The Word To Live By: 2-23-26
Phil Waggoner
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. Proverbs 1:1-3 New Living Testament
The Word to live by: Number 4 in five keys to a good life is found in Proverbs 3:7, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” To fear the Lord doesn’t mean to be afraid of Him like you would be if a bully or a tornado or hurricane were coming at you. It means to honor and respect Him by trying to please Him. Since without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6), living by faith is honoring Him and respecting Him. I have found three main themes in the book of Proverbs - discipline (self-discipline), diligence, and prudence, and most of them tie into turning away from evil. Discipline yourself to turn away from evil. Be diligent to turn away from evil, and it is always prudent to turn away from evil. The key to turning away from evil is not thinking you know more than the Bible (hence God), or that evil won’t influence you. 1 Peter 5:6 says to, “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God …” The mighty hand of God is His Word. Believing and acting on His Word would be turning away from evil because He said to - not because you think you can get away with it. Proverbs 12:10, says, “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” I think the same commandment is in every chapter of Proverbs in some form or another, but the promise that accompanies Proverbs 3:7, the next verse, verse 8, is what gives us the happy life. “It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones.” To me, that’s a very good reason to turn away from sin.
Read through the Bible in a year: Matthew 5:1-20; Exodus 28,29; Proverbs 13;
Read through the New Testament and Proverbs: Proverbs 23, Matthew 27:34-66, 1 Corinthians 10
The sum of Thy Word is Truth Psalm 119:160