Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right. Proverbs 20:11
I listened to a podcast this week by author, Andy Andrews, whose books have appeared on NY Times best selling list. You can find this talk on his ”Blue Plate Special.”
A Christian? Yes! He drilled down on this verse highlighting the word, “even.” Well, that was my take away, ”even.”
And, my bottom line in thought after thinking on this wisdom taken from Proverbs is Character? What is character? What is my character? What to do when character falls below, conduct that is pure and right?
I would love to hear your thoughs, understanding of, and living life in the aura of
conduct that is pure and right.
thedailylily.com 
I have walked around for the last few days pondering, even a child is known by their actions, by whether their conduct is pure and right. I’m a fairly new grandma and that came to me late in life and this “even a child” burns like a flame in my being.
My grand is not yet two years old. I often get to interact with the child and parents. I’ve noticed the parents are often in instructive mode teaching and directing what is pure and right. And, months less than two their little mind soaks up the instructions and obeys. I have thought without a big vocabulary at this age, so much to learn and determine right from wrong is big. Now I’ve based this on watching adults that comes up short in pure and right in their conduct.
Lies so they can be liked. Stealing so they don’t have to give others credit. Backbiting trying to separate friends. I could go on and on or I could just go down the list of beatitudes found in Matthew 5 when Jesus went up on a mountain and sat down and his disciples came and joined him. Jesus open his mouth and taught them. What did he teach them? Blessed/happy will you be with a pure heart. Likewise happy/blessed if you are a peacemaker you surely will have a pure heart because you will be a child of God. You might like to read the other part of his teaching found in his talk.
As adults we are told to train a child in their behavior and when they are old they won’t depart from what you taught them. Now that’s a big one in my thinking.
People watch the actions of others even a child and know their character. It dosen’t seem complicated like learning math.
This week in two eulogies I heard he was an honest man, one man unknown by the world and the other well known, General Colin Powell. Honest is character being pure and right. Take a minute and look up the word honest.
We want to hear good looking, sexy, pretty, etc etc but honest being our crown and glory might not please the ego at all. I’m beginning to see why Andy thought digging in and developing the word ‘even’ even a child.
Debi gave us the definition of honest here. I found some notes in the NIV for Proverbs about honesty: “Proverbs tells us plainly that God despises all forms of dishonesty. Not only does God hate dishonesty, but we are told that it works against us- others no longer trust us, and we cannot even enjoy our dishonest gains. It is wiser to be honest because ‘the innocent escape trouble.”(12:13)”
Sara, you suggested we look up the word ‘honest’. Two definitions I found were:
“Honesty or truthfulness is a facet of moral character that connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, including straightforwardness of conduct, along with the absence of lying, cheating, theft, etc. Honesty also involves being trustworthy, loyal, fair, and sincere.”
And “free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere.”
These seem to illustrate your blog title, “Wisdom in action”.
Because you asked us some questions about ‘character’, I wanted to read more in your retreat book, “The Four Bees of Gifting”, because I think there is a lot of ‘wisdom in action’ advice there about developing good character.
“Lesson Three – Doing Power” reiterated the importance of training…training your mind, your tongue, your conduct…so the authentic self becomes evident. I looked up one definition online for authentic and it said, “You’re honest with yourself and with others, and you take responsibility for your mistakes.”
Training involves learning and following rules. Sara, you listed some important “rules” to follow in Lesson 3: “Bee Thankful; Bee Kind; Bee Merciful; Bee Transformed; Bee an Example; Bee Doing.”
Reviewing Matthew 5, per Sara’s suggestion, I see that Jesus is laying down some rules also….if you do this, then this will be the result. And He summed it up by saying “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Lesson Three in the Sara’s Bee book gave us the same admonition: “You are imperfect but you are becoming perfected. God instructs us to be perfect as Our Heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48).”
Wisdom always makes me think of my Sunday School class whom I love and adore. Their tender hearts are always heard as they speak to God about broken family, families who have lost a son or daughter through a tragic accident. One prayer this week was for a Mom who was in horrific grief as her son was killed in a car accident. The only light was that she got to speak to him the last 5 minutes of his life. He was 22. They also pray for our nation. One like to help those who suffer physical problems. Some enjoy helping other in their school classrooms or they try to make a friend for someone who needs a FRIEND OR KIND WORD. Others invite a neighbor to class or Wednesday night Bible Skill class. Others offer and take them to our church/class. One became a friend with someone in her neighborhood and she led her to JESUS,
This week they asked what they could do before leading someone to the LORD.
I SAID Jesus said according to Matthew 22: 37 -39 ( didn’t give chapter and verse)
Well Jesus said…. Thou shalt love the Lord the Lord your GOD with all your heart, and all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
So love them. Show yourself friendly.
In research and in my own life I’ve learned GODLY wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord and results in a holy life. I make mistakes but GOD is a God of many chances. Worldly wisdom is not honoring God but pleasing oneself.
Godly wisdom is seeing from Gods perspective. I love the wisdom words in Proverbs. I have a friend who reads it every month.