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“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”  Proverbs 1:7 (NLT)

I love receiving invitations in the mail! Whether it is to a bridal shower, baby shower, wedding, graduation, or birthday party, I am always excited to receive them, and I look forward to celebrating the exciting occasion! Invitations almost always mean celebration and joy, and they mark a momentous occasion.

As I have been reading and studying the book of Proverbs this past year, it occurred to me that the book of Proverbs is written almost like an invitation to be a part of God’s plan. Proverbs is written to invite us to walk the path that follows Jesus — a path marked by wise moral choices based on God’s Word, and one that can often save us from pitfalls, though not always guaranteed. Proverbs are not written as the Ten Commandments; they are written as fences to keep us in the healthy pasture. Can wild animals break into fences and cause destruction? Yes, they can. Proverbs are written so that we can choose to stay in the pasture – not go looking for the wild animals.

As stated above, staying inside the fence is not a guarantee for success, but it does alleviate some of the danger. The book of Proverbs presents general principles for how society would function if everyone followed God’s wisdom. Are there exceptions to the rule? Always! That is where Job and Ecclesiastes come in. These two books show the exceptions, and there are always exceptions, as many of us have lived out.

Proverbs offers us a glimpse of Jesus. It shows us how He was with God the Father at Creation, how a healthy respect for Him leads us to make the right decisions, and how we can apply the knowledge we learn in His Word to our daily lives. These are not vague concepts; these are decisive actions to take as we encounter the world around us. Proverbs addresses such issues as mental health, emotional health, anger, narcissism,  relationships, money, sex, alcohol, friendship, character, and forgiveness. God is not surprised by the world we live in, and He made a way to steer us through the decisions we need to make and the sins we want to avoid.

The Hebrew word for wisdom is Chokmah (חָכְמָה). Chokmah is the same word used for artists and craftsmen in Exodus 31. It is more than just knowing the right thing to do; it is doing it. It is using the practical wisdom God gives us in Proverbs for our daily lives. It is applying what we learn!

As I said, I love receiving invitations and looking forward to an exciting occasion! I want to invite you to join me to read the book of Proverbs in October. Thirty-one days in October and thirty-one chapters in Proverbs = thirty-one nuggets of wisdom! That is something worth celebrating!

I am so excited to see what God will do with each of us when we read and apply His principles to every area of our lives.

“Father, help us to see You have made a way for us as we walk through all the different situations in our lives. Help us to follow You.”

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson (feel free to follow @TerrieTollerson)
TRBC Women’s Life