Christians need to make a life that will glorify Christ. It isn’t about how long we live but how we live. As God’s children, we need His loving counsel and He provides that loving counsel all throughout the book of Proverbs. In order to effectually live life, you must first, have life. Profound statement isn’t it? One must be a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. You must honestly be able to claim God as your Father. He must be your “Abba”. Unless you are spiritually prepared, diligent, disciplined and obedient to what God says, you will not see much of a change in your life. Once you have been born again you are now ready to hear from the Lord and heed His words of wisdom.
“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:1-7.
The key verse in this passage is verse seven: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Fear.
When I think of the word fear I think of someone who is afraid and scared. I think of things that I fear like snakes, spiders and insects. But the word fear here does not mean to be afraid. It means to reverence or have high regard for. There are at least eighteen references throughout the book of Proverbs to “fear the Lord”. When we acknowledge from our heart that He is Lord, He is Creator, He is the Father, and He is the Master, we are showing respect for God and who He is! The six verses preceding verse seven explains in detail why Proverbs were written: to give us wisdom, instructions, understanding, subtlety, knowledge, discretion, learning and counsel.
Wisdom and folly want to control our lives. We must choose which path to take. To take the correct path, we must be committed to God because no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Christians cannot straddle the fence. We must choose: faith or unbelief, obedience or disobedience, wisdom or folly.
We will find throughout this study that the proverbs listed are brief and pictorial so that they can be quickly memorized. Once these proverbs are committed to memory we will have at our disposal the wisdom we need in making the right decision. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says it best: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We will find no less in the book of Proverbs.
My prayer is that you and I will grow spiritually and the Lord is glorified through the choices we make from day to day. I pray that we will grow in wisdom together and seek godly counsel always.
Memorize: Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:7.
Dear Father, Help me to meditate and apply each principle in this wonderful magnificent book that You inspired King Solomon to write. Help me to hide Your words in my heart so I may not sin against you but glorify Your holy and precious name. Amen.
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