This devotion is the second in the series that parallels the Bible Study series “Our Wise Friends: Engaging with the Wisdom Literature of the Bible” Follow the link to see the rest of the study and the other devotions in this series.
Download a PDF of this devotion here.
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. – Proverbs 11:14
Who do you turn to for wisdom?
Hopefully you have more than one person in your life that you can go to for wisdom. Parents, pastors, DCE’s, elders, and Sunday school teachers can all be excellent sources of wisdom.
But for many of us, when we are seeking wisdom, we turn to our friends.
You might have one friend who is optimistic and always seems to have a word of wisdom and a can-do attitude. You might have another friend who has life experience that has bestowed upon him or her a certain kind of wisdom. You might have another friend who isn’t afraid to call bologna and calls this as they really are.
Similarly in wisdom literature we find different kinds of wisdom in the Wisdom Books. Proverbs is that plucky, can-do friend. This is a book with many pithy sayings that are designed for us to hear and think on. You’re not likely to get the full punch of the proverb quickly, but like a hard candy that is savored and takes a while to finish, a proverb is meant to be thoughtfully considered.
The book of Proverbs gives us wisdom that can be applied to our daily lives, and which will help to make our lives and the lives of others around us better. We might not see the results of using God’s wisdom in Proverbs right away. We might even fail to follow God’s good guidance for our lives. But we trust that God has a view much bigger than ours, that includes our forgiveness and how we can share the good news of Jesus with others.
Proverbs helps us to live abundantly.
Consider Proverbs 11:1 which says, “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.” We already know that the Seventh Commandment forbids stealing, but this Proverb reminds us that the Lord also delights when we do what is right.
Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” As you think on these words, you might consider where you have been prideful and repent of that and pray that the Lord would give you a humble spirit.
One after another, the proverbs found in the book of Proverbs guides us in the way of wisdom, which is the way of the Lord, helps us to live as the holy people we are through Jesus, and keep pointing us to the Lord.
And in so doing, the book of Proverbs helps us to endure in Christ.
Prayer
Triune God, make us humble before You so that we may receive and ever hold fast the treasures of Your grace. Enable us to live according to the wisdom that comes only from You. Amen.[1]
Journal Questions
- Consider what Proverbs 19:2 says: Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feel misses the way. What does this mean? How can you apply it?
- Consider what Proverbs 11:28 says: Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. What does this mean? How can you apply it?
[1] The Lutheran Study Bible p. 1004
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