s so much more than that.  When law is crafted by the wise, it’s a possession of great value.  Solomon described it as a fountain of life that keeps its adherers from the snares of death.  When we see a wise law as that valuable, we won’t roll our eyes, groan or grumble at its implementation.

Take the seatbelt law that 49 of our 50 states have implemented, which requires all adults to wear a seatbelt in the front seat when sitting in a moving vehicle.  When those laws were passed in the 1980’s and 1990’s, they were met initially with rolled eyes, groans and grumbles.  Thirty to forty years later, there are still people who will not wear their seatbelts and choose to ignore the obnoxious beeping the entire time they drive their vehicles.  Why?  Because human nature loathes law.  Those who initially resisted the law and those who continue to resist the law have failed to see the clear value in the law.  Seatbelts have saved hundreds of thousands of lives since their inception.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website, seatbelts reduce deaths by nearly 50% for front seat occupants.  That’s a wise law that when obeying, helps you avoid the literal snares of death.  Why would anyone hate that law?  Why would anyone not follow that law?  The answer can only be a lack of appreciation for the law.  People all across the nation simply don’t want to be told what to do, even if it will literally save their lives.  People all across the country would rather live lawless and foolish than live under the law and wise.

There are laws of the wise and there are laws of the foolish and it is our duty to determine the value of each law we’re subjected to.  When we are given wise laws, we mustn’t resist the law but instead resist our instinct to resist the law.  When wise laws are put on us, we need to value that law as we would a fountain of life in a land governed by death.  The law of the wise is not drawn up for the restriction of freedom – it is drawn up for the extension of life.  Our evaluation of legislation will determine our level of submission, which in turn will impact our length of life.  If we don’t value a seatbelt law for example, then we won’t submit to that seatbelt law and ultimately, live a life more vulnerable to an early death by vehicular accident caused by actions not always within our control.

If a child can’t look past the restriction of his parent’s curfew law and see the value in it, he will likely not obey that law and more likely, bring great harm to himself.  If a worker can’t look past the restriction of the company’s safety laws and see the value in them, he will likely not obey those laws and more likely, become the victim of dangerous equipment.  If a citizen can’t look past the restriction of his government’s speeding laws, he will likely not obey those laws and more likely, endanger his life as well as the lives of others.  Like the previous proverb, this proverb is not addressing submission to authority as much as it addresses our evaluation of authority.  It matters how we feel about the authorities in our lives and it definitely matters how we value the laws in our lives.

A wise man doesn’t hate law because he knows the value of law.  A wise woman doesn’t resist law because she subjects herself to her own laws.  Wise people are lawmakers because they know the value of laws.  Wise parents have parental rules.  Wise spouses have relational rules.  Wise leaders have organizational rules.  Wise believers have spiritual rules. Wise daters have dating rules.  Wise builders have building rules.  Wise athletes have training rules.  Wise musicians have musical rules.  Wise teachers have teaching rules.  The wise don’t fear or resist legislation when they see value in that legislation.  Fools fail to take the time to find the value in legislation.
 
Our world is riddled with the snares of death.  Seemingly around every corner, there is a trap designed to take something from us whether from our body, soul or spirit.  There are snares in our homes, on our streets, in our schools and on our phones.  The law of wise keeps us far from these snares.  Establish wise laws for your life and welcome wise laws in your life no matter where they come from.  Make a law to be in church on a weekly basis, to read your Bible on a daily basis and to pray on a perpetual basis.  Find the value in your parent’s laws, in your spouse’s laws, in your employer’s laws, in your church’s laws, in your friend’s laws, in your government’s laws.  Don’t let human nature’s resistance to law rob a fountain of life from your life.

Recent

Archive

Categories

Tags

Rehoboam Solomon fear of God health pride self-sufficiency wisdom 1 Corinthians 1 John 2020 5th Commandment Aaron Abel Abigail Abortion Abraham Absalom Accident Accomplishment Achan Acts 17 Acts Adam & Eve Adam Adolescence Adolf Hitler Adulterer Adulteress Aesop's Fable Aesop\'s Fable Aesop\\\'s Fable Affair Age Agreement Ahijah Ahithophel Albany Alcoholism Alive Ally Alone Amazon Ambition American America Amnon Andrew Finch Animal Abuse Animals Answered Prayer Antichrist Applause Apple of Eye Approval Arrogance Arthritis Asaph Ashamed Athletes Athletics Attorney Backbone Back Balaam Balance Bank Accounts Bathsheba Beauty Bedroom Beecher Behavior Benefit Benjamin BestBuy Bethlehem Betting Bezaleel Bible reading Bible teacher Bible-reading Bible Biblical instruction Big Mouths Big Picture Bin Laden Birth Blog Boasting Bonar Bondage Books Boomerang Boyfriend Brutal Brutish Budget Buffalo Bills Builder Building Business CA Rt 1 Cable News Calamity Call of Duty Calming Calvin Canaan Cancer Candidates Careers Cares of Life Casey Viner Change Character Cheesecake Factory Christian upbringing Christ Churches Circumspect Clamor Clinton Clothes Clothing Coaches Coach College Commands Commend Communication Companionship Companions Company Compliance Conceit Conception Condemnation of God Confession Confidentiality Conflict Conservation Contentions Contrast Conversation Conviction Cooperation Corinthians Corrupt Cosigner Cosigning Cosign Counseling Countenance Courting Coworkers Creation Creator Creatures Crime Criminals Crooked Cruel Curiosity Currency Danger Daniel Data Dating Daughters David Days Death Deceit Deceptive Delilah Delivery Democracy Democratic Desires Desire Deuteronomy Devil Diet Diligent Diploma Discovery Diseases Disease Dishonesty Dishonor Dislikes Divorce Domestic Violence Doorhanger Dreams Dress Drink Drug lords Drunk Driver Drunk Early Adulthood Ears Eastern Culture Ecclesiastes Economic Stability Eden Elderly Elihu Elijah Eliphaz Emai Emerson Emmies Employers Encouragement Engagement Enoch Ephesians Ephraimites Esau Estate Planning Esther Eternity Evening Eve Evolution Excellence Excel Exodus Expectations Expectation Experience FaceBook Face Faithful False Fame Families Famine Farming Fashion Favor of God Fear of the Lord Fearing God Feast of Purim Financial Advisor Financial Planning Financial Security Fingers Food Foolish Football Free-will Freedom Friendships Friendship Friend Froward Fruit Fumble GPS Gadarenes Galatians 6:7 Galatians Gamble Gang Garden of Eden Garden of Gethsemane Garden Gender Differences Genesis Gideon Gileadites Girlfriend Girls Giving Glad Gluttony Goals God's Kingdom God\'s Kingdom Godhead Goliath Goodness Gossip Graciousness Grammies Grandchildren Gratitude Grave Grief Guess Guide Guilt Culture Gun Control Gun Violence Guns Gutters Hagar Haman Hamlet Hands Hannah Hard Work Hard-Working Harlot Hate Evil Hatred Head Healthcare Healthy Hearing Heaven Heaviness Heavy Heart Hebrews Helicopters Hell Herod Highway History Hollywood Holy Spirit Home Depot Homeowner Homes Homicide Homosexuality Honesty House Human Nature Humble Humility Hunting Hypocrisy Hypocrites IRS Ian Brady Illness Immorality Inconsiderate Independence Industrious Inheritance Inherit Insecurity Insight Instagram Instructing Integrity Internet Interview Intoxication Inventions Isaac Israel Jacob Jairus James Jealousy Jeffrey Dahmer Jeremiah Jeroboam Jerusalem Jesus Christ Jesus Jewish Law Jewish Jimmy Soul Jobs Job John the Apostle John Jonah Joseph Joshua Josiah Joy Judah Judaism Judas Iscariot Judges Judging Judgmental Jury Justice System Kindness King David King Hezekiah Kings King Know-it-all Language Last Testament Law Enforcement Laws Law Leaders Learn Legislation Liars Liar Liberty Library Lies Life Lesson Life-Insurance Likes Lion Loan Longevity Look Looting Lori Loughlin Loss of Health Loss of LIfe Loss Lottery Love Triangle Lowliness Luke 7 Luke Luther Luxury Lying MLB Magazines Majority Maker Makeup Maniac Manna Mansion Maple Trees Mark Martyrs Martyr Marvel Mary Matthew Media Memories Mentors Men Merciful Merriness Messages Mike Tyson Mindset Ministers Mob Mocker Mocking Monarchy Monarch Monopoly Month Moody Morality Mordecai Morning Moses Mouths Murder Musician NBA NFL NHL Natural Disaster Naughtiness Nebuchadnezzar Negative Nehemiah New Tricks News Anchors Noah Nobles Nose Numbers Nutrition O.J. Simpson Obama Observation Obtain Old Dogs Olive Garden Order Others Paint Parenting Passion Pastors Pastor Paul the Apostle Paul Perspective Perverse Perversion Peter Pharisees Pharoah Philippians Phone Call Physical Appearance Plant Player Pleasure Policies Political Parties Politicians Politics Polygamy Poor Popularity Portrait Positive Possessions Potiphar's Wife Potiphar\'s Wife Potiphar\\\'s Wife Potiphar\\\\\\\'s Wife Praise Prate Prating Preacher Pregnancy Pregnant Preparation Princes Prince Principal Thing Principal Procrastinate Procrastinator Profit Proof Prophecy Prophet Prosperity Gospel Prostitute Protests Proud Proverbs Proverb Psalm 21 Psalm 35 Psalm 37 Psalms 37 Psalms Psalm Punishment Pure Purity Purpose QVC Questions Rachel Rage Ransom Rebate Rebekkah Rebel Red Lobster Reels Regulations Regulation Rehoboam Rehoboma Relationship Difficulties Relationship Religion Remember Repentance Reporter Reprove Republican Reputation Research Resistance Responsibilities Resume Resurrection Retirement Revealing Revelation Reward Rich & Famous Rich Man Rich Ridicule Righteouness Right Riot Road Romania Romans 8:28 Romans Rulers Ruler Rules Rule Sabbath Sadness Samson Samuel Sarah Satan Satisfaction Satisfy Saul Saving Scale Scam School Science Scientist Scoffer Scripture Sea of Galilee Seasons Seatbelts Secrets Seduce Seed Seek Self-Confidence Selfies Selfishness Senses Sermons Servitude Sexual Chaos Sexual Confusion Shakespeare Shame Culture Shame Shane Gaskill Shenandoah Valley Shoe Laces Siblings Sickness Sight Silence Simon Peter Simon Sinning Slothful Smelling Social Media Social Society Solomon Song of Solomon Sons Sorrow Source Speaking Speak Speculation Speech Speeding Spies Spiritual Security Sporting Sports Sport Spouses Stanley Cup Steal Stephen Stimulus Stock Market Strange Woman Strangers Stratego Strength Stress Struggles Student Super Bowl Rings Surely Surety Swatting Sweat Talebearer Talkative Talking Tamar Tasting Taylor Teachers Teaching Teenagers Teenager Teens Tendency Tension Texas Roadhouse Text Theft Theocracy Tik Tok Timothy Tithes To be or not to be Toddlers Toddler Tolerance Tomb Tongue Touching Tour Guide Traffic Light Traffic Signal Trainer Transgressor Travel Treasure Treatment Tribute Trickery Trinity Trips Trouble True Love True Wisdom True Turner Tyler Barriss Uber Eats Understanding Unemployment Unforgiveness Unhealthy Universities Unjust Unrighteous Uprightness Upright Vain Value Vanity Vehicle Vengeance Videos Virtuous Vision Votes Voting Walk Walmart Washington Watsom Way of Life Way Wealthy Weight Western Culture Winking Wink Wise Men Witnessing Womb Women Work Ethic Worth Wrong X Yankees YouTube Zechariah addiction adultery advertisements advertiser advertising advice advisor affection affirmation aggression alcohol amos angels anointing ant anxiety appetite argument assumption as attractions authority background backyard bankrupt battle beginning birds bitterness blessed brain bright broken nose buckler campfire cardinal sins career carelessness car cause certainty charity chastening childhood childrearing children child choices church attendance church command confidence confident consequences considerate contention contentment conversaion correction counselor counsel covetousness criticism cruelty cynicism dads dad darkness dark daughter debt deception decisions defend defense demands destruction determination diamonds diligence direction disappointment discernment discipleship disciples disciple discipline discontentment discord discretion distractions distress doctrine dogs drinking drugs dying ear education effort emotions employee employer employment enemies enticement enticing envy equity evil communications evil men evil women evil example eyelids eyes ezekiel facts failure fairness faith family fathers father favor fear of God fear of man fear feelings feminine fighting fight filthy finances fire flattery focus following foolishness foolishnes fools fool forgiveness fornication friends future gambling gangs gender gold good men good government grace greed guard guilt happiness happy harm hate headlights health heart hear hold your peace holiness home honor hope hunger husbands husband ignorance illustration income inequality infidelity influence iniquity insomnia instincts instruction intimacy investigation investing isaiah issued issue jabs jewelry judgment justice just kidnapper kidney kids knowledge labor law of sowing and reaping laziness lazy leadership learning legacy length of days lessons let life light lips listening listen little liver living loans loneliness long life longterm love lucifer lust man marketing marriage math memorization memory mercy messenger millions mind ministry mischief misery loves company misery mistakes mom money mothers mother motive mouth movies nature necklace neck neighbor obscenity observant oil oppression oppressor organs ornaments parable paranoia parenthood parents parent pastoring path peace peculiarity peer pressure peers peer permission personification pleasant politician ponder pornography pottymouth poverty power prayer preservation pride priests private procrastination prodigal profanity prosperity prostitution protection protect prudence public restroom purchases reading reaping reason rebellion rebuke regret rejection relate relationships relevant remedy remembrance remorse repetition replacement reproof respect responsibility responsible retain retention riches righteousness righteous risk robber romance rubies safety sailor salvation schools scorner secret security seduction seeing see self-sufficiency self-sufficient serpent seven deadly sins seven sexist sexual sin sex short-term silver simple simplicity sinners sin skepticism slander sleeplessness sleep slothfulness sluggard smoke to the eyes smoke son soul sowing spleen spouse stability stranger strange strife striving successful success suicide surgeon sword talents talk taxes teacher television temptation tendencies thief thieves thinking think thoughtfulness thoughts thought threats time tithe tree of life trust truth tv vehicles vice video games vinegar to the teeth vinegar violence violent virtue virtuous woman visual voice of God voice vulgar walking war wealth well wickedness wicked wife will wine wisdom wise sayings wise wives woman word of God words workplace work worry young man young people young youth