family ties

My son, obey my words,
and treasure my commands.
Keep my commands and live;
protect my teachings
as the pupil of your eye.
Tie them to your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call understanding your relative.
She will keep you from a forbidden woman,
a stranger with her flattering talk.
Proverbs 7:1-5

While you can't choose your family members, you can make wise choices based on understanding!

Ants in your pants!

Go to the ant,  you slacker!
Observe its ways and become wise.
Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food during harvest.
How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?
When will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,
and your poverty will come like a robber,
your need, like a bandit.
Proverbs 6:6-11

Want success? Work like you have ants in your pants!

Trapped!

A wicked man’s iniquities entrap him;
he is entangled in the ropes of his own sin.
He will die because there is no discipline,
and be lost because of his great stupidity.
Proverbs 5:22

If we are the product of our decisions, we want to make wise ones so we're not trapped by them!

Watch where you step!

The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;
they don’t know what makes them stumble.
Prov 4:18-19

I think we would all agree it's easier to hike a trail in the daytime than at night!

giving credit

Honor the Lord with your possessions
and with the first produce of your entire harvest;
then your barns will be completely filled,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10

Give credit where credit is due, and success will follow.

Guardrails

For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up success for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity
so that He may guard the paths of justice
and protect the way of His loyal followers.
Prov 2:6-8

Integrity isn't just the road to success; it is also the guardrails that keep you on the road!

Give and Take

My son, if sinners entice you,
don’t be persuaded.
If they say—“Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush  and kill someone.
Let’s attack some innocent person  just for fun!
Let’s swallow them alive,  like Sheol,
still healthy as they go down to the Pit.
 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property
and fill our houses with plunder.
Throw in your lot with us,
and we’ll all share our money” —
my son, don’t travel that road with them
or set foot on their path,
because their feet run toward trouble
and they hurry to commit murder.
It is foolish to spread a net
where any bird can see it,
but they set an ambush to kill themselves;
they attack their own lives.
Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;
it takes the lives of those who receive it.
Proverbs 1:10-19

If it's true that you get back what you give, then those who plan to take will end up with less than they  began with!