Author: Pastor Robin Tyner
Have you ever faced a challenge or big decision and thought, “This would be so much easier if God would just send me a letter with the answer” ? We all have. Well, the good news is… He has!
In the book of Proverbs we learn that wisdom is more than brains, and it’s more than morals. In a nutshell, the wisdom found in Proverbs teaches us how to be good at life — how to face challenges and decisions with God’s perspective.
We gain practical insight into topics like anger management; how to make tough decisions; how to guard our heart; the power of the tongue; and what it means to be a true friend. As we learn about these topics we discover why a book that was written 3,000 years ago is still considered the gold standard of good counsel.
I would like to encourage you to read a chapter of Proverbs according to the day of the month, and also to memorize verses and hang them in visible places all around you. We also encourage you to look for Jesus in the pages of Proverbs. The Bible says Jesus is God’s wisdom in human form, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find Him in a book about wisdom.
Proverbs concludes in 31:10-31, which is probably the most familiar chapter in the book. The passage was written in the form of an acrostic poem which means each of the 22 verses begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This is helpful to know because it reveals the writer isn’t building an argument or trying to prove a point. It’s more like he’s stringing pearls with the goal of showing the wonderful virtues of wisdom.
Proverbs 31 is a personification of wisdom in the form of a woman that reveals godly character comes from fearing God. The chapter ends with two verses which are worthy to write on the tablet of our hearts. “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” These verses reveal this women’s godly character is a result of the fact she fears God. When a person fears God they become industrious, creative, generous, and their speech will be kind.
All of this reminds us our journey to acquire wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. And getting the wisdom which comes from God is more important than wealth, fame, or talent. God loves each one of us and wants us to trust Him with all our heart. And when we do that our lives will not only be fruitful, but also have meaning, purpose, and value.
Photo Credit: Alexandra Fuller, Unsplash
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