Wisdom From the ProverbsSample

Proverbs 1

Proverbs is the sort of place you come to when you need great advice on what to do and what not to do in life. Now, I’m not talking about a list of commands here. I’m talking about ways of life that will either prosper you or harm you. I’m sure you’ve heard about the books ‘DIY for Dummies’ and the like. This is the ‘Doing Life Well for Dummies’ variation.

Wisdom in Proverbs is personified as a Lady, willing to teach any who will listen. And it is wisdom that this book is eager to give you! Furthermore, wisdom isn’t simply intellectual knowledge for you to gather; it is a skill. Take the skill of musicianship. You need the knowledge and understanding of what you are doing, but it’s a skill that you hone and practice to create a beautiful masterpiece. Those who do the best are those who practice their skill. That is what Lady Wisdom desires to give you: a skill to be practiced and honed that you might develop a masterpiece – a life worthy of God.

There are two other key characters of note in this book. The fool and the simple. The fool is one opposed to God, decidedly living life their way and not His. Though we may not see ourselves as fools, we all need the Holy Spirit’s correcting for the many things we do that are foolish. So let Lady Wisdom show you. The simple could potentially be the most dangerous. Apathetic, sat on the fence of wisdom and foolishness, led astray with ease, not committed to growing anywhere. We can all slip into simple living when it becomes hard to utilise the gift of wisdom.

So, as you read through Proverbs, keep this in mind and pray. Pray that the Spirit will guide you into truth and give you the strength to persevere in this craft. Let people say of us, we have wisdom beyond our years!

A final note before we dive into the next 30 life-changing days. Wisdom is an attribute of God, and to truly engage with wisdom, receiving all it wants you to have, you must begin with the fear of the LORD. This means to have a deep, reverential respect of God and His ways of life. Because wisdom isn’t a gift to ensure we get our worldly desires. It is a gift leading us into the way of God’s Kingdom. So, it won’t always feel comfortable and will definitely stand out. But if you’ve already committed to living life God’s way, then you’ve already begun your journey under the direction of Lady Wisdom.