Wisdom requires discipline, self-control, patience, and persistence. You need to take a long-view of things. What you want right now is not necessarily what you need in the long run. What feels good right now may damage your long-term goals. Fools are impulsive. Wise people are patent and persistently work hard for the future.
Pastor Chris' Paraphrase with comments:
Proverbs 13:3 - Watch what you say and how you say it; your life may depend on it. People who speak without thinking get into big trouble.
Proverbs 13:16 - Smart people think before they act, but fools are impulsive and everyone sees it.
Proverbs 13:4 - Lazy people want it all and never feel satisfied, but hard work pays off for people who keep at it.
Proverbs 13:11 - If you get rich quick, you will spend it quick; but if you earn it over a lifetime of hard work, you will have even more.
Impulsive desires drive people to waste time, resources, energy, and money on things that don't really satisfy. You never have what you want and when you get it, you realize it wasn't what you really wanted anyway. Wise people learn to control their impulses and work steadily for things of lasting value. Through hard work, they learn to value what's really important and take care of it. It takes longer, but they are more fulfilled in the end.
Be wise. Take the long view of life. Be patient and persistent. Work hard. Succeed.
Prayer
"Father, help me to control my impulses. Help me think before I speak. Help me to control my cravings. Help me to focus on what's really important--things with lasting value. Motivate me to work hard and be persistent for the right things and so be fully satisfied with a life well lived and an eternity with You. Amen."
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