Proverbs 10:1

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about being wise or foolish:

Proverbs 10:1 (ESV)

A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

We all love our kids. We love them when they are cute; we love them when they are funny; we love them when they are not lovable; when they make mistakes; when they mess up; when they disobey. The best measure for us in regard to how we are to respond to our children is in regard to their association and attitude with wisdom. When they have a great relationship with wisdom we are glad but when they have a poor relationship with wisdom we are grieved. We tend, as parents, to rejoice when they do things "athletically" or "academically" or something of that nature. We tend to be grieved when they do something that disobeys us. In this proverb we are told to rejoice in wisdom and to grieve at foolishness. We ought to have God so centered in our lives that our rejoicing over our children is also so centered. Rejoice over your kids but do so because they obey God and have found Wisdom. Grieve over your kids but do so because they have rejected God and Wisdom. A wise son for Christ should bring praise much more than one who measures up to some outward, societal code.  It is quite something to watch parents get excited about their child’s accomplishments.    They are great in school; sports; work; and/or relationships.    But, the ultimate relationship that we want to get excited about, as parents, is a child’s relationship with wisdom.  This relationship will determine how they make decisions.  This relationship will be the most qualifying requirement for their “success” in the future.    When our children have a positive relationship with wisdom should be the thing that gives us the most excitement.  

Proverbs 9:4

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the simple and naive: 

Proverbs 9:4 (ESV)

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

To him who lacks sense she says,

(This is the same proverb as 9:16)

If you were going to have a party who would you invite?  If you were going to put out the fine linen and most expensive tableware, who would be the invited guests.   If you wanted to brag about a party you had just put on, would not you top the description of the layout with the names of all those who attended.  Imagine a high school senior who threw a party and invited the simple and the naive, those lacking sense.   Would they go back to school on Monday and report back to others who attended?   Imagine a mom or a business man in the same situation.  Do they not measure the success of the party based upon the number and the names of those who attend?   Fortunately Wisdom is not like a high school senior, a social-lite mom, or a businessman.  Wisdom is not looking for the person who majored in philosophy, psychology or even theology.   Wisdom is offering herself to those who need her and know they need her: The Naive.   It is those who can say, "I can't do it and don't know how, " who are best suited to attend the party Wisdom is throwing in Proverbs chapter nine.   In 1 Corinthians 1-2 we see that the wise are confounded by Wisdom of God.   They think the gospel is foolishness.  Yet, it is the very Wisdom of God because it is Jesus Christ, Wisdom personified.   In Luke 14 we read the story told by Jesus of the wealthy man who gave a banquet.  But, the rich and the popular had too much to do to attend his meal.  So, he sent out his servants into the highway and the byways to invite those who had no food; the poor and the destitute.   That is who Wisdom is calling.  Until we realize we have no understanding, we can't appreciate God's Wisdom.    She is calling those who need it and know they need it.

God is calling out and will not stop calling out. God is not willing that any should perish, but wants all to come to repentance. Some will still perish, of course, but God calls, through Wisdom. Wisdom is Christ personified. In 1 Corinthians 1 we read that Christ is the Wisdom of God. So, Wisdom, Christ, is calling out to the navie and to the one who lacks understanding. Christ is calling and wants the navie to "turn in" and those who lack understanding to listen to what wisdom has to "say." The "whoever" is navie is an important aspect of this proverb. We all have a bit of "naivity" in our blood and demonstrated in our life. When we are in a naive state and in a lack of understanding mind we need to find God's wisdom ... Jesus Christ ... and respond appropriately. If you are naive, listen.

Proverbs 8:35-36

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the value of wisdom:

Proverbs 8:35-36 (ESV Strong's)

35 For whoever finds me finds life

and obtains favor from the LORD,

36 but he who fails to find me injures himself;

all who hate me love death.”

Find Wisdom

If you have ever been urgently looking for something and finally found it, you get a glimpse into the insight Solomon is trying to provide us in these two proverbs.    Yet, finding your car keys when you are late for work doesn’t even come close to this message.  Finding your wallet after it was lost for a week does not.  Finding you child who wandered off into a dangerous place, might get close.  Yet, Solomon in the above passages is talking about finding something even more precious than a child: Wisdom.   In chapter eight of Proverbs we are reading Wisdom’s word to us.  She is speaking to us.  She is telling us all the benefits of having her in your worldview of life.   Failing to find wisdom is the same as finding death.   When we fail to search for and find wisdom we do self-inflicted harm to ourselves.   Thankfully, wisdom is available by simply fearing the Lord.  That is the message of chapter nine:

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV Strong's)

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Wisdom makes herself available so she is an easy find.  Note where she is:

Proverbs 8:1-3 (ESV Strong's)

1 Does not wisdom call?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 On the heights beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

3 beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

She is loud and standing on every corner.  We have but to Fear the Lord (stand in awe of Him and revere Him) and we will find wisdom.   

But when reading Proverbs we need to decide if a proverb is a promise or a percept or a principle.   Personally I believe they are all three.  When God is telling us something we need to remember that God's Word is telling us that He is going to do something.   We might not realize He is doing something but He is.  This proverb tells us that those who find wisdom through faith in Christ will be blessed by God.   It should be noted, however, that we don't always see that God is blessing us, even though He is.   The second line of this proverb tells us that those who follow God in faith and not in feelings will receive "favor" from The Lord.   That doesn't mean that all aspects of our life will feel good.   In fact, it often doesn't.   But, God knows that we love Him and follow Him.   We live by faith, not by feelings.   We might not feel like God is there, but if we are obeying Him we can know, based upon this proverb, that God's favor is upon us.   We might have to wait until we reach eternity to see it, but we do have God's favor ... grace.   And, that is enough to help us make it past the feelings into a world of faith and experience favor by faith.

Proverbs 7:16-17

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight the temptation of folly:

Proverbs 7:16-17 (ESV)

I have spread my couch with coverings,

colored linens from Egyptian linen;

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,

aloes, and cinnamon.

In the above passage we are reading the words of a prostitute spoken to a young, naive, simpleton.    This entire chapter is about the seduction of this young man and describes all the ways she uses to draw him into her web.   It is amazing the things that titillate our senses.  In the above passage we are told about the linen she used on the bed and the perfume she used in the bedroom.   We are told about the myrrh, aloe and cinnamon smells that wafted from her chamber.   Why do these type of things entice us so much.   She engaged his sight, his smell, and his touch.    He will be brought in by these things.    He will eventually be killed by these things.   This story is a metaphor for the enticements of Folly.  Folly entices us the same way and causes us to miss the benefits of Wisdom.  This is the theme of Proverbs.   However, the story is also a real example of how sin is materialized.   Sin uses our physical senses to draw us into her eventual death.    Sin never shows her real colors.  The addict only sees the pleasure.  Those who watch them tumble down that path see only the pain.   Adultery looks good and feels good and we seldom see the devastation to the other spouse and the destruction of the children.  They only thing two adulterous people see and feel is the fine linen, the myrrh, the aloe and the cinnamon.  

Proverbs 6:17

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about pride and lying: 

Proverbs 6:17 (ESV)

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

Solomon (in verse 16) has just stated that there are seven things God hates.  He begins that list of the things God hates, with Pride.   God hates Pride.   God hates when we elevate ourselves to the place of preeminence.  In 3 John we have the description of a man who was disruptive in the church.  His name was Diotrephes.  John said, "He likes to have preeminence among the church."    John tells us to avoid people like that and call them out for what they are - haughty eyed.   Aaron's wife, Miriam, was the same.   She wanted Aaron to be first.   God hates that.    God also hates the lying tongue.  God told the Pharisees that they were of their Father the Devil.  God states that Satan was a liar from the beginning; meaning the Garden of Eden (John 8:44).  God hates lying.   He also hates those who kill.   In the Gospels Jesus said that those who are angry at others, without a cause, are murders (Matthew 5:21).    So, God hates prideful, lying and angry people.   If you and I what to be like God, we, too must follow these same thoughts.  However, it should be noted, that even though God hates those who do these things, He also sent His Son to die for them.   God hates and then provides the very remedy to remove the things He hates.  However, during His Son's crucifixion (the remedy for man’s prideful, lying and angry heart), the men who killed him were prideful, lying and angry men who shed His Son’s innocent blood.   Ironic?

Proverbs 5:5

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight into temptation: 

Proverbs 5:5 (ESV)

Her feet go down to death;

her steps follow the path to Sheol;

Much of Proverbs is about the personification of folly as an adulterous women.  This picture that Solomon uses, actually speaks of folly and, practically, a real, adulterous women.   The use of the "adulterous" women in the book is Solomon's way of giving us double instruction.   He is telling us in this verse that as a man is attracted by the "adulterous" women he needs to remember that this seductive mistress will lead us to death (spiritual death by separation from God and possibly physical death) and take us to the grave.    In this chapter (and especially in chapter seven) we are told how easily men are lead astray by a pretty women.  Solomon stresses that the way they dress, smell and smile that can easily move the strongest man off his path ... think King David here.    David did not think that his gazing at Bathsheba would led to death; but it did.    Samson didn't realize that his attraction to Delia would lead to death; but it did.   Even the strongest men are lead to death's door and death's world by the sway and swagger of the sexy women.   Even though men know this they still gaze, grope and gasp.   Men need to have Proverbs 5:5 tattooed on their eyes.

Proverbs 4:22

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about healing of our health:

Proverbs 4:22 (NASBStr)

For they are life to those who find them

And health to all their body.

Proverbs 4:22 (ESV)

For they are life to those who find them,

and healing to all their flesh.

Our society is fixated on health.  We have health food stores, health fitness centers, health legislative initiatives and politicians who want to legislate what we eat and drink.   Our health costs are so out of whack no one really knows what to do despite the laws enacted to demand we eat better, exercise more and party less.   Yet, in two simple lines of Hebrew poetry Solomon solves all the heath debate of an entire country.  He tells us if we will but follow God's Word we will have life and health to "all" our body.  Wouldn't it be great if a Senator or Congressmen from the House, who might be a believer, stood on the floor of their respected chambers and proposed legislation to demand that everyone MUST follow God's Word, as a solution to our health costs and concerns in our country?   You of course wouldn't have any more compliance to the "law" than the nation of Israel did with Moses' law, but the point Solomon is making is that if we will but obey God's Word we can be assured we will have the wisdom to make the right choices with our freedom to stay healthy and we would have the power to do so.  God promises wisdom and understanding when we, by faith, obey His Word.   He also promises that that Word in our hearts will empower us to make healthy choices and walk the right path.   That brings health to the body.   God wants us to realize we have God's blessing when we have God's Word in our hearts. This doesn't mean we won't have suffering, heartache and pain (ask Job!).  It does mean, during the pain we will have the healing hand of God's grace.  In the above text Solomon knows pain. No doubt he heard the story of his mom's baby (child of David and Bathsheba's adultery) dying right after birth. But those who trust and obey God's Word can rejoice in the fact that God's Word brings us God's grace.   God's grace brings healing in the times of suffering.  

Proverbs 3:1-2

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the correlation between obeying God’s word and living life:

Proverbs 3:1-2 (ESV)

My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments,

for length of days and years of life

and peace they will add to you.

Have you ever thought about the benefits God states come along with following and obeying God's Word? In verse two of this chapter we read that our days will be longer and our life will have more peace. It is not like there is some magical spell placed on us that happens when we read God's Word. The point we have to realize is that we will have more peace when we are pursuing God's Word and not trying to chase the almighty dollar. We will have longer life when we avoid the dangerous, sinfilled lives of disobediece. Or, even the simple pursuit of excellence and how it drives us to want more and more.  Obediece to His Word produces wiser decisions. Wiser decisions reduce chances for shorter life and less chance we die due to poor life style. Long life and peace come as a blessing of God. However, that blessing doesn't have to me a "miracle" that is outside the bounds of natural law. If we use God's Word to make decisions about life, work pace and material goods we will have less stress. Less stress due to obedience to God's Word results in more peace. So, don't think about reading God's Word and obeying it to get some miracle dropped from Heaven on your head. Think about reading God's Word and obeying it. Then think about making better decisions that produce less stress and more trust. God provides long life and peace to those who obey God's Word and make better choices.

Proverbs 2:22

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the fate of the wicked:

Proverbs 2:22 (ESV)

but the wicked will be cut off from the land,

and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

This is the warning of Proverbs.   Those who do not seek wisdom and do not follow hard after her once they find her will be "cut off" from the land and will be "uprooted" from it.  What does that all mean?  In our world, society, this wisdom of Solomon simply seems to lose it's meaning.   But, look closely at the thought the King of Wisdom is given us: Failure to seek wisdom (the verses preceding this verse ... 2:1-21) will result in loss.  We understand loss in our society.  That may be the one thing we know most of.  But, it doesn't have to be that way.  As we pursue wisdom God will assure us against loss.  That doesn't mean we will not see death, damages or a derailing or two in our lives.  What it means is that if we are holding to wisdom (which is Christ incarnate ... 1 Corinthians 1) we will not really lose anything.   Those who reject Christ (Wisdom) will suffer loss since all they have is what they currently possess.  However, as we pursue wisdom we will not suffer that kind of lose.   For we hold to something eternal and something spiritual.   What Solomon is talking about specifically is that those who reject truth and the wisdom in it will not attain to the promise land God had promised the Israelites.   We must realize that choosing wisdom brings "eternal" blessings, but forsaking wisdom produces wickedness which means we will suffer loss through being "cut off" and being "uprooted."

Proverbs 1:7

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about where to start:

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

It’s always nice to start from the beginning. But, to start from the beginning you have to know where the beginning starts. So, the first chapter of Proverbs, which is a book to help us discover wisdom, starts with first telling us about the beginning steps. The first step to a life full of wisdom is to live in fear of God. Not a fear like being afraid of snakes, heights or spiders, but a Godly fear; a fear that causes you to stand in awe of something. Fear of God is the beginning of being wise. But, those who don’t stand in awe of God are fools. Fools don’t fear God and therefore don’t get wisdom, discipline or knowledge (all words meaning and pointing to the same thing in Hebrew poetry). Only those who fear the Lord can expect to get wisdom from the Lord. Live in fear of Him today and have wisdom as to what He wants you to do tomorrow.   Folly starts with rejection of an awe of God.  It reveals itself with symptoms of bad choices and selfishly wrong decisions.  Note:

Psalms 53:1 (ESV)

TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO MAHALATH. A MASKIL OF DAVID.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;

there is none who does good.

The fear of the Lord puts God in the center of decisions and His will.  Folly puts self in the center of all actions and your own will.  Notice how the writer of Hebrews described true worship:

Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV)

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Later in Proverbs, Solomon will say again:

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 15:33 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 2:4-5 (ESV)

if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.

Fear the Lord!

Proverbs 31:11

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about marriage:

Proverbs 31:11 (ESV)

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

In today's marriage "industry" the ability to "trust" a spouse has been shattered, broken, watered-down and brought into suspect.   In Proverbs 31:11 we read that when a man fines an "excellent" wife (31:10) his heart will "trust" in her and he will have no "lack" of gain.  God's plan for marriage seems pretty plain and simply.  He provided a partner for the man that would have some relationship with man and cause him to relax and be satisfied in that relationship.   Because she is a woman who "fears God" she will be trusted by the man in this relationship.   His trust of her is directly tied to her trust of God.   That is so simply it is breath-taking.   God intended trust to be built upon, not our mutual ability to "prove" our abilities, but on our moral character and Godly compass of trust in HIM.  God makes it simply.  It is the evil in our hearts and the evil of the world and demonic realm that causes the lack of trust.   God wanted the marriage to be a perfect example of His bound with us.   That is why it is so under attack.   Trust in another can only be found when we have trust in our Maker.  It is like a pyramid, with God at the top.  The closer a spouse climbs up one side and the other spouse climbs up the other side the closer they become to each other.  As they draw near to God they draw near to each other.  Pretty simple.  

Proverbs 30:21-23

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about four things that are hard to bear with: 

Proverbs 30:21-23 (ESV)

Under three things the earth trembles;

under four it cannot bear up:

a slave when he becomes king,

and a fool when he is filled with food;

an unloved woman when she gets a husband,

and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.

This is an interesting proverb.   It is an observation about life during Solomon's day and our, the same.  The truth being conveyed by Solomon is that the world, our society, struggles with four things.  They struggle with a servant who moves into a place of authority.   For some reason we can't handle this ascension from the place of the lowly to the place of position.  We can't handle someone who is a fool who also has prosperity (food).   That simply puts a bad taste in our mouth.   A women who is not loved, but is married, also causes us to pause.   We see marriage as an unnatural way for those who are not loved.  Unloving marriages are like cars with no engines; they shouldn't run, at least not very far.   The last example of difficult situations we struggle with, occurs when the maid is now the mistress.   Life struggles come when we see those honored who shouldn't be and those who have honor lose it.   The key in this proverb is to realize Solomon is telling us that the "earth trembles" at these things.   The earth can't handle an imbalance of some of life's "perceived " natural order.   The lesson for us is to realize despite the lack of order we, as the faithful, don't have to worry about what is happening in life.   God is still on the throne and in control.  It is God who makes a servant a king (David).  It is God who makes the fool full of food (Nabel).  It is God who makes the unloved married (Jacob and Leah).   It is God who displaces the mistress with the maid (Sarai and Hagar).   God is in complete control. These things amaze the world.  They should not amaze the people of God. We have faith that God knows what He is doing and is in control.  

Proverbs 29:26

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about seeking the favor of a leader: 

Proverbs 29:26 (NASBStr)

Many seek the ruler’s favor,

But justice for man comes from the Lord.

Proverbs 29:26 (ESV)

Many seek the face of a ruler,

but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice.

If you have ever experienced mistreatment, unfair accusations, wrongful conduct you can appreciate the above proverb.   Solomon was a man of great stature and many people sought his "favor" (Hebrew word: Face).   See 1 Kings 10:24.   He knew that men would want him to judge between their different opinions.  The first example of his great wisdom in Scripture was the two women who fought over the one baby (1 Kings 10).   And, even though Solomon possessed Godly wisdom he knew the truth above: True justice for man comes from God.  No man can be completely just.  We don't have the capacity since we are full of sin.   We might appeal to our rulers of this age to give us some just treatment to relive the way others have done us wrong.   But, even that justice is tainted.  Sometimes we NEVER get justice.  True and pure justice can only come from someone with a true and just heart ... and that is not mankind.  We need to look to God for justice and fair and equitable treatment.   Note the following:

Psalm 27:8 - When You said, “ Seek My face,” my heart said to You,

“Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.”

But, when God administrates His justice He does so through the agency of man.   In Proverbs 21:1 we read that God controls the hearts of the king.  We read in Job 36:6 that God defends the poor and provides them with justice.  If we want to have justice we need to appeal to God.  Only He can provide it.  He often will, through those He puts in leadership.   He ultimately will in the end of the age.   We need to remember that until God's final judgement unfair accusations, wrongful conduct and general mistreatment will affect us all.  Seek His face for relief.

Proverbs 28:8

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about wealth: 

Proverbs 28:8 (ESV)

Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit

gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

This proverb is a good "economic" proverb.   It tells us God's system of economics.   When you listen to the radio or the talking heads on television inform us about "how money" works, it is amazing how far off they are compared to God's wisdom toward money.   What God tells us in this chapter is the one who "gives" his money away to help the poor will be the beneficiary of the money accumulated by the one who charges others interest and usury.   That is not the world's system.   God is telling us that gracious giving trumps money grabbing.   Most people spend their life accumulating and doing so by any means necessary.  However, what God is telling us is that he will reward those who "give" using the very money of those who do not.   So, the next time you come across a money grabbing wicked person tell them thanks for making money for the one who gives to the poor.   Because that is what God is going to do with that man's saving's account.   Follow God's Wisdom when it comes to money and not man's soiled advice.