Proverbs 1

Welcome to the first day of LifeBridge Church’s walk through the book of Proverbs. We suggest that you begin each day with a brief moment of prayer. Thank God for giving you a few minutes with Him. Confess any sin He brings to mind. Ask Him to help you understand and apply what you’ll be reading. Then, begin by reading Proverbs 1:1 – 7.

This first section of Chapter One serves as an introduction to the entire book, but it’s not a warm-up. It contains the purpose for which Proverbs was written. Proverbs is meant to teach us wisdom, discipline, insight, and understanding, the tools we need to create a life filled with meaning and deep relationships. Where do you usually turn for wisdom when you find yourself facing a situation in which you feel inadequate?

In the culture of King Solomon, the author of Proverbs, education was never practiced separately from character development. In our culture, the two are often divorced. To us, knowledge is a commodity, which can be used for selfish ends. To Solomon, the misuse of knowledge showed a lack of wisdom. True knowledge could be demonstrated only by the practice of doing what was right, just, and fair. What is your usual motivation for seeking knowledge?

Read Proverbs 1:8 – 19. Solomon encourages his son to listen to his instruction as well as the teaching of the young man’s mother. He warns his son not to be enticed by evil-intentioned friends, who want to prey on the weaknesses of others. He predicts that those men and women will find themselves ruined by their own path. Do you find yourself tempted to take advantage of the weakness or carelessness of others? Is that temptation stronger when others do the same without fear of consequence?

Finally, read Proverbs 1:20 – 33. Here, we find the first of several passages in which wisdom is personified as a woman, warning people in the streets to heed her advice and experience. She calls out to all, but is rejected and mocked. As a result of their failure to listen, she promises not to answer when they do have need. Wisdom’s first speech reminds us that it is human nature to ignore future consequences of our actions and to assume we will have time later to fix things. In which area of your life have you been ignoring future consequences and refusing to seek real wisdom?

Choose an area of your life (marriage, parenting, career, education, etc.). Take one minute to picture where you would like to be in that area in twenty years. In order to arrive at your goal, what wisdom will you need? Spend a moment in prayer, asking God to help you understand the value of His wisdom and to provide you with the tools you will need to acquire it.