Why Proverbs?

In light of James 1:5 which I have been meditating on lately, I was soon led to the Book of Proverbs. I keep the New Living Translation at my bedside and while I was reading the book of Proverbs, its simple language spoke to me.

Proverbs 1:1-7 (NLT)
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. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

To paraphrase it even further, the purpose of the proverbs is to teach us to be wise and disciplined. It will help us understand the thoughts and insights of the wise and from it we will learn to live a disciplined life and become successful, which can only happen if we do what is right, just and fair, as opposed to the schemes and dealings of the world.

The proverbs are suitable for us no matter who we are and we are to explore the meaning of them. In doing so, if we are simple, we will gain insight; if we are young, we will gain knowledge and discernment; if we are wise, we will become even wiser; if we are the understanding, we will receive guidance in life.

But at the very foundation and basis of it all, before we do anything, we must first fear the LORD, i.e. be in awe and reverence to God. The wise fear the Lord, who is the source of wisdom. Those who shun Him, and despise his wisdom and discipline are fools, no matter how wise or how smart they are.

Which am I? Which are you?

pearlie