The Purpose of the Proverbs (Proverbs 1:1-2) (James 3:15-18)

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.

Proverbs seems to be a book that scares a lot of people. We either don't want to read it or teach about it which in my opinion is foolishness.  I tell you why right now if you let me finish.

People who thinks that they are already wise don't read it because they think they already know enough and people who think others are already wise don't teach about it or if they teach about it other people may think that they are already wise.  Anyway that's all confusion and foolishness because this first two verses in Proverbs clearly teach you that they are there to teach us wisdom because we don't have that kind of wisdom in us and as we are going to see through the Bible, we, naturally don't seem to care.

So what is the world talking about when it shows some kind of wisdom?

It speaks of James 3:15-16's kind of wisdom.  In James 3:15-16 it says, "For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom.  Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.  For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and evil of every kind."

In order to get rid of that wisdom in our lives we have to do one or two things.  We need a relationship with God through Jesus Christ (please refer to my other post to find out how to do it) and the second thing we have to do is invest in God's wisdom which will drive and chip away at Satan's kind of wisdom in our thinking.  This worldly wisdom from the devil has infiltered every institution and whenever one tries to reach for the top by stomping on everyone at the front of him or her it is done by jealousy and strife. That's not God's kind of wisdom.

Now God's kind of wisdom is better as far as respect of other people.  James describe it in chapter 3:17-18

"But God's wisdom from above is first of all pure.  It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.  It is full of mercy and fruit of good deeds.  It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.  And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

...And this is the wisdom I want for my life because I don't know about you, but I have done a lot of foolish things in my life.  Thankfully God doesn't keep a record of my blunders.

With God's wisdom it's always a fresh start and we can start over again forgetting our past and giving it to him as we start this book of Proverbs together.  As you are able please read this book of Proverbs through each chapter.  Tomorrow we will continue with chapter 2 in Proverbs.

Until then have a great day!