12:1 If you don’t care to learn, you can go to school for years and learn very little. But if you want to be taught, there is no end to what you can learn. Part of wanting to be taught is being willing to accept correction and to learn from the wisdom of others. A person who refuses constructive criticism has a problem with pride. Such a person is unlikely to learn much.
12:3 “To be established” means to be successful, and Solomon says that real success comes only to those who follow God. What kind of success, then, does wickedness bring? We may know people who cheat to pass the course or to get a larger tax refund—is this not success? And what about the person who ignores his family commitments and mistreats his workers but gets ahead in business? These apparent successes are only temporary. They are bought at the expense of character. Cheaters grow more and more dishonest, and those who hurt others become callous and cruel. In the long run, evil behavior does not lead to success; it leads only to more evil. Real success does not compromise personal integrity. If you are not a success by God’s standards, you have not achieved true success. (See the chart in chapter 19, p. 943.)
12:13 Dishonest people who twist the facts to support the claims they are making are likely to be trapped by their own lies. But for someone who always tells the truth, the facts—plain and unvarnished—give an unshakable defense. If you find you always have to defend yourself to others, maybe you are not being honest. (See the chart in chapter 20, p. 945.)
12:16 When someone insults or embarrasses you, it is natural to retaliate. But this solves nothing and only encourages trouble. Instead, answer slowly and quietly. Your positive response will achieve positive results. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath.”
12:19 Truth is always timely; it applies today and in the future. Because it is connected with God’s changeless character, it is also changeless. Think for a moment about the centuries that have passed since these proverbs were written. Consider the countless hours that have been spent carefully studying every sentence of Scripture. The Bible has withstood the test of time. Because God is truth, you can trust his Word to guide you.
12:21 This is another general, but not universal, truth. Although misfortune does come to good people, they are able to see opportunities in their problems and move ahead. The wicked, without God’s wisdom, are unequipped to handle their problems. (See the notes on 3:16, 17; 10:3; 11:8 for more about general truths that are not intended as universal statements.)
12:23 Competent people have a quiet confidence. Insecure or uncertain people feel the need to prove themselves, but skillful people don’t have to prove anything. They know they are capable, so they can get on with their work. Beware of the trap of showing off. If you are modest, people may not notice you at first, but they will respect you later.
12:27 The diligent make wise use of their possessions and resources; the lazy waste them. Waste has become a way of life for many who live in a land of plenty. But waste is a sign of laziness and it is poor stewardship. Make good use of everything God has given you.
12:28 For many, death is a darkened door at the end of their lives, a passageway to an unknown and feared destiny. But for God’s people, death is a bright doorway to a new and better life. So why do we fear death? Is it because of the pain we expect, the separation from loved ones, or the unknown? God can help us deal with those fears. He has shown us that death is just another step in the continuing eternal life we began when we started to follow him. Death is not final; it is the first step into eternity.