Each chapter of the Book of Proverbs reads like a grocery list of random thoughts. These one-liners remind me of the old Matthew McConaughey Lincoln car commercials when he is driving around town and just waxing eloquent on deep thoughts like, “Sometimes you gotta go back to actually move forward…” – I like to read Proverbs doing my best McConaughey impression – try it…it’s fun!
But with all these seemingly random words of wisdom, it’s tough to narrow down anything to really focus on writing a devotional about. Every verse is loaded with truths and practical applications for the reader to use in their everyday life.
But that’s the beauty of Proverbs. It’s a collection of instructions on how to live, more particularly, how to live a godly life. Written by King Solomon (mostly), it is a product of his asking God for wisdom above anything else (1 Kings 3:9).
There is a big difference between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God. Particularly in the chapters of Proverbs 12-13, Solomon draws distinctions between the way of the wicked and the way of the godly. (Interestingly enough, the word Proverbs in Hebrew is mashal, which can be translated as “comparison.”)
If you’re wondering what the difference is between these two opposing philosophies of wisdom, you see it in the final verse of chapter 12.
“The way of the godly leads to life;
that path does not lead to death”
Godly wisdom is a matter of life and death. King Solomon urges the reader to listen to the words that give life. Life that flows from a connection to God. Life lived for the glory of God and not the glory of man. Life that, as John 10:10 promises, to be more abundant. Soak in the Proverbs. Cherish them. Apply them and you will find your life to be “alright, alright alright.”