Proverbs 13

“Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good” (v21).  The proverbs repeatedly trace a line between our actions and our future; in contrast to eastern ideas of fatalism (you cannot change your destiny), the proverbs insist that even though we will all experience trouble, our individual choices matter.  We train children (v24) because we believe that patient training produces good fruit.  We follow God’s ways because sin leads to “the snares of death” (v14).

 “The light of the righteous rejoices” (v9).  We can rejoice that when we trust in God and follow him, he forgives us, redeems our past, and gives us power to make better choices.