Many of us are so focused on task after task, worried about the future, planning in our heads, and unable to see what’s right before our eyes. A few of you reading this today likely said to yourself “Eh, I don’t want to go outside right now. I’m too focused on [task].” or “I am too stressed out right now thinking about [this].” whenever I asked you to take a moment to go outside. But this worrying and focusing on the wrong things is exactly what keeps us stuck.

Once you’re outside and you’re looking at nature, shift your attention to the birds. Watch them go back and fourth. They fly, search, grab food, then head back for the trees. They soar the skies and enjoy their lives. Do you ever see a bird that is stressed? Sure, maybe a blue jay irritates a red bird, or a squirrel scares off a few birds. But that’s not what I mean. Do you ever see a bird that is deeply stressed out daily, constantly worrying about it’s life?

WHERE will I get seeds?

WHERE will I get water?

WHERE will I sleep tonight?

These thoughts don’t reside in a bird’s brain because there is such an abundance of everything it needs.

The birds have worked SOOOO hard for everything they have—so they are able to rest!

No, that’s not right. The birds—they do not beg for food. They do not beg for water. They do not search endlessly in a deserted land looking for trees to sleep in, water to drink, and food to eat. Instead, they have a great abundance of it all around them. The birds enjoy everything they need, without ever stressing about the things they must have to live.

This is because God provides them with everything they need. They lack absolutely nothing. Their creator didn’t create them to lack, but instead created them in an environment that supports what they need. If God takes care of them that well, how much more do you think He takes care of you and I?

Sometimes our intelligence as humans compared to birds actually makes us fools. We think and plan things out endlessly with so much worry and stress. The birds inability to think to the same extent is exactly why they don’t stress like we do.

WHAT IF this happens?

WHAT IF I lose my job?

WHAT IF I don’t have enough money?

WHAT IF something awful happens and I can’t support myself?

These worries drive us insane, because we are trying to plan for something that hasn’t even occurred—and likely never will. Planning for the worst and praying for the best is exactly what keeps our anxiety so high. Instead, we should pray for God to provide us with exactly what we need, and leave “chance” and the future in God’s hands.

If you don’t know the future, why do you prepare for it as if you do? If you know God is in control of all, why do you attempt to control your life as if He is not? It’s human nature—but it leaves us stuck, anxious, and stressed.

This is why Jesus tells us to pause. He tells us to look and observe nature—His creation. Not figuratively, but to literally get out of your head and observe the world. Notice how much He provides for it—how much more will He provide for His children?

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:24-34 NASB1995

Nature doesn’t have to beg, plead, worry, and stress. The birds and other animals do go out to get food to feed themselves and their young, but they do not stress endlessly about it. Instead, they freely take what God is providing to them.

The next time you find yourself worrying about the future, money, and other worldly things, take a moment to pause and go outside. No music, no texting, no talking, no multitasking while doing it—simply observing. Notice the nature and wildlife, lay your worries into God’s hands, and learn to enjoy the present moment. God cares about you, thinks of you all the time, and does not desire to see you stressed and worried 24/7.

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand…”

Psalm 139:17-18a NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

He provides favor, healing, prosperity, comfort, peace, and most importantly—guidance.

When we seek the Lord’s direction, we can have full confidence in whatever He tells us to do or wherever He tells us to go. Having this confidence is such a treasure to us, because it helps our minds remember His promises whenever stumbling blocks arrive.

Whenever we decide to act on our own, we end up making mistakes—then we blame God for our own foolishness.

“The foolishness of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against the Lord.”

Proverbs 19:3 NASB1995

But when we allow God to plan our steps, we know that they can never fail. When it’s God’s will, nothing can stop it. But when it’s OUR will, nothing can make it work.

“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9 NASB1995

Though troubles may come, we can rest assured that if we are operating in God’s will, our plans will succeed. Without God’s approval through prayer, the Bible, and wise counsel, it can be easy to seek only what we desire—not God’s desire.

In the escape from Egypt, the Israelites were told that they would inherit the Promised Land prepared for them.

Through many years of waiting and troubles that they endured, many of them lost the promise due to losing faith. But Caleb and Joshua, two of the twelve spies to the Promised Land, kept the faith and reminded everyone that God had already promised them the land. No matter what giants stood before them, God could handle it all—since it was according to His will. Many of them didn’t believe, so they lost the promise.

“When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; and they brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. Thus they told him, and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.”

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

Numbers 13:25-33 NASB1995

But since Caleb and Joshua didn’t doubt God’s promise, they were the only ones still able to receive what God promised to them.

“Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it.

But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.”

Numbers 14:22-24 NASB1995

“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to you; your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me. Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey—I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected.”

Numbers 14:26-31 NASB1995

“As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land.”

Numbers 14:36-38 NASB1995

Remember that no matter what—if God establishes your steps, they will never fail. But if you establish them on your own, they will fail every single time.

Keep faith in God’s promises, let Him establish your steps, and never allow giants or barriers to stop you from receiving what God has promised to you.

“For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”

Psalm 18:39 NASB1995

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.”

“Depart from evil and do good, so you will abide forever. For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. The wicked spies upon the righteous and seeks to kill him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand or let him be condemned when he is judged. Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.”

Psalm 37:23-24, 27-34 NASB1995

That Caleb guy has a pretty cool name, am I right??

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

“The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:”

Proverbs 31:1 NASB1995

The first, short piece of wisdom is to never give your strength to women.

Men are supposed to be leaders, guides, and the head of their families. By giving authority and full decision-making power to whoever they marry, they are giving away all their strength.

A man led by a woman is on the way to destruction—and so is his family. Wives are supposed to be the helpers to the husband and to nurture their children. Biologically, God did not design them to lead and make logic-leaning decisions. This doesn’t mean women never think logically—don’t hear what I’m not saying.

It’s a biological fact and reality that men tend to be led more by logic and women more by emotions. Both of these are vitally important—in their designated roles. Neither one is negative by any means. They are simply designed differently.

Emotional decision-making is vital for the wellbeing of children and the joy of the family—and logical decision-making is vital for ensuring the family stays afloat, protected, and on the right track.

Both are important—but both must remain in their roles assigned by God.

“Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which destroys kings.”

Proverbs 31:3 NASB1995

King Lemuel then warns us about the dangers of alcohol.

Whenever someone asks me why I don’t drink, I always go to these next verses.

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.
Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.”

Proverbs 31:4-7 NASB1995

Drinking alcohol is not a sin by any means, and I won’t go into great depth about how alcohol affects the brain again. If you’d like to learn more about that, go check out the Chapter 23 post I did.

Alcohol does affect your decisions, though. Due to this, I choose not to drink. Being a leader requires me to make decisions and stand by them. If I drink after making decisions, I can forget promises or decisions I made—or even completely go back on what I decided. Therefore, I decided it was wise for me to never give in to it.

We are then told to take care of those who can’t do so themselves.

The disabled, mute, elderly, young, blind, deaf, and needy all need us to do what they cannot. If anyone knows me well enough, the angriest you will ever witness me getting is when I see someone picking on or abusing a disabled person or someone who can’t defend themselves. An anger boils within me like no other. I was born this way, and I don’t know why, but I know God designed me this way for a reason.

Always be willing to help anyone who needs your assistance.

“Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”

Proverbs 31:8-9 NASB1995

The traits of a worthy woman.

King Lemuel’s mother lists many different qualities of a worthy woman—one worth marrying.

Men—strive to find a woman with these qualities.

Women—aspire to be the woman God desires for you to be. None of you will ever be perfect—but just like the rest of the Bible, we have an outline given to us to follow.

“¹⁰ An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³ She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
¹⁴ She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
²⁶ She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
²⁹ “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.”

Proverbs 31:10-31 NASB1995

10: She is incredibly rare and worth more than jewels!

11: Her husband has complete trust in her and doesn’t doubt her loyalty or character.

12: She treats him well consistently—not just when it’s convenient. There is no “happy wife, happy life”. Love is giving—not giving because you received first.

13-14: She is a hard worker.

15: 24/7 mother and wife.

16: Works hard for what she buys and spends her money wisely.

17: She takes care of her body.

18: She pays attention to what’s hers and doesn’t become idle.

19-20: She takes care of those in need.

21-22: She ensures everyone in her family is physically taken care of.

23: She brings respect and honor to her man. Her behavior doesn’t cause people to see him in a negative light. They see her noble character and respect him for having a family that is well put together.

24: Hard worker.

25: She has confidence in the future due to the preparations and hard work that she does to prevent unforeseen problems from arising.

26: She knows her Bible well and speaks in wisdom. Knowledge and kindness leave her mouth—not vile words, gossip, and foolishness. She speaks to her husband and others with gentleness—not harshness or a critical tone.

27: She does not remain idle and ensures her household is taken care of.

28:-29: Her children and husband are very aware of how great a woman she is—and how rare she is. Kindness, wisdom, gentleness, hard work, and loyalty stand out greatly in a world of evil, foolishness, and facades.

30: She can be gorgeous. She can be so charming with her words and behaviors. But if she does not exhibit the qualities outlined in this chapter, don’t let charm and beauty deceive you. If you do, you will end up giving your strength away (Proverbs 31:3). If all the writings from Solomon about the adulterous and deceptive woman have not warned you enough—surely your ears and eyes must be closed.

31: Men—be proud of this worthy woman if you have her. Let everyone see the beautiful character qualities she has and all that she does to take care of you and your family.

Walking you through Proverbs has been absolutely amazing.

Proverbs is by far my favorite book of the Bible. I always love explaining Scripture, but explaining my favorite book has brought me a whole new level of joy.

Thank you to everyone who has been faithful each day in reading a chapter of Proverbs with me. I hope I have taught you all how to read and interpret Scripture and have helped you get in the habit of reading just a chapter a day.

Stay in the Bible and let it remain a continual part of each day you live.

You will never regret reading it each day—but you will always regret the moments you must act without the wisdom you could’ve learned from it.

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

I love the way he writes in this chapter. The parts that stand out the most are the small passages within that highlight bizarre and wonderful things that are too much for him to understand.

I will be describing each passage and what he was trying to convey to the reader.

First

“Two things I asked of You,
Do not refuse me before I die:
Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.”

Proverbs 30:7-9 NASB1995

There is so much wisdom in this passage. This is a prayer I have said quite a few times and have advised my small group to do the same.

As we know, riches can change people. Not everyone is changed by money, but its power to change you is great. So, Agur shows us what he asked God to grant him.

He first asks God to keep deception and lies far from him. He could either be saying to help him not give in to it, or to keep others away from him who will try and deceive him with lies.

But what he asks for next is amazing…

“Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion.” He wisely asks God to neither make him rich nor let him be poor. Instead, he wants God to simply give him what he needs. By receiving only what he needs, he will be prevented from either getting angry at God for feeling neglected, or forgetting God—by making money his god.

Second

“The leech has two daughters,
“Give,” “Give.”

There are three things that will not be satisfied,
Four that will not say, “Enough”:
Sheol, and the barren womb,
Earth that is never satisfied with water,
And fire that never says, “Enough.”
The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.”

Proverbs 30:15-17 NASB1995

The highlight of this passage is the barren womb.

A fire constantly needs more wood. The earth always needs more water. A woman who cannot have children, but eagerly wants them, will forever chase having them. This is a sad and endless pursuit.

God sometimes does not grant women the ability to have children, and we don’t always know why. But anything we prioritize over what God wants for us will always be a never-ending pursuit for futility—“inheriting the wind” or “grasping oil in your hand,” as Solomon would say (Proverbs 11:29, 27:15-16). It’s not possible, and the pursuit of it never ends. You gain nothing.

Third

“There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Four which I do not understand:
The way of an eagle in the sky,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
And the way of a man with a maid.”

Proverbs 30:18-19 NASB1995

An eagle is observed flying, but once it flies away—there is no trace.

A snake can be seen on a rock, but once it slithers away—there is no trace.

A ship takes space in the ocean, but once it sails away—there is no trace.

The way of a man with an adulterous woman is the same (and the opposite). He sleeps with her and commits sexual immorality and/or adultery, but once it has passed—there is no trace.

This is why in the very last verse, we see the adulterous woman pretending she never did wrong.

“This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, “I have done no wrong.”

Proverbs 30:20 NASB1995

Many believe their hidden acts are truly hidden. They may be hidden from man, but they are never hidden from God.

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

Hebrews 4:13 NASB1995

Fourth

“Under three things the earth quakes,
And under four, it cannot bear up:
Under a slave when he becomes king,
And a fool when he is satisfied with food,
Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.”

Proverbs 30:21-23 NASB1995

Agur points out multiple different things that are so rare that the earth simply couldn’t handle if they occurred.

A slave becoming a king. A lazy fool getting tired of being lazy. A servant taking the place of the woman of the house. And the one that stands out to me the most—an unloved woman when she gets a husband.

Agur was pointing out that becoming a loved wife after not having that before would cause her to act in ways that aren’t proper. She may be cruel to men (and her husband) for not wanting her in the past, act controlling & domineering due to being “independent” for so long, or continue to see herself as unlovable.

The last point is what stands out to me the most since I love psychology and study it in much depth. When a person is raised to believe they lack value, are unlovable, and are rejected by their parents or others—this belief stays with them unless worked out through therapy and deep work.

This belief remains conscious, but the subconscious part of the belief is what drives their behaviors. If they believe they don’t deserve love or that everyone will reject them, they will sabotage things in their life to confirm their beliefs.

• If I believe everyone thinks I am a failure, I will sabotage myself at work—then I will say “see, I knew it!”

• If I believe I am unlovable, I will treat a partner poorly until they leave me—then I will say “see, I knew it!”

• If I believe everyone is evil and out to get me, I will be rude to people unconsciously until they are rude to me in return—then I will say “see, I knew it!”

• If I only believe red cars exist, I will only see red cars on the way home, and my mind will subconsciously filter out all the other colored cars—then I will say “see, I knew it!”

• If I believe everyone on earth is selfish, I will subconsciously ignore selfless acts all day until I see a selfish person commit a selfish act—then I will say “see, I knew it!”

Control your beliefs, or they WILL control you. And when they control you, you likely have no idea it’s even happening. That’s the power of subconscious, negative beliefs.

Want to test this?—

Wake up tomorrow and say to yourself, “Something amazing will happen to me today; I just know it,” and I personally guarantee you will see something amazing happen to you. But—did you use magic to summon something amazing? Or did you simply tell your mind to look for something joyful and not negative?

The brain is profoundly powerful—both positively or negatively. The determining factor is you—how you take care of it.

Fifth

“Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
The ants are not a strong people,
But they prepare their food in the summer;
The shephanim (rock badgers) are not mighty people,
Yet they make their houses in the rocks;
The locusts have no king,
Yet all of them go out in ranks;
The lizard you may grasp with the hands,
Yet it is in kings’ palaces.”

Proverbs 30:24-28 NASB1995

This passage is simpler and doesn’t require as much of an explanation. Instead, it is supposed to highlight how marvelous some things are on earth.

A lizard is so small, yet so sneaky. It is a simple little reptile that is eaten by birds and accidentally stepped on by humans. Yet, it is so “wise”. Wise enough to get into a king’s palace—something us intelligent humans could never do.

Sixth

“There are three things which are stately in their march,
Even four which are stately when they walk:
The lion which is mighty among beasts
And does not retreat before any,
The strutting rooster, the male goat also,
And a king when his army is with him.”

Proverbs 30:29:-31 NASB1995

Agur points out one main theme here.

He reminds us of how confident these three animals feel at times. A lion will fight anything, but actually is able. A rooster and male goat are overly confident in themselves as well—but probably shouldn’t be.

A king with his army can feel either way too. He will always feel confident knowing his men are with him, but wisdom would advise him on whether he should feel confident in victory or not.

Men are like that. Me and my boys all together? We can take down an entire army—or at least we think we could…

Tomorrow we will focus on the last chapter of Proverbs, written by King Lemuel. Ladies—you will definitely appreciate the wisdom in this one.

See you tomorrow!

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

A wise man or woman should be able to take a rebuke and apply it.

One who ignores the words of the wise could face a harsh, permanent reality.

Your brothers and sisters in Christ are there to guide you and rebuke you when you give in to sinful or foolish behaviors. These rebukes are meant to help you walk the path God has for you. Rebukes come from love—silence comes from enemies. If someone is rebuking you for your words and actions, it’s because they want to see you thrive on the path God has for you.

However, if someone decides to completely ignore and dismiss every rebuke they receive, they could soon face permanent destruction. The first verse of this chapter gives us a firm warning regarding it.

“A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.”

Proverbs 29:1 NASB1995

Reading that someone can be broken beyond remedy is very frightening. This is why we must learn to take rebuke even though it might sting at first. Nobody is perfect—and no one should pretend to be.

Most wise believers will listen to your advice and rebuke, but the foolish will treat them like dirt. If you try to rebuke someone repeatedly and all they do is laugh, mock you, dismiss your words, or attack you—stop wasting your time.

“When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, the foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.”

“A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.”

Proverbs 29:9, 11 NASB1995

The second reminder of this chapter is to only fear the Lord.

Many Christians proclaim to fear the Lord, yet they do nothing that He commands of them. They fear their boss, parents, pastor, and others, but completely lack the fear of the Lord. So many Christians would rather seek the approval of man before the approval of God.

Fearing another sinner is futile, but fearing the Lord leads to prosperity and growth.

People always seek the approval, confirmation, and acceptance from rulers on earth—not knowing that those things solely come from the Lord.

“The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.
Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.”

Proverbs 29:25-26 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

I have led many different people in many different ways by helping people grow in their character, emotional maturity, walk with Christ, Biblical knowledge, and more.

Today, I am going to highlight the things needed to be a strong leader for those God has given you—or plans to give you once you’re ready.

Many toxic ‘leaders’ misunderstand what a leader really is.

A lot of them think that charisma, aggression, micromanagement, control, and managing others through fear are the way to lead. While these qualities and mindsets do cause changed actions, they lead to a group thinking you are foolish, insecure, mean, or even evil. Many will keep the peace, but resent you for it.

These types of ‘leaders’ think what they are doing is working, when in reality it is slowly driving their people away from them.

“Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked though he be rich.”

“He who leads the upright astray in an evil way will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit good.

The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding sees through him.

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.”

“When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.”

Proverbs 28:6, 10-16, 28 NASB1995

“But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.”

Luke 22:26 NASB1995

“shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.”

1 Peter 5:2-3 NASB1995

“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
And guided them with his skillful hands.”

Psalm 78:72 NASB1995

A true leader is different.

The qualities in a strong leader consist of things like: humility, genuine care, confidence, mutual respect, and an understanding heart full of grace.

A strong leader leads by example. A weak leader can tell you what to do, how to do it, and rebuke you for not doing it—yet they never do the things they tell you to do. They desire the power, but not the responsibility. They like telling others what to do, but never doing it themselves. They want to be feared—not respected and loved.

Every person you lead will not see you or how you lead the same way you do. That’s normal human behavior. But if a large majority of people see the same flaws in your leadership or character, and you refuse to work on these things, the common denominator is now you.

A powerful leader looks within before they dismiss the words from the outside.

Your followers must trust and respect you. But to achieve these things, you must not do it by force through fear and control. Instead, being a man or woman of integrity, full of wisdom and a caring heart, is what’s going to earn trust and respect.

Leaders are not meant to lead forever. Instead, they are supposed to inspire others to be leaders in the future. If your followers see you as cruel, sneaky, controlling, and motivated by power, they will do everything possible to avoid other ‘leaders’ like you. You will distort in their minds what a true leader is supposed to look like.

If you lead them by example—showing a loving heart, a knowledgeable mind, a calm spirit, a confident character, a respectful demeanor, with feet that are careful and not hasty—you will inspire others to lead the same way.

But remember this: the heart is where it starts.

You cannot force these qualities. If you exhibit the negative, toxic traits of a leader, you must first examine your heart. Find out where these come from and why your subconscious feels the need to behave this way.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.”

Psalm 139:23-24 NASB1995

A reminder to those reading this:

The emails I have sent you, the Bible studies I have taught you, the sermons I have preached to you, the verses I have explained to you, the psychology I have pointed out within you and others, the understandings I have sharpened you with, and all other knowledge I have given to you have all been to prepare you for three things:

1. Prepare you to walk a life God approves of and commands of you.

2. Prepare you to lead and guide others.

3. Prepare you to live a life full of joy and understanding.

I will not be your teacher, leader, and guide forever.

Life changes, people move to different places, disconnections happen, life gets in the way—but knowledge remains. Knowledge applied to your heart and character will never leave you. I am no longer as close to certain people who over many years have taught me much wisdom, but I still see that wisdom guiding my life.

The things I have taught you are simply meant to prepare you. I desire no “Caleb taught me this” or “Caleb’s sermon was great because…”. I do not want the praise or credit for any of it. I do not get excited knowing you simply learned something from me. I do not feel pumped up knowing you told others that you think I am a great teacher.

I only feel joy once I see you put it into action and hear how it improved your life. I feel so much joy when others tell me “The verses you taught us came into mind when I encountered…” or “That wisdom you shared inspired me to do (this) or change (this) about my life” or “The way you lead taught me how to lead as well”. These things bring me so much joy. Not the credit—but the outcome. The FRUITS.

I want you to simply exhibit the things I have always taught you and will continue to teach you. Let them fill your heart, your mind, and your character. Then—teach others to do the same. Lead by example—don't lead by the flesh.

Live a life God approves of.

Live a life where others see Christ in you.

Live a life that shows Christians have knowledge and wisdom—and that we actually do put it into action.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

“Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.”

Proverbs 27:17 NASB1995

We are told to sharpen our fellow believers in Christ.

We give them wisdom, advice, counsel, and simply company. Even just having a “sounding board” is enough for most people to grow or think more rationally. Our fellow believers in Christ are very important in life. If you walk alone—you are lacking. Walking with a group of believers is a necessity in life I will never give up.

“Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”

“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.”

“Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,

And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;

Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.”

Proverbs 27:5-6, 9, 10 NASB1995

We must be careful when we act in desperation.

When you are lacking, you are more likely to make decisions that reflect that. Never take what you can get. Instead, accept only what you deserve—your future self will thank you. The decisions I’ve made in desperation have always led to great regret. It always seems “worth it” when you don’t have enough options.

“A sated man loathes honey,
But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.”

Proverbs 27:7 NASB1995

We are told never to chase money and possessions.

But—God does require us to take care of what He blesses us with.

• We know when we need to work more hours.

• We know when we need to try harder at work.

• We know when something needs to be replaced.

• We know when we need to do yard work.

• We know when we need to fix things in the house.

• We know when we need to go to a mechanic.

God blesses, and He takes away. But for the blessings He gives us, He expects us to take care of them. A slack hand leads only to loss.

“Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

“Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds;
For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field, And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your maidens.”

Proverbs 10:4, 23-27 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

“These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.”

Proverbs 25:1 NASB1995

The first thing that stands out to me in chapter 25 is…

Not making false assumptions.

Many of us make assumptions about people, their characters, their actions, and their motives before getting to know them fully. Doing this incorrectly can lead to a much bigger disaster than what could’ve been solved simply between the two people.

Some people have an argument or disagreement with someone, and instead of settling it between them, they try and turn it into a bigger issue by involving others. When you are hasty in your judgements and quick to start issues, you miss key details. You will dismiss or distort the truth of what actually occurred due to fear, anger, or insecurities. Then once you have let everyone in on what you believe “happened”, the other party ends up putting you to shame.

“Do not go out hastily to argue your case;
Otherwise, what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
Argue your case with your neighbor,
And do not reveal the secret of another,
Or he who hears it will reproach you,
And the evil report about you will not pass away.”

Proverbs 25:8-10 NASB1995

Sin is a hook, and we are the fish.

It looks pleasing, enjoyable, rewarding, and completely worth it while it’s on the hook.

The most fascinating part about sin and the flesh is how we always return to it even when it hurts us. We consciously, logically observe the repercussions of our sin, yet are still enticed by it when the hook returns.

Even with the wisdom we gain from our troubles and from the Bible, we still frequently return to the sins that hurt us most. The reason for this is that the fleshly brain loves pleasure. It loves giving in to the temporary pleasures regardless of the consequences. The only way one can avoid this trap is by reminding oneself of how sin has hurt you in the past.

Sin always rewards you with a temporary satisfaction—but will always sting afterwards.

“Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly.”

Proverbs 26:11 NASB1995

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The last theme for today is…

Minding your own business.

Human beings love drama. Even if you say to yourself and others that “I don’t like drama”, deep down you know we all enjoy it to some extent from time to time. It’s simply in our fleshly nature.

• We see a cop pulled someone over on the road—we slow down to look.

• We hear news about someone we know getting into some trouble, so we ask for all the details.

• We see an argument unfolding, so our ears perk up and our eyes open wide as we watch it closely.

These are common responses to drama that our flesh tends to enjoy. But some people take it a step further. They will see an argument occurring and feel the need to get involved. Maybe they like the drama, want to feel helpful, or feel some other type of need to insert themselves into what isn’t their own. Doing so can be costly.

“Like one who takes a dog by the ears
Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.”

Proverbs 26:17 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

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Being a Christian is not a solo experience. Rather, it is a shared walk and life with a family of believers. We are told to walk with the wise and fellow believers to stay strong, keep away from sin, and carry out God’s will.

Have you ever heard of the bystander effect? You might not have heard of it, but you certainly have observed it before. The bystander effect is when people tend not to take action by assuming others around them are going to take action first. This psychological phenomenon is extremely bizarre once you see it unfold.

If you are choking, yelling for help, being chased by a criminal, involved in a car crash, or in any other emergency, you are more likely to receive help with LESS people around than MORE. Believe it or not, you have done this more times than you realize—not just with emergencies.

• Someone trips in a crowd… “Isn’t someone gonna help them?”

• Someone drops some papers in the hallway… “Those people in the hallway nearby should help since they saw it too; I’ll just stay put.”

• Someone is asking for money on the side of the road… “Thousands of cars pass by here every hour; someone will surely help.”

These are only a few random examples, but I think you know exactly what I am talking about. We end up waiting for others to act first—sometimes even looking at others and wondering why THEY aren’t acting.

Now imagine those same exact scenarios when you are the only person around—you feel immediately inclined to help. This is because you subconsciously pick up on the reality that if you don’t help, no one else is nearby to help either.

This psychological phenomenon is something we must be conscious of when we see our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ falling into temptation or trouble. We must also always be trying to bring nonbelievers to Christ. When Jesus returns to earth to judge the nations, He will judge us all for how we treated others (Matthew 25:31-46). We cannot assume that “they will eventually figure it out” or “I’m sure someone else will tell them”. We need to be that person.

We must ensure that we kindly and carefully rebuke our brothers and sisters in Christ. In doing so, we are showing them that we love them and want what’s best for them. Allowing someone to continue down a path of sin and a worldly lifestyle will be on us. They are responsible for how they live their lives, but we are responsible for at least warning them.

If you love those you say you do, never allow them to continue down a path you know is going to end up in calamity for them.

“Deliver those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.
If you say, “See, we did not know this,”
Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?
And does He not know it who keeps your soul?
And will He not render to man according to his work?”

Proverbs 24:11-12 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

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The phrase “too good to be true” has some merit to it. If it seems too good to be true—it probably is.

• A job offer

• A potential car to buy

• A house we like

• A romantic interest

• A sale of some sort

• A ministry opportunity

These are only a few.

When being offered these, we have to evaluate two separate but equally important realities.

1. The actual offer/deal

2. Our interest in it

The offer or deal could be genuine, or it could be deeply deceptive. Wisdom teaches us that not every offer is trustworthy.

“The naive believes everything,
But the sensible man considers his steps.”

Proverbs 14:15 NASB1995

Wisdom also teaches us to consider our interest in things. Is it a good deal? Or are we feeling desperate? Or maybe we are feeling excited for potential?

• Is it a good job? Or am I eyeing the big salary?

• Is it a reliable car? Or is it shiny and fast?

• Is the house a good fit for me? Or am I just ready to have one?

• Is this woman God-fearing? Or am I just desperate to find a wife?

• Is this sale fair? Or am I just trying to quickly buy what I want?

• Is this ministry what God wants me to do? Or am I taking what I can?

A wise man or woman must carefully navigate opportunities, because not every open door was opened by God. God opens the right doors for you. Satan and man can open any doors as well—but they aren’t made for you. The door looks nice, but it leads to a pit.

So this passage I'm about to quote is not only when you are presented with an offer by a ruler or king, but instead wisdom to navigate all opportunities. Never let your fleshly desires for money, happiness, or opportunity lead you through a door you will regret later.

The best, simple wisdom I can give you:

Just because the door is open does not mean it was opened by God.

“When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you,
And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man of great appetite.
Do not desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food.

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth,
Cease from your consideration of it.
When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,
Or desire his delicacies;
For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
He says to you, “Eat and drink!”
But his heart is not with you.
You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten,
And waste your compliments.”

Proverbs 23:1-8 NASB1995

This wisdom is not to treat every offer or opportunity as a deception from Satan, but to consider each one of them without your fleshly desires guiding your steps. The flesh gives you only excitement—the Lord gives you peace. I have never and will never have to chase anything God has for me. If it’s for me, it will always be mine. If I have to chase it or decide quickly, it’s likely a deception from the Enemy.

The second focus of chapter 23 is frequently ignored by many Christians—alcohol.

Is alcohol sinful? Not at all. But can it lead to sin? Very quickly.

“Jesus turned water into wine.” Yes, He did. But did He become drunk on wine? Not a chance.

Years ago I worked as a security officer at a trauma hospital. After a few months, I was promoted to Corporal and led a large group of security officers there. However, this was not an average hospital. It contained 5 different psych units. These units held men and women for days and sometimes months or years if they couldn’t recover from their psychological break.

During my time there, we would have police and EMS bring in many different psych patients every day. Many of these violent and aggressive offenders would have schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and many more. The worst part about it was that many of them were off their meds and also high on many different illegal substances.

We would have to physically wrestle and restrain anywhere from 5-15 patients a day. It was wild, exciting, and challenging. The reason I was quickly promoted to Corporal there was because of my ability to handle these patients. I could restrain many of them alone and had a strong ability to de-escalate a large number of these patients without a need for restraints. I would observe them, question them, talk to them, and quickly adapt to who they were. I would ask the nurses for their disorder and whatever drugs they were on, and would quickly find a way to de-escalate many of them.

I used this ability to train many different security officers with backgrounds in the military and law enforcement. If you think law enforcement already knows how to de-escalate, watch a few body cam videos of them approaching the mentally ill—the training is greatly lacking. Many of them have much to learn regarding it. So, I showed them how to quickly read the person and determine what they need to do to de-escalate them. It was very effective.

But there was one type of person I could never de-escalate, and I urged the other officers to not even try. No matter what skills and techniques I used, these types of people were impossible to reason with.

Were they schizophrenic? No. Were they bipolar on methamphetamine? No.

Far worse—they were drunk.

In my time there, I dealt with roughly 100+ drunk individuals. I can confidently say I did not de-escalate or affectively communicate with a single one of them. This is because alcohol is entirely different in comparison to mental disorders and drugs. The way it affects your brain is entirely different than any drug I have seen—and I have seen them all.

A manic man on meth is seeing monkeys on the wall, so I tell him I see them too and ask about their names to keep him calm. A schizophrenic is telling me the shadow people around him want to kill him and are screaming at him, so I tell him God and His angels are with me, and he has nothing to fear. A man thinks I am a secret agent from the CIA assigned to kill him, so I convince him he caught me so that he calms down. A woman in her car is holding a razor blade to her wrists, getting ready to kill herself in the ER parking lot to “escape the demons around her car yelling at her to do it”, so I hug her and turn her focus to me instead of them. A woman who lost her entire family in a car crash and lost touch with reality genuinely thinks I am her son and is asking me if I can grab the car so we can go get her husband (both of which are no longer alive) and then get some dinner, so I play along and tell her I will pick her up in a couple hours—every single day. But a drunk man who cannot comprehend my words, doesn’t know what planet he is on, and has lost all reason—impossible. I can calm down, de-escalate, and reason with all of these people, but not with a single drunk person. That should tell you how bad it really is.

Alcohol highly impairs your prefrontal cortex—responsible for reasoning, judgement, and impulses. When this is impaired, no amount of de-escalation or wisdom will get through to you. You don’t need to be completely drunk for this to take effect either. Even being tipsy or buzzed will affect your frontal lobe—just to a lesser extent. When it is impaired, people make bizarre judgements and foolish decisions that lead to much regret. And unlike many drugs, alcohol also blocks out most of your memory of what happened if you were heavily intoxicated. It can cause so much damage to you and those around you. There is good reasoning why alcohol leads to infidelity and illegal drugs typically do not. One gives you a high; the other shuts down the rational part of your brain.

I am not advocating for drugs by any means, but instead pointing out a more powerful drug that many ignore. Drugs are always seen as bad, while alcohol is frequently ignored or dismissed as being fine.

Is drinking a sin you must stop? No. But should you be extremely careful with how much you drink and when? Extremely careful. And if alcohol frequently or even occasionally leads to drinking too much, it’s time to let it go.

“Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way.

Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;

For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,

And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.”

Proverbs 23:19-21 NASB1995

“Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has contentions? Who has complaining?

Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine.

Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup,

When it goes down smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent

And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things

And your mind will utter perverse things.

And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea,

Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.

“They struck me, but I did not become ill; They beat me, but I did not know it.

When shall I awake? I will seek another drink.”

Proverbs 23:29-35 NASB1995

Even after seeing he was beaten and has done foolish things when drunk, he still seeks another drink—unaware of how much it’s hurting him. That’s the power of alcohol.

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

First, we see how important it is to be a worthy and honorable person.

“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.”

Proverbs 22:1 NASB1995

“The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches, honor and life.”

Proverbs 22:4 NASB1995

Being an honorable person full of humility, integrity, wisdom, and grace is more desirable than any amount of riches. Don’t confuse this verse with fame, but rather with a character that is above reproach. One can speak about you honestly without having to leave out details of who you really are. Being that person is more desirable than all riches and wealth.

The next theme in this chapter is disciplining your children. The way you raise them, positively or negatively, will greatly impact how their lives unfold. The way they act, treat others, and conduct themselves depends greatly on your ability to raise them properly—according to the Bible.

“Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6 NASB1995

“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.”

Proverbs 22:15 NASB1995

Another theme we see is what we have discussed in previous chapters—the people you are close to WILL or DO affect your character and how you behave. If you walk with the wise, you will become wise. If you walk with the foolish and naive, you will become alike.

“Do not associate with a man given to anger;
Or go with a hot-tempered man,
Or you will learn his ways
And find a snare for yourself.”

Proverbs 22:24-25 NASB1995

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.”

Psalm 1:1-3 NASB1995

Lastly, Solomon takes a moment to remind us of how much he has written for us. He has written so many words of wisdom for us to learn, write on the tablets of our hearts, and change our lives with. With all the wisdom just in the book of Proverbs, not one of us could ever say “I didn’t know better” or “This isn’t my fault”.

If the wisdom we are learning through God’s Word is not applied to change our thoughts, actions, and character, we have no one to blame but ourselves when we fall into calamity and regret.

“Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.
So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I have taught you today, even you.
Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
To make you know the certainty of the words of truth
That you may correctly answer him who sent you?”

Proverbs 22:17-21 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

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Many of us worry every 4-8 years about who the next president will be. We worry if they will be competent, careful, trustworthy, and intelligent. We worry that if they lack these qualities, we will be doomed. But when you look at the reality of God, it paints a different picture.

We know from Scripture that God has chosen every single person in power. We may not agree or understand why, but we can rest in the knowledge that He is in control of this.

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.”

Romans 13:1 NASB1995

So we know that God has chosen these rulers, but how can we be certain that He can ensure they carry out His ultimate will?

Picture this for a moment—do you remember digging small trenches for water on the beach as a kid? Many of us used to build little castles on the beach with our buckets and would use our hands to dig little streams that would run to the castle. Each time a wave would come in, the streams would guide the water to fill around our castles. We didn’t need to control the ocean or the waves, but we were able to simply guide the water where we desired.

Or think of the gutters on your house. The rain pours down on our houses, and the gutters control the streams of water. They guide it down the sides of your house and direct it to where it will land at a proper spot. This prevents water from flooding in problematic spots. We don’t need to control the storm—we simply guide the water.

These analogies point to the way God guides the rulers’ hearts that He allows to be put in power.

“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He wishes.”

Proverbs 21:1 NASB1995

We also see at the end of the chapter that God’s ultimate will and plan cannot be countered or overturned. His will is already determined, and no amount of trickery, willpower, intelligence, or worldly wisdom can counter His will. He remains in control.

“There is no wisdom and no understanding
And no counsel against the Lord.”

Proverbs 21:30 NASB1995

If a ruler or leader wants to remain where they are, they must always give God the glory. We can make great plans. We can seek wise counsel. We can think through every outcome. But when victory takes place in any matter, we must always remember that God is the only one who allowed the victory to succeed.

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But victory belongs to the Lord.”

Proverbs 21:31 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

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One would be incorrect to think we shouldn’t chase wealth & riches while also believing we should never try at all in life. We are told not to chase riches, but to also take care of what God blesses us with.

“The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing.”

Proverbs 20:4 NASB1995

“Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.”

Proverbs 20:13 NASB1995

The lazy person believes they do not have to do anything. They simply wait around all day for God to bless them. Living a lazy life will lead to poverty.

God does bless us with things, but He also expects us to take care of those things.

• He will give you a wife, but you must love her well.

• He will give you a ministry, but you must be diligent.

• He will give you a flock, but you must lead them justly.

• He will give you a car, but you must do maintenance on it.

• He will give you a capable body, but you must exercise and eat right.

• He will give you a job, but you must show up daily.

We should never chase riches, but we must always water whatever He gives us.

The next theme that stands out to me is bearing good fruit. A man or woman can proclaim to be this or that, but if their fruits don’t reflect this—their words mean nothing.

Remember—fruits take time. A person can put on fake, flashy fruits all over to deceive you and others. But when you give a person enough time, their true fruits and nature will always show.

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?”

Proverbs 20:6 NASB1995

“It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself if his conduct is pure and right.”

Proverbs 20:11 NASB1995

“Loyalty and truth preserve the king, and he upholds his throne by righteousness.”

Proverbs 20:28 NASB1995

Lastly—handling an inheritance with wisdom. When our grandparents or parents leave this earth, they will likely have some sort of inheritance for you.

Though inheriting money and possessions can be a blessing, it can also quickly turn into a curse. How you handle the inheritance determines whether you will be blessed or cursed. And when I say “cursed” in this context, I am referring to great regret—not sorcery.

You can invest the wealth or use it to fund important matters. However, you can also foolishly spend it hastily.

When you work for every dime you earn, you realize the cost of it. But when wealth is given to you quickly, you are more likely to waste it just as fast. Roughly 70% of lottery winners go broke and 33% file for bankruptcy. Those are some startling numbers. This is why it is paramount that we handle the blessings and inheritances from God with great care, diligence, patience, and wisdom.

“An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.”

Proverbs 20:21 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

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When things go well in life, it’s easy for us to separate ourselves from wise counsel, knowledgeable friends, and helpful advice. One doing so is making a critical mistake. By doing so, we likely will end up right back in the toxic situation we escaped from.

“He who separates himself seeks his own desire, he quarrels against all sound wisdom.”

Proverbs 18:1 NASB1995

When we remove ourselves from wise guidance, we begin to choose what we think is best. We become lost in the dark and think we know the way. And over time, we become increasingly opposed to listening to any advice or wisdom. As we have seen countless times already in Proverbs, it’s vitally important to keep wise men and women with you at all times.

When you begin to live like a lone wolf, you no longer have people giving you advice on how and where to walk. You begin walking on your own—assuming you know what’s best. We are not called to walk alone. We are told to be in fellowship with other wise believers.

However, a different type of person is he or she who never hears advice or wisdom and assumes they already know best. These types of people will end up harming themselves—then blame God. With this type of person, your wisdom is falling on deaf ears. At this point, only disaster will strike some sense into them.

“A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind.”

Proverbs 18:2 NASB1995

“He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.”

Proverbs 18:13 NASB1995

“The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”

Proverbs 18:15 NASB1995

“Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps errs. The foolishness of man ruins his way, and his heart rages against the Lord.”

Proverbs 19:2-3 NASB1995

“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.”

Proverbs 19:20 NASB1995

“Cease listening, my son, to discipline, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.”

Proverbs 19:27 NASB1995

The next thing that stands out to me is lying and false witnesses. Someone can pretend to be someone they aren’t until someone eventually sees through it. Someone can also lie about something that happened until someone cross-examines them about the ‘truths’ they speak of.

God highly disapproves of liars and will allow any hidden character traits or motives to come into the light. A person can only fake or lie for so long before their deeds, motives, or true character are brought into the light.

“The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.”

Proverbs 18:17 NASB1995

“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will not escape.”

Proverbs 19:5 NASB1995

“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will perish.”

Proverbs 19:9 NASB1995

Lastly—many of us assume that after we hurt someone, we can simply apologize and move on. But Scripture shows us that it isn’t that easy many times. While we are told to forgive, we are told to forgive the repentant. Many will tell you to “forgive as Jesus does”, not realizing that even Jesus doesn’t forgive those who don’t see a need for Him and for forgiveness.

So if you hurt a brother or sister and you know you are in the wrong, do not expect them to forgive you until you give them a genuine, loving, and repentful apology. And know this—even after an apology, many will take time to be back to normal. Some people will even ignore your initial apology due to their pain. So, an apology sometimes requires more than just a single sentence asking for forgiveness.

If you love and care for the ones you have hurt, make a strong effort to repair what was broken. Reconciliation is just as important as an apology.

“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a citadel.”

Proverbs 18:19 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

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“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts.”

Proverbs 17:3 NASB1995

He doesn’t do this for His own knowledge—but for ours. Sometimes we aren’t aware of how we are. We don’t see problems in our character, actions, or thoughts. To us, they are normal. But when God reveals the truth about them, they can no longer be ignored. A sword might seem perfectly fine until you put it against a whetstone and see how dull it really is.

God will put you in situations so you can observe how you react. Once you’re aware of your character, you can begin to change.

The next verses that stand out to me are those that point again to rebuke. Solomon speaks frequently about rebuke because many people handle it poorly. They react, attack you, reverse it onto you, or dismiss your words.

We see two things here:

First—rebukes are completely useless to foolish people who already know it all or severely lack self-awareness.

“A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.”

Proverbs 17:10 NASB1995

Yikes! A wise man hears a rebuke, but ONE HUNDRED blows to a fool make no difference. It never reaches his mind and heart. A severe beating full of punches and lashings would still never make a difference in a fool’s behavior. After all, they already know it all, right?

Second—we see the dangers of rebuking a fool. Have you ever seen a bear protecting her cubs? They become full of anger and fury. Approximately 52% of bear attacks on humans are defensive, and 91% of those are mama bears protecting their cubs. When a bear attacks, mainly brown bears, there is a very high likelihood that you will not make it out alive. Simply put—bear attacks are something to be avoided. So look here how Solomon describes rebuking a foolish person for their folly and sins.

“Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.”

Proverbs 17:12 NASB1995

He says that it would be better to confront a bear with her cubs than to rebuke a foolish person. If someone always reacts poorly to rebuke by retaliating with their words, dismissing yours, or becoming angry—stop rebuking them. At that point, pray for God to handle them.

Lastly—avoiding strife. This is different from above. Strife is described as releasing water out of a dam. Once the water starts to be released, it is so powerful and cannot be stopped.

“The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.”

Proverbs 17:14 NASB1995

Arguments are the same way. When we are with someone or a group of people, and we start to see people getting ramped up, the wisest thing we can do is deescalate. Once an argument starts, both parties start to fuel each other’s anger and frustration. Only pain and division occur during a cruel argument—nothing productive. Good fruit is only found in healthy discussions. So before you decide to get into an argument or see one getting started, focus on de-escalating before the dam breaks.

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

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“The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”

“Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.”

“The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”

“There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”

Proverbs 16:1, 3, 9, 25 NASB1995

We may make a plan, but God will control our steps. If we commit our plans to God, He will ensure our steps are effective. Notice how I say effective and not “free of trouble”. Trouble, heartache, and difficulties lead to character growth. Just because God is guiding you does not mean these will not take place. In fact, He will allow these to take place. Because without character growth, you won’t be able to survive what’s to come or maintain whatever He gives you. We must welcome all that He plans for us to endure.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

James 1:2-4 NASB1995

Next—we see pride. Pride is a silent killer. At first, it seems like you’re just accepting compliments. After that, you start to compare yourself to others by critiquing them. You then reach a stage where no amount of wisdom, rebuke, or guidance can reach your heart. You build such a high tower and powerful kingdom within yourself that no one can breach it. But after you fall, you realize you were the only one in your kingdom—that was built on unstable ground.

“Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.”

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.”

“It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

Proverbs 16:5, 18, 19 NASB1995

Lastly—the power of self-control. Controlling your spirit and tongue is incredibly difficult. But if you can succeed, you are deemed more powerful than even the strongest warrior. A man who can capture an ENTIRE city is less powerful than one who can control his spirit. Remember this when you begin to lose your temper.

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.”

Proverbs 16:32 NASB1995

BONUS: If you want an easy yet fascinating connection in Scripture, check out Proverbs 16:33 and compare it to the very short book of Jonah. Pay careful attention to Jonah 1:7, but read the whole story (it will take literally 2-3 minutes).

Hints:

1. There are no coincidences, random occurrences, or luck. He controls all.

2. Casting lots is the same as what we would do today by flipping a coin, drawing straws, or rolling dice.

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

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First—the eyes of God.

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.”

“Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, How much more the hearts of men!”

Proverbs 15:3, 11 NASB1995

These truths can either be a blessing or a curse—depending on how you live. If you live a life of deceit, cruelty, and wickedness, you will surely hate how God sees all. But if you live a life according to God’s commands, you enjoy Him watching. He protects you from danger, rewards you for the good you do, and is proud of you. You can’t hide from God—so live a life that doesn’t need to be hidden.

Second—finding the wise. We have already talked about how to be wise and the qualities of being wise, but we haven’t discussed how to find wise men and women. In the pursuit of wise counsel and wise friends, look for the right qualities. You will see three big things: they chase wisdom, speak with knowledge, and desire rebuke.

“The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.”

“A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, He will not go to the wise.”

“The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.”

“Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed.”

“He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.”

Proverbs 15:7, 12, 14, 22, 31 NASB1995

Lastly—the tongue. It can build up or tear down. It can cause arguments or pacify them. It can speak quickly, foolishly, and with great cruelty—or with kindness and understanding. If you want to control your tongue, you must control your anger and reactions. If you want to control your anger and reactions, start at the source—the heart. If you can’t control your tongue, it will control you.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

“The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly.”

“A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.”

“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.”

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”

Proverbs 15:1, 2, 4, 18, 28 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

“The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬ ‭NASB1995

We see two things here.

First, she builds her own house. This is literal yet also symbolic. It doesn’t necessarily only apply to houses, but to any idea.

A wise woman or man builds a business, home, ministry, small group, church, company, or some other idea with wisdom. They use the wisdom they have learned to build an amazing thing with patience, hard work, and care.

But what we see next is a change—foolishness. Foolish behavior leads to tearing it down. You stop caring, stop putting in effort, become arrogant, act controlling, start giving into sin, and more—then it collapses.

The thing you built and maintained with wisdom is destroyed by your own hands. At this point, you can’t blame anyone but yourself. When foolish behavior takes over, it will destroy all you have built. The way to avoid foolish behavior is by setting your mind on wisdom, surrounding yourself with the wise, and sticking to God’s commands and values in His Word.

Surrounding yourself with the wise, as we have talked about before, is essential for growing in wisdom—but so is separating yourself from the foolish.

“Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭7‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

And when taking advice and guidance from the wise, remember to consider their ways. Even though you may have wisdom, knowledge, and experience—never assume you always know the way. The wise will see things you don’t. The Bible will also warn you of things to come.

“You don’t know what you don’t know.”

“There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬, ‭15‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Lastly—find joy in your life. If you asked the average person how you can be happy, what do you think they’d say?

I’ll name a few:

• Go on a trip!

• Treat yourself on Amazon!

• Take a few days off work!

• Buy that cool thing you wanted!

• Go out with some friends!

Sure—those things might help temporarily. But if you want to find true happiness, don’t treat yourself. Treat others instead.

“He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Wait… you’re making YOURSELF happy by blessing the poor? YOU become more joyful when you take care of the needy? That’s the beauty of love. Love is giving to others and taking care of them. Love is not taking. When we all love, we all receive. When we all take, we all receive nothing.

Having a servant heart is what God loves most. Those who desire to be served will remain eternally unfulfilled. But those who lend a hand to the needy will be full of joy. And what better way to bring glory to God than by living the way Jesus did?

“He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭31‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB1995

“It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

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When I heard this phrase from my mom at the all-knowing, wisdom & knowledge-filled age of 10, I knew her words were pointless to listen to.

But after realizing I knew nothing and actually attained some wisdom and knowledge, I realized that these words now define the way I walk in life—and they should for you too. Not just because our parents said it, but because the Bible backs it up.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭20‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

When you surround yourself with wise friends and mentors, you begin to change the way you live. You learn from them, grow in wisdom, and change the way you walk through life. But if you surround yourself with foolish people, you will start to live like a fool—even if you previously had wisdom.

But maybe you’re wondering how surrounding yourself with the wise will help you. Look here at how the wise live versus the foolish…

“The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

The wise control their tongue. If you haven’t already figured it out—your mouth can get you in a LOT of trouble.

“A righteous man hates falsehood, But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

The wise stay away from falsehood and live a life of integrity. When you live a life of falsehood, the lies you tell will always come back to hurt you.

“Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Arrogant behavior leads to strife. But those with wise counsel increase in wisdom together.

“Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

The wise work for what they have and take care of what God gives them. The foolish and evil use manipulation and fraud to obtain riches.

“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Wise men are a fountain of life to you. They guide you away from the snares of death.

“Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool displays folly.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭16‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

The wise gain knowledge before acting. A fool acts and then realizes they messed up.

“Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭21‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Trouble comes to those who live wicked lives. But those who live righteously will be rewarded for doing so.

A life with the wise will lead to a life full of wisdom. When you surround yourself with wise men and women that live according to God’s commands, they will teach you the path of life AND help you walk down it.

If I could give you one piece of wisdom to have a fulfilling, peaceful, joyful, and rewarding life, it would be this…

Find and surround yourself with 2-3 wise counselors.

They don’t have to be older than you, younger than you, or a specific age. They simply need to display integrity, humility, gracious speech, and a powerful love for Jesus Christ.

Ask these men or women to do these 3 things…

1. Hold you accountable for your sins, mistakes, and how you live.

2. Teach you wisdom they have learned.

3. To point out ways you can be a better Christ-follower.

I have researched things in life more than most people I know. I learn about topics in great depth and detail that surpasses most people’s efforts. I ask questions and demand answers from life. But even with these things I have done, NOTHING surpasses the things I have learned from wise counsel. They have guided me and taught me more than any amount of experience, research, or studying that I could ever do myself.

I could never repay these men and women for the wisdom and guidance they have given me. It’s priceless. All they have asked for in return is that I sharpen them with the wisdom I learn on my own. You know you’ve found a truly wise mentor when they seek to learn from those younger or “less experienced” than them.

Humility is one of the foundations of wisdom. If you can admit you don’t know it all and need to learn more—you can be blessed by wise counsel. If you reach a moment where you believe you don’t need it—you need it more than anyone.

If you’ve never listened to anything I have ever said nor any of the wisdom I’ve shared before—listen to this one thing…

Seek out wise counsel and wise friends. Walk with them. Talk with them. Sharpen with them. Grow with them.

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

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Solomon thought in a lot of black and white. With some things, thinking in the gray area is beneficial. But with most of the commands of God, there is only black and white—wrong and right.

As I said in my last newsletter, I plan to point out some of my favorite themes or verses in many of the next chapters of Proverbs. The reason for this is that Solomon chose to write many chapters with a very diverse set of themes.

First—I see the result of pride. In chapter 11, verses 2-3, we see the importance of integrity and humility, bringing contrast to the destruction of pride and crookedness. When pride exists, no decisions can be trusted. This is because pride distorts one’s motives to fit one's own narrative. This also directly connects to integrity. Integrity shows that a person acts, thinks, and behaves in a way that is honorable, trustworthy, and reliable. Pride and selfishness are the opposites of integrity.

“When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.”

Proverbs 11:2-3 NASB1995

We then see a continuation of the fruit of righteousness. Living a life of integrity and pursuing righteousness blesses you with many things. You dodge traps, you have hope, and you can trust that God is proud of how you are living. A life of wickedness leads to failed expectations, stumbling into trouble, and living a life God despises.

“The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed. When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of strong men perishes. The righteous is delivered from trouble, But the wicked takes his place.”

Proverbs 11:5-8 NASB1995

Solomon then touches on the importance of having a giving heart. When you realize that every dime you own is God’s, He can then trust you with more. But if you believe you earned it and deserve it—don’t be shocked when God strips it away from you.

“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him. He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.”

Proverbs 11:24-28 NASB1995

One of the things I always do when I give to the needy is I tell them where the money came from. The reason I am telling you this is because I think it’s wise and important for us to always turn the attention back to God—but not just in the way you’re probably thinking. When I give to someone in need, the person might say “no, you don’t have to” or “that is so kind of you” or something similar. And instead of telling them “you’re welcome” or “I am happy to help”, I instead point the money back to God. Not by letting them know it came from God, but instead telling them that it’s not even mine to begin with.

I will let them know that every dime I gave and have is not even mine. I did not earn it, nor do I deserve it. I am simply giving to others what God has lent me. If I view my money as mine, I will treat it as such. I will become stingy. I will count every dollar in my head before giving. I will second-guess whether I can afford to help. Even if I view it as a blessing from God, I might assume it’s for me and that I need to hold onto it. But when I realize that it’s not even my money at all but instead something God has lent me to use—I treat it as such. God didn’t put money in my bank account—I am simply using the debit card He lent me. See the difference?

Never let pride or worry cause you to have a firm fist on what you own. That is the quickest way for God to take it from you and give it to someone else.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job 1:21 NASB1995

“So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.

“But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours.”

1 Chronicles 29:11-16 NASB1995

“The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the Lord of hosts.”

Haggai 2:8 NASB1995

And never forget that sometimes those “in need” are actually God’s angels testing you…

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Hebrews 13:2 NASB1995

Multiple things stand out to me in Chapter 12 of Proverbs…

The first one is verse 4.

“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.”

Proverbs 12:4 NASB1995

Solomon has warned us many times about being careful with whom we marry. This verse stands out in its own way. Instead of the woman leading the man into sin, the woman brings either honor or shame to him.

A modest, God-fearing, diligent, humble, and wisdom-filled woman will bring honor to her husband with the way she speaks and how she acts. But when a man is married to the opposite type of woman—she brings him only shame. A cruel, controlling, demeaning, foolish, and immodest woman will bring all types of shame to herself and even the most God-fearing man. The two become one flesh—it’s no longer you and her being different parties. Your spouse reflects you and your family. They also influence your thoughts and behaviors. This is why it is extremely important to pick the right spouse for you and to allow God in on that decision.

The next theme I like in this chapter is our belief in our plans. Many of us can act foolishly in assuming our ways are always right. We think, plan, and carry out decisions without seeking or listening to wise counsel. The wise men and women around you are sent by God to sharpen and guide you. If you choose to make all your decisions without letting others sharpen you (Proverbs 27:17), you will always think your decisions are the correct ones—and will suffer for it.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”

Proverbs 12:15 NASB1995

The last theme that stands out to me in this chapter is lying and being a false witness. Solomon writes multiple times in Proverbs about liars and false witnesses. The danger of these types of people is great. They cause so much division and pain. Integrity and truthful lips will last forever, but a lying tongue only lasts a moment.

“Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.”

Proverbs 25:18 NASB1995

“He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit. There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.”

Proverbs 12:17-19, 22 NASB1995

In Christ,

Caleb Holley - Men’s Minister

Watchman’s Report

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