Category Archives: Proverbs Project

African Proverb

A defining characteristic of this generation is our immediate access to information.  We settle arguments among each other by quickly pulling out our smartphones.

See, the concert starts at 7:30 tonight.

If a guy looks kind of familiar in a movie we can get on imdb.com (Internet Movie Database) and determine almost instantaneously who they are and where we have seen them before.

Yep, that is the same guy from 28 Days Later.

We do not have to “know it all” because we have access to the information.  Yet this trivial ability goes way beyond trivia.  In our lives and for our lives there is a source of knowledge to help us excel everyday at being Christ-like.

This is good news because to

 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline. – Proverbs 1:7

Tomorrow I take roughly a 5 hour round trip journey to look for work.   Looking for work is a job. There are so many people offering advice that it is easy to confused and not know which way to turn; however, I have been blessed to already have a few interviews.

It is hard to not know which way to go.  It is harder work to have a desire of your own and begin to wonder if that is the way God would have you go.  I am excited about this job interview but I DO NOT want it if it is not where I am supposed to be.  That’s my prayer.  I’ll let you know how it turns out.

I think I will download this book now, maybe you will enjoy it too.  It is only 99 cents on Amazon ”No Help Wanted: Becoming You When You Can’t Work For Them“.  My friend Bill wrote it.

There are a few Solomons that come to mind when I hear that name.

There is crunkalious Solomon Olds of Family Force 5;  Melancholy wordsmith Mark Solomon of Stavesacre; and of course, Solomon Grundy’s search for pants (see end of post).  However none of these characters are the ones that penned the Book of Proverbs.  That honor goes to King Solomon.

This man had a past that could easily have been the subject of a “ripped from the headlines” episode of primetime television.  His mother and father got together during a time of war.  Her husband was on the battlefield and yet her baby’s daddy came from within the palace.  Is this starting to sound like a movie trailer yet?

The end of his life in no less sensational.  King Solomon wound up collecting wives that led him away from the Lord and into worshipping and building temples for idols.  He also began taking in way too many taxes from his people and all around forgetting and forsaking the ways of the Lord he first worshipped.

So why would I want to look at this man’s writings and insights for wisdom?

Because there was a moment in his life where things were going well.  It is not unlike watching a movie where you campaign and root for the hero because they seem to be doing everything right.  Then that moment comes where they slip up and you can see it coming from a mile away.  You yell at the screen – “No, don’t do it”.  They do anyway and honestly that is what makes the movie a bit more interesting.

However, I choose to leave as much drama as possible on the screen, or in this case in the book, and focus on that window of time when above all women, riches, long life or revenge King Solomon sought wisdom. (See 1 Kings 3:4-12)

So now we are left with words that promise the following:

4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.

⁵ Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
⁶ by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

I am looking forward to this journey.  Is anyone out there with me? or is it just myself and Solomon Grundy?

Click to Download Printable Version

It is that time of year again where we declare resolutions and what we intend to do differently in the next 365 or 366 days.  We all strive to become better versions of ourselves for ourselves and those around us.  That is my goal too but I know I cannot do it on my own.

There are many books out there that offer insight, instructions and steps on how to transform ourselves into a happier, wealthier, skinnier sequel of our previous self.  I should know. I own quite a few and they are not all bad.  The 4:8 Principle was an inspiring read that actually forced me to change some of my ways of thinking last year.  A few years back I even took an entire class based on Dave Ramsey’s money management principles called Financial Peace University.  It was helpful.

However most things are only helpful while you use them.  A bottle of water is helpful in the desert but only if I drink it.  Then when I am thirsty again I must either seek out another bottle of water or the source to draw a new glass.  Without a continuous supply of fresh water I would surely die over time.

So this year I will try something different for me.  In my search for wisdom to live a better life I will try to focus on just that – wisdom.  This time I wish to concentrate on that book that is synonymous with the the word wisdom: Proverbs.

The beginning even declares as much:

¹ These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.

 ² Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
      to help them understand the insights of the wise.
 ³ Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
      to help them do what is right, just, and fair. – Proverbs 1:1-3 NLT

So here is a special request for all my friends; “and those in Jacksonville in particular” please keep me encouraged!  Seriously.  Some of you have asked me to keep writing and those words were a blessing.

We will make a deal.  If you really want to keep reading then please keep commenting.  Thank you so much and see you along the journey.

Mad Love,

Raven