Guidance for Wisdom - Proverbs 1:1-6

These opening verses teach us why the Proverbs were preserved. This book is designed to drive away foolishness and help us receive instruction/wise counsel. We need to realize that we are simpletons compared to God's infinite wisdom. This book was preserved to guide us to and keep us on the pathway to wisdom.

I need to make a cautionary note - as important as the book of Proverbs are to the Christian, we must not neglect other portions of the scriptures. The book of Proverbs has been likened to a medicine. This is medicine we need for good health. But just as we do not live on medicine alone, we should not live on a diet of Proverbs alone. Additionally, the Proverbs are like a highly concentrated dose of activated ingredient. The statements found in Proverbs are highly concentrated nuggets of truth. One pastor noted - we should learn to approach the Proverbs like medicine. In other words, a little dose of Proverbs is designed to go a long way. We should come to the Proverbs and meditate on a key section to allow it effectively work within our lives. Learn to meditate, reflect, and concentrate on one topic at a time.

One last comment about how to read the Proverbs. Proverbs 26:9 says - As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of a fool. This parable is teaching us how to approach the parable. The drunk does not realize he has a thorn in his hand until he sobers up. The point here is that in order to read the Proverbs, we need a measure of wisdom, because the Proverbs need to be handled correctly. For example, in our culture we like to say - he who hesitates is lost. But only a fool would apply this statement to every area of life. Another saying that is common within our culture is - look before you leap. So which of these two statements should we live by? The answer is both. And through wisdom, we have learned that our situation determines the application. The fool takes one proverb and tries to apply it in every area of life. Or the fool will pit one proverb against another without trying to understand the context.