Everyday Wisdom, take it!

Everyday Wisdom, Take it!

Proverbs, read from it lately? This book in the Holy Bible is not the same kind of spiritual nourishment as Ephesians but to ignore it is to miss out on God’s rich resource of wisdom.  Proverbs does not unfold rich doctrines of grace, for example, but every line is full of pithy, practical truth for life.  An exclusive diet of Proverbs will not make a strong, healthy Christian.  But, a proverb a day will give you thought to live by.  They will cut through the complexities of everyday choices and make plain the best way. "A commonsense person lives good sense; fools litter the country with silliness." (Proverbs 13:16, The Message)

Check out these gems!

·         "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”   (Proverbs 22:1, NIV)
There’s a direct slap in the face of our culture, celebrity-crazed and character-starved. 
Somehow we have come to believe that having wealth or fame excuses us from living honorably. 

·         “Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.”  (Proverbs 22:2, NIV)
What a powerful reminder. We’re all equals before God. He does not care about class distinctions.
If that idea takes root in our minds, it will revolutionize the way we relate to others.  Envy and disdain die when we live as brothers.

·         "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." (Proverbs 22:7, NIV)
If we really believed this, we would resist the temptation to spend tomorrow’s income today on things that will be worn out before they are paid for!

·         "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son." (Proverbs 10:4-5, NIV)
It doesn’t get much more plain than that.  What a challenge to our entitlement culture.

Americans of this 21^st century desperately need to know what Proverbs says about sex and faithfulness.  (see chapter 5!) It warns about the emptiness of materialism. It exposes vanity that chases flattery instead of true honor. Proverbs teaches us to respect to those who guide and lead us.  "Listen, my child, to what your father teaches you. Don’t neglect your mother’s teaching. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and clothe you with honor." (Proverbs 1:8-9, NLT)

Here’s a word from that book. Read it and be blessed.  Make a trip to Proverbs frequently, to learn the ancient, yet timely, wisdom recorded there.

"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver and
yields better returns than gold.

She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;

those who lay hold of her will be blessed."
(Proverbs 3:13-18, NIV)

____________________

Father, lead us to wisdom.

Expose the folly of self-will, vanity;

The emptiness of a life built without

The foundation of Your Truth,

Without the pursuit of worship.

Teach us to love the Word,

All of it.

Spirit of God may our way

Be shaped by the words of life.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen