19:1 It is also better to be a good person than person with a lot of goods. God values integrity, quality of character. If wealth is obtained through corrupt means, it is worth nothing. It is better to be humble and wise then perverse and foolish.
19:2 It is bad for the soul to reject or neglect learning. The health of our inward self is dependent on our willingness and effort to learn new things and broaden our scope.
19:3 Foolishness causes us to go in the wrong directions rather than to walk along God's path. There is much contention within a person who lives against the philosophy God has established.
19:4 Sometimes it is the case the wealth causes one to become quite popular. We must learn to discern true friendships; God helps us to identify when someone truly supports our well-being. And the world can also be cruel and neglect the poor, the one who has little in material to offer.
19:5 God always uncovers deception and corruption.
19:6-7 God teaches us to love everybody, but the secular world undervalues those who do not have wealth or popularity. It can be difficult to make real friends when you are rich and it can be difficult to retain friends when you are poor. Luckily, we have a Father who is our friend at all times and our relationship with Him fulfills all of our needs. He also leads us into good, healthy relationships with friends, family and partners.
19:8 To learn is to self-care. To at least try to understand people and situations and ideas is to find goodness. God uncovers many truths and perspectives for us, when we keep them, we receive His goodness.
19:9 People who lie and harm others with their deceptions must inevitably face consequences for the lies that they told.
19:10 A foolish person would waste and abuse in a position of luxury; a foolish person would have been too lazy to learn, appreciate and retain what is necessary to inherit such an amount. And such is the world that a person lowly in position will not be chosen to lead.
19:11 To have discretion, in part, is to have an even temperament. We cannot observe and judge situations if our perspective is tainted with anger.
19:12 God is our ultimate king. His wrath is as fierce as His love is tender. As His children, we can take comfort in His ability to contend with evil while benefiting throughout our lives from His love.
19:13 Contention within the household between family is ruinous. Therefore, God teaches us to love, support and respect each other... to listen and perceive with objectivity.
19:14 Hard work will produce riches for a person... but a wise spouse is given by God. God leads us, when we follow, to the people whose presence will most bless our lives.
19:15 Laziness will put a person to sleep; they will not be connected with reality. Laziness is faith will cause a person's spirit to be stagnant, and also their relationship with God. Idleness is life and faith will cause they body and soul to suffer. We need to nourish our whole selves... and that cannot happen if we refuse to learn, listen, and explore the things God leads us to.
19:16 To keep God's commandments is to walk the path that leads directly into life after this life. However to neglect them is to reject life after this life. If we do not follow the commandments here, we will not be prepared to live in a kingdom where righteousness reigns.
19:17 To assist and feed and support God's poor children is to help God; God ensures what we get back what we give:
Matthew 25:35-40for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
19:18 It is better to discipline children while they are still able to learn and change than to spoil them and ruin their character as adults. We actually destroy children's character when we allow them to behave badly.
19:19 Wrathful people cause destructive situations and the people who support them suffer also.
19:20 Be receptive to instruction in order to obtain wisdom.
19:21 We make plans but ultimately, God's plan prevails; therefore it is best to put our plan in alignment with His will.
19:22 The most desirable trait in a person is their kindness. And it is better to be humble than well-liked and a fraud.
19:23 Reverence of God, love for Him and "fear" that is: respect for our Father's authority, causes us to live fully and richly. When we respect God, we have His protection from evil schemes and harmful people.
19:24 A lazy person neglects opportunity that is right in front of him, and causes himself to starve: literally and figuratively.
19:25 We should discourage scoffing to cause others to see that it is wrong, will not make them likable or wise.
19:26 Although some people who have parents who do not respect them, God does not want us to mistreat our parents.
19:27 If we stop listen to what God has to say, if we stop seeking His counsel, we will find ourselves suddenly off of His path and lost in life.
19:28 We are meant to be truthful so that we do not cause harm to innocent people.
19:29 There are difficult life lessons for cruel and foolish people... therefore, cherish the process of learning! Welcome instruction and subsequently, spiritual and character growth.
