Potential

Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. Proverbs 13:23

How many opportunities have passed us by? How many open doors have we not walked through because we did not see them as places we could go? God sees our full potential and calls us to press past our fears in order to find our rightful place in His plan and purpose for our lives.

The problem most people have is that they have poor judgment (jpvm mishpat). Their sense of right, order, fashion and custom is lacking. They are unable to make good decisions and to follow the process or procedure necessary to bring their decision to fruition. Wanting for “judgment” is also not knowing one’s right or privilege in God.

There is “much” (br rob), a multitude, abundance, plenty and greatness within each individual. It was put there by the Almighty Himself. Man was created after the image and likeness of God.

“Tillage” (ryn niyr) is fallow ground, ground that is tillable, plant able and potentially productive. If you ever put the seed in, the seed will grow and produce a harvest. Proverbs 12:23 is showing us that there is potential within us but we can realize no benefit from it if we are devoid of good judgment.

The Word of God will make the “poor” (head of the poor man) (var ro'sh vwr ruwsh) wise. The two Hebrew words together speak of the mentality of a poor man, a spiritually and mentally slack man; a man whose head is limited by his thought process. His thoughts must become the thoughts of God.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he . . . Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

A man can impoverish himself by the way he thinks. But, if he begins to think properly, it is written of him: “. . . If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” Mark 9:23 (KJV). This is the mind of Christ.