Proverbs For Life

PROVERBS:GOD’s WISDOM:Part One

When we read Proverbs we are reading the basic book of God’s wisdom for His people. We are reading the holy, the inspired written record of God’s advice for living good lives in this world. We are reading deeply spiritual truth for those who seek to live lives that fully honor God. We are reading solid advice for living day-to-day in obedience to God. So, as we read, we must do so with our heart’s keen hunger for living as God directs. 

TRUST THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

Proverbs tend to be direct and straightforward. Proverbs 3:5-6 challenges us as people seeking God’s Way to give our trust to God with all our hearts, with everything we are. We are not to rely on our own understanding. In living our lives we are to choose God’s Way over our own. In everything we think or do or say, we are to turn from our self-dependence, and depend solely on God. Then we are promised: God Himself will make our paths in life clear and secure.

FEAR THE LORD: DISCOVER KNOWLEDGE

Surely God’s people recognize His being all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere-present. So, Proverbs 1:7 reminds us to fear the Lord; and to recognize His power and His greatness. We must never forget how utterly small we are as we stand before Him. If we remember our own inadequacy, we begin to understand the mystery and the grandness of His Way for us. Then as we follow in His Way, we discover how faithfully and truly He leads us. However, we are clearly warned: We prove ourselves fools when we reject His godly wisdom, and suffer for our foolishness.

PRIDE FIRST, THEN THE FALL

Proverbs declares; a person’s pride predisposes that person to fall disastrously. A pride problem always precedes destruction. Big pride problems push us over the precipice as we trip over ourselves and fall into the deadly chasm of fools. Enormous pride leads toward a cataclysmic catastrophes. When our very spirit unwisely chooses haughtiness, we set ourselves up for a fall that will certainly humble us, and might also destroy us. God has made us to glorify Him and not ourselves.

PROVERBS WARNS: GUARD YOUR HEART

Proverbs emphasizes the centrality of our heart in choosing which way we choose to walk, the way of Heaven or the way of the world. In our hearts we make choices which affect the daily direction our lives follow. So we must guard our heart, or perhaps, more accurately stated; we must call on God to guard our hearts—for only His righteousness can overcome our personal weaknesses. Where we are weak, He is strong. “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10) I am wise to look to Christ, and not rely upon my own strength, but rather, to guard my heart and and all that proceeds from the purity only He can bring to my heart.

STRENGTH WALKS IN PATIENCE

Proverbs teaches us that patience and self-control provide success in battle. Whatever form a battle takes, the patient and self-controlled soldier will hold the upper hand. Whether our battle be physical, mental or spiritual; allowing God’s Hand to have full control over our preparation and follow-through, bringing victory in the end. Goliath had no idea what He was facing in his final battle. David most surely did. He trusted in God, self-controlled and patient, and we all know who saw victory that day. There was surely fear in the heart of David, but there was no panic, because he patiently looked not to himself but to God. When we allow God to control our battles His victory will surely follow.

Proverbs proclaims the depths of spiritual truth built on the strong foundation of complete faith in God. Proverbs takes God’s perfect Truth and gives clear, down-to-earth advice which serves as our sure foundation for godly and productive lives for His glory and for our good. Wise folks listen intentionally and obediently to these Proverbs inspired by God’s Spirit. As we follow His direction in Proverbs, we discover His path for us. If we follow Him we will discover His blessed, His loving, His perfect wisdom.