Proverbially Speaking
One of my favorite books of the Bible is Proverbs. I love the short nuggets of wisdom God shared through Solomon and other writers. These wise sayings usually give practical advice about everyday living, and that’s something I can always use.
I hate to admit it, but one of my favorite proverbs is, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.”
All kidding aside, here are some of my real favorites.
26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. (It’s foolish to reason with a fool.)
27:19 As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. (You can hide it for a while, but eventually who you really are will become evident to those around you.)
14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Our nation could use a little righteousness.)
17:28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. (“It is better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” – Mark Twain)
19:11 A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. (Ouch. Do you ever lose your temper?)
27:14 If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse. (I guess Solomon wasn’t a morning person.)
15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (If we could all put this one into practice, just think of how much happier we’d be.)
26:18 Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” (Practical jokes are often not very funny to the target of the joke.)
3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing… (God blesses those who give sacrificially and put him first in everything.)
23:4,5 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (How true!)
28:1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues. (Have you ever done something sinful and kept looking over your shoulder thinking someone was about to find you out?)