Wisdom-Trek / Creating a LegacyWelcome to Day 416 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomLove Prospers - Proverbs 17:1-14Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 416 of our trek, and today is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore the 1st half of chapter 17.We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We had planned to drive up to Marietta on Sunday, but some medicine that we were waiting to be shipped to Paula’s mom did not arrive until Monday. So we delayed our plans by 1 day. Fortunately, we had nothing pressing on Monday, so we left after the mail arrived with her medicine. When we travel on a weekday, it does require that Paula drives so that I can continue to work providing remote software support for one of our clients. There is fairly good data coverage most of the trip, so I am able to stay connected and work as we travel.After making a quick stop for a few groceries, we arrived home at about 8 pm. It looks like the lawn needs to be mowed, so I will have to work in that this week along with a little bit of exterior trim that I need to finish up while we are here this time. With a house of this size and age, there will always be some project that needs to be completed, but we will work them in when possible and enjoy the time.It is time to head out on our trail for today as we discover more nuggets of wisdom in the book of Proverbs. We will dig through the first 14 verses, and the title of our trek for today is extracted from verse 9 and starts out with…Love ProspersLet’s start in with verse 1.1 Better a dry crust eaten in peacethan a house filled with feasting—and conflict.In this verse, Solomon reiterates a concept that he introduced previously.  It is much better to have very little to eat and a house filled with love for each other, than a house filled with food, but conflict with family and friends.  If you have ever eaten a scrap of dried crust, you know how tasteless and non-filling it is, but if you are sharing it with those you love and are at peace then it is special.  Contrary to this, is having plenty to eat, but the meal times are not enjoyable because of the conflict.2 A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful sonand will share the inheritance of the master’s children.A faithful and wise servant or employee will gain favor with the master or business owner, even to the point that they could receive a share of the inheritance or company profits. This would certainly be considered if the children disgraced their parents or were wasteful of what the master/owner worked so hard to obtain.3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,but the Lord tests the heart.If you have ever observed how gold or silver are purified, it is by melting them at an extremely high temperature and then waiting for the impurities that are mixed in the gold and silver to come to the surface so that it can be skimmed off.  These impurities are considered dross. In the same way, you may have to go through the fires of tribulation and hardship so God can purge that which is impure from your life. You should not shun this, but welcome it as part of your maturing process.4 Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip;liars pay close attention to slander.The person who enjoys and shares in the gossiping about others is doing wrong. We should minimize our exposure to this type of person. A person who enjoys, listens to, and then spreads gossip is a slanderer. We should not take advice from these people.  The fact is, when you are not around, they are probably slandering you.5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.