My church is doing a cool thing for the month of March. We are reading a chapter of Proverbs every day. There are 31 days in March and there are 31 chapters in Proverbs. Works out perfectly right? So my wife and I have been reading this together each night before we go to sleep. I’ve read Proverbs before…probably many times. But this time I’m making more of an effort to focus on each and every word. What I’ve found so far is a great deal of wisdom.
This shouldn’t surprise me since the principal author of Proverbs was King Solomon who known for his wisdom (which was given by God). Proverbs is basically a collection of instructions from God for living life. And after reading Proverbs for this last month I have to say that, if you can keep to these instructions, your life most likely have much more joy in it. So here are some of my favorite verses from Proverbs and my thoughts.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
I love the truth of this verse. We, as humans, make many plans and have an idea of what our lives will be like. But God’s plan and purpose for our lives is what we should be focused on. So many times I’ve forced things in my life that were not God’s will but I wanted it…so I did it. You can guess how that usually turns out. Imagine the joy and the fullness of our lives if we lived for God’s purpose and not our own.
Proverbs 16:28
A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. Proverbs 16:28
So much truth here. It’s no accident that controlling the tongue (or speech) is a big theme in Proverbs. We do so much harm with our tongues. Words, once spoken, cannot be taken back. Imagine a world without gossip, imagine the hurts and the pains that would be avoided. I try to remember this verse when I’m tempted to gossip.
Proverbs 31:8
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Proverbs 31:8
This is a principle I try to teach my children. It’s important to stand up for someone who cannot defend themselves. We live in a society where people will keep on walking and not stop to help someone right in front of them. I saw this video on Facebook a while back where these guys staged a scenario where a young boy was on the street in New York during freezing weather with shorts and a t-shirt on. He was begging for people to help him on the street. People just kept walking by. I have to believe, according to this verse, that we have a duty to stand up for (speak) those who are unable to.
Proverbs 22:6
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
This is one of my favorite Proverbs. When you talk about an instruction book for life, The Bible gives us everything we need. Proverbs 22:6 tells us the importance of bringing up our children the right way. It also shows what a huge responsibility it is. We, as parents, have a responsibility to teach our children the right way. That doesn’t mean they will always make the right choices but at least we can say that we showed them the right way.
So these are some of my favorite verses from the book of Proverbs. Leave a comment below and let me know what your favorite verse is.