by Bruce Billington

Weekly Devotional 7th of August, 2026

In this session, we will finish examining Proverbs Chapter 12 and look at the beginning of Chapter 13. This chapter presents a recurring contrast between the Wise and the Foolish, and between the Righteous and the Wicked. 

Proverbs 12:27-28 – “A lazy man does not roast his prey, but the precious possession of a man is diligence. 28 In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway, there is no death.”

This proverb compares a lazy person to a diligent one. Hunting, as this refers to it, may take some effort, but the lazy man cannot be bothered to prepare and cook his prey, which means he will starve even though there is an abundance of food.  

Waste has become a way of life for many who live in a land of plenty. Yet such waste is poor stewardship. We should make every effort to make good use of everything God has given us and to consider it as precious in His sight.

The substance of a diligent man, though it be not great perhaps, is yet precious. It comes from the blessing of God; he has comfort in it; it does him and his family good. It is his own daily bread, not bread out of other people’s mouths, and therefore he sees God gives it to him in answer to his prayer. There is not only life at the end, but there is life in the way, all true comfort and satisfaction. 

The favour of God is better than life, and in it there is no death, none of that sorrow of the world which will often take away our present joy and life. But there is no end to that life in the way of righteousness. In the way of righteousness there is life and no death, life and immortality.

Verse 28 recognises how many people fear death, but for those in Christ, it is a bright pathway to a new and better life. Often, our fear of death lingers as we contemplate our separation from loved ones and the unknown world we are entering. God can help us deal with those fears. He has shown us that death is not final but just another step in the eternal life we received when we followed him.

Chapter 13:1-2 “ A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. 2 From the fruit of a man’s mouth, he enjoys good, but the desire of the treacherous is violence.”

Verse 1 illustrates the difference between a son who accepts his father’s discipline and listens to the parental instruction that it brings and a mocker who does not. Hebrews 5:8 tells us that even Jesus, although He was without sin, learned obedience through the things He suffered. The verse is a call to children to listen, learn, and change their behaviour.

The Old Testament offers further teaching on this. It shows that Solomon listened to his father’s instruction, learned from it, and followed it for much of his life. He preserved and advanced the kingdom of Israel. In stark contrast, Rehoboam scoffed at his father’s correction and destroyed the great empire his father and grandfather had built.

Verse 2 teaches that if what comes from within, from the heart, is good and from a good treasure, it will return with blessing. Matthew Henry says that inward comfort and satisfaction will be a continual feast for those who delight in any form of communication that edifies others.

On the other hand, violence done will come back to the face of the one who does it. Those who plan and cause violence and plot mischief will eventually have their belly full of it. As our fruit is, so will our food be.

This further urges us to feed upon and do as the Word of God instructs us. 

God bless you.