Proverbs 13

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied” (v4).  The proverbs tell us that wise people are “diligent” to intentionally shape their lives around God’s commands (v13).  God shows us how to choose well, often through the advice of godly people and the Word (1, 10, 18), so that we can avoid the destructive pitfalls of sin. Spending time with those who follow the Lord trains our own hearts in the same direction (v20).

“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death” (v14).  God’s Word is a “fountain of life,” refreshing our spirits and guiding our choices.