Navigating Life
“These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.”
-Proverbs 1:1-6 (NLT)
It is estimated that 15,000 self help books are published in the United States each year. Finances, diet and nutrition, marriage, workplace issues, parenting, relationships, faith, healing, positive thinking-these are all topics that people are constantly seeking the latest and greatest guidance on.
As Christians, we have at our disposal the ultimate self-help book…the Holy Bible. And the Book of Proverbs is arguably one of the most read books of the Bible, packed with advice and practical application to help us learn wisdom and discernment in all aspects of life. The book of Proverbs is a great place to seek guidance, instruction, and understanding.
Oh, but isn’t it so much more than that? As with every book of the Bible, the Book of Proverbs does much more than teach us how to live our lives well. First and foremost, it points us to Jesus, teaching us that true wisdom and genuine “success” in life come from a place of knowing Him well and allowing Him to transform us in every way, beginning with the transformation of our mind….wisdom.
Biblical wisdom could be described as the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment as they pertain to living a life that honors Christ and brings forth the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in us.
As we begin our study of the Book of Proverbs at FCC, it is of utmost importance to remember that although our tendency may be to read the scripture and immediately try to apply the advice or instruction to our own lives, it is first and foremost not about us. As you study Proverbs, pay close attention to these themes that point the reader toward Christ:
Jesus as the personification of wisdom.
Jesus as the Son (of David, of Solomon, of God).
Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy.
Jesus (wisdom) verses the world (folly).
About 800 Proverbs have been attributed to Solomon and during his life, he became famous for his wisdom, some going as far as to name him the wisest man that has ever lived. Many respected men and women traveled great distances to hear his words and test his knowledge and understanding. Solomon asked the Lord only for wisdom, and as a result was promised wisdom, riches, honor, and long life if he would continue in righteousness before the Lord.
Solomon was rewarded for his simple request of wisdom, and we know from the scriptures that these things did come to fruition as the Lord had promised. But did Solomon get everything right?
I have often said that one of the things I do love about growing older is having past experiences to learn and grow from…even past failures. Many of the people that I personally would consider to be wise or who are famous for their wisdom have also made many mistakes along the way. This is true of many of the great men and women we read about in the bible, including Solomon, and it is true of us today.
Many scholars have attempted to discredit Solomon due to mistakes that he made. He was deemed by some to be greedy and self-serving and he was known for having over 700 wives, many of them foreigners who pulled him away from his faith.
But in spite of his failures, we can learn a lot from Solomon, even in considering the things he got wrong. Solomon knew the mistakes he made and in the end, he acknowledged that knowledge is futile and pursuit of worldly pleasures does not bring true fulfillment. Only true wisdom that comes from knowing Christ can bring us life and peace.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
-Matthew 7:24
Our need is not for a wisdom that is for the purpose of self-help, so that we may receive credit for positive changes we make in our lives. Our real need is for the wisdom that makes us right with God, freed from sin, through the gift of God’s grace, that is Christ himself.
“God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.” -1 Corinthians 1:30
Reflection:
How would you describe the difference between knowledge and wisdom?
Think of the wisest person you know personally. What are some characteristics that you feel make them “wise”?
When thinking back on your past mistakes and/or failures, do you feel like you gained wisdom from those situations? How would you handle those situations differently knowing what you now know?
If you, like Solomon, could ask one thing of God in your life, what would it be and why?
Excited to start studying Proverbs. Great start to the year. Thanks Kristy!