#1335. Proverbs 10:12-14 – Wisdom forgives, listens, and stores (22/8/25)

Matt Beaney
8 minutes ago
4 min read

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional where we are continuing in our Wisdom for Life series from Proverbs.

Today, from Proverbs 10:12-14, we reflect on how wisdom forgives, listens to the wise, and stores what is wise.

To watch this devotional, please select the link below.

i. The wise forgive

'Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.’ (Proverbs 10:12)

We live in a world where past grievances are often dearly held onto and used as grounds to mistreat others. All of us have been hurt by others, and we must choose what to do with this bowl of poison. Will we keep drinking it, rehearsing how we’ve been hurt? This only damages our relationships; it poisons ourselves. The Psalmist sings:

'If you, Lord , kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.’ (Psalm 130:3-4)

Do we see that it’s ‘hatred’ to ’stir up conflict’? There’s a place to receive wise counsel about the past; however, it’s not wise to keep talking and rehearsing old hurts. Love seeks to be like God who forgives and purposefully forgets— chooses not to remember and recite— our transgressions.

ii. The wise choose the right words and choose who they learn from

‘Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.’ (Proverbs 10:13)

Here, in this contrasting proverb, we see that the way that we speak is vital. If we don’t guard our words, we will suffer in many ways. Unlike the speech of the person who ‘stirs up conflict’, the ‘discerning’ speak what is apt and useful. Like someone choosing a route to travel to a destination, so the wise use words for the right ends.

Added to this, ‘Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning’ - we should seek to grow in wisdom by recognising and listening to the wise. We recognise the wise by the fruit of their lives. The wise are necessarily the ‘healthy, wealthy, and good-looking’. The wise walk in the wisdom, joy, and peace of God through even in the storms of life. They bear good fruit. They are not the so-called counsellor who dishes out advice whilst their only life, relationships, and soul are in tatters.

iii. The wise pray for and pursue wisdom

‘The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.’ (Proverbs 10:14)

The wise treat true wisdom like treasure - they store it up in their minds and hearts so as to apply it in their lives. Of Solomon, who is described:

‘God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’ (1 Kings 4:29)

Of his stored wisdom, we read:

‘He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.’ (1 Kings 4:32)

Like Solomon, God wants to teach us wisdom if we are willing. Like Solomon, do we pray something along these lines:

‘“…So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”’ (1 Kings 3:9)

If we pray this, our response must be to seek to learn from the wise. Seek to study God’s Word. Seek to hear gifted teachers. Seek to avoid the unworthy and worthless. May each of us store in our minds proverbs, texts, and songs that will keep us from ‘ruin’ and also be a blessing to others.

Let’s pray together:

“Father, please give me your wisdom as you gave it to Solomon. May you be pleased with my ambitions. May I hunger and thirst for truth in the inner parts. Help me to apply your wisdom in forgiveness, in what I teach and in what I store. Amen.”

Community Group Notes

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

Week #11: Proverbs 9:10-10:14. Leave a worthy legacy

1. What themes stand out in this week’s section? Identify key ideas and repeated patterns. What is the focus of this section?

2. What promises does God offer, and what warnings does He give? Look for specific encouragements, blessings, or cautions in the text.

3. How does this speak into our lives today? What are the practical ways we could live this out — individually, in our families, in our community?

4. How is God calling you to respond? Consider what this means for your heart, your choices, and your direction.

5. SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

How might the wisdom in this week's section of Proverbs help us to be a light for Jesus?
Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.

6. Let’s pray together:

Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.
Pray for one another's SIV opportunities and boldness in following the Spirit's promptings.
Pray specifically for the 'people of peace' in our lives—asking God to open hearts and provide opportunities to speak life and truth.